Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D

Name: Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D
Brand: Gigabyte
SKU: 3626

Manufacturer: Gigabyte

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D is an ATX-form-factor motherboard built around the AM5 socket and X870 chipset, targeting users who want a capable platform for current AMD processors. It includes Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) alongside Bluetooth 5.4, RGB lighting, and a straightforward BIOS reset mechanism, making it a well-rounded option for those building or upgrading a desktop system. The board carries a three-year warranty and measures 305 × 244 mm in standard ATX dimensions.

On the connectivity side, the board provides a strong USB lineup at the rear, including two USB 4 40Gbps ports alongside two Thunderbolt 4 ports, five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. Internally, four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors handle storage expansion, with full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support across those drives. A single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot handles the primary graphics card, while memory tops out at 256GB across four DDR5 slots running natively at 5200 MHz or up to 9000 MHz when overclocked. The onboard audio section delivers a 120 dB signal-to-noise ratio with 7.1-channel output and an S/PDIF port.

Pros

Includes two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, offering fast and versatile high-speed connectivity at the rear
Wi-Fi 7 support covers the full range from Wi-Fi 4 through to the latest 802.11be standard, ensuring broad wireless compatibility
Four M.2 sockets alongside four SATA 3 connectors provide ample storage expansion options within a single board
DDR5 memory can be overclocked up to 9000 MHz across four slots, with a maximum capacity of 256GB
Full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support gives users meaningful flexibility for both performance and redundancy configurations
Eight fan headers offer thorough cooling management across the system

Cons

Only a single PCIe x16 slot is available, limiting multi-GPU or high-bandwidth card configurations
No DisplayPort output is present, restricting video output to a single HDMI 2.1 connection
ECC memory is not supported, ruling out use cases that require error-correcting RAM
Dual BIOS is absent, meaning there is no automatic fallback if the primary BIOS becomes corrupted
No USB 2.0 rear ports are available, which may cause compatibility issues with older peripherals that rely on them

Who is this for?

This board is well suited to desktop builders who want a capable AM5 platform with room to grow. Users who need extensive high-speed connectivity will appreciate the two Thunderbolt 4 and two USB 4 40Gbps rear ports, while those working with large storage setups will find the four M.2 sockets and full RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 support particularly useful. The overclockable DDR5 memory support up to 9000 MHz and 256GB capacity also makes this a reasonable choice for memory-intensive workloads such as video editing or content creation, and the Wi-Fi 7 support suits users who prefer wireless connectivity without sacrificing modern standards.

Who is this NOT for?

This board is not a good fit for users who need multi-GPU configurations, as only a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot is available with no additional full-bandwidth slots. Those requiring ECC memory support for error-sensitive or server-grade workloads will need to look elsewhere, as this feature is absent. The lack of a dual BIOS also makes it less forgiving for users who frequently experiment with aggressive BIOS settings and want an automatic recovery option, and the single HDMI 2.1 output with no DisplayPort means it is a poor match for users running multi-monitor setups directly from the board's video output.

General info:

CPU socket	AM5
chipset	X870
form factor	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
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
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	244 mm
width	305 mm
Has integrated CPU	✕

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D uses the AM5 socket paired with the X870 chipset and comes in the standard ATX form factor, measuring 305 × 244 mm. It supports a single CPU and has no integrated processor or onboard graphics. Wireless connectivity is handled by a built-in adapter covering Wi-Fi 4 through Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), complemented by Bluetooth 5.4, though aptX audio codec support is not included. The board outputs video via HDMI 2.1, features RGB lighting, and includes a straightforward BIOS reset mechanism, while dual BIOS is not available. Overclocking is supported, and the board comes with a three-year warranty.

Memory:

maximum memory amount	256GB
RAM speed (max)	5200 MHz
overclocked RAM speed	9000 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 capacity of 256GB. Native RAM speeds reach up to 5200 MHz, while overclocking allows the memory to run at up to 9000 MHz. ECC memory is not supported.

Ports:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)	5
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A)	3
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)	1
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	1
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 broad USB selection, including five USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. At the higher end, there are two USB 4 40Gbps ports and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, while USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, USB 4 20Gbps, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 2.0 ports are absent. Video output is handled by a single HDMI port, with no DisplayPort, DVI, or VGA connectors present. Network connectivity is provided by one RJ45 port, and there are no eSATA or PS/2 ports.

Connectors:

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (through expansion)	4
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 ports (through expansion)	1
USB 2.0 ports (through expansion)	4
SATA 3 connectors	4
fan headers	8
USB 3.0 ports (through expansion)	4
M.2 sockets	4
Has TPM connector	✓
U.2 sockets	0
Has mSATA connector	✕
SATA 2 connectors	0

For internal expansion, the board provides four M.2 sockets and four SATA 3 connectors for storage, with no SATA 2, U.2, or mSATA connectors available. USB expansion headers include four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port. Cooling is well covered with eight fan headers, and a TPM connector is also present on the board.

Expansion slots:

PCIe 4.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe 5.0 x16 slots	1
PCIe 3.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x1 slots	0
PCI slots	0
PCIe 2.0 x16 slots	0
PCIe x4 slots	1
PCIe x8 slots	0

The board's expansion slot layout is straightforward, offering one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for the primary graphics card and one PCIe x4 slot for additional cards. There are no PCIe 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, x1, x8, or legacy PCI slots present.

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 audio connectors are available on the rear panel, and an S/PDIF Out 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 configurations, covering a range of performance and redundancy setups. RAID 0+1 is not supported.

Final Verdict

The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D is a well-specified AM5 motherboard that covers the essentials for a modern desktop build while offering a few standout features worth noting. Its Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 40Gbps rear connectivity sets it apart for users who regularly work with fast external devices, and the four M.2 sockets combined with broad RAID support make it a practical choice for storage-heavy configurations. The single PCIe x16 slot and absence of ECC memory or dual BIOS keep it firmly in the single-GPU, consumer-grade space, but within that context it delivers a coherent feature set. For builders targeting an AMD AM5 platform who need strong wireless capabilities, flexible storage options, and high-speed USB connectivity, this board is a sensible and well-rounded foundation.