GIGABYTE's B650E AORUS Elite X AX ICE Features Native USB-C 40 Gbps Support for AMD Ryzen 8000 Series Processors

[TheLostSwede]

GIGABYTE Technology, a leading global powerhouse in motherboards, graphics cards, and cutting-edge hardware solutions, proudly unveils the world's first motherboard designed to seamlessly support the native USB-C 40 Gbps signal when paired with the cutting-edge AMD Ryzen 8000 series processors.

"We are thrilled to introduce a motherboard that not only supports the cutting-edge AMD Ryzen 8000 series processors but also incorporates advanced features that cater to the evolving needs of our users. This marks a significant leap forward in terms of performance, user-friendliness, and design aesthetics." Said Jackson Hsu, Director of the GIGABYTE Channel Solutions Product Development Division.




Superior Cost-Performance Ratio:

• Support PCIe 5.0 x16 Slot with Ultra Durable PCIe UD Slot X:
• PCIe UD Slot X with its seamless, one-piece design securely fastened to a dedicated backplate, this exceptional achievement raises load-bearing capacity to an impressive 58KG.
• Optimized AMD Radeon 780M/760M/740M iGPU Performance for 1080p Gaming:
• Leveraging the unparalleled capabilities of the AMD Ryzen 8000 series processors, the motherboard ensures optimized iGPU performance, delivering an exceptional 1080p gaming experience.
• Latest DIY-Friendly Features:
• M.2 EZ-Latch Plus and M.2 EZ-Latch Click:
• Simplifying the installation process, the motherboard features a screwless design for M.2 and M.2 heatsinks, ensuring a hassle-free DIY experience.
• Sensor Panel Link:
  • Custom-tailored for today's trendiest case designs, it comes with built-in screens, ensuring a hassle-free installation experience without the need for cable routing.
  • User-Centered Intuitive UX with Quick Access Function:
  • Prioritizing user experience, the motherboard offers an intuitive user interface with a Quick Access function for easy navigation.
  • Currently Trending White Aesthetic Design:
  • In line with the latest trends, the motherboard not only boasts a sleek white aesthetic design but also ensures a cohesive visual experience by extending the color scheme to accessories and the BIOS.

In addition to introducing the motherboard, the launch of the latest AMD AGESA 1.1.0.1 Release BIOS enhances the support for AMD Ryzen 8000 series processors. Users can easily update the BIOS using GIGABYTE's @BIOS, Q-Flash, or Q-Flash Plus technology. This update ensures compatibility with the X670, B650, and A620 motherboards, allowing users to remain at the cutting edge of technology and enjoy the latest advancements in processing power and features.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Chaitanya]

Intersting USB-C header is parallel to motherboard.

Also Gigabyte's website still has listed this board as B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice and not B650E.

B650 AORUS ELITE AX ICE Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

Also they have following 2 new boards:

X670E AORUS PRO X Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

B650M AORUS ELITE AX ICE Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

 

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

Intersting USB-C header is parallel to motherboard.

Also Gigabyte's website still has listed this board as B650 Aorus Elite AX Ice and not B650E.

B650 AORUS ELITE AX ICE Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

Also they have following 2 new boards:

X670E AORUS PRO X Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

B650M AORUS ELITE AX ICE Key Features | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ...

www.gigabyte.com

That's not the USB-C header, which is peeking out from behind the lower rightmost RAM clip.
It's an internal HDMI socket, same as on the X670E Aorus Pro X mobo.

In fact, if it wasn't for the text near the CPU socket, I'd say it was the X670E Aorus Pro X!

 

[Hxx]

Pls pls pls gigabyte make a mini itx board in silver white

 

[Sarajiel]

In fact, if it wasn't for the text near the CPU socket, I'd say it was the X670E Aorus Pro X!

At first glance maybe, since Gigglebyte seems to reuse all the heatsinks and the basic layout from the Pro X.

However, if you take a second look, it's quite obvious how much they cut it down from the Pro X.

• two less fan headers;
• no Thunderbolt header;
• only one front panel USB header;
• no power and reset buttons at the top of the board;
• both the PCIe slots are only x1
• But the worst of all, assuming that this is an actual picture and not some Photoshop job, the board only uses a 6-layer PCB!

 

[TheLostSwede]

• no Thunderbolt header;

As this board is clearly designed for the 8000-series APUs that have built in USB4. why would it have a Thunderbolt header?

• But the worst of all, assuming that this is an actual picture and not some Photoshop job, the board only uses a 6-layer PCB!

How can you tell? And yes, it's a real picture.
Added a higher res image just for you to pixel peep...

• both the PCIe slots are only x1

What do you expect from a B650/B650E board? You know both options have PCIe limitations, just like Intel's B660 and similar.

 

[Sarajiel]

How can you tell? And yes, it's a real picture.

Gigabyte uses subtle markers at the edge of the board near the bottom left screw hole. Unless I'm mistaken, three little squares on each side of the board means it uses a 6-layer PCB.

They also cut down the 2nd 8-pin EPS-connector to a 4-pin, judging from the higher resolution pic.

As this board is clearly designed for the 8000-series APUs that have built in USB4. why would it have a Thunderbolt header?

Maybe someone wants to use that board with a Ryzen 7000 CPU? If it was APU-only, why would we need a gen5 PCIe x16 slot anyway, since bifurcating those lanes into 4x M.2 slots would be more logical.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Gigabyte uses subtle markers at the edge of the board near the bottom left screw hole. Unless I'm mistaken, three little squares on each side of the board means it uses a 6-layer PCB.

Yeah, no such markings in this case though. I can ask how many layers the board has though.

They also cut down the 2nd 8-pin EPS-connector to a 4-pin, judging from the higher resolution pic.

