The Gigabyte X870E AORUS Master motherboard is the top-of-the-line model in the X870 series. Packed with user-friendly hardware features, performance-enhancing design elements and excellent PCIe 5.0 support, there’s a lot to love about the X870E AORUS Master. Having reviewed the impressive X870 Elite last year, I’d been eager to see what the X870E AORUS Master brings to the table.
The design of the X870E AORUS Master follows that of the X870 Elite, with a few key differences. For starters, the X870E AORUS Master features a new DDR Wind Blade fan, designed to provide active cooling to the memory modules. This compact fan mounts above the DIMM slots and connects directly to the motherboard for active monitoring and cooling.
While a great addition, I found that during installation, it became a bit cumbersome to work around when including a top-mounted 360 mm AIO. Though not impossible to install both, it’s a snug fit. Although I ultimately excluded it from the final build, it is easy to install and connect.
“Packed with user-friendly hardware features, performance-enhancing design elements and excellent PCIe 5.0 support, there’s a lot to love about the X870E AORUS Master.”
Regarding cooling, Gigabyte has also incorporated a larger M.2 Thermal Guard on the X870E AORUS Master to enhance heat dissipation. Likewise, the thermal pad has been upgraded from 7 W/mK to 12 W/mK, providing a greater surface area for heat transfer. This theme continues throughout the X870E AORUS Master, with a clear focus on thermal management that enhances overall board functionality in high-demand computing scenarios.
The main board has also been upgraded, now featuring an eight-layer printed circuit board (PCB) compared to the X870’s six-layer design. More layers translate to improved routing capabilities and stronger signal passthrough for data. In practical terms, this enables more consistent and faster data transfer, which is ideal for gaming and high-demand processing. An added bonus is improved thermal performance, further contributing to the X870E AORUS Master’s robust cooling capabilities.
Connectivity also sees a boost with the X870E, with the X870E AORUS Master including two additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and an upgraded 5 GbE LAN port—both welcome additions to the Master-class motherboard. While not performance-enhancing, the X870E AORUS Master also features an additional ARGB LED header for builds where three simply aren’t enough.
In terms of aesthetics, the X870E also offers striking RGB lighting in the top-left portion of the board, with additional subtle lighting effects in the lower right. The overall design is sharp and complements the rest of the onboard RGB lighting system well.
All of the functional build elements that make the X870 series such a user-friendly platform are back. At the top of the list are the various EZ systems that have become a staple of the series. Among them, the new M.2 EZ-Latch Plus stands out. It offers a screwless mounting solution for M.2 drives and, when released, lifts the drive to a 45-degree angle for easy removal.
Another notable update is the new M.2 EZ-Match plate, which is significantly larger than the one found on the X870E AORUS Master. It’s removable from the right side of the board, allowing for easier M.2 drive swaps without the need to remove the GPU. The EZ-Latch click for the thermal guard, as well as the Wi-Fi EZ-Plug, also return, working together to create one of the better DIY experiences I’ve had in recent testing.
“Gigabyte has made overclocking on the X870E AORUS Master both simple and safe.”
Shifting to performance updates, there are a few key improvements worth noting. First, DDR5 overclocking has been pushed from 8,200 MT/s to 8,600 MT/s. While this may not be game-changing for the average gamer, for enthusiasts looking to squeeze out every ounce of performance, the numbers matter, and the X870E AORUS Master delivers.
As noted above, the increase in PCB layer count improves overall data routing capacity throughout the system. This translates to faster throughput and measurable performance gains. Gigabyte has also managed to enhance onboard AI processing in this iteration, resulting in faster AI learning and decision-making, once again contributing to improved system performance.
While I’m not an overclocking enthusiast by nature, it’s worth noting that Gigabyte has made overclocking on the X870E AORUS Master both simple and safe. Simplicity stems from a user-friendly interface, featuring intuitive and easy-to-change settings. Overclocking memory, for instance, is just a click away. What impressed me most, however, was how clearly the UI communicates the impact of each change on system performance.
“Gigabyte pulled out all the stops with the X870E AORUS Master.”
As for safety, the X870E AORUS Master features a suite of onboard overclocking protection sensors that monitor every aspect of the system. These sensors act as safeguards against temperature spikes and current overages, helping to protect both the motherboard and components from damage.
On the topic of component support, the X870E AORUS Master is ready for the latest hardware on the market. With support for AMD Ryzen 9000 and 7000 Series processors, as well as PCIe 5.0 x16 GPUs, you’ll have no trouble dropping the newest CPUs and GPUs into this build. Four DDR5 DIMM sockets, supporting up to 256 GB of memory, ensure there are no limitations on RAM. Additionally, with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 onboard, wireless connectivity is top-tier, thanks to the included directional ultra-high-gain antenna.
One area that impressed me was the inclusion of full DTS:X Ultra audio support for HDA 7.1 surround sound. Audio is often an afterthought on gaming motherboards, but Gigabyte pulled out all the stops with the X870E AORUS Master. As both an audio enthusiast and a gamer, I appreciated the marriage of those two worlds—it finally allowed me to set up my full surround system.
The X870E AORUS Master is an excellent motherboard, without a doubt. It offers the latest in performance and thermal protection, all while delivering a user-friendly DIY experience. While other motherboards in the X870 series offer strong value and reliable performance, the X870E AORUS Master stands out as the cream of the crop, built to push your system to its absolute peak. Priced as such, the X870E AROUS Master motherboard from Gigabyte is the premium motherboard.
