AMD's new Zen 5-powered Ryzen 9000 Series processors, including the latest PC gaming champ, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, have arrived. And they have done so alongside a brand-new generation of high-performance AM5 motherboards: the X870 and X870E Series. With support for the latest DDR technology and cutting-edge USB4 transfer speeds, the new boards are also designed to make the most of Ryzen technology.
Motherboards with the AM5 X870 and X870E chipset support everything from the new Zen 5-powered Ryzen 9000 Series to the Ryzen 8000 Series of APUs and the still popular Zen 4-powered Ryzen 7000 Series. There are multiple X870 and X870E motherboards to choose from, each supporting faster memory speeds and the latest storage and wireless technologies. The various models and variants are also tailored and tuned for different experiences.
GIGABYTE's diverse line-up of X870 and X870E motherboards pushes the chipset advancements even further with AI-enhanced tools and performance, impressive thermal design and power delivery, expansion options, and DIY-Friendly 'EZ' innovations that make everything from installing a new M.2 SSD to overclocking a breeze.
Choosing the right board can be one of the most challenging parts of building a new rig, which is why we've compiled this guide. Whether you're a gamer with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D or the new 9800X3D CPU, a content creator looking to stream and edit, someone who overclocks and tinkers with memory timing and voltages, or someone looking to train complex AI models with multiple GPUs and SSDs - GIGABYTE has an X870 or X870E motherboard that's right for you.
X870 and X870E motherboards share many similarities, including the significant technological advancements that have arrived with the latest AMD desktop CPUs. Both boards feature expanded AMD EXPO support for faster DDR5 memory speeds of up to DDR5-8600, USB4 support as standard, up to Wi-Fi 7 networking speeds, overclocking support for the CPU and memory, and PCIe 5.0 support for both the GPU and NVMe storage.
However, the two have significant differences, with X870E motherboards like the impressive X870E AORUS MASTER and X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 offering double the USB ports and bandwidth and additional PCIe lanes that can be used for extra storage and expansion.
Here's a handy chart breaking down the differences in specs.
PC gaming setups vary depending on the gamer, from playing Fortnite and Call of Duty at 1080p on a GeForce RTX 4060 to firing up Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's stunning 'Full Ray Tracing' mode on a GeForce RTX 4090 and exploring various locations in high-fidelity 4K.
Although these might be considered the best-value choices, the GIGABYTE X870 GAMING WIFI6 and X870 GAMING X WIFI7 provide enough power and performance to deliver that premium PC gaming experience you've been looking for. With support for the latest Ryzen 9000 Series CPUs, you have dual channel DDR5 with AMD EXPO memory module support and GIGABYTE's one-click DDR5 Overclocking to hit speeds up to DDR5-8200.
Both boards have three M.2 SSD storage slots, including one PCIe 5.0 x4, perfect for separating your operating system, apps, downloads, and game installs. Add built-in high-fidelity audio hardware and enough headers and RGB support for multiple fans and AIO coolers - if you're looking to build a PC to install and play games on, these are excellent choices.
Like all GIGABYTE X870 and X870E motherboards, both also include dual 40Gbps USB4 ports with DP-Alt, with enough bandwidth to connect an additional display or enough power to charge that portable device. Best of all, transferring large files or 100GB of a game installation happens in seconds, thanks to the exponential speed increase. As the name suggests, the X870 GAMING X WIFI7 variant includes the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology with a premium antenna.
Where these GIGABYTE's X870 motherboards go that extra step is with their DIY-Friendly features like EZ-Latch designs to make installing things like a new M.2 SSD tool-free and simple. Throw in the intuitive WIFI EZ-Plug adaptor that removes the need to screw in the Wi-Fi antenna, to EZ Debug LEDs and GIGABYTE's overhauled and AI-enhanced UC BIOS interface (which is supported by the GIGABYTE Control Center app), and you'll be gaming with peak performance in no time.
