I’ve long been a fan of NZXT’s clean, minimalist design philosophy, and the new NZXT N9 X870E motherboard continues that tradition with confidence. As the company’s flagship entry for AMD’s AM5 platform, it strikes a balance between understated elegance and technical prowess, offering a robust suite of features for both seasoned builders and first-time PC enthusiasts looking for a reliable, high-performance foundation.
At first glance, the N9 X870E is unmistakably NZXT—sleek and refined, with a matte finish and subtle branding that aligns with the brand’s iconic aesthetic. Where other flagship motherboards often lean into over-the-top design choices—garish colours, oversized heatsinks or embedded LCDs—NZXT has opted for restraint. The result is a board that feels modern and purposeful, one that complements a wide range of builds, from stealthy workstations to gaming setups where other components take visual priority.
But as I’ve been hinting at, the NZXT N9 X870E is far from basic. It delivers nearly everything enthusiast gamers and creators could want in a modern motherboard. Built around AMD’s X870E chipset and supporting the latest Ryzen 7000 Series processors, the N9 X870E is engineered for cutting-edge performance. Its robust 16+2+1 phase power delivery system ensures stable operation even under sustained loads. While the board forgoes flashy, oversized heatsinks, the included thermal solutions are more than capable of keeping the VRMs cool during long gaming marathons or intensive creative workflows.
As expected from an X870E board, it supports PCIe Gen 5 for both graphics and storage, helping future-proof your system. The four DDR5 memory slots support high-speed RAM of up to 192 GB, catering to multitasking, media editing, and demanding applications. Storage is equally well-equipped, featuring three M.2 slots—including one PCIe 5.0-enabled—for blazing-fast load times and plenty of room for games, media and creative files. As prices for Gen 5 drives continue to fall, this becomes an increasingly appealing option.
The rear I/O selection is impressive, with a full suite of USB ports including USB4 Type-C for high-speed data transfer and modern peripheral compatibility. For networking, the board includes a 2.5 GbE LAN port alongside Wi-Fi 7, offering fast, low-latency connectivity whether you’re wired in or working wirelessly. Audio is handled by the Realtek ALC4080 codec, delivering clear, crisp sound for gaming, streaming and communication.
I’ve long been a fan of the BIOS experience offered by NZXT boards, and the N9 is no exception. It features a clean, user-friendly interface that strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and advanced configuration. Overclockers will appreciate the granular control over voltage and frequency settings, while newcomers can rely on automatic tuning features to optimize performance without delving into risky territory. Firmware updates are also streamlined, with a dedicated BIOS Flashback button that enables recovery or upgrades without requiring a CPU or memory to be installed.
“Thermal performance is another area where the NZXT N9 X870E motherboard impresses.”
BIOS design has come a long way since I first started building PCs in the ’90s, but NZXT has taken it to another level, offering one of the cleanest and most intuitive interfaces currently available. I only wish more brands would follow suit, as it would make managing gaming PCs far less tedious.
Thermal performance is another area where the NZXT N9 X870E motherboard impresses. As expected, given the ample heatsinks onboard, the board delivers one of the better thermal profiles we’ve seen from an X870E unit in recent months. The VRM heatsinks may look understated, but they’re engineered for effective heat dissipation. During stress testing, the motherboard maintained stable temperatures even with high-end CPUs and GPUs drawing substantial power. This level of thermal reliability is critical for users pushing their systems to the limit, whether during long gaming sessions, heavy creative workloads, or AI-driven testing environments.
When it comes to the overall build quality of the NZXT N9 X870E motherboard, I have to say I’m impressed. While it may not feel quite as heavy-duty as some of Gigabyte’s AORUS boards—those could double as blunt instruments in a pinch—it’s still clearly built to last. The PCB feels sturdy, with reinforced PCIe slots designed to support heavier graphics cards and premium capacitors throughout. The board’s minimalist shroud and clean lines aren’t just for show—they help protect key components and simplify maintenance.
That said, as is typical with NZXT’s flagship gear, the N9 X870E doesn’t come cheap. It sits in the upper tier of enthusiast-class boards, and for some, the price may be a sticking point, especially when competing options offer similar feature sets. However, NZXT is betting that its combination of design, performance and user experience will justify the premium. Thankfully, it still undercuts the eye-watering price tags seen on some of the highest-end boards from MSI, ASUS or ASRock, making it a strong value relative to that tier.
In a market saturated with RGB-heavy motherboards that often underdeliver in the areas that matter, the NZXT N9 X870E stands out as a refined, focused alternative. It respects the user’s desire for both performance and aesthetics, delivering a platform that’s as capable as it is stylish. For builders seeking a reliable, future-proof foundation that won’t fall out of fashion, NZXT’s latest entry is a compelling choice. By focusing on quality, usability and timeless design, NZXT has crafted a board that meets the needs of today’s enthusiasts—and will likely continue to impress for years to come.
- AMD AM5 SOCKET — Ready for AMD Ryzen 9000, 8000, and 7000 series desktop processors.
- SUPERIOR POWER — 20+2+1 power phase design with 110A Smart Power Stages and an 8-layer, 2-ounce copper PCB ensures stable, overclocking-ready power delivery.
