Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE Motherboard Review

It's no secret that there are a lot of motherboard reviews going live on eTeknix today, and while there are boards from ASUS and MSI and more on the way, one that stands out is the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE. It's by far one of the most unique motherboards we have for this launch thanks to the "ICE" design. Offering up a plethora of massive heatsinks and armour all finished in a stunning mixture of white, grey and silver, with a bit of RGB thrown in for good measure. However, it's not just a great-looking motherboard, as part of the AORUS series, it's one of their more high-end solutions and comes brimming with high-end features for enthusiast gamers and content creators alike. Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE It features a 16+2+2 Twin Digital VRM design, with a range of premium chokes and capacitors, so it should be able to deal with the best of the best AMD CPUs, and since it supports AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 processors, you've got a fair few to choose from. While not the most extreme motherboard from AORUS, it's obviously still very much on the high-end. The armour and heatsinks are massive too, again, not the biggest or most extreme implementation, but it's still a lot and should help push storage, memory and CPU performance to the next level. You get DDR5 support, an impressive 3 x PCIe 5.0 M.2 and 1 x PCIe 4.0 M.2 for extreme storage configurations. There's also a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, as well as a PCIe 4, and PCIe 3.0 slot for additional add-in cards. Key Features CPU Support: AMD Socket AM5, supports AMD Ryzen™ 9000 / 8000 / 7000 Series Processors VRM: Digital twin 16+2+2 phases VRM solution Memory: Dual Channel DDR5, 4*DIMMs with AMD EXPO™ Memory Module Support Wi-Fi Installation: WIFI EZ-Plug for quick and easy Wi-Fi antenna installation PCIe and M.2 Slots: EZ-Latch Plus with quick release and screwless design M.2 Heatsinks: EZ-Latch Click with screwless design Sensor Panel: Sensor Panel Link for hassle-free in-chassis panel setup User Interface: Friendly UI with multi-theme, AIO fan control, and Q-Flash Auto Scan in BIOS and SW Storage: Ultra-fast storage with 4M.2 slots, including 3 PCIe 5.0 x4 Thermal Management: Efficient thermal design with VRM Thermal Armor Advanced and M.2 Thermal Guard L Networking: Fast networking with 2.5GbE LAN and Wi-Fi 7 with directional ultra-high gain antenna Connectivity: Extended connectivity with dual USB4 Type-C with DP-Alt, HDMI Audio: Reliable audio with Realtek ALC1220 HD Audio and audiophile-grade capacitors PCIe Durability: Ultra Durable PCIe Armor with a metal back plate on the PCIe x16 slot for enhanced durability PCIe UD Slot X: PCIe 5.0 x16 slot with 10X strength for graphics cards For more information, please visit the official product page here. Memory Support Memory support is impressive, offering up incredible speeds for these new CPUs, however, which generation of CPU you use will have some impact on the memory capabilities as you might expect, but typically they're all over 8000 MHz. AMD 800 Series Chipset While this review cycle we'll be focusing on the X870E series of motherboards, of course, there's going to be more to this series, with the X870E being the flagship models, the X870 below that, and then the B850 and the B840 being the more affordable models below those, but with some obvious compromises on the features, giving us a range of options for normal PC users, gamers, overclockers and enthusiasts. Ryzen 9 9950X For these reviews, we'll be using the latest AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPU, and while we haven't actually reviewed this CPU on its own, of course, we'll be exploring the Ryzen 9 9950X performance through these motherboard reviews. We did a feature testing Windows 32H2 Vs 24H2 on YouTube recently, which you can check out here. 16 cores and 32 threads Up to 5.7 GHz max boost clock 64 MB of L3 cache Supports DDR5 memory up to 2x1R DDR5-5600 or 4x1R DDR5-3600 Requires AM5 socket motherboard Includes Precision Boost Overdrive and Curve Optimizer Voltage Offsets technology Unlocked for overclocking Supports PCIe 5.0 Packaging The box has a theme that matches the motherboard, finished in white/grey/silver to keep the "ICE" theme, but on the front, there's just a stylish Aorus Eagle design. Around the back, the text is pretty small, but there's just enough details to tell you what ports and connectors are on offer, as well as a few photos of the key features, such as the VRM and rear I/O. A Closer Look Gigabyte and their more high-end AORUS division rarely disappoint when it comes to design. The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE Motherboard has this gorgeous frost look with grey, white and silver making up the lighter aesthetic. It comes with a set of massive heatsinks on the VRM, so pushing the CPU to its limits should be a breeze, and there should be no issues with thermals or throttling here, but of course, we'll be testing that shortly anyway (spoiler, it does great!). I love little details too, like all the connectors are grey/silver, such as the 24-pin connector, DIMM slots, and even the BIOS debug LED block! So many white motherboards have black fittings, and this just looks so much better. You get massive heatsinks on the lower half, with a dedicated one for the primary Gen5 M.2 mount. There's a fully armoured PCIe with a quick-release system, and two more big heatsinks covering both the chipset and the other M.2 mounts. The rear I/O isn't the most packed, but there's still more than enough here, with a pair of USB4 Type-C ports, 10x Type-A ports of varying speeds, all the way up to USB 3.2 Gen 2, and there's also both 2.5 GbE LAN and the very fast WiFi 7! VRM Analysis The X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE is a high-performance ATX motherboard crafted for gamers and enthusiasts. Featuring a robust 8-layer PCB, it ensures reliable power delivery and signal integrity, essential for demanding applications. The motherboard boasts an impressive 16+2+2 phase design, which provides ample capacity for handling high-end CPUs and multitasking. At the core of the power delivery system is the Richtek RT3678BE PWM controller, which efficiently manages all power phases, ensuring stable voltage regulation across the board. This controller is known for its performance in high-demand scenarios, making it a great fit for gaming and content creation. For the Vcore and SOC phases, the motherboard utilizes ON NCP302155R DrMOS units rated at 60A each. These power stages are engineered for high efficiency and thermal management, delivering clean power while minimizing heat generation. This combination allows for reliable overclocking capabilities and ensures stability under heavy workloads. The miscellaneous phases are powered by ON NTMFS4C10N Ppak components rated at 46A. The 1H1L (1 high, 1 low) configuration enhances the board's efficiency and thermal performance, optimizing power delivery for various tasks. This design is particularly beneficial for maintaining stability and performance during prolonged use. Overall, the X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE combines cutting-edge technology with durable components, making it a strong contender for users seeking a motherboard that can handle the rigours of high-performance computing while providing long-term reliability. BIOS Screenshots Gigabyte has done something really different with their BIOS, which is often dark and gloomy looking, but this is bright and matches the colours of the motherboard. That's interesting, as MSI is doing something similar with their colour schemes to match everything, so the trend is certainly growing for this. As you might expect with a high-end motherboard like this, the BIOS is feature-packed, offering you full control over voltages, load line, and lots of training tools to ensure you can get the best performance with just a few clicks. Or if you're a knowledgeable enthusiast, you can of course set up everything yourself. It does look like AMD BIOS, in general, has developed nicely, and easily rivals the usually more feature-rich Intel BIOS now. Gigabyte has done a great job here, and I'm looking forward to seeing their other new motherboards to see if this attention to detail is throughout their whole range. 3DMark Timespy 3DMark Time Spy is a popular benchmark focused on evaluating DirectX 12 performance. It simulates a demanding gaming scenario, stressing both your CPU and GPU with complex graphics and physics calculations. The benchmark renders a detailed scene featuring advanced lighting, shadows, and particle effects, providing a realistic representation of modern game visuals. 3DMark is available on Steam here. 3DMark CPU Benchmark 3DMark CPU Benchmark is a tool designed to measure CPU performance across various scenarios. Instead of providing a single score, it runs multiple tests using different numbers of threads (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and maximum available) to see how well your CPU scales with increasing workload. This helps to gauge performance not only for modern games utilizing many cores, but also older titles and tasks like 3D rendering. The results give a comprehensive overview of your CPU's capabilities under different loads, aiding in comparisons, overclocking decisions, and understanding potential bottlenecks. Available now on Steam. PCMark 10 Express PCMark 10 Express is a shorter benchmark