ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI
It’s getting crazier and crazier (in a good way)!
For the HEAVIEST Gamers out there
PERFORMANCES - 9
OVERCLOCKING - 8.5
DESIGN - 8.5
DURABILITY - 8.7
PRICE - 6
ACCESSORIES - 6.5
CUSTOM WATER COOLING - 6.5
TROUBLESHOOTING - 8
CONNECTIVITY - 8
STORAGE - 7.9
BACK-IO - 8.5
PCIE-EXPORT - 7
7.8
AWESOME
Release date : 22 Sept 2024 MSRP : 500 USD Compatible CPU :RYZEN 7000 RYZEN 8000 RYZEN 9000 Chipset : X870E (AMD) PCIe Lanes : 24 PCIe 5.0 (CPU) 4 PCIe 3.0 (PCH) 8 PCIe 4.0 (PCH) CPU Socket : AM5 LGA1718 (AMD)
The ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI looks and act like no other STRIX before it. It comes with daring arguments, stunning aesthetics, and an apologetic feature list.
The premium focus applied to this board will make you question the very existence of the more expensive CROSSHAIR line-up of motherboards.
- Excellent VRM
- Shares many features with the more expensive ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO
- Unprecedented bandwidth availability on the back IO
- 6.5 Gbs WIFI 7 adapter
- GREAT PCIe 5.0 integration and support
- Price
- M.2 SSD plates should have a screwless removal system
- No custom water cooling features (flow sensor, D5 connector)
DESIGN AND RGB
The ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI is different. It is dressed to impress, features heavy blocks and adventures different area of the board with different aesthetics. And it does stand up. We find the alien-space them ROG feed its design inspiration. We have the introduction of more curved angles, hallmark of a more controlled manufacturing process.
The RGB is classy with a single 8 bit back lidded ROG eye on the main vrm block . Nothing tacky.
In addition we have our usual 3 addressable RGB connectors to express, well whatever you want to express.
Definitely a more researched, more dressed and a more invested design coming from ASUS here… well done again.
RGB wise, the STRIX remains
- x3 addressable RGB Connectors
All of the above are obviously fully customizable (and sync-able) through ASUS very own AURA software.
PCB
It costs more, adding PCB layers is probably the most expensive thing a manufacturer can do, but its repercussions are deep and touches about every fundamentals on your board:
- Heat dissipation
- Signal interferences and hence system stability
- And the overall motherboard lifespan.
CPU Socket (AM5 LGA1718)
Our LGA1718 AM5 socket can support :
- RYZEN 7000
- RYZEN 8000
- RYZEN 9000
The board is powered by our usual AM5 CPU socket now providing a wide range of Ryzen CPU support. always a plus.
X870E CHIPSET
On the southbridge, we got our two PROMOD21 chips powering the X870E chipset, which despite not providing that many more PCIe 5.0 lanes than its X870 or even B850 cheaper versions, does bring in a heavy set of USB add-ons. And we will see how that affect the overall value statement of this 500 bucks board.
VRM
- CPU : x18 110A SIC850A power stages
- SOC: x2 110A SIC850A power stages
- MISC: x2 80A SIC629 power stages
- VRM CONTROLLER : ASP2205
We are dealing with a 20+2+2 phases configuration, not too far from last year ROG STRIX X670E-E GAMING WiFi which makes sense since the new generation of RYZEN (9000 series) processors are much more energy efficient then the departing RYZEN 7000 and 8000 series, while outputting similar performances.
This power solution will make sense for about everyone : video editor, 3D rendering or heavy gamers, there is ample resources to push any compatible processors beyond its natural limits.
VRM Cooling
Cooling wise the strix went all out with a premium 2 segment cooling block linked y a 8mm copper pipe to ensure an homogeneous heat spread.
VRM MAIN COOLING BLOCK
Its wall is rather thick and provides a plenty of reservoir to store all the harvested heat before letting the radiating roof to let it out.
Just as seen on its B850 cheaper sibling, the main block shows a smaller radiating roof than we had be accustomed to but, to remain very efficient
VRM SIDE COOLING BLOCK
Finally worth noting, both blocks feature the now standard “double contact design” which provides an intimate and sunburn cooling relief to our strix power stages.
VRM Temps
And results are naturally good!
Temps results are where I expected them to be. With a stock clocked R9 9900X, running for an hour-long synthetic stress test, the temps stayed generally below the 50C.
Thanks to the copper pipe, both blocks stay very close to each other in terms of temps, and, after the 25th minute, we can observe the heat fully saturating our blocks hence the slower temperature increase ratio.
Most importantly, these results means that we have plenty of thermal room to toy with your processor abilities, aka overclocking, since I have no problem seeing our blocks operating at 65c without affecting the overall life-spam of the board.
Taking int to account the specs, the ease of operation, the thermal and the pricing I am giving this VRM a solid 8.5 out of 10 and would recommend a R9 processor to run on it. Anything below, waisted on this board.
