Gigabyte has launched a rather special AMD motherboard — the X870E AORUS ELITE X3D. Designed for gamers, particularly those using CPUs with 3D V-Cache technology, this high-end board aims to deliver optimized performance with AMD’s latest processors.
Introduced in May and available in both black and white, the X870E Aorus Elite X3D belongs to Gigabyte’s broader X3D lineup and is one of the more affordable models in that range. Gigabyte claims it’s engineered to take full advantage of AMD’s 3D V-Cache CPUs, thanks to the new X3D Turbo Mode 2.0. This feature promises up to +25% better gaming performance and +14% higher CPU power.
It comes equipped with Gigabyte’s latest design refinements, especially in cooling and quick-mount mechanisms. Even better, it includes preinstalled Wi-Fi drivers, which is handy since Windows 11 requires an internet connection and Microsoft account during installation or first boot.
Tech2geek tested this board thoroughly: Does the X870E Aorus Elite X3D truly unlock your AMD gaming rig’s full potential? And does it justify its $379 price tag?
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Buy on Amazon: GIGABYTE X870E AORUS Elite X3D ($379)
Design and Features
At first glance, the X870E Aorus Elite X3D packs everything needed for a powerful gaming, production, or creative workstation. It features an 8-layer PCB, four DDR5 slots supporting up to DDR5-9000 MT/s (OC), three PCIe x16 slots, a debug display, quick-release M.2 SSD and PCIe locks, and full PCIe 5.0 support. Its cooling system is robust, using direct-contact heat pipes for the VRMs, chipset, and storage areas.
Connectivity is equally strong: multiple USB 3.2 Type-A, USB-C, and even USB 4 ports. Networking includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and 5 GbE Ethernet.
But the real highlight here is the X3D Turbo Mode 2.0.
X3D Turbo Mode 2.0 — Smart Overclocking
This exclusive overclocking feature uses AI algorithms and dedicated hardware circuits to dynamically adjust CPU parameters in real time. By monitoring temperature, voltage, and frequency, it fine-tunes performance every few milliseconds based on an extensive CPU database — and adapts to each processor’s individual characteristics.
It offers two operation modes:
- Extreme Gaming Mode – focuses purely on gaming performance.
- Max Performance Mode – boosts all-around system performance.
Interestingly, in Extreme Gaming Mode, our Ryzen 9 9950X3D behaves like an 8-core chip, as it prioritizes the core complex (CCX) with 3D V-Cache for gaming efficiency.
Build and Cooling
Structurally, it’s similar to the X870E Aorus Elite, with the same robust black design and extensive heatsinks. The AM5 socket is surrounded by large, finned VRM coolers, especially near the I/O area, which even has a small rear ventilation grid. RGB lighting is subtle, adding just a touch of flair.
Power is supplied via a 20+4 ATX connector, dual 8-pin EPS, and an 8-pin PCIe connector to support up to 65W front USB power delivery.
It supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series CPUs, though Ryzen 9000 chips are best suited to take full advantage of PCIe 5.0 capabilities.
Memory support includes up to 256 GB DDR5, with a wide range of speeds from 4800 MT/s to 9000 MT/s (OC), supporting both AMD EXPO and Intel XMP profiles.
Audio comes from a Realtek ALC1220 codec, while networking is handled by a Realtek 5GbE chip and Qualcomm QCNCM865 Wi-Fi 7 controller.
Storage options include four SATA 6Gb/s ports and four M.2 slots, two of which support PCIe 5.0 x4 with Ryzen 9000 CPUs. RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations are supported.
USB connectivity is generous — up to 2x USB 4 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C (65W PD), and numerous other USB-A and USB-C options across all generations.
BIOS and Software
The new BIOS interface is cleaner and more intuitive, featuring both Easy Mode and Advanced Mode.
- Easy Mode presents key settings like XMP/EXPO, Re-Size BAR, and Turbo Mode selection (Standard, Max Performance, Extreme Gaming).
- Advanced Mode unlocks full manual control for fine-tuning voltages, frequencies, power delivery, and fan profiles.
There’s also multi-theme support, screenshot capture, search functionality, and the SMART FAN tool for advanced cooling management.
Test Setup
Configuration:
- CPU: Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Cooling: Cooler Master MasterLiquid 360 Atmos
- RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5-6000 CL28 (2x16GB)
- GPU: GeForce RTX 4090
- SSD: Samsung 990 Pro 1TB
- PSU: NZXT C1500
- OS: Windows 11 25H2 (64-bit)
Benchmarks included PCMark 10, Procyon Office, AIDA64 Extreme, Cinebench R23, Blender 4.5, and various gaming tests (1080p, ultra settings, no DLSS/RT):
Far Cry 6, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Star Wars Outlaws, Horizon Zero Dawn, Metro Exodus, Cyberpunk 2077, Doom: The Dark Ages.