that focuses on basic home PC use. It includes the Essentials and Productivity test groups. It is less demanding than the main PCMark 10 benchmark. The Essentials test group covers the common tasks that people do every day with their PCs, such as web browsing, video conferencing, and app start-up time. The Productivity test group measures system performance with everyday office applications, such as writing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Available now on Steam. Cinebench R23 Cinebench is a real-world cross-platform test suite that evaluates your computer’s hardware capabilities. Improvements to Cinebench Release 23 reflect the overall advancements to CPU and rendering technology in recent years, providing a more accurate measurement of Cinema 4D’s ability to take advantage of multiple CPU cores and modern processor features available to the average user. Available now on Maxon. Cinebench 2024 Cinebench 2024 is a cross-platform benchmarking tool used to evaluate both CPU and GPU performance. Unlike previous versions which focused solely on CPU, it now leverages Maxon's Redshift rendering engine to assess a system's capability for handling demanding 3D tasks. It provides scores for both single-core and multi-core CPU performance, as well as a separate GPU score, making it a comprehensive solution for understanding your system's overall rendering capabilities. Available now on Maxon. Blender 4.2.0 Blender 4.2.0 is a powerful, open-source 3D creation suite, not a benchmarking tool itself. It excels in tasks like 3D modelling, sculpting, animation, texturing, shading, lighting, simulation, rendering, video editing, and compositing. While it doesn't provide a benchmark score, you can use Blender to indirectly benchmark your system by measuring render times for complex scenes. This can give you a sense of how well your hardware handles demanding 3D workloads. Available now from blender.org Super PI 2.1 Super PI is a single-threaded benchmark that calculates pi to a specific number of digits. It uses the Gauss-Legendre algorithm and is a Windows port of a program used by Yasumasa Kanada in 1995 to compute pi to 232 digits. Available now on Super PI. Wprime 2.11 wPrime 2.11 is a multi-threaded benchmark tool designed to stress-test your CPU by performing complex calculations. It specifically focuses on evaluating your CPU's ability to handle heavy multi-core workloads, making it useful for overclockers, system builders, and anyone looking to gauge their CPU's performance under demanding conditions. The benchmark calculates square roots using the Newton method, providing results for both 32 million and 1024 million iterations, testing different levels of computational intensity. It offers both single-threaded and multi-threaded modes, allowing you to see how well your CPU scales with additional cores. Available now from WPrime. Y-Cruncher Y-Cruncher is a specialized benchmarking tool designed to measure the computational power of your system by calculating the mathematical constant Pi (π) to trillions of digits. It's a multi-threaded application, leveraging the full capabilities of modern multi-core processors and large amounts of RAM. Y-Cruncher is often used by enthusiasts and overclockers to stress-test their systems, assess stability, and compare performance with other configurations. While it doesn't directly measure gaming or 3D rendering performance, its focus on heavy computational tasks makes it a good indicator of a system's raw number-crunching abilities, particularly for memory-intensive operations. Available now from numberworld.org. AIDA64 AIDA64 memory benchmark is a feature of AIDA64, a system information and diagnostics software. It measures the bandwidth and latency of the CPU caches and the system memory by performing various read, write, copy, and latency tests. It uses different instruction set extensions and optimizations depending on the processor and memory type. It also supports multi-threading, multi-processor, and multi-core systems. You can use it to compare your system performance with others, test its stability and reliability, and optimize it for better performance. Available now on AIDA64. Cyberpunk 2077 Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, action-adventure RPG set in the megalopolis of Night City, where you play as a cyberpunk mercenary wrapped up in a do-or-die fight for survival. Improved and featuring all-new free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades. The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be? Available now on Steam. F1 23 Be the last to brake in EA SPORTS™ F1® 23, the official video game of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship™. A new chapter in the thrilling “Braking Point” story mode delivers high-speed drama and heated rivalries. Available now on Steam. