Gigabyte debuts a consumer motherboard which supports 256GB DDR5 in dual channel — but you may need to sell a kidney to buy the memory
CPU-Z testing confirms reliable boot and operation at full 256GB capacity
· TechRadarNews By Efosa Udinmwen published 13 January 2026
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- Gigabyte Z890 AORUS motherboard is capable of 256GB DDR5-7200 memory
- The motherboard requires two 128GB CQDIMM modules instead of four smaller sticks
- Optimized BIOS and motherboard design ensure stability at extreme memory frequencies
Gigabyte has introduced the Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE CQDIMM Edition motherboard at CES 2026, targeting high-performance consumer applications.
The motherboard relies on two DIMM slots rather than the traditional four, which requires users to install the more expensive 128GB modules to reach a total of 256GB of memory.
The innovation centers on CQDIMM hardware combined with optimized BIOS tuning.
CQDIMM technology
The motherboard circuitry reduces memory channel load, which improves signal integrity and supports stable operation at full capacity.
The BIOS architecture manages timing, voltage, and signal synchronization, enabling DDR5-7200 frequencies even with high-capacity modules.
These hardware and firmware optimizations overcome long-standing trade-offs between capacity, frequency, and stability that have historically constrained consumer-grade DDR5 memory.
By using two 128GB CQDIMM modules instead of four 64GB CUDIMMs, the motherboard achieves 256GB at DDR5-7200 without compromising performance.
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