The Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX is the objective winner of this comparison, securing more total spec victories across the evaluated fields. Its most impactful advantage is the inclusion of PCIe x16 slots, which offer a 200% improvement over the ASRock B850M PG Riptide WiFi. This superior expansion capacity provides a significant edge for users requiring high-bandwidth connectivity for multiple add-in cards or advanced graphics configurations, establishing it as the more capable hardware foundation.

Users prioritizing high-performance expansion should select the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX to leverage its superior PCIe x16 slot count. Conversely, the ASRock B850M PG Riptide WiFi is the better choice for those who specifically require more PCIe x1 slots, as it provides a 100% advantage in that category. Choosing between these two motherboards depends entirely on whether your build configuration relies on high-speed x16 lanes or a higher quantity of x1 peripheral connections.