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered Developed by Insomniac Games in collaboration with Marvel, and optimized for PC by Nixxes Software, Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PC introduces an experienced Peter Parker who’s fighting big crime and iconic villains in Marvel’s New York. At the same time, he’s struggling to balance his chaotic personal life and career while the fate of Marvel’s New York rests upon his shoulders. Available now on Steam. The Riftbreaker The Riftbreaker is a base-building, survival game with Action-RPG elements. You are an elite scientist/commando inside an advanced Mecha-Suit capable of dimensional rift travel. Hack & slash countless enemies. Build up your base, collect samples and research new inventions to survive. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. In the fast-paced world of today, every second counts. That's why we put each motherboard through its paces, measuring the time it takes to boot into Windows. A speedy boot time means less waiting and more doing. We've meticulously timed each motherboard's startup process, from pressing the power button to reaching the Windows desktop. Boot Time Power Consumption Power consumption on motherboards is important because it affects the stability and performance of the system, especially when overclocking or using high-end components. The power consumption of a motherboard depends on its features, the type of voltage regulator, integrated chipsets and modules, and BIOS power-saving features. VRM Performance When it comes to testing VRM performance, there are multiple ways to do it including using the likes of HWiNFO to measure what the sensor tells you, or to use K-Type probes, or to get a better, well-rounded picture, you can use both, which is exactly what we've done here today. All of these motherboards were tested in the same room with the same probe configuration with the ambient temperature controlled at 23c for consistency in the results. First, the VRM temperature was taken at idle, with one probe on the upper VRMs and one probe to the side of the CPU A third reading was taken using the built-in sensor on the motherboard via HwiNFO. We then leave the system sitting on the desktop for 10 minutes to settle before taking our idle readings on both HWiNFO and the probes. After this, we wanted to simulate a worst-case scenario using Prime95 with small FFTs to generate the most heat, as well as Cinebench 2024 to simulate more common, real-world usage. We run each test for an hour, along with letting the temperatures to settle down between each test. You will find that the software reading from the sensor will vary quite wildly in areas, and this is down to the sensor location for one, and if the sensor is reporting the internal temperature instead, which based on our testing and the sensor data generally reading higher, that is the case. When we look at our table, we can see that every board did exceptionally well with nothing hitting over 70 degrees Celsius, with our highest result coming from the X870-I Gaming WiFi Mini-ITX board at Degrees on the sensor temperature, while our highest probe temperature was 68.8 Degrees from probe 1 on the same board during our Prime95 hour long run but as it is such a small board, that's pretty much expected. Given that VRMs (Voltage Regulator Modules) behave similarly to CPUs and GPUs regarding heat generation and dissipation, it's crucial to manage their temperatures effectively. Operating temperatures above 100°C can lead to long-term damage or failure. Typically, a safe operating range for VRMs is between 70°C and 90°C, but this could result in CPU performance throttling to reduce the temperatures to safer levels. however, it’s best to keep them below 70°C for optimal performance and longevity. All the boards tested here fall within these safe ranges, so that’s a big thumbs up for their thermal management. How Much Does It Cost? Keep in mind that the X870 chipset is the flagship chipset for the new motherboards, so all of these are regarded as high-end motherboards. However, there are of course more affordable X870 and more premium X870 motherboards in this launch, with the largest variance being increased VRM, which is paired with larger VRM cooling solutions, which increases the price. The number of M.2 mounts, USB ports, and networking, for example, will all increase the price too. Unfortunately, we don't have UK pricing for these boards at the time of writing but will update that with retail links as soon as they're available sometime after we publish these reviews. If these are too expensive for you, there will be more affordable B-series motherboards coming, but we suspect these will be revealed at CES 2025 