In our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review, we will discuss everything about one of the latest offerings from Gigabyte. It is the cheapest option from the company that brings some of the latest features to the market. However, the good thing here is you get everything you need at a lower price.
After releasing the current Ryzen 7000 CPUs from AMD, we all saw a flood of new products on the market. These include power supplies, RAM, and motherboards.
In our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review, we will check on the product features, design, functions, and specifications. Also, we will see how well (or not) it fared during our tests. This review will help you determine if this latest motherboard from Gigabyte is worth purchasing for your system.
But before we get deeper into the motherboard, we will discuss its packaging and contents that Gigabyte included.
X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Packaging
Our motherboard arrived in time for this X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review and came in a typical-looking cardboard box. You get the standard motherboard package with an image of the product in front, its name, and the company branding. The rear shows more details about the motherboard.
Inside, the X670 AORUS ELITE AX comes with a WiFi6 + Bluetooth dongle and extra SATA cables. Also, you will find an M2 screw plus a standoff with a Q Connector for installing the front panel cables.
X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review – Design and Functionality
The X670 chipset is among the top-notch options available on the market, offering similar performance to the X670E boards. However, it comes with lesser features that cut the cost.
We will also discuss the chipset of this motherboard in our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review. Only a few X670 boards are currently on the market, so these motherboards offer similar performance but with less next-gen compatibility.
The chipset follows a more classic layout than AMD set out since the first gen Ryzen CPUs.The chipset is also ideal for people to optimise features and performance. However, things have changed since the introduction of the X670E chipset.
Design-wise, there is a more simple aesthetic with Gigabyte motherboards under the AM5 platform. For RGBs, the company kept lighting to a minimum, so light only appears beneath the heatsink/IO plate towards the top of the board.
Despite the minimalist approach, we love the design of this motherboard, and it does not appear lacking in any way. Remember that there are no RGB LED lights on the motherboard itself. But if you want a splash of colour, the X670 AORUS ELITE AX has ARGB and RGB headers.
Moreover, its RGBs are entirely customisable via the RGB Fusion software from Gigabyte.
The rest of the board sports an exposed PCB, which some people do not appreciate. We love seeing the electronics displayed beneath various heatsinks.
Otherwise, the rest of the board sports a simple yet fresh design that blends nicely, regardless of the build aesthetics.
This motherboard in our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review is an excellent option for overclocking Ryzen 7000 CPUs. It has a 16+2+2 digital VRM design with MOSFET heatsinks and an 8mm heat pipe for optimised thermals. This board will deliver improved overclocking performance if you pair it with a high-performing AIO CPU cooler.
It lacks PCIe 5.0 slot support as an X670 non-E board. However, it has a single PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot.
The board also features three PCIe 4.0 x4 slots cooled by one large heatsink. Plus, to round out the storage options, there are four SATA ports.
The primary M.2 heatsink is smaller and not as chunky as those on high-end motherboards.
The VRM and cooling storage on the motherboard is enough for most users. Its I/O is just right since the product has the RZ616 WiFi 6E and Realtek 2.5G LAN included.
With its price range, you would expect to miss the USB 4, but its USB count is impressive overall. You will find seven USB 3.2 ports on the motherboard, and one is a Type-C port.
If that is not enough, you can still use the USB 2.0 ports that are available.
On its front IO, you will find similar options that provide access to four USB 3.2 first-gen ports.
The board has an HDMI 2.1 port for the Ryzen 7000 graphics integrated into the product. The graphics also have a BIOS flashback button which is an excellent addition to Gigabyte.
The Gigabyte X670 AORUS Elite AX has a plethora of usability features. These can help reduce the struggles of building a PC, and M.2 EZ-Latch is the first.
These screws can be difficult to install, but the included latch allows you to secure your storage options tightly. You will not need any screwdrivers or tiny screws.
Moving on to the PCI-E slot, Gigabyte equipped this board with a quick-release latch. It allows quick and easy release of your GPU without damaging your board or fingers.
Finally, the Q-Flash Plus button works when your computer does not boot or has general issues. These are instances when you need to update your BIOS. You need to download the required BIOS revision and then use the Q-Flash button to install your new BIOS.
