The B650E Aorus Stealth Ice is Gigabyte's First Motherboard for AMD CPUs with its Connectors on the Back

[WonkoTheSaneUK]

One thing few have considered with this board only having 1 PCIe slot:-

All that extra room to fill your case with Funko Pops and other assorted junk!

 

[Upgrayedd]

I wonder how hard these connectors are to get a hold of with your hand to unplug on the backside. You've got all the metal of the back panel to fight along with the recession created by mobo standoffs all through a routing slot I imagine.
Just seems like a huge pain to build with.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

for that , You need a custom case.

Custom?

Hardly, there are several cases on the market today compatible with these kinds of boards and more are coming

I wonder how hard these connectors are to get a hold of with your hand to unplug on the backside. You've got all the metal of the back panel to fight along with the recession created by mobo standoffs all through a routing slot I imagine.
Just seems like a huge pain to build with.

Easiest builds I have ever done.

Ive been advocating this to be the new standard for a reason.

On further consideration I think this is actually pretty dumb. Gigabyte hasn't tried to do anything clever with the onboard connectors, they've literally just flipped them. But what they have here is a real opportunity to mimimise electrical trace lengthy and save a fuckton of money - which they haven't taken! This is better explained with a picture so here's some Paint work:

View attachment 354785

Now the power connectors are near the parts of the board that need the most power (I don't know precisely where those are so I put the 24-pin between the CPU and PCIe slots; sue me).
Now the chipset connectors are (mostly) on the opposite side of the chipset.

Instead of cutting half-a-dozen extra, irregularly-shaped holes in a chassis motherboard tray, you only need 2 or 3 larger ones (so chassis machining is cheaper and faster). And of course cables don't need to be as long, nor is routing them so much of a pain. But most importantly, trace lengths are far shorter, which also means you don't need traces that are as thick, so as a board manufacturer you basically just win. You can then put the money saved from that into even more unnecessary "thermal armour" on the bottom surface!

Holy brain rot

 

[Upgrayedd]

Easiest builds I have ever done.

Ive been advocating this to be the new standard for a reason.

I need to see it person. Not that I've tried to search for it but I still haven't seen a picture with the side panel off showing all the connections in a completed build and the clearances, it's always the windowed side.

 

[neatfeatguy]

My X570 board from 2018 didn't have it, why should a board from 2024 have them? What's next, where's the serial port?

That M2 heatsink will cause some clearance issues. And yeah, it's an ATX board with a single PCI-E slot.

I'm sorry you got left out of the P/S2 port on your board. My x570 board that came out towards the end of 2019 has one. Also, my comment was tongue in cheek and in no way meant to be taken seriously.

 

[mechtech]

Not gonna lie, like the white USB Jacks, seems easier to see.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

I need to see it person. Not that I've tried to search for it but I still haven't seen a picture with the side panel off showing all the connections in a completed build and the clearances, it's always the windowed side.

You're not looking hard enough. MSi has a full build video. Starting at 2:31 they show the connections. Its easy as can be

 

[mkppo]

Which is why there's a link to a list of compatible chassis.


This works just fine with Ryzen 9000 CPUs and it's identical to the B850 chipset in terms of features.
You've clearly missed the fact that the 800-series AMD chipsets are the same as the 600-series by large, with the addition of USB4 on the higher-end SKUs.

AMD Shuffles Feature-sets of its 800-series Chipset, X870 is B650E Successor

AMD is debuting its Ryzen 9000 series "Granite Ridge" desktop processors powered by the "Zen 5" microarchitecture later this year. These chips are compatible with existing AMD 600-series chipset motherboards with a simple UEFI firmware update, but the company is also taking the opportunity to...

www.techpowerup.com

Admittedly the X870E would offer more connectivity, if that's what you're after, but this board clearly isn't it then.

I would like that to be the case, but I hear 800 series might have improved memory overclocking capabilities. Not sure how, with 9000 CPU's having the same IOD. I guess they're going to do some improvements when it comes to memory traces etc but let's see. I actually want that to not be the case so I can just re-use my x670e for 9950x

 

[TheLostSwede]

I would like that to be the case, but I hear 800 series might have improved memory overclocking capabilities. Not sure how, with 9000 CPU's having the same IOD. I guess they're going to do some improvements when it comes to memory traces etc but let's see. I actually want that to not be the case so I can just re-use my x670e for 9950x

There are only two types of memory layouts, T-topology or daisy chain and until we move to something like CAMM2, this isn't going to change.
As such, there's only so much the board makers can do on their side and as you point out, the memory controller is inside the CPU package and the IOD is said to remain largely unchanged for the 9000-series.
Personally, I wouldn't waste the money on a new motherboard, unless USB4 is a must have feature.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

I would like that to be the case, but I hear 800 series might have improved memory overclocking capabilities. Not sure how, with 9000 CPU's having the same IOD. I guess they're going to do some improvements when it comes to memory traces etc but let's see. I actually want that to not be the case so I can just re-use my x670e for 9950x

Memory sweet spot has been bumped up to 6400 for 9000 CPUs

 

[mkppo]

Memory sweet spot has been bumped up to 6400 for 9000 CPUs

Yeah I hear that too but i'm wondering how, considering the IOD is the same as 7xxx.