RAM
The STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI remain predictable with an upt0 256 GB of DDR5 RAM support, organized in a dual channel and rated to a 8000MT’s maximum data transfer,
It is good and fast and provides a better single stick memory argument than seen on its ROG STRIX B850-E GAMING WIFI cheaper counterpart.
Important point since it is all about the single stick value here. These maximum transfer rate can only be achieved on single sticks, and here you can get up to 64 GB instead of 48 GB which is a solid argument in particular for production minded builds.
STORAGE
Our board shows-off 5 M.2 SSD connectors,
The ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI comes heavy with 5 native M.2 SSD connectors, 3 of which are CPU fed and can deliver 4 lanes at PCIe 5.0 standard (upto 128 Gbs worth of data transfer each).
The three PCIe 5.0 enabled M.2 SSD have all received a double thermal padding treatment ( floor and cooling blocks), which is a nice premium feature.
M.2_1 Connector
M.2_1 connector : 4 lanes @ PCIe 5.0 standard Locking mechanism : PUSH LATCH Bandwidth source : CPU Floor thermal padding : Yes Heat shield : Yes (dedicated) Type : Heat Block
Thye M.2_1 connector is the only permanent PCIe 5.0 connector (no PCIe bifurcation applied) and as such as received the bulk of the cooling focus on the board.
We have this unreal, tall, dense, and heavy block which ensure a massive heat storage before radiating away. I would like to underline the opening in the blocks which allow some air flow to radiate more heat. This thing was clearly engineered.
This is also the only heat block on the board to feature a push-release latch which is very sturdy, precise and handy. Nice DIY feature here.
M.2_2/3 Connector
M.2_2 connector : 4 lanes @ PCIe 5.0 standard M.2_3 connector : 4 lanes @ PCIe 5.0 standard Locking mechanism : Screws Bandwidth source : CPU Floor thermal padding : Yes Heat shield : Yes (shared) Type : Heat Block
The two remaining M.2 connectors are cooled by the same and rather imposing, angular, wide cooling block.
Worth noting it is toped by a copper pipe which radiates harvest heat through an exhaust plate.
Obviously more than enough to get rid of any heat produced my PCIe 5.0 ran M.2 SSD even if covered by a heat bleeding GPU.
M.2_4/5 Connector
M.2_4 connector : 4 lanes @ PCIe 4.0 standard M.2_5 connector : 4 lanes @ PCIe 4.0 standard Locking mechanism : Screws Bandwidth source : CPU Floor thermal padding : Yes Heat shield : Yes (shared) Type : Heat Plate
Our two PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD will produce less heat than the PCIe 5.0 one and will stay cool with a low-profile, thermo=padded monoplate.
M.2 screw-less mechanism
All of our ther M.2 SSD feature the freshly redesigned screwless mechanism.
I want to note the, again redesigned, and study screwless nvme locking mechanism.
So far and storage wise the strix e b850 has nothing to envy from it’s x870 counterparts. It’s heavy, it’s fast, and it’s cooled all around.
My only remark is that, only the this connector’s block got a screw-less latch mechanism, which btw is very precise and sturdy. For the rest we got screws… more screws. Something I’d love to see go away next year.
PCIe EXPORTS
The most obvious difference with last year ROG STRIX X670E-E GAMING WIFI is the loss of the dual GPU support. This year updated version is re-centered around one very fast, future-proofed 16 lanes GPU export going at PCIe 5.0 standard. Re-enforced it is designed to carry most of the close 4 kg heavy 5000 series ROG produces.
But most importantly and as seen on its B850 cheaper version, we now have a much intuitive trigger based GPU unlocking mechanism. No more mechanical button, which is one complexity less to worry about and I like it.
The naked export is chipset fed with a rather fast 4 lanes at PCIe 4.0 standard, great for, well, anything but a graphics card.
Simplified, refocused, this year strix is much more in line with the actual needs of a heavy gamer needs, which is this board is all about.
Instead we have a refocused very fast, sturdy GPU export fed by a future-proofing 16 lanes @ PCIe 5.0 standard for a total of 64 GBs worth of data swap in each direction.
One other good point, the GPU eject mechanism is now replaced by a trigger based release system, housed inside the the PCIe export. Simple and intuitive, simply pull off the GPU, and, the once secured card, will be free as a bird.
I think that ASUS Q-SLIM ends the couple of years of GPU ejection mechanism conversation all the manufacturers went through and I can predict this is the final GPU removal mechanism we will see around for some time.
PCIe Bifurcation
Given the massive amount of bandwidth hungry components, it is without surprise that ASUS has to make some difficult choices in terms of PCIe re-routing and bifurcation.
If any (or both) of these two PCIe 5.0 supplementary M.2 SSDs, you are dividing the GPU export bandwidth by available lanes will be divided by two.
