With the new Intel 200S CPUs now here, bringing with them the need for new motherboards, GIGABYTE, with its GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE, brings a solid contender to the market. With its all-white aesthetic, cutting-edge technology and robust feature set, this motherboard not only delivers on performance but is also one of the more striking boards we have tested in a while. From the smart choices to the future-proof setup, it is hard not to enjoy what the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE offers for a new PC build.
Let’s start with the most striking aspect about the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi7 ICE, its stunning all-white design. This aesthetic choice is a departure from the typical black or RGB-heavy motherboards that dominate the market. The white PCB, combined with subtle accents, gives the board a clean and modern look that will appeal to builders looking for a sleek setup. Whether you’re building a gaming rig or a workstation for content creation, this motherboard will fit right in with other high-end components.
I was surprised by how well GIGABYTE managed to keep the look consistent throughout all aspects of the board, giving it a solid and unified appearance, even as it offers a slate of features ready for your next gaming rig. The board features an eight-layer PCB with two copper layers, which not only ensures durability but also improves heat dissipation. This is particularly important for users pushing their systems to the limit with overclocking or resource-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering.
The Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE is based on Intel’s Z890, designed to support Intel’s latest Core Ultra 200S processors on the LGA1851 socket, meaning it brings all the features that the new chipset allows. This chipset offers several performance improvements over previous generations, particularly in terms of power delivery and connectivity options.
The motherboard features a 16+1+2 phase VRM solution with 80A Smart Power Stages (SPS), ready for your high-end PSU and designed to ensure stable power delivery even under heavy loads. This makes it an excellent choice for overclockers who want to push their CPUs to the limit without worrying about stability issues. The system feels built to last, with smart choices throughout that give the board a premium feel.
The EZ-Latch Plus system for M.2 slots and PCIe slots, for example, makes building a new PC incredibly easy. This tool-less design makes it simple to install or swap out components without needing to fumble with screws or risk damaging delicate parts. For anyone who has struggled with installing M.2 drives in cramped spaces, this is something more motherboard brands should incorporate. While it is cheaper to provide a screw placement, the latches take a significant level of struggle out of the process, something I am always happy to see.
The GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE offers four DDR5 DIMM slots that can handle speeds of up to DDR5-9500+. This makes it future-proof for users looking to upgrade their RAM as faster modules become available. The board also supports XMP profiles, allowing users to easily overclock their memory without diving deep into BIOS settings. The board supports up to 256 GB (64 GB per DIMM), providing ample headroom to push your home system while giving users options to configure their system as they see fit. With more software pushing the limits on system memory, the level of expandability is always welcome.
“The GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE offers four DDR5 DIMM slots that can handle speeds of up to DDR5-9500+.”
For storage, the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE doesn’t disappoint. It offers one PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slot and four PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots, providing ample room for high-speed NVMe SSDs. The inclusion of PCIe Gen 5 ensures users can take advantage of the latest storage technologies with blazing-fast read and write speeds. Additionally, there are four SATA ports for traditional hard drives or SSDs.
The expansion options are equally impressive. The board includes one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for graphics cards and additional PCIe 4.0 slots for other peripherals, such as sound cards or capture cards. While the PCIe EZ-Latch Plus system is only found on the topmost PCIe port, all slots feature the UD Slot X design, providing more strength and resilience to ensure they last as long as needed without breaking.
The rear I/O panel includes a generous selection of USB ports: four USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen1 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports (red), and one Thunderbolt 4 connector (USB4 Type-C). The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 is particularly noteworthy as it allows for ultra-fast data transfers and supports daisy-chaining multiple devices like external drives or monitors. I would have loved to see more than one USB Type-C connector on the board, but at least this is easily rectified with a hub or other peripheral.
In terms of connectivity, the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE is well-equipped to handle modern networking demands. As its name suggests, it supports WiFi 7 (802.11be), offering faster speeds and lower latency compared to previous WiFi standards, such as WiFi 6E. For wired connections, there is a 2.5 GbE LAN port that provides fast and reliable internet access for gaming or large file transfers. The board also features Realtek’s high-definition audio codec, supporting up to 7.1 channels of sound through optical S/PDIF out connectors and traditional audio jacks, and from our testing, it sounds good for most standard PC needs.
As one would expect from the AORUS brand, the all-white design is about more than just aesthetics—it is part of the many aspects GIGABYTE has added to the board to ensure it keeps temperatures low, even during intense gaming sessions or heavy workloads.
The board features multiple fan headers strategically placed around the PCB to ensure optimal airflow throughout your case. It also includes a range of heat sinks and vents that keep the most critical components cool during use. GIGABYTE has placed these cooling solutions where they matter most, from around the CPU to the M.2 slots, and even to the small cooling vents in the I/O shield. It is impressive how much time and engineering they put into this.
“GIGABYTE continues to refine its BIOS interface with each new generation of motherboards, and the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE benefits from these improvements.”
Additionally, GIGABYTE has integrated its Smart Fan 6 technology into this model. This software allows users to control fan speeds based on temperature readings from various sensors around the motherboard. Whether you prefer silent operation during light tasks or maximum cooling during gaming marathons, Smart Fan 6 gives you full control over your system’s thermal performance. It all works well together, and even when testing the system in benchmarks, the PC managed to stay cool, with the board working well at pulling head away from the parts that matter most.
GIGABYTE continues to refine its BIOS interface with each new generation of motherboards, and the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE benefits from these improvements. The BIOS is user-friendly, with an intuitive layout that makes it easy to navigate, even for less experienced builders. There is a lot to tweak in the BIOS, and while it is easy to get lost in the details, GIGABYTE has done a good job laying out the most important features and making the process intuitive for most users. As with any piece of tech, there is a learning curve, but it is only a moderate one here.
“Aimed at the enthusiast gaming market, the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE brings a solid offering for its $259.99 price point.”
For those who prefer more granular control over their system’s performance settings outside of BIOS adjustments, GIGABYTE includes its EasyTune software suite for Windows, allowing users quick access when adjusting CPU voltages or memory timings without unnecessary reboots into BIOS menus. It all works as you would hope, and the full package Gigabyte brings with this board feels incredibly crafted.
Aimed at the enthusiast gaming market, the Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE brings a solid offering for its $259.99 price point. For the level of features here, GIGABYTE has a winner with this board, especially compared to some similar options. There are enough features and quality-of-life improvements that make building with this motherboard a joy. Combined with the striking look, I cannot recommend it enough.
The GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE motherboard offers an excellent balance between aesthetics, performance potential, and ease of use—making it ideal for both gamers and creators alike. Its sleek all-white design pairs perfectly with high-end components while offering top-tier features like PCIe Gen 5 storage support and next-gen wireless connectivity via built-in WiFi 7 capabilities. For anyone looking to build a new Intel based system, look no further than the GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS Elite WiFi 7 ICE. You won’t be disappointed.
- Supports Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2)
- DDR5 Compatible: 4*DIMMs with XMP Memory Module Support
