Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice VS MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ

Both the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ share many similarities in their general specifications. Both motherboards feature an AM5 CPU socket, the X870 chipset, and an ATX form factor. They also offer Wi-Fi support with the same range of versions, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), along with Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Furthermore, both support HDMI 2.1, are easy to overclock, and include RGB lighting. They also have an easy BIOS reset function and lack dual BIOS functionality. Additionally, neither product has aptX support, and both are designed without integrated graphics.

The two products are identical in terms of CPU sockets (1), chipset (X870), Wi-Fi versions, Bluetooth version, HDMI version, and key features such as overclocking ease, RGB lighting, and BIOS reset. They both come with a 3-year warranty period, which matches across the two boards. However, the physical dimensions differ slightly: the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice has a height of 244 mm and width of 305 mm, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ measures 243.8 mm in height and 304.8 mm in width, with only minor differences between the two.

In terms of integrated components, neither motherboard includes integrated graphics or an integrated CPU. Both products are highly similar overall, with no significant variances outside the minor differences in their dimensions.

When comparing memory specifications, the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ are quite similar, with a few key differences. Both motherboards support a maximum memory amount of 256GB and feature four memory slots. They also both support DDR5 memory and have dual memory channels, which is typical for modern high-performance boards.

The main difference between the two products lies in their RAM speed capabilities. The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice supports a maximum RAM speed of 5200 MHz, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ can handle slightly faster RAM at 5600 MHz. The overclocked RAM speed also differs: the Gigabyte model supports up to 9000 MHz, while the MSI model can overclock to 8400 MHz. While both boards support high-performance overclocking, the Gigabyte motherboard offers a higher overclocked speed.

Neither motherboard supports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) memory, so both are aimed at consumer-grade builds rather than workstations that require ECC support.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offer a range of port options, but with some notable differences. Both motherboards feature a mix of USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, with the Gigabyte model having 7 USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) and the MSI model offering just 2. However, the MSI board has 3 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB-A) ports, whereas the Gigabyte board has none. Both boards include 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB-C) port.

In terms of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports, the Gigabyte board has 1, while the MSI board does not include any. Both products have 2 USB 4 40Gbps ports and 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, matching each other in these high-speed data transfer options. As for traditional display outputs, both motherboards have an HDMI output but lack DisplayPort outputs, DVI outputs, or VGA connectors.

When it comes to network connections, the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice has 2 RJ45 ports, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ only has 1. Both boards include USB Type-C ports and do not feature eSATA ports, PS/2 ports, or VGA connectors.

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ are quite similar in terms of connectors, with only a few 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). They also each provide 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (through expansion) and 8 fan headers, offering plenty of connectivity and cooling options for high-performance builds.

Where the two boards differ slightly is in the number of SATA 3 connectors. The Gigabyte board includes 2 SATA 3 connectors, while the MSI board has 4. Additionally, the Gigabyte board features 5 M.2 sockets, compared to 4 on the MSI model. Both products support a TPM connector and do not include any mSATA connectors. Neither product has any U.2 sockets or SATA 2 connectors.

Overall, both motherboards offer robust connector options, with the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice providing a slight edge in terms of M.2 sockets, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offers more SATA 3 connectors.

When comparing the expansion slots of the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ, the two motherboards offer a similar set of options, with some differences in their configurations. Both boards feature no PCIe 4.0 x16 slots and no PCIe 3.0 x16 slots. However, the Gigabyte board offers 2 PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, while the MSI model provides just 1 PCIe 5.0 x16 slot.

Both products include 1 PCIe x4 slot and 1 PCIe x1 slot, but the MSI board offers an additional PCIe x1 slot compared to the Gigabyte board, which has none. Neither motherboard includes any PCI slots or PCIe 2.0 x16 slots, and both are focused on modern PCIe standards for expansion.

Overall, the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice has a slight edge in terms of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offers more PCIe x1 slots for expansion cards.

In terms of audio specifications, both the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offer similar features. Both motherboards provide a 120 dB Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC), ensuring high-quality audio output. Additionally, both products include 2 audio connectors and support an S/PDIF Out port for digital audio transmission.

The key difference between the two boards is in the number of audio channels. The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice supports 5.1 audio channels, while the MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offers a 7.1 audio channel configuration, allowing for more immersive surround sound on the MSI model.

Overall, the two motherboards are quite similar in audio performance, with the MSI model having a slight advantage in terms of audio channel support.

Both the Gigabyte X870E Aorus Master X3D Ice and MSI MAG X870E Tomahawk Max Wi-Fi PZ offer robust RAID support, with identical RAID configurations. Both motherboards support RAID 1, RAID 10 (1+0), RAID 5, and RAID 0, providing flexibility for various storage setups. Neither motherboard supports RAID 0+1.

Since the RAID capabilities are the same for both models, there are no differences in this area. Users of either product will have the same RAID options for their storage configurations.

Overall, the storage features of both boards are identical, offering the same RAID support without any significant distinctions between them.