Key Features of the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
We listed each key feature of the X670 AORUS ELITE AX to give you an idea of what the product offers. These elements will help you decide if the motherboard is ideal for your system needs.
Advanced Technologies for Unrivalled Performance
Gigabyte follows the fast changes of technology with the latest trends and provides users with advanced features. As a result, the motherboards from the company have upgraded power solutions, the newest tech storage standards, and unparalleled connectivity. You can enjoy the optimised performance for your gaming need when using Gigabyte motherboards.
Twin VRM Design of the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
AORUS series motherboards equip the best VRM design with high-quality components. With that, they can ensure maximum overclocking performance and Turbo Boost of the new generation AMD processors.
PCIe 5.0 Slots with Metal Shielding
The PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot works with the latest M.2 25110 form factor. Also, it has metal shielding for better strength.
Dual Support for EXPO and XMP
Gigabyte AM5 MB supports Intel XMP and AMD Expo memory modules for maximum compatibility. MB automatically identifies both profile formats in SPD, allowing users to choose which profile to enable from the BIOS menu. With this feature, the motherboard can reach overclocked memory performance easily.
AMD EXPO and Intel XMP 3.0 User Profile
While writing our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review, we learned that this board has AMD EXPO. It even has INtel XMP 3.0 user profile which is an excellent addition to the product.
These memory modules allow you to define and create an SPD profile. Plus, you can save and load a profile locally or to/from external storage.
The save and load function allows sharing your memory parameters online. Also, users can have users define one empty SPD profile and carry this to the next computer.
DDR5 Auto Booster
When using the X670 AORUS ELITE AX, you can automatically boost the native DDR5 to 5000MHz with a single click. It will work even while the system is under heavy load.
Excellent Thermal Design for Superior Cooling
The innovative thermal design of Gigabyte motherboards guarantees optimised and unthrottled performance. You can rest assured that the CPU, SSD, and chipset will remain stable and have low temperatures under full load. As a result, this motherboard can deliver excellent gaming performance.
Highly Efficient M.2 Thermal Guard of Gigabyte
Other factors like coolers and fans are some factors that affect temperatures, but a motherboard needs an excellent thermal design. Otherwise, it will not deliver optimum performance since it cannot keep components cool.
To solve this problem, Gigabyte provided a thermal solution for M.2 SSDs with durability in mind. This exclusive M.2 Thermal Guard dissipates heat from high-speed M.2 SSDs to prevent issues like bottlenecks and throttling.
2X Copper PCB for Improved Thermal Performance
The high thermal conductivity and low impedance of the 2X copper on the PCB reduce the temperature of components. It goes down by at least 3% by transforming the PCB into a thin PCB-sized copper heatsink. Doing so helps dissipate heat.
X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Smart Fan 6
The feature includes several unique cooling elements that ensure the gaming performance of your PC while keeping temperatures low. As a result, the system operates quietly due to the lower rotation speeds of fans.
Multiple fan headers can provide PWM/DC fan and pump support. With that, you can define each fan curve based on temperature sensors across the board using an intuitive user interface.
802.11ax WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.0 – Latest Wireless Technologies
The 802.11ax WiFi 6E is the wireless solution used on the X670 AORUS ELITE AX. This latest wireless solution offers gigabit wireless performance, a better gaming experience, reduced drops, and seamless streaming. Plus, it provides speeds up to 2.4Gbps.
Aside from WiFi 6E, this motherboard uses Bluetooth 5.0, which provides four times the range of Bluetooth 4.2. It also offers faster transmission.
Two Times Faster with 2.5GbE – Enjoy Higher Speeds with the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
The X670 AORUS ELITE AX adopts the 2.5GbE network, which offers twice the speed of the conventional 1GbE. It is perfect for gamers to enjoy the ultimate online gaming experience.
High-speed Transfers with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C
This motherboard features USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports that offer twice the speed of the previous generation. You can enjoy rapid data transfers when connecting USB 3.2-compliant peripherals. Aside from fast transfers, the port also has a reversible design for added convenience.
High-End Audio Capacitors of the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
Like other AORUS motherboards, the X670 AORUS ELITE AX uses high-end audio capacitors. These parts help deliver high-fidelity and high-resolution audio, offering the most immersive sound effects and audio when gaming.
