X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7. Gigabyte’s mid-range tested

It copies the older B650E Aorus Pro X USB4 in many points, but it is not a “perfect clone”. In some ways the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 has the upper hand, in others it lags behind. However, this mid-range motherboard is definitely worth your attention. Those who were frustrated by the in some places relatively poor connectivity of the Asus TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi may now be satisfied.

After the Asus TUF Gaming X870 Plus WiFi, the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 is the second motherboard with the AMD X870 chipset we’ve analyzed in detail. It is also from the same price range (as the mentioned Asus motherboard), so there is also a good comparison if you have a budget of around 330 EUR.

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Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7

This motherboard is largely based on the B650E Aorus Pro X USB4, which with the older chipset was the only Gigabyte model with USB4 support. X870 motherboards have it but it is mandatory, which is also true for the X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7. In the context of this motherboard we can talk about the mid-range, the use of the X870 chipset (with one Promontory 21 chip) and actually the overall features point to it.

The physical format of the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 is ATX (305 × 244 mm), so it is a motherboard with a larger number of PCI Express slots, and there are also DIMM slots for DDR5 memory modules in full (four).

   

Noteworthy is the remote switch to release the PCIe ×16 slot latch, which was not yet on the Aorus X670 Elite (AX), that is, the AM5 motherboard from Gigabyte for a comparable price. It is now convenient to remove expansion cards (typically graphics cards) even from under large tower coolers. This button is easily accessible on the right edge of the motherboard, so no fiddling around for the latch directly on the slot is required.

The first M.2 SSD slot is positioned above the first PCIe ×16 slot, which allows a taller (SSD) cooler to be used. The latter even has its own backplate on the back.

   

The chosen layout (PCIe ×16 slot below the M.2 slot) is also practical with regard to a significant distance from the CPU socket. So much so that the card in the first PCI Express ×16 slot will not interfere even with coolers with wider fin spans. There is 89 mm between the centers of the sockets (CPU and PCIe ×16 slot).

In the case of the X870 Aorus Elite WiFi7 motherboard, Gigabyte has bet on a total of three PCIe ×16 slots, with only the first one, primarily dedicated to the graphics card, supporting the interface in the 5th generation (PCIe 5.0). Thus, because of the PCIe 5.0 support, we can talk about a forward-looking design that will also be suitable for future generations of graphics cards. The remaining two PCI Express slots are already connected to the X870 chipset and although they retain the physical dimensions of “×16”, the second slot (PCIe) is a four-lane slot, with support for PCIe 4.0, and the third has only two PCIe 3.0 lanes. But even those are enough for simpler expansion cards, and they won’t limit network cards, which include, for example, the Axagon PCEE-G25.

The 20-phase (16+2+2) VRM has 16 phases dedicated to Vcore. One is rated for a continuous load of 55 A. This kind of current has to, of course, also be coolable, which is impossible with coolers such as those used on motherboards. This is also why the VRM is significantly overdimensioned and the load in practice does not approach the maximum. This then also has a positive impact on power efficiency. The MOSFET voltage regulators used, by the way, are Onsemi NCP302155R.

   

Underneath the two aluminum monoliths connected by a heatpipe is then another simpler heatsink. This one is used to cool the USB4 controller. We won’t load this one to maximum performance in our tests, as the testing external SSD with a half-bandwidth interface is the limit. But you can connect USB4-enabled devices to the two USB-C ports on the rear panel.

   

The WiFi (7) with the Mediatek MT7925 chip is also modern and fast. Its wireless module (including Bluetooth 5.4 support) is positioned vertically between the other connectors on the rear panel of the motherboard. You can also connect an antenna to it to amplify the signal. This is done in a practical way via two push-pins (no screwing). Also practical is the design of the stand (with WiFi antennas), which you can conveniently place somewhere on a table or the like using the 80 cm long cable.

The rear connector panel contains a relatively large number of USB connectors, up to 12 in total, but four of them only support the “2.0” standard. The latter is slow, but for connecting peripherals such as a mouse, headset, keyboard (but be careful not to let the interface hinder its hub with a faster USB, if it has one) or a multimedia device. Two USB connectors are then 40-gigabit (USB4), the same number (2) are then 3.2 gen. 2×2 standard (20 Gbps) and four are then 3.2 gen. 1 standard (5 Gbps).

The Ethernet is “only” 2.5-gigabit. And as far as audio jacks are concerned, the S/PDIF optical output is present, but count on only two 3.5 mm jacks (instead of five for connecting analogue satellites of multi-channel loudspeakers). Sound chip? Realtek ALC1220.

What is also notable about the rear panel is the perforated part of its cover. This is (for more efficient cooling) placed behind the passive cooler of the USB4 controller.

Please note: The article continues in the following chapters.