Words & Conclusion
The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi motherboard has been released and is now available for purchase. This motherboard utilizes AMD's flagship X870E chipset, continuing the design philosophy of its predecessor, the X670E-E. Meaningful updates have been implemented, but not huge ones. Particularly in the integrated IO armour and the M.2 heat dissipation design with more ease of installation. These enhancements aim to improve thermal management and overall system stability. A notable modification in this model is the repositioning of the first PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slot. It has been moved down by one slot to accommodate three M.2 slots above it. This design change enhances the installation experience by providing more space for CPU cooler compatibility and easier access to M.2 slots. However, it may affect the heat dissipation and thickness compatibility of larger graphics cards, potentially impacting performance. The overall impact of this design choice on system performance and usability will become clearer with further testing and user feedback.
DDR5 memory
AMD recommends a memory frequency of 6000 MHz as optimal. However, we used two 16GB G.Skill modules rated at 6400 MHz. While this setup offers excellent speed, it costs about $125 for a 32GB kit. We tested the memory at 6000 MHz CL30 using the TridentZ5 NEO kit in Hynix-enabled mode. After updating to the latest BIOS, the system quickly proceeded to boot. The initial boot-up involves a memory training process by the BIOS, which may take a few minutes. If compatible, switching the BIOS to EXPO or Hynix mode, which optimizes the memory timings, requires another training session. The memory kit was stable throughout the testing.
Energy efficiency
Added chips, RGB, and BIOS configuration are bothersome factors when testing stuff like this. The Ryzen 9 9950X processor has a rated power consumption of 170 Watts but can reach up to 200 Watts in high-power states. Similar to Intel's PL2 states, AMD sets a Package Power Tracking (PPT) limit of approximately 200 Watts. This allows the processor to utilize that wattage for a specific duration determined by the motherboard manufacturer's firmware. Overall, the processor maintains acceptable temperatures under load, ranging from to ~80 degrees Celsius with adequate PC cooling.
AI Tweaked
The ASUS motherboard has an AI overclocking function which we enabled. It yielded a little extra performance multi-threaded but dropped a tiny bit on single-threaded load. A manual tweak likely will get you over that score of 18K depending on the CPU and its ASIC quality. Still, if you want a save-easy tweak, this certainly will help you out.
Final Words
The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi supports up to five M.2 slots, providing extensive storage options for high-speed NVMe solid-state drives. At least three of these slots offer PCIe 5.0 x4 support, enabling data transfer rates of up to 128 Gbps. The other two are still super fast at PCIe gen 4.0 speeds. Additionally, the M.2 slot design has been upgraded for easier installation, featuring a multi-size and specification switch for the first M.2 slot, accommodating various drive sizes without the need for additional hardware. In terms of PCIe expansion, the motherboard includes an additional full-length PCIe x4 slot at the bottom, supporting PCIe 4.0. This allows for the installation of additional expansion cards such as capture cards, network cards, or storage controllers. The quick-release design for the graphics card slot has also been improved, facilitating easier removal of the graphics card, especially in cases with limited space. The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi motherboard incorporates advanced thermal solutions, including enhanced heat sinks and armor designs for both the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) and M.2 slots. These thermal enhancements are designed to maintain optimal operating temperatures under heavy workloads, improving system reliability and performance longevity.
A meaningful enhancement in the X870 series is the native support for USB 4.0. The ROG Strix X870E-E Gaming WiFi includes two full-featured USB 4.0 ports on the rear IO panel, offering data transfer bandwidths of up to 40 Gbps and supporting DisplayPort (DP) video output. This enables high-speed data transfer and the connection of high-resolution monitors through a single cable. Additional connectivity options on the rear IO include a 20 Gbps USB-C port, nine 10 Gbps USB-A ports, and one 10 Gbps USB-C port, providing extensive peripheral connectivity. The front panel connectivity includes a 20 Gbps USB-C port and a 5 Gbps USB 3.0 port, allowing for convenient access to high-speed data transfer ports from the front of the computer case. This extensive expandability caters to users with multiple high-speed external devices such as external SSDs, high-resolution webcams, and other USB peripherals. Network connectivity has also been upgraded. The motherboard supports WiFi 7 (802.11be), offering enhanced wireless performance with higher data rates and lower latency compared to previous WiFi standards. It also includes a 5 Gbps wired network interface, providing high-speed wired networking capabilities suitable for gaming, streaming, and large file transfers. In the end, this is a truly lovely motherboard with the build quality one can expect from ASUS, unfortunately, that also means it comes with the ASUS price premium. We think this motherboard will end up at roughly 500 USD.
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