Audio Noise Guard
The audio noise guard separates the sensitive analogue audio components of the motherboard from potential noise pollution at the PCB level.
Personalising Gigabyte Motherboards
Gigabyte motherboards offer handy and intuitive software. It allows users to tweak motherboard aspects.
RGB Fusion Multi-Zone Light Show Design now offers more LED customisation options. It provides full RGB support and a redesigned RGB Fusion 2.0 app. The latter is for complete control over the LEDs surrounding the motherboard.
With Multi-key, you can have a multi-function reset button you can reconfigure to other functions in BIOS for different scenarios.
Ultra-durable Design of Gigabyte for Long-term Use
The Ultra-durable design of Gigabyte motherboards ensures longevity and a high-quality manufacturing process. The company uses the best components and reinforces each slot, making them more solid and durable.
Specifications
Now we are discussing the product specs in our X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review. You should know these elements since they help determine if the motherboard will work well and meet your needs.
Its CPU supports the AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors and uses the AMD X670 chipset. Also, the board supports DDR5 and up to 128GB of memory. It has four memory slots on the product and a Realtek Audio CODEC.
This product comes with the Realtek 2.5GbE LAN chip, while its wireless network includes AMD WiFi 6E RZ616. It also uses WiFi a|b|g|n|ac|ax and supports 2.4/5/6GHz frequency bands. Plus, it works with Bluetooth 5.2 and supports 11ax 160MHz wireless standard and up to 2.4Gbps data rate.
Lastly, this ATX motherboard has LED lighting that measures 30.5 x 24.4cm and supports both Windows 64-bit 10 and 11 64-bit.
Hands-on with the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
Before discussing our hands-on experience with the motherboard, we will first check out the BIOS that works with the product.
X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard BIOS
The BIOS offers two modes and various settings, allowing you to maximise the features of X670 AORUS ELITE AX. Also, tweaking these will unleash the maximum potential of this motherboard.
Let us see the different features of the BIOS:
Easy Mode
This mode lets you make quick and simple changes, including EXPO memory profiles, RAID settings, etc.
The Easy Mode is ideal for users who are unsure what to do with BIOS.
Advanced Mode
This area is for users who are well-versed in PC building. Advanced mode is the place where you can make significant changes to the BIOS.
EXPO Profile
You can find the EXPO memory profile on the tweaker page of the BIOS. It allows decreasing latency to boost the motherboard performance so you can maximise the processor power.
Boot Priorities
Boot Priorities is where you can change the order of booting hard drives, which is excellent for multiple storage solutions. Before it can access your Windows, you will need to tweak its settings.
Gigabyte X670 Fan Curve
Optimising your thermals is ideal for users who want to keep their PC cool. Here, you can adjust the fan settings to increase airflow while decreasing RPMs to reduce noise levels.
Using the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard
We tested the motherboard for over a week for this X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review. And generally, this is one of the easy builds we did, and it looked impressive too.
We loved its LEDs, plus it ran smoothly and without any issues. Because of how it performed, the motherboard allowed us to play games at QHD and UHD resolution with high-ultra graphic settings without issue.
Aside from excellent performance, the board had low temperatures even during our stress tests. We did not notice any throttling even when we overclocked the board, which kept its performance stable and consistent.
The X670 AORUS ELITE AX is a solid and reliable motherboard that is also budget-friendly. It delivered the performance Gigabyte claims, making it one of the ideal choices for lower-priced boards.
X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard Review Summary
As of now, the X670 AORUS ELITE AX is the only Gigabyte motherboard with the X670 chipset. Since the company has released this product, we expect more X670 motherboards in the following years.
This product is impressive for the most part. It features a cool-looking minimalist design like many boards from AORUS and gives users more customisation options. The motherboard has VRM power phases ideal for overclocking, high-speed USB ports, and other handy features, making it consumer-friendly.
With all the high-priced X670 and X670E motherboards, the X670 AORUS ELITE AX has a surprisingly attractive price tag. It does not have the other features of high-end motherboards. But this product is more than enough if you need one or two M.2 drives and a GPU.
If expensive X670E motherboards turn you off, we highly recommend the X670 AORUS ELITE AX. It offers all the positive features at a more affordable price.
Learn more about the X670 AORUS ELITE AX Motherboard by visiting the official product page of Gigabyte.
