Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice VS Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice

The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice share a number of similarities in their general specifications. Both motherboards use the AM5 CPU socket, feature the X870 chipset, and are designed in the ATX form factor. They both support a wide range of Wi-Fi versions, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and the latest Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), ensuring robust wireless connectivity. Additionally, both products come equipped with Bluetooth 5.4 and HDMI 2.1, making them versatile for connectivity.

When it comes to overclocking and user-friendly features, both motherboards are designed with easy overclocking capabilities, feature RGB lighting, and offer an easy BIOS reset option. Neither of the models has dual BIOS support or aptX, which are often seen in other high-end boards. Both also come with a 3-year warranty and have identical dimensions, measuring 244 mm in height and 305 mm in width.

In terms of integrated graphics, both models lack this feature, meaning users will need a dedicated GPU. One point of note is that both motherboards also have a single CPU socket, ensuring compatibility with most high-end CPUs. Finally, both the X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice come with no integrated CPU, confirming that they are designed to work with a separate processor of your choice.

The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice have identical memory specifications. Both motherboards support a maximum memory amount of 256GB, providing ample capacity for high-performance applications and multitasking. They each support DDR5 memory, with a maximum RAM speed of 5200 MHz and the potential for overclocked speeds up to 9000 MHz, offering flexibility for users who want to push their system’s performance.

Both models are equipped with 4 memory slots and support dual memory channels, which is standard for high-end boards aiming to maximize bandwidth and system efficiency. Additionally, neither motherboard supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, so users seeking this feature would need to explore other options.

In summary, the memory specifications are exactly the same for both the X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice, making them equally suited for demanding memory-intensive tasks.

The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice offer similar ports but with a few differences in USB and Ethernet connectivity. Both motherboards have USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports, but the Elite X3D Ice provides 2, while the Master X3D Ice offers 7. Both boards also feature 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port. The Elite X3D Ice has 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-A ports, while the Master X3D Ice does not include any USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports but adds a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, giving it an additional high-speed USB port.

For USB 4, both motherboards are equipped with 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports, but the Elite X3D Ice does not have any USB 4 20Gbps ports, while the Master X3D Ice includes 0 as well. Both motherboards feature 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, but neither supports Thunderbolt 3. Both also have HDMI outputs, but neither includes DisplayPort outputs or DVI outputs, and neither has a VGA connector.

In terms of networking, the Elite X3D Ice has 1 RJ45 port, while the Master X3D Ice provides 2 RJ45 ports, giving it a slight advantage for users needing additional wired connections. Both motherboards include USB Type-C, eSATA ports, and PS/2 ports are not present on either model.

The Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice are quite similar in terms of their connectors, with only a few key differences. Both motherboards offer 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 4 USB 3.0 ports (through expansion), and 4 USB 2.0 ports (through expansion). Additionally, both feature 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (through expansion), 2 SATA 3 connectors, and 8 fan headers. They also both support TPM connectors and have no U.2 or mSATA connectors, with SATA 2 connectors also absent from both models.

The main difference between the two is that the X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice has 5 M.2 sockets, whereas the X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice has 4. This additional M.2 socket on the Master X3D Ice could be beneficial for users needing more NVMe storage options. Otherwise, the two motherboards are very similar in their connector offerings.

Overall, the connector specifications are largely the same, with the X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice offering a slight advantage in terms of M.2 socket count.

The expansion slots on the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice differ primarily in the number of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots. The Elite X3D Ice features 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, while the Master X3D Ice offers 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, providing additional expansion options for high-speed devices like GPUs. Both motherboards include 1 PCIe x4 slot, but neither model includes any PCIe 4.0 x16, PCIe 3.0 x16, PCIe x1, PCI, or PCIe 2.0 x16 slots.

Both motherboards also lack PCIe x8 slots, which means neither offers expansion in this form factor. In summary, the main difference between the two is the number of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, with the Master X3D Ice offering an additional slot compared to the Elite X3D Ice.

The audio specifications of the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice are quite similar, with the primary difference being in the number of audio channels. Both motherboards feature a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 120 dB for the DAC, ensuring high-quality audio output. The Elite X3D Ice supports 7.1 audio channels, while the Master X3D Ice supports 5.1 audio channels, providing a slight difference in surround sound capability.

Both motherboards are equipped with 2 audio connectors and include an S/PDIF Out port, allowing for digital audio output. Aside from the difference in audio channel configuration, all other audio features are identical between the two models.

In summary, the main distinction in the audio specifications is that the Elite X3D Ice supports 7.1 audio channels, while the Master X3D Ice supports 5.1 channels, which could make the Elite X3D Ice a better choice for users looking for a more immersive audio experience.

The storage features of the Gigabyte X870 Aorus Elite X3D Ice and the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice are identical. Both motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0 configurations, providing a range of options for data redundancy and performance. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, which limits some RAID level combinations but does not affect the main standard RAID configurations available on both models.

In summary, both motherboards offer the same RAID support, making them equal in terms of storage capabilities.