There are only two types of memory layouts, T-topology or daisy chain and until we move to something like CAMM2, this isn't going to change.
As such, there's only so much the board makers can do on their side and as you point out, the memory controller is inside the CPU package and the IOD is said to remain largely unchanged for the 9000-series.
Personally, I wouldn't waste the money on a new motherboard, unless USB4 is a must have feature.

I am aware of the topologies, but mobo makers can still add layers to the board and clean up power delivery etc for minimal gains. Not sure if any of that is going to happen with 8xx motherboards, I guess we'll have to wait and see where the supposed added memory speed is coming from, if at all.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Yeah I hear that too but i'm wondering how, considering the IOD is the same as 7xxx.



I am aware of the topologies, but mobo makers can still add layers to the board and clean up power delivery etc for minimal gains. Not sure if any of that is going to happen with 8xx motherboards, I guess we'll have to wait and see where the supposed added memory speed is coming from, if at all.

I mean theres a lot you can do to squeeze higher freq out of a design on the physical implementation side. It can be the same overall design from a gates, RTL stand point but what the layout engineers do can yield better performance.

Im not an engineer at AMD, but i do do layout at another company on DDR controllers. If they designed the controller for a target sweet spot of 6400 without changing any gates/rtl, they did layout (especially cts), timing closure and clk/data skew alignment at that target frequency which is totally possible. 400mhz isnt that big of a bump.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I am aware of the topologies, but mobo makers can still add layers to the board and clean up power delivery etc for minimal gains. Not sure if any of that is going to happen with 8xx motherboards, I guess we'll have to wait and see where the supposed added memory speed is coming from, if at all.

Honestly, we're already at a point where not much more can be done with current motherboard layouts and memory.
If you want really high memory speeds with DDR5, memory modules a CKD is most likely going to be the way to go anyhow and then latencies will go up.
I honestly believe there will be minimal benefits to be had from throwing away your motherboard.

 

[mkppo]

I mean theres a lot you can do to squeeze higher freq out of a design on the physical implementation side. It can be the same overall design from a gates, RTL stand point but what the layout engineers do can yield better performance.

Im not an engineer at AMD, but i do do layout at another company on DDR controllers. If they designed the controller for a target sweet spot of 6400 without changing any gates/rtl, they did layout (especially cts), timing closure and clk/data skew alignment at that target frequency which is totally possible. 400mhz isnt that big of a bump.

I agree, and hope it is the case on the CPU side as opposed to the motherboard. I just want a nice 8000 mhz 2:1 on a 9950x while re-using the x670e.

 

[TheLostSwede]

@mkppo see the sticker?

未発売の「Ryzen 9000」シリーズ対応済みのMSI製マザーボードが発売

未発売の新CPU「Ryzen 9000」シリーズへの対応をうたうマザーボードが早くも発売された。

ascii.jp

 

[rv8000]

I would like that to be the case, but I hear 800 series might have improved memory overclocking capabilities. Not sure how, with 9000 CPU's having the same IOD. I guess they're going to do some improvements when it comes to memory traces etc but let's see. I actually want that to not be the case so I can just re-use my x670e for 9950x

Rumor was that the next generation of boards would feature better trace design to improve signal integrity. I can’t remember the exact quote/terminology, something to do with “back drilling”. If you’ve read about or had the chance to experience 2:1 memory overclocking on B650/X670, for any board that isn’t the Gene or Tachyon (only 2 dimm boards released, one purchasable and the other vaporware), boot to boot instability is nearly impossible solve. I don’t know if it’s been proven yet but many believe it had to do with mismatched tphydrl timings between dimms/signal integrity at higher frequencies.

When testing on my b650 strix e, 8000 would run for 8+ hours in kahru without errors, then last 10 seconds the next boot.

If I were buying an AM5 build I would absolutely wait for more leaks on X870E before deciding between 600 and 800 gen boards.

*6200-6400 is also attainable on Zen4, which gives me hope they’re sandbagging the real sweet-spot for enthusiasts. It’s entirely possible 6600-6800 could be viable in 1:1.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Rumor was that the next generation of boards would feature better trace design to improve signal integrity. I can’t remember the exact quote/terminology, something to do with “back drilling”. If you’ve read about or had the chance to experience 2:1 memory overclocking on B650/X670, for any board that isn’t the Gene or Tachyon (only 2 dimm boards released, one purchasable and the other vaporware), boot to boot instability is nearly impossible solve. I don’t know if it’s been proven yet but many believe it had to do with mismatched tphydrl timings between dimms/signal integrity at higher frequencies.

When testing on my b650 strix e, 8000 would run for 8+ hours in kahru without errors, then last 10 seconds the next boot.

If I were buying an AM5 build I would absolutely wait for more leaks on X870E before deciding between 600 and 800 gen boards.

*6200-6400 is also attainable on Zen4, which gives me hope they’re sandbagging the real sweet-spot for enthusiasts. It’s entirely possible 6600-6800 could be viable in 1:1.