and launch in Q1 2025, if you can wait that long, if not, then the X-series boards are clearly some of the best options right now for those building an AMD focused build. More X870 Motherboards This is a major chipset launch for AMD, so there are dozens of new X870 motherboards hitting the market today. Of course, we've been very busy testing 9 of them for you, and they're all linked below, so if the one in this review isn't quite meeting your needs, there's plenty more to choose from! Largely, all being the same chipset, with the same AMD 9950X CPU being used for our testing, we expect the majority of the benchmarks to be broadly the same, with perhaps small differences in some of them. Largely, the price and performance of each motherboard are dictated by the additional features. Such as more PCIe slots, more M.2 mounts in Gen3, Gen4, or Gen5, more high-speed USB ports, more cooling hardware, etc. Largely, we recommend buying a motherboard that meets your current component requirements, with a little overhead for future upgrades; a spare M.2 slot for example. ASUS Prime X870-P WIFI Motherboard [Review] ASUS ProArt X870E-Creator WIFI Motherboard [Review] ASUS ROG Crosshair X870E Hero Motherboard [Review] ASUS ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WIFI Motherboard [Review] ASUS ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WIFI Motherboard [Review] ASUS ROG STRIX X870E Gaming WIFI Motherboard [Review] ASUS TUF Gaming X870-Plus WIFI Motherboard [Review] Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE Motherboard [Review] MSI MPG X870E Carbon WIFI Motherboard [Review] Conclusion The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI ICE Motherboard offers a compelling combination of cutting-edge features and user-friendly design, making it a strong contender for system builders seeking a high-performance AM5 platform. Gigabyte has clearly focused on delivering a motherboard that caters to the needs of demanding users, while also ensuring ease of use and accessibility for those newer to PC building. Powerful VRM for Demanding Processors The "ICE" motherboard, as we've come to call it during our testing, is particularly well-suited for gamers and content creators who demand top-tier performance and robust capabilities. Its robust VRM setup, featuring a digital twin 16+2+2 phase design, ensures ample power delivery for even the most demanding AMD Ryzen processors, including the latest Ryzen 9 series. This translates to stable performance during intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering, even when pushing the CPU to its limits through overclocking. Furthermore, support for dual-channel DDR5 memory with AMD EXPO allows for significant memory overclocking potential, enabling users to extract even more performance from their systems. Extreme Storage for Content Creators Storage options are plentiful with four M.2 slots, including three blazing-fast PCIe 5.0 x4 options, providing ample space for high-speed NVMe SSDs. This is particularly beneficial for content creators and professionals working with large files and demanding applications. Gigabyte has also thoughtfully included EZ-Latch Plus and Click mechanisms, allowing for tool-less installation of M.2 drives and other components. This simplifies the building process, making it more accessible to users of all experience levels. Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI ICE: A Feature-Rich Platform Beyond its core hardware capabilities, the X870 Aorus Elite WIFI ICE boasts a range of thoughtful design elements and features. The WIFI EZ-Plug, for instance, simplifies antenna installation, while the Sensor Panel Link ensures hassle-free in-chassis panel setup. Connectivity is excellent, with a 2.5GbE LAN for fast and reliable wired networking, and Wi-Fi 7 with a directional ultra-high gain antenna for blazing-fast wireless speeds. The inclusion of dual USB4 Type-C ports with DP-Alt mode expands connectivity options for high-resolution displays and external devices. Gigabyte hasn't skimped on the audio either, equipping the board with the Realtek ALC1220 HD Audio codec and audiophile-grade capacitors for an improved user experience. Should I Buy One? Overall, the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI ICE Motherboard presents a well-rounded package that caters to both performance enthusiasts and those seeking an easy-to-build system with modern amenities and ease of use. Its combination of powerful hardware, thoughtful design, and user-friendly features makes it a compelling choice in the AM5 motherboard market. If you're looking for a high-performance AM5 motherboard with a user-friendly design, the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WIFI7 ICE Motherboard is definitely worthy of your attention.