Unlike the ROG STRIX B850 Gaming WiFi, the PCIe 4.0 section is fully fed no matter what. No bifurcation here, and that’s worth mentioning.
But on the immensely bright side, it also means that you can use both a fully operational 16 lanes @ PCIE 5.0 standard GPU export along a fully operational PCIe 5.0 enabled M.2 connector.
Only could we see this kind of bandwidth availability on X670E or X870 powered motherboards, and this is incredibly exciting to now see it on B850 powered ones as well!
It really is a big deal!
The BACK IO
This is one of the best selling point of this board. The bandwidth availability is absolutely humongous.
Thanks to the introduction of the dual USB 4.0 plugs, the generational jump between the X670E version and this one is unprecedented. We are going from 140 Gb/s to 200 Gb/s combined data swap here. 140 gbs which is now exactly what you get on the much cheaper B850 strix version.
Clear CMOS button FLASH BIOS button for a CPU-less BIOS UPDATE x4 USB 2.0 Gen (RX/TX 480 Mb/s) x10 USB 3.2 2nd Gen (RX/TX 10 Gb/s) x1 USB 3.2 2nd Gen 2x2 (RX/TX 20 Gb/s) (TYPE-C) super fast charging WiFi 7 802.11Be / 320 MHz (RX/TX 6.5 Gb/s) x2 USB 4.0 (RX/TX 40 Gb/s) or (1.4a DP (4K@60Hz or 8K@ 30 Hz)) x1 HDMI 2.1 4096x2304@60 Hz with HDR x1 LAN 5 GbE LAN (RX/TX 5 Gb/s) AUDIO : ALC 4080 REALTEK , 7.1 channels
We have the introduction of the fast charger and individual 40 Gbs plugs. It’s just another machine all together.
The USB 4 type-Cs also double up as integrated graphics DP outputs keeping the number of integrated graphics to 3.
Connectivity wise, again, compared to last year, we see a massive bandwidth increase, in speed but most importantly in latency. We got the brand new 320 MHz WIFI 7 dual band adapter which promises nothing but fiber graded latency solidly future-proofing your gaming experience.
ALC4080 from Realtek cleanse by a massive 500 microfarads worth of capacitors and insulated by an interference shield. Obviously, with dedicated channel layers, that many cleansing capacitors, an interference shield, we get the best of what the ALC 4080 can give but most importantly it is perfection in terms of recording! Awesome for audio recording, and streamers of all sorts.
Not every year can we witness such a leap forward in terms of BACK-IO. One could argue that for the past three years, not much had been done on that side, but, the ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI changes that and delivers the best featured BACK-IO we could have hoped for. It has nothing to envy from its much more expensive sibling, the ROG CROSSSHAIR X870E HERO.
Big BACK-IO KUDOS to asus for that!
WiFi 7
Capacitors
ALC 4080
Front Panel Connectors
We stay in the norm for this price range. This said I am disappointed not to see a fast charge on the front panel TYPE-C connector, (feature widely seen on MSI boards) and surprised to see 3 USB 2.0 front panel connectors. No idea why we would need Thant many legacy plugs. But that’s just me.
- x3 USB 2.0 (480 Mbs)
- x1 USB 3.0 (5 Gbs)
- x1 USB 3.2 2nd Gen 2×2(20 Gbs)
We have 8 pwm fan connectors including 1 water pump AIO plug. Again in the norm but nothing exciting for the custom water coolers out there, but still all the basics for a solid air flow and our all-in-one water cooling apparatus.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Ez debugger, Q-code OLED screen for a precise problem identification, power soldered button (not present on the previous apparition of the board), CPU-less BIOS update button, CLEAR_CMOS button (BACK IO) WE HAVE IT ALL .
CONCLUSION
The ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI will run you 500 US Dollars without taxes, that’s what it used to cost on the previous model, statement rare enough, but still this is serious cash.
If you are looking for value for money, that’s not where you want to go, the ROG STRIX B850-E GAMING WIFI will do that for you , delivering some of the main features for 150 bucks less, and frankly, is just as good if not better than the previous ROG STRIX X670E-E GAMING WIFI, so definitely a solid argument.
But That’s not what the ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI is about. What it is about is to show-off what Is available to us in terms of bandwidth, connectivity, and well, premium-ship in this early 2025. Clearly, we are not in the world of necessity here. We entered the realm of luxury, refined, curated engineering. And boy! Does it look great.
It’s robust, dressed to impress and it is here to make a statement. This is a STRIX year, everything below wont cut it, everything above is not worth it.
In short, the STRIX steals many of its features from the HERO and version of this board. 500 US Dollars is not cheap, but it becomes a rational price tag, when it delivers features which were previously reserved to much more expensive and premium models.
So much so, that I am curious to see what features the ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO will deploy to defend its 700+ USD price tag.
In short short, if you are looking for a premium build, with about everything 2025 could bring, in its best and its very best, the ROG strix x870e-e secured itself a very nice front seat on my list.