If you plan to pick up a high-end GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU or have your heart set on the soon-to-be-revealed GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090, you're pretty serious about PC gaming. There's a good chance you're pairing it with a high-resolution, high-refresh-rate display and a high-performance CPU like the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Pairing a high-end GPU with a high-end motherboard makes sense, which is why GIGABYTE offers a variety of premium X870E motherboards with unmatched performance and features.
For 4K gaming enthusiasts, the X870E AORUS PRO ICE and X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 represent stunning aesthetics and visual design with premium components, thermal performance, and features. We also know that the modern high-end gaming GPU isn't exactly compact, which is why both of these motherboards include GIGABYTE's cutting-edge PCIe UD Slot X design - a PCIe 5.0 x16 GPU slot with 10X the strength of standard GPU slots.
Power delivery is also up there with a digital twin 16+2+2 phases VRM solution, dual USB4 as standard, audiophile-grade capacitors, ultra-durable PCIe Armor, heatsinks everywhere, and additional thermal guards for M.2 storage in addition to more M.2 slots than standard X870 boards. Throw in one-click CPU and memory overclocking, support for GIGABYTE's new X3D Turbo Mode, enhanced cooling with silent operation, and impressive features like Sensor Panel Link support for installing an in-chassis display for setup and monitoring - and you're looking at two of the most stylish, feature-packed, and robust motherboards available today.
Streamers and creators that focus on PC gaming often require a motherboard with so many connectivity options and USB ports that there's only one place you can turn to - GIGABYTE's flagship and incredible X870E AORUS MASTER motherboard. A masterfully designed piece of hardware that looks stunning, this is also the sort of motherboard tailor-made for the PC gamer and content creator who wants the absolute best of the best. And to borrow a phrase from the iconic Jurassic Park, ready to "spare no expense" to get it.
Not only does the X870E AORUS MASTER include advanced BIOS functionality to boost DDR5 performance to its absolute peak, but it also includes DDR Wind Blade technology, which is active cooling for memory modules. For those that need lots of storage and fast storage, the AORUS MASTER's four M.2 slots all feature EZ tool-less installation and magnetic heatsinks. Three of these are also PCIe 5.0, so you're getting the absolute best of the best.
Connectivity-wise, the dual native USB4 ports offer 40Gbps of transfer speeds for data-heavy workloads and creative tasks. PC gamers will also get a premium immersive audio experience thanks to the inclusion of audiophile sound, and the full-speed Wi-Fi 7 wireless is backed up by a directional high-gain antenna for incredible coverage.
As a premium flagship motherboard, the X870E AORUS MASTER's stylish modern look is backed up with an ultra-durable design that includes little but essential touches like stainless steel M.2 slots for up to 1.5X greater strength and stainless steel memory slots with SMD technology that can withstand over 5,000 insertion and removal cycles. The X870E AORUS MASTER is built to handle any task and performs as well on Day 750 as on Day 1.
GIGABYTE is at the forefront of providing AI hardware and the tools for professionals and enthusiasts to work with cutting-edge large-language models. The requirements for a high-end AI rig differ from those for a gaming PC, which is what the X870E AORUS XTREME AI TOP motherboard is all about. AI TOP hardware and software are designed to make training and running complex AI models on local hardware accessible, with scalability and expansion in mind. This motherboard opens the door to impressive AI performance, starting with a single GPU like the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER or two.
With a digital twin 18+2+2 phases VRM solution, DDR5 memory overclocking up to DDR5-8800, four ultra-fast M.2 slots, dual 10GbE LAN, Wi-Fi 7, USB4, and all of the DIY-Friendly EZ innovations seen across all GIGABYTE X870E motherboards, you're looking at one of the most feature-packed and high-performance motherboards ever made. This makes sense when you factor in that AI workloads require a lot of GPU, memory, and storage horsepower.
The X870E AORUS XTREME AI TOP is also stylish, with impressive lighting effects that complement the thermal guards and nanocarbon backplate. It is perfect for AI workloads, with GIGABYTE's AI TOP Utility 2.0 empowering users of all skill levels to tap into the power of generative AI. AI in the AORUS BIOS also enhances overclocking and performance tuning for gamers and enthusiasts.