GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Elite Ice Motherboard Pictured

[btarunr]

In Q1 2025, AMD is expected to expand its Ryzen 9000 series "Granite Ridge" desktop processor family with new 65 W processor models, alongside the introduction of the new cost-effective AMD B850 motherboard chipset. The B850 is expected to be a single-chip solution, just like the X870, but makes PCIe Gen 5 optional for the x16 PEG slot. You still get at least one Gen 5 M.2 NVMe slot. USB4 is made optional for this chipset model, too. The B850, hence, is essentially a rebadged B650. CPU and memory overclocking are supported, so you can expect features like "X3D Boost" to carry over from the X870 series motherboards. Videocardz scored clear images of one of the first production AMD B850 chipset motherboards, the GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Elite Ice. This particular variant comes with integrated Wi-Fi 6E, and the "Ice" denotes a white PCB, along with white slots and connectors. You can expect variations of this board with black PCB, and other wireless networking solutions, or lacking one altogether.

The Micro-ATX board appears feature-packed, including an easy ejection lever for the PCIe x16 slot. It draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors. Expansion slots include what is very likely a Gen 4 PCI-Express x16 slot, a Gen 4 x4 (physical x16) PCIe slot, and the space between them being dominated by an M.2 SSD heatsink that very likely conceals a Gen 5 M.2 slot wired to the CPU, and a Gen 4 M.2 slot that's either wired to the CPU (since there's no discrete USB4 controller), or the FCH. USB connectivity consists of 20 Gbps USB 3.2 for a few type-C ports (including a type-C header), and a combination of 10 Gbps and 5 Gbps USB 3.x ports.



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[piloponth]

It's controversial, but I mean it—miniATX and two DDR slots should be the primary variant of the motherboard with every vendor!
There is no big need to plug anything apart from a graphics card into a PCIe port(s). And, it is preferable to have only two RAM sticks plugged in for better performance and stability.

 

[Shou Miko]

Nice a white mobo, but sadly for me it's a Gigabyte board and everytime I have Gigabyte no matter if it's AMD or Intel I get weird BSOD together with a lot of other people I do not experience on Asus, ASRock, ECS and MSI boards so I do not really look for Gigabyte when I shop boards

 

[ymdhis]

At least try to mix things up from B650 instead of just rebadging everything, and give different i/o options. I want more mATX boards with at least 3 m.2 slots.

 

[wolar]

It's controversial, but I mean it—miniATX and two DDR slots should be the primary variant of the motherboard with every vendor!
There is no big need to plug anything apart from a graphics card into a PCIe port(s). And, it is preferable to have only two RAM sticks plugged in for better performance and stability.

Much rather the default being m-atx with 4 slots.
Sure you don't need the 4 slots now, but down the line i found myself using old hardware for other reasons and needing the extra slots.
Also 1 more pcie is VERY useful, now could they make it so you don't need all the extra length of m-atx? maybe. but the x4 extra slot is really useful (sata card/sound card/sfp+ card etc)

 

[Launcestonian]

It's controversial, but I mean it—miniATX and two DDR slots should be the primary variant of the motherboard with every vendor!
There is no big need to plug anything apart from a graphics card into a PCIe port(s). And, it is preferable to have only two RAM sticks plugged in for better performance and stability.

I agree 2 slot DIMM boards for enthusiasts is an area not being addressed by major motherboard manufacturers except of course if they go lower end with some AM5 mATX or ITX boards, but the issue I have is weak VRMs or VRMs that run hot on non ATX boards. Also having minimum 6 system fan headers and good space between primary PCIe 16x slot & a PCIe slot for stuff like sound cards without crapping the cooling solution of the graphics card - this in themselves are primary reasons (with cooler VRMs) why I have to use ATX boards, despite the other 2 DIMM slots being empty all the time...

 

[_roman_]

Too late for the christmas shopping.

A very nice white coloured board. About the specification I have no idea.

4x 90°degree SATA ports and some usb ports. Nice.

 

[trparky]

Nice a white mobo, but sadly for me it's a Gigabyte board and everytime I have Gigabyte no matter if it's AMD or Intel I get weird BSOD together with a lot of other people I do not experience on Asus, ASRock, ECS and MSI boards so I do not really look for Gigabyte when I shop boards

Not me. My Gigabyte board has been stable while the ASUS board that my brother has nearly made me pull my hair out.

See this... Weird fix that I found when troubleshooting BSODs with ASUS TUF GAMING B650-E WIFI | TechPowerUp Forums

 

[Shou Miko]

Not me. My Gigabyte board has been stable while the ASUS board that my brother has nearly made me pull my hair out.

See this... Weird fix that I found when troubleshooting BSODs with ASUS TUF GAMING B650-E WIFI | TechPowerUp Forums

For AM5 I had a couple of X670 boards with issues but Asus just ain't the best AM5 option.

 

[_roman_]

A bit off topic:

It'S always a bit of defining an issue. When you are a user who just is happy that the computer boots and steam loads up an ASUS mainboard may be fine. Many will not be able to see an issue at all. they do not grasp the technicality or malfunction. My asus mainboard has also several known flaws. I would not buy that asus mainboard again.

 

[3valatzy]

A very nice white coloured board.

I don't like it. Looks like the white paint was spilled over the board accidentally, with a ugly consequence on it.
Very unnatural and ugly "white" finish.

 

[Caring1]

Did they intentionally leave out the space between WiFi and 6e, or was that a typo? Never change Gigabyte.

 

[kapone32]

This better not be too expensive. You are paying the same for a B650.

 

[Shou Miko]

This better not be too expensive. You are paying the same for a B650.

White is usually a premium product but white ain't always white compared to other white products.

 

[_roman_]

A friend of mine sells car. He told me, there are 20 or 30 different white colors for his car brand he sells.

 

[Launcestonian]

A friend of mine sells car. He told me, there are 20 or 30 different white colors for his car brand he sells.

Well.. colour blindness in varying degrees is a thing you know.

 

[Shou Miko]

A friend of mine sells car. He told me, there are 20 or 30 different white colors for his car brand he sells.

It's insane but true and it's really to the point do we need all these color variations?

 

[toooooot]

I absolutely love white slots. It looks so much better, and will look great with double glass wall cases.