The Tachyon wasn't vapour ware, it was simply released in an extremely limited run due to piss poor management and sales people at Gigabyte. Sales didn't know how to sell the board, which lead to management not launching the board outside of Japan and a few limited units in the US.

 

[kilis]

GIVE ME MY GOD DAMN PCIE SLOTS YOU MORONS AT GIGABYTE AND OTHERS

 

[rv8000]

The Tachyon wasn't vapour ware, it was simply released in an extremely limited run due to piss poor management and sales people at Gigabyte. Sales didn't know how to sell the board, which lead to management not launching the board outside of Japan and a few limited units in the US.

It effectively was. The board was never available in the US afaik. I checked every week since news articles first revealed the Tachyon and e-mailed CS at Gigabyte several times, and not once did they provide any information about the board actually being available for purchase.

Unless you have proof otherwise. Also, what’s the point of singling that out, that was the least relevant part of the entire post.

 

[Erazor6000]

By default, my TT Core P8 is not compatible with this MB, but I'm going to cut it out with a metal laser cutting machine!

 

[TheLostSwede]

It effectively was. The board was never available in the US afaik. I checked every week since news articles first revealed the Tachyon and e-mailed CS at Gigabyte several times, and not once did they provide any information about the board actually being available for purchase.

Unless you have proof otherwise. Also, what’s the point of singling that out, that was the least relevant part of the entire post.

I mean, I know HiCookie who helps design and test the Tachyon boards and I know other people at Gigabyte, so yes, I know it was sold, but it was only a few hundred units ever made.
I'm sorry you were unable to get one, but as I said, piss poor management is who you want to blame, not some poor customer service people.
A lot of people at Gigabyte were disappointed that the board wasn't more widely available as well.

 

[Tomorrow]

It effectively was. The board was never available in the US afaik. I checked every week since news articles first revealed the Tachyon and e-mailed CS at Gigabyte several times, and not once did they provide any information about the board actually being available for purchase.

Unless you have proof otherwise. Also, what’s the point of singling that out, that was the least relevant part of the entire post.

Indeed. There were leaks of future 800 series board names from Gigabyte and a new Tachyon was listed there. Unfortunately only in white color like the board in this article (ICE moniker).

X870E AORUS XTREME AI TOP
X870E AORUS MASTER
X870E AORUS PRO
X870E AORUS PRO ICE
X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7
X870 AORUS TACHYON ICE
X870 AORUS ELITE WF7 ICE
X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7
X870I AORUS PRO ICE
X870 EAGLE AX
X870 EAGLE WIFI7
X870 GAMING P WF
X870 GAMING X WIFI7

 

[rv8000]

I mean, I know HiCookie who helps design and test the Tachyon boards and I know other people at Gigabyte, so yes, I know it was sold, but it was only a few hundred units ever made.
I'm sorry you were unable to get one, but as I said, piss poor management is who you want to blame, not some poor customer service people.
A lot of people at Gigabyte were disappointed that the board wasn't more widely available as well.

Knowing someone doesn’t mean anything. Where were these alleged boards listed for sale. Newegg? Amazon? Microcenter? B&H? Any e-tailer?

The only two people ive spoken with that own or I’ve seen with the board are wdm (on OCN who tests boards for gigabyte) or Buildzoid, both who have mentioned the board was not available for purchase and was sent to them by Gigabyte.

I don’t blame CS for anything, it’s not their fault, they simply never had that information to give; which more than likely means the board was never listed for sale in the US.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Knowing someone doesn’t mean anything. Where were these alleged boards listed for sale. Newegg? Amazon? Microcenter? B&H? Any e-tailer?

The only two people ive spoken with that own or I’ve seen with the board are wdm (on OCN who tests boards for gigabyte) or Buildzoid, both who have mentioned the board was not available for purchase and was sent to them by Gigabyte.

I don’t blame CS for anything, it’s not their fault, they simply never had that information to give; which more than likely means the board was never listed for sale in the US.

Ok, then... Be like that.

You don't make retail products as a company if you're not going to sell the product. I don't work for Gigabyte, so I don't know which retail they sold them through, but as I said, it was a really limited run of a few hundred boards, most went to Japan.

The reason you weren't told, was due to how bad their sales people are. Due to them being unable to figure out how to sell these boards into the channel, there was a as I've mentioned, a very small amount of boards made. However, it was sold in retail at one point.

 

[rv8000]

Ok, then... Be like that.

You don't make retail products as a company if you're not going to sell the product. I don't work for Gigabyte, so I don't know which retail they sold them through, but as I said, it was a really limited run of a few hundred boards, most went to Japan.

The reason you weren't told, was due to how bad their sales people are. Due to them being unable to figure out how to sell these boards into the channel, there was a as I've mentioned, a very small amount of boards made. However, it was sold in retail at one point.

View attachment 354808

Be like what? We know they were made as they handed out boards to XOC enthusiasts. There is zero proof of a listing in the US though. If you “know people”, why not find out where the limited run was posted on an e-tailer for the US then? I’ll wait. You’d think after diligently researching the board and checking multiple sources and sites since news leaks would’ve eventually lead me to a place of purchase, if they were in fact ever listed.