- The Gigabyte Z890 AORUS motherboard is capable of 256 GB of DDR5-7200 memory
- The motherboard requires two 128 GB CQDIMMs instead of four smaller sticks
- Optimized BIOS and motherboard design ensures stability at extreme memory frequencies
Gigabyte introduced the Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE CQDIMM Edition motherboard at CES 2026, targeting high-performance consumer applications.
The motherboard relies on two DIMM slots instead of the traditional four, forcing users to install the more expensive 128GB modules to achieve a total of 256GB of memory.
The innovation focuses on CQDIMM hardware combined with optimized BIOS tuning.
CQDIMM technology
Motherboard circuitry reduces the load on memory channels, improving signal integrity and enabling stable operation at full capacity.
The BIOS architecture manages timing, voltage and signal, enabling DDR5-7200 frequencies even with high capacity modules.
These hardware and firmware optimizations overcome the long-standing tradeoffs between capacity, frequency, and stability that have historically limited consumer DDR5 memory.
By using two 128 GB CQDIMMs instead of four 64 GB CUDIMMs, the motherboard achieves 256 GB in DDR5-7200 without compromising performance.
Traditional configurations require four modules, forcing frequencies down to DDR5-4400 due to electrical and signal constraints.
Gigabyte’s approach streamlines the system layout, reduces channel load, and enables higher stable frequencies at extreme capacities.
Professional testing, including CPU-Z verification, confirms that the motherboard boots and operates reliably under these conditions, establishing an industry milestone for consumer platforms.
Gigabyte has partnered with major memory manufacturers, including Adata, Kingston and TeamGroup, to co-develop compatible CQDIMMs.
These collaborations aim to ensure maximum compatibility and performance in the growing high-capacity, high-frequency memory ecosystem.
Through these partnerships, CQDIMM technology achieves higher frequencies and stability, meeting the demands of AI computing, content creation and other data-intensive workloads.
We still don’t know how much the Gigabyte Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE CQDIMM Edition motherboard will cost.
However, it’s likely to command a premium price given the memory configuration it requires, as right now 64GB DDR5 modules sell for around $10 per GB, so 128GB sticks could easily cost significantly more.
That means two 128GB modules could total around $5,000 just for the RAM.
Given the potential cost of this device, some observers note that it may make more sense to buy a Threadripper Pro system and fill it with cheaper 64GB modules to get the same total capacity.
TechRadar will cover this year’s events extensively THESEand will bring you all the big announcements as they happen. Visit our CES 2026 News for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our Live Q&A from CES 2026 and we will do our best to answer them.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok And WhatsApp for the latest news from the CES show!
