Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme VS Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice both feature the AM5 CPU socket and X870 chipset, making them compatible with the same generation of processors. However, the form factor differs slightly, with the Asus board using an E-ATX design while the Gigabyte uses a more standard ATX form factor.

Both motherboards support a wide range of Wi-Fi standards, including Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, and offer Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. The HDMI version on both boards is HDMI 2.1, providing support for high-resolution video outputs. Additionally, both are easy to overclock and feature RGB lighting, with the Asus model also offering dual BIOS for added reliability, while the Gigabyte lacks this feature.

In terms of size, the Asus motherboard is slightly taller at 277 mm compared to the Gigabyte's 244 mm. Both have a 3-year warranty period, but the Asus model includes dual BIOS functionality while the Gigabyte model does not. Neither board includes integrated graphics or supports aptX audio.

Both the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice support a maximum memory amount of 256GB, with four memory slots and dual-channel DDR5 support. The maximum supported RAM speed differs slightly between the two: the Asus model supports up to 4100 MHz, while the Gigabyte model supports a higher maximum speed of 5200 MHz.

Both motherboards support overclocked RAM speeds of up to 9000 MHz, so they are well-suited for enthusiasts looking to push their memory performance. Neither board supports ECC memory, making them both non-ECC models for those who need error-correcting capabilities.

In summary, the key difference between these two boards in the memory department lies in the maximum supported RAM speed, with the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice offering a higher base speed compared to the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme.

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice offer a similar array of ports, with both providing USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 4 40Gbps, and Thunderbolt 4 ports. The Asus model has 8 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports, while the Gigabyte model has one less, with 7. Additionally, the Asus board includes 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C ports, while the Gigabyte version only offers 1.

When it comes to additional USB options, the Asus board supports 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports, with no USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports or USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports in sight, while the Gigabyte board has 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, but no USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Both boards feature 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports and 2 RJ45 Ethernet ports.

Both motherboards include an HDMI output and lack DisplayPort, DVI, and VGA connectors, so there’s no difference in that area. The Gigabyte board does, however, include 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port that the Asus model does not, while the Asus board has more USB-A ports overall compared to the Gigabyte.

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice both offer a similar range of connectors, with 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 4 USB 3.0 ports, and 4 USB 2.0 ports available through expansion. Both also support 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port through expansion. However, the Asus model has 4 SATA 3 connectors, while the Gigabyte model has only 2. Additionally, the Asus board has 7 fan headers, whereas the Gigabyte board has 8, giving it one more option for cooling management.

Both motherboards come with 5 M.2 sockets, so there is no difference in that regard. The Asus model lacks a TPM connector, while the Gigabyte board includes this feature, which could be a consideration for users needing a Trusted Platform Module for security purposes. Neither board includes U.2 sockets or mSATA connectors, and both have 0 SATA 2 connectors.

Overall, the main differences in connectors between the two motherboards are the number of SATA 3 connectors, the presence of a TPM connector on the Gigabyte model, and a slight variation in fan header count, with the Gigabyte offering one more.

Both the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice feature 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, providing the same high-speed expansion slot option. Neither motherboard includes PCIe 4.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x16, or PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, so both are limited to PCIe 5.0 for their x16 expansion needs.

The key difference between these two boards is that the Asus model lacks PCIe x4 slots, while the Gigabyte model includes 1 PCIe x4 slot. Both motherboards lack PCIe x1, PCI, and PCIe x8 slots, making the Gigabyte the only one of the two to offer the PCIe x4 slot.

In summary, the primary distinction in the expansion slots of these two boards is the presence of a PCIe x4 slot on the Gigabyte model, which the Asus model does not offer.

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice both offer a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 120 dB for their DACs, ensuring high-quality audio performance. However, they differ in the number of audio channels supported. The Asus board supports 7.1 audio channels, while the Gigabyte model supports 5.1 channels, making the Asus a better option for users seeking surround sound with more audio channels.

Both motherboards include 2 audio connectors and have an S/PDIF Out port, so there is no difference in connectivity options in terms of digital audio output.

In summary, the key difference between the two in terms of audio features is the number of supported audio channels, with the Asus model supporting 7.1 channels and the Gigabyte supporting 5.1 channels.

Both the Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Extreme and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice support the same RAID levels: RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0. Neither board supports RAID 0+1, so the storage configurations available for both are identical in terms of RAID functionality.

In summary, there is no difference between the two motherboards in terms of supported RAID levels—they both offer the same set of options.