Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice VS Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top share several core specifications but also have some notable differences. Both motherboards feature the AM5 CPU socket and the X870 chipset, making them compatible with similar processors. They also support Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, 6E, and the latest Wi-Fi 7 standards, alongside Bluetooth 5.4, ensuring strong wireless connectivity options. Both models also come with HDMI 2.1 support, making them suitable for high-quality video output.

In terms of physical dimensions, the Xtreme X3D AI Top is slightly larger, with a height of 285 mm compared to the X3D Ice's 244 mm. Both motherboards are equipped with RGB lighting and are designed with overclocking in mind. However, the Xtreme X3D AI Top's form factor is E-ATX, which could offer additional space for components, while the X3D Ice follows a more standard ATX form factor. Both models come with a 3-year warranty, ensuring long-term support.

Another common feature is the lack of integrated graphics, so an external GPU is required for both. The Xtreme X3D AI Top and X3D Ice both have one CPU socket, but neither includes dual BIOS functionality or aptX support. Lastly, both motherboards have easy BIOS reset options, but the Xtreme X3D AI Top’s extra size might give it an edge for users who need more room for expansion or cooling solutions.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top have identical specifications when it comes to memory support. Both motherboards can accommodate up to 256GB of memory and support DDR5 memory. They each have 4 memory slots and support a maximum RAM speed of 5200 MHz, which is common for these platforms. Additionally, both motherboards can handle overclocked RAM speeds of up to 9000 MHz, offering flexibility for users looking to push their system’s performance.

Both models also feature dual memory channels, allowing for improved memory bandwidth and performance. Neither motherboard supports ECC memory, meaning they are more suitable for gaming and general-purpose use rather than applications that require error-correcting capabilities.

Given that the memory specifications are identical across both products, users can expect the same performance in terms of memory speed, capacity, and expansion potential from either motherboard.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top offer a range of ports, with some differences in the number of USB ports and network connectivity. The X3D Ice has 5 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) and 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A), whereas the Xtreme X3D AI Top provides 8 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A), offering more USB-A connections overall. Both models feature 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 port (USB-C), and neither has any USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C). The X3D Ice lacks USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports, while the Xtreme X3D AI Top has 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, which allows for faster data transfer rates.

Both motherboards include 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports and 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, ensuring fast connectivity options. For display outputs, both have an HDMI output, but neither includes DisplayPort outputs or a VGA connector. Additionally, both motherboards lack eSATA ports, DVI outputs, and PS/2 ports, so users will need alternative methods for older peripherals.

In terms of networking, the X3D Ice has 1 RJ45 port, while the Xtreme X3D AI Top offers 2 RJ45 ports, providing an advantage for users seeking more network connections. Both motherboards feature USB Type-C, but otherwise have similar port configurations in terms of legacy connections.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top share several similarities in terms of connectors, with both featuring 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion), 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (through expansion), and 4 USB 2.0 ports (through expansion). The X3D Ice has 4 SATA 3 connectors, whereas the Xtreme X3D AI Top offers only 2 SATA 3 connectors, which could be a consideration for users with multiple storage devices.

When it comes to fan headers, the X3D Ice provides 8 headers, while the Xtreme X3D AI Top has 6, offering a slight difference in cooling options. The X3D Ice also includes 4 M.2 sockets, compared to the Xtreme X3D AI Top’s 5, providing more flexibility for additional NVMe storage on the latter. Both motherboards lack U.2 sockets and mSATA connectors, but the X3D Ice features a TPM connector, which the Xtreme X3D AI Top does not have.

In summary, the X3D Ice provides more fan headers and SATA connectors, while the Xtreme X3D AI Top offers a greater number of M.2 sockets. Both motherboards share most of the same other connector specifications, but the inclusion of a TPM connector on the X3D Ice is a notable difference for users requiring security hardware support.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top share similar PCIe slot configurations but with a key difference in the number of PCIe x8 slots. Both motherboards have 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and 1 PCIe x4 slot, which are suitable for high-performance GPUs and expansion cards. Neither motherboard has PCIe 3.0 x16 slots or PCI slots, and both lack PCIe 2.0 x16 slots.

The difference comes with the Xtreme X3D AI Top, which includes 1 PCIe x8 slot, while the X3D Ice does not. This could provide additional flexibility for users who want to install an additional x8 card, such as an expansion card or a secondary GPU. Both motherboards are equipped with the same number of PCIe x16 and PCIe x4 slots.

In summary, the main difference in expansion slots between the two motherboards is the presence of the PCIe x8 slot on the Xtreme X3D AI Top, providing more expansion opportunities compared to the X3D Ice.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top both feature high-quality audio capabilities with some slight differences. Both motherboards offer a signal-to-noise ratio (DAC) of 120 dB, ensuring excellent audio clarity. However, the X3D Ice supports 7.1 audio channels, while the Xtreme X3D AI Top offers 8 audio channels, providing slightly more comprehensive surround sound support.

Another distinction is that the X3D Ice includes an S/PDIF Out port, which is useful for digital audio transmission, whereas the Xtreme X3D AI Top does not provide this feature. Both motherboards have 2 audio connectors, meaning they support similar physical audio output options.

In summary, the main differences between the two in terms of audio are the additional audio channel on the Xtreme X3D AI Top and the presence of the S/PDIF Out port on the X3D Ice, making it better suited for specific high-quality digital audio setups.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D Ice and Gigabyte X870E Aorus Xtreme X3D AI Top offer identical support for RAID configurations. Both motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0, providing flexibility for users seeking various levels of redundancy and performance in storage setups. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1, which is a common RAID configuration for mirroring and striping but is less widely used compared to the others.

Since both motherboards share the same RAID support, users looking to set up a RAID array will find equivalent options in both models. The absence of RAID 0+1 support is the only common limitation for both motherboards in this category.

In summary, there is no difference between the two products in terms of supported RAID configurations, so either motherboard can be used for similar storage setups.