Component Analysis

As we're dealing with an X870E motherboard, there are two X870 chipsets providing the extra I/O and bandwidth over the single X870 implementation, but this does require a much larger heatsink stretching across nearly the whole of the PCB. On the plus side this will offer plenty of cooling for storage-intensive workloads.


While there's no optical output on the rear I/O panel, the rest of the audio circuitry is pretty standard, using Realtek's ALC1220 codec in the usual isolated audio section. Next to it, we also find the first of the two Ethernet controllers - Intel's 2.5 Gbps I226-V.


Underneath and cooled by the large left VRM heatsink is the Marvell AQtion AQC113 10 Gbps Ethernet controller and also an ASMedia ASM4242 USB4 controller, which became fully Thunderbolt 4 certified last year.


Wi-Fi is provided by a MediaTek MT7927 Wi-Fi 7 module. This can be removed and replaced if necessary as it uses standard connectors internally, switching to ASUS Q-Antenna connectors externally. The housing also features a thermal pad so it can act as a heatsink for the module.