The MSI MEG X870E ACE MAX is the objective winner of this comparison, securing two out of three total spec victories. Its most significant advantage over the competition is its maximum memory capacity, which is 100% better than that of the alternative. While the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 manages to win in one category, the superior memory ceiling provided by the MSI MEG X870E ACE MAX establishes it as the more capable hardware option.

Users prioritizing high-capacity memory configurations should select the MSI MEG X870E ACE MAX to take advantage of its doubled memory limit. Conversely, the Gigabyte Z790 AORUS ELITE AX DDR4 is the better choice for budget-conscious builders, as it offers a 67% advantage in MSRP. Choosing between these two motherboards depends entirely on whether your primary requirement is maximizing system memory potential or minimizing the initial cost of your build.