Power Consumption
| Configuration | 💤 Idle | 🔋 Load |
|---|---|---|
| 🟩 Standard | 95.2 Watts | 716 Watts |
| 🟦 Max Performance | 96.2 Watts | 728 Watts |
| 🟥 Extreme Gaming | 88 Watts | 645 Watts |
Measured at the wall socket, total system power draw ranged from 95W (idle) to 728W (load) depending on the mode.
In Extreme Gaming Mode, consumption dropped to 645W since the CPU runs with 8 active cores.
| Configuration | 📖 Read | ✍️ Write |
|---|---|---|
| 🟦 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Standard) | 77 397 Go/s | 78 100 Go/s |
| 🟩 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Max Perf.) | 77 655 Go/s | 78 778 Go/s |
| 🟪 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Extreme) | 63 820 Go/s | 87 530 Go/s |
| Configuration | 🕒Latency |
|---|---|
| 🟦 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Standard) | 81.5 ns |
| 🟩 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Max Perf.) | 77 ns |
| 🟥 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Extreme) | 71 ns |
Performance Results
Productivity and Office Tasks
| Configuration Index | 📊 Index |
|---|---|
| 🔵 Configuration 1 | 100.0 |
| 🔵 Configuration 2 | 102.7 |
| 🔵 Configuration 3 | 91.8 |
In everyday workloads, Max Performance Mode offered a +2.7% boost over Standard Mode, while Extreme Gaming Mode dropped to -8% due to fewer active cores.
| Configuration | 🧑💼 Office Performance |
|---|---|
| 🟦 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Standard) | 100.0 |
| 🟩 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Max Perf.) | 101.9 |
| 🟥 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Extreme) | 106.4 |
Multithreaded Creation Workloads
| Benchmark | 🟦 Standard | 🟥 Max Performance | 🟩 Extreme Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blender 4.5 | 100 | 103 | 41 |
| x264FHD | 100 | 101 | 77 |
| Cinebench R23 | 100 | 104 | 42 |
For heavy rendering and multi-core applications, Max Performance Mode added 1–4% gains, but Extreme Gaming Mode lost up to 60% due to reduced cores.
Gaming
| Configuration | 🎮 Gaming Performance Index |
|---|---|
| 🟩 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Standard) | 100.0 |
| 🟦 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Max Perf.) | 102.5 |
| 🟥 X870E Aorus Elite X3D (Extreme) | 105.8 |
This is where Extreme Gaming Mode shines — achieving an average +6% FPS gain across titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Metro Exodus. The Max Performance Mode delivered a +2.5% improvement.
At 1080p Ultra, all games exceeded 90 FPS without issues — limited only by the GPU in some cases.
| 🎮 Game Title | 🟥 Extreme Gaming | 🟦 Max Performance | 🟩 Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doom The Dark Ages | 121 FPS | 121 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Star Wars Outlaws | 171 FPS | 172 FPS | 170 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 241 FPS | 241 FPS | 239 FPS |
| Metro Exodus | 239 FPS | 232 FPS | 230 FPS |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 312 FPS | 294 FPS | 288 FPS |
| Shadow of Tomb Raider | 386 FPS | 382 FPS | 376 FPS |
| Far Cry 6 | 271 FPS | 262 FPS | 257 FPS |
Verdict
The Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite X3D is a premium, performance-oriented motherboard tailored for both demanding gamers and creative professionals seeking a versatile platform. Its standout feature, X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, delivers real, adaptive overclocking benefits — particularly in gaming scenarios, with tangible gains of up to 6%.
The redesigned BIOS is modern, intuitive, and comprehensive. Connectivity is top-tier, with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, USB 4.0, and 5GbE LAN. However, the Extreme Gaming Mode’s core limitation significantly impacts multi-threaded workloads, and idle power draw remains somewhat high.
At $289, it’s not cheap — but it’s clearly built for enthusiasts wanting to extract every ounce of power from AMD’s Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Buy on Amazon: GIGABYTE X870E AORUS Elite X3D ($379)
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You reviewed the X870E AORUS ELITE X3D, but your Amazon link to buy the motherboard points to the NON-X3D variant of the board. The board you reviewed, X870E AORUS ELITE X3D, is actually $379 on Amazon / NewEgg / Etc currently. Here’s a link to the actual motherboard – https://a.co/d/de5BQzw
I bought this board a couple days ago off NewEgg and it’s being delivered today. Thank you for the review. I kind of went out on a limb buying a board that has zero reviews so far from consumers.
thanks