One eight-pin is more than enough, the second one is just to trick people into thinking they got a better board. I have never attached the second one on any single motherboard I've owned for this exact reason, as I don't do LN2 overclocking like 99.99999999% of people.

Maybe someone wants to use that board with a Ryzen 7000 CPU? If it was APU-only, why would we need a gen5 PCIe x16 slot anyway, since bifurcating those lanes into 4x M.2 slots would be more logical.

Sure, but why? You'd end up losing features that were specifically designed for the 8000-series CPUs. This is nothing new and something we've seen from both Intel and AMD in the past.
Most people seem to have having the x16 slot bifurcated, so that's most likely the reason for that.

 

[Sarajiel]

Yeah, no such markings in this case though. I can ask how many layers the board has though.

Those little squares are clearly visible in the high-res picture. They are about one centimeter below the "B650E A ELITE X ICE" text at the bottom left corner and about half a centimeter left of the bottom left screw hole of the picture of the board. You can even make out a little white "1" from the slight difference in the shade of white.

One eight-pin is more than enough

True, especially on AM5, but I didn't claim it was necessary. Nevertheless, it's a difference to the Pro X.

You'd end up losing features that were specifically designed for the 8000-series CPUs.

Guess, I should have used some sarcasm tags.
I'm pretty sure most buyers of this board won't use it with an APU, and just buy it for a purely white build with a white GPU since those Gigabyte boards have the "whitest" PCB at the moment. Most white ASRock boards come with a camouflage pattern, MSI doesn't even offer one for AM5 if I recall correctly, and A Sus is as always all over the place when it comes to colors.

Personally, I just finished building a system with an X670E Pro X inside a white Jonsbo D41 Mesh case together with a white KFA2/Galax RTX 4070, and the rest mostly consists of white DeepCool items, and I'm still annoyed by the fact that this combo has so many black plastic parts in it that could easily be white as well. However, there doesn't seem to be the will to go all in on white by the manufacturers. They already charge about 10% - 25% more for the white parts, therefore some white colored plastic connectors can't increase the price that much more. Especially in the case of the motherboard since Gigabyte tries to offer a whole range of clean looking white boards right now.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Those little squares are clearly visible in the high-res picture. They are about one centimeter below the "B650E A ELITE X ICE" text at the bottom left corner and about half a centimeter left of the bottom left screw hole of the picture of the board. You can even make out a little white "1" from the slight difference in the shade of white.

Clearly, no, but now I see them.

Guess, I should have used some sarcasm tags.
I'm pretty sure most buyers of this board won't use it with an APU, and just buy it for a purely white build with a white GPU since those Gigabyte boards have the "whitest" PCB at the moment. Most white ASRock boards come with a camouflage pattern, MSI doesn't even offer one for AM5 if I recall correctly, and A Sus is as always all over the place when it comes to colors.

There are other white options from Gigabyte though.

Personally, I just finished building a system with an X670E Pro X inside a white Jonsbo D41 Mesh case together with a white KFA2/Galax RTX 4070, and the rest mostly consists of white DeepCool items, and I'm still annoyed by the fact that this combo has so many black plastic parts in it that could easily be white as well. However, there doesn't seem to be the will to go all in on white by the manufacturers. They already charge about 10% - 25% more for the white parts, therefore some white colored plastic connectors can't increase the price that much more. Especially in the case of the motherboard since Gigabyte tries to offer a whole range of clean looking white boards right now.

Not keen on white hardware, it doesn't matter what the companies promise, it'll go yellow over time. Gigabyte claims to have come up with some new formula to prevent this, but my trust in that is zero.

 

[Sarajiel]

Clearly, no, but now I see them.

Hehehe, try to count them on the low res pictures. Btw, Gigabyte puts those markers on pretty much all boards, so you can always use them as indicator for layer counts. MSI does something similar, but it's been a while, so I can't tell you the exact position of their markers.

There are other white options from Gigabyte though.

That's the crux with this B650E mobo. The B650 "Ice" one is already not that much cheaper than the "Pro X" (270€ vs 330€ in my area) and offers basically exactly the same features as this B650E one, except for the gen5 PCIe x16 and the USB4 port. I'd even assume that Gigabyte won't offer the 2nd gen5 M.2 slot since they already cheaped out with the thermal solution on the Pro X. They only use one-sided thermal pads below the heatsink, but not on the PCB side of the slot compared to the B650E & X670E "Master" boards.
However, the "Pro X" has an 8-layer PCB, an additional M.2 slot and more connectivity in general, including a Thunderbolt 4 header, which makes the audience for this B650E "Ice" very limited, except for people who want it for that exact look.

Not keen on white hardware, it doesn't matter what the companies promise, it'll go yellow over time.

I'm usually in the same boat, and typically go all black without any RGB or windows, but I needed a showcase build with some subtle bling this time. Judging from the different shades of white I already have fresh out of the box, I'd say, you are going to write a lot articles in a couple of years how beige PC cases became the new cool thing and Chieftec will be the #1 manufacturer of those.

 

[Tek-Check]

8000G APUs do not support PCIe Gen5. You can't have it both ways. It's either 8000G APU with integrated USB4 port @ 40 Gbps and x16 PCIe Gen4 lanes for GPU, or Raphael CPU without USB4 port and with PCIe Gen5.

 

[Anc13ntEvil]

This is very similar to their own B650E Taichi Lite that's going for around $280.

​

 

[TheLostSwede]

@Sarajiel it's a six layer mid-loss PCB.

This is very similar to their own B650E Taichi Lite that's going for around $280.

I think you're mixing up Gigabyte with ASRock?

 

[Anc13ntEvil]

@Sarajiel it's a six layer mid-loss PCB.


I think you're mixing up Gigabyte with ASRock?

Oops, it turns out that somehow I did. Never mind.