Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W VS Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D

The Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D both feature an AM5 CPU socket and an ATX form factor. Both motherboards also support Wi-Fi, with the Asus offering Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), while the Gigabyte includes all those plus the newer Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), providing an additional Wi-Fi standard for more advanced networking. Both products support Bluetooth, but the Asus model uses Bluetooth 5.3, while the Gigabyte model has the slightly newer Bluetooth 5.4.

Both motherboards feature HDMI 2.1 support, offer easy overclocking, and include RGB lighting. They also both have an easy-to-reset BIOS. However, the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W has dual BIOS, while the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D lacks this feature. Additionally, neither product includes aptX support or integrated graphics. Both boards have a single CPU socket, and neither features integrated CPUs. They also come with a 3-year warranty period, and their dimensions are identical, with both measuring 244 mm in height and 305 mm in width.

While the Asus model includes dual BIOS for added system redundancy, the Gigabyte model does not, which may be a consideration for users seeking additional reliability in their setups. In terms of Bluetooth version, the Asus offers a slightly older Bluetooth 5.3, while the Gigabyte includes the more recent Bluetooth 5.4. These are relatively minor differences, but could be relevant for those interested in the latest connectivity options.

Both the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D support a maximum memory amount of 256GB. Both motherboards also have 4 memory slots and support DDR5 memory, with 2 memory channels for efficient data transfer. However, when it comes to overclocked RAM speed, the Asus model supports up to 8000 MHz, while the Gigabyte model supports a higher overclocked speed of 9000 MHz.

Neither of the products supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, meaning neither is designed to automatically detect and correct memory errors, which may be a consideration for users who require that feature for mission-critical applications.

Overall, the memory specifications are similar between the two products, with the main difference being the Gigabyte's higher supported overclocked RAM speed of 9000 MHz compared to the Asus model's 8000 MHz. Both products are capable of handling substantial amounts of memory, up to 256GB, making them suitable for high-performance applications.

The Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D differ in their USB port offerings. The Asus model provides 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A), 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A), 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (USB-C), and 2 USB 2.0 ports. In contrast, the Gigabyte board offers more USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports with a total of 5, and it has 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, along with 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (USB-C). Both motherboards have USB Type-C support, but the Gigabyte model offers 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports, which the Asus model lacks.

Both motherboards include an HDMI output, though the Asus board also has a DisplayPort output, while the Gigabyte model does not. Both feature 1 RJ45 port for Ethernet connectivity. The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D additionally includes 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W does not have any Thunderbolt ports. Neither board includes USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, eSATA, DVI, or VGA ports, and both lack PS/2 ports.

In summary, the Gigabyte model offers more USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-A) ports, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and USB 4 40Gbps ports compared to the Asus, while the Asus model includes a DisplayPort output that the Gigabyte lacks. Both boards share common features like HDMI output and 1 RJ45 port, but the Gigabyte provides more advanced USB and Thunderbolt connectivity options.

The Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D differ in several connector-related features. Both motherboards provide 4 SATA 3 connectors, but the Asus model has 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports through expansion and 6 USB 2.0 ports through expansion, while the Gigabyte offers more flexibility with 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and 4 USB 2.0 ports through expansion.

When it comes to M.2 sockets, the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W includes 3, while the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D provides 4, offering a slight edge for users looking to expand storage via M.2 drives. Both models include 6 fan headers, but the Gigabyte board provides 2 additional fan headers, totaling 8.

Both motherboards feature TPM connectors, and neither includes U.2 or mSATA connectors. Additionally, neither supports SATA 2 connectors. In summary, the Gigabyte board offers more USB ports through expansion and an extra M.2 socket, along with additional fan headers, providing more expansion options compared to the Asus model.

The Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D have some distinct differences in their expansion slots. The Asus model offers 1 PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, and 2 PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, providing a total of 4 x16 slots. In contrast, the Gigabyte board has 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 1 PCIe x4 slot, but it lacks PCIe 4.0 x16 and PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. Neither motherboard includes PCIe x1, PCI, PCIe 2.0 x16, or PCIe x8 slots.

The Asus model has a wider variety of x16 slots, allowing more flexibility in terms of expansion cards, particularly for high-performance graphics cards or other x16 devices. The Gigabyte model, however, opts for a simpler configuration, with fewer x16 slots but an additional PCIe x4 slot for other types of expansion cards that require more bandwidth than PCIe x1.

In summary, the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W offers more PCIe x16 slots, providing more expansion potential, while the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D focuses on a mix of PCIe 5.0 x16 and PCIe x4 slots for different types of devices, but it lacks the number of x16 slots the Asus offers.

Both the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D support 7.1 audio channels, providing immersive surround sound capabilities. However, the Asus model does not include an S/PDIF Out port, while the Gigabyte board does, offering additional connectivity for digital audio devices. In terms of audio connectors, the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W has 3, while the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D has 2 audio connectors.

In summary, both motherboards offer 7.1 audio channels, but the Gigabyte model has an advantage with the inclusion of an S/PDIF Out port, which the Asus lacks. The Asus model provides one additional audio connector, giving users more options for physical audio device connections.

Both the Asus B850 Max Gaming Wi-Fi W and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D support the same RAID configurations, including RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, which is consistent across both models. This means both motherboards are capable of providing similar RAID options for users looking for redundancy or performance enhancement in their storage setup.

In summary, there are no differences between the two models in terms of RAID support, as both provide the same RAID levels, including RAID 1, RAID 10, RAID 5, and RAID 0, while excluding RAID 0+1.