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Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial specifications and in-depth review

Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial

Manufacturer: Asus

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial is a full-size E-ATX motherboard built around the AM5 socket and AMD X870 chipset. It includes RGB lighting, dual BIOS support, and an easy BIOS reset mechanism, alongside integrated Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity out of the box.

On the connectivity side, the board provides a well-stocked rear panel with eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, and two USB 4 40Gbps ports that double as Thunderbolt 4, complemented by dual RJ45 LAN ports. Storage options include seven M.2 sockets, four SATA 3 connectors with full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, and two PCIe 5.0 x16 expansion slots. The board accommodates up to four DDR5 memory modules across two channels, supporting overclocked speeds up to 9600 MHz and a maximum capacity of 256GB.

Pros
  • Seven M.2 sockets provide extensive NVMe storage expansion without relying on SATA slots
  • Two Thunderbolt 4 ports double as USB 4 40Gbps, enabling high-bandwidth device connectivity from the rear panel
  • Wi-Fi 7 support covers all major wireless standards from Wi-Fi 4 onward, ensuring broad compatibility
  • Dual BIOS and easy BIOS reset offer meaningful protection against failed firmware updates
  • DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 9600 MHz across four slots, with a maximum capacity of 256GB
  • Full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support gives flexible options for both storage performance and data redundancy
Cons
  • E-ATX form factor limits compatibility to larger cases, reducing build flexibility
  • No USB 2.0 or USB 3.2 Gen 1 rear ports may cause issues with older peripherals that rely on those standards
  • ECC memory is not supported, which rules out use cases requiring error-correcting RAM
  • No video output of any kind means a discrete GPU is mandatory even for basic display output
  • Only four SATA 3 connectors is relatively modest given the board's overall scale
  • No TPM connector is present, which may affect certain security or enterprise-oriented configurations
Who is this for?

This board is well-suited to enthusiast desktop builders who want to push DDR5 memory performance, given its support for overclocked speeds up to 9600 MHz and a 256GB capacity ceiling. The seven M.2 sockets and full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support make it a strong fit for users managing large or redundant storage arrays. The combination of Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity also makes it appealing for workstation users who rely on fast wired and wireless peripheral ecosystems. Those who value system resilience will appreciate the dual BIOS and easy overclock features for a more controlled and recoverable tuning experience.

Who is this NOT for?

The E-ATX form factor makes this board a poor fit for anyone building in a mid-tower or smaller case, as it requires a full extended ATX enclosure. Users with older peripherals may also find the complete absence of USB 2.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 rear ports problematic, since legacy devices relying on those standards will have no direct rear-panel connection. It is equally unsuitable for workloads requiring ECC memory, such as certain data integrity-sensitive or server-adjacent tasks, as that capability is not supported. Additionally, the lack of any video output means it cannot serve users who need a system capable of displaying output without a discrete graphics card.

General info:

CPU socket AM5
chipset X870
form factor E-ATX
supports Wi-Fi ✓
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Has Bluetooth ✓
Bluetooth version 5.4
Easy to overclock ✓
has RGB lighting ✓
Easy to reset BIOS ✓
Has dual BIOS ✓
has aptX ✕
CPU sockets 1
Has integrated graphics ✕
warranty period 3 years
height 277 mm
width 305 mm
Has integrated CPU ✕

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial is built around the AM5 socket and is compatible with the X870 chipset, housed in an E-ATX form factor measuring 305 mm × 277 mm. It supports a single CPU and carries no integrated processor or onboard graphics. Wireless connectivity is handled by a built-in Wi-Fi adapter covering Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), paired with Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX audio is not supported. The board includes RGB lighting, dual BIOS, an easy BIOS reset mechanism, and is noted as straightforward to overclock. It carries a 3-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount 256GB
overclocked RAM speed 9600 MHz
memory slots 4
DDR memory version 5
memory channels 2
Supports ECC memory ✕

The board supports DDR5 memory across four slots arranged in a dual-channel configuration, with a maximum supported capacity of 256GB. Overclocked speeds can reach up to 9600 MHz, offering headroom for high-performance memory kits. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 8
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 4
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 2.0 ports 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 2
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 2
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output ✕
DisplayPort outputs 0
RJ45 ports 2
Has USB Type-C ✓
eSATA ports 0
DVI outputs 0
has a VGA connector ✕
PS/2 ports 0

The rear I/O panel offers a strong USB lineup, led by eight USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, with no USB 3.2 Gen 1 or USB 2.0 ports present. At the top end, two USB 4 40Gbps ports also function as Thunderbolt 4, while there are no USB 4 20Gbps or Thunderbolt 3 ports. Network connectivity is covered by two RJ45 ports. There are no video outputs of any kind — no HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA — and no eSATA or PS/2 ports are included.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion) 4
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (through expansion) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports (through expansion) 2
USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (through expansion) 0
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion) 6
SATA 3 connectors 4
fan headers 7
M.2 sockets 7
Has TPM connector ✕
U.2 sockets 0
Has mSATA connector ✕
SATA 2 connectors 0

Internal expansion headers include four USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectors, two USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectors, and six USB 2.0 connectors, while USB 3.2 Gen 2 and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 expansion headers are absent. Storage connectivity is handled by seven M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors, with no SATA 2, U.2, or mSATA options present. The board provides seven fan headers for cooling management, and does not include a TPM connector.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 5.0 x16 slots 2
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe x1 slots 0
PCI slots 0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots 0
PCIe x4 slots 0
PCIe x8 slots 0

The board features two PCIe 5.0 x16 slots as its sole expansion options. There are no PCIe 4.0, 3.0, or 2.0 x16 slots, and no PCIe x8, x4, or x1 slots of any generation. Legacy PCI slots are also absent.

Audio:

Signal-to-Noise ratio (DAC) 120 dB
audio channels 7.1
Has S/PDIF Out port ✓
audio connectors 2

The onboard audio supports 7.1-channel output and delivers a DAC signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB. Two analog audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and a S/PDIF output port is included for digital audio passthrough.

Storage:

Supports RAID 1 ✓
Supports RAID 10 (1+0) ✓
Supports RAID 5 ✓
Supports RAID 0 ✓
Supports RAID 0+1 ✕

The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 (1+0) configurations, covering the most commonly used storage array modes for both performance and redundancy setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial is a feature-dense E-ATX motherboard that makes a clear case for itself among serious AM5 desktop builders. Its seven M.2 sockets, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, and Wi-Fi 7 support reflect a board designed for users who demand both storage depth and high-bandwidth connectivity in a single platform. The DDR5 overclocking headroom and full RAID support further reinforce its credentials for performance-oriented and storage-heavy workloads. That said, its large form factor, absence of legacy USB ports, and lack of ECC support mean it targets a specific kind of builder rather than a broad audience. For those whose requirements align with what it offers, the Crosshair X870E Glacial represents a thoroughly capable and well-equipped foundation for a high-end AM5 system.