Gigabyte Z890M Elite Ice Puts ATX Features in a $209 White Board
The Micro ATX motherboard offers full-size performance and extensive heatsink coverage but lacks high-end memory stability and rear connectivity options.
By Rebecca Kaminski ·
Gigabyte has introduced a compact option for Intel builders with the Z890M Aorus Elite WiFi7 Ice. The Micro ATX board is available on Amazon for $209 and aims to replicate the capabilities of its larger ATX sibling in a smaller chassis.
The design prioritizes thermal management over rival products in the same price range. While many budget competitors leave the lower half of the circuit board exposed, this model includes full heatsink coverage. A large heatsink also sits on the primary M.2 socket. Two RGB lighting zones are integrated into the design, located near the VRMs and beneath the chipset heatsink.
Connectivity options include 2.5 GbE Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7. The wireless chip is limited to 160 MHz channels. For storage, the board provides three M.2 sockets and four SATA ports. The primary M.2 socket runs at PCIe 5.0 x4 speeds via the CPU. The remaining two M.2 sockets operate at PCIe 4.0 x4 via the chipset, with one supporting modules up to 110mm long. The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 configurations for NVMe drives.
Power delivery consists of 15 phases, with 12 dedicated to Vcore. The board uses 60A DrMOS parts and dual 8-pin EPS connectors, totaling 720A of output. This setup handles the Core Ultra 9 285K, Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus processors. Reviewers suggest keeping airflow high when overclocking the top-tier chips to maintain stability.
Memory support is listed at DDR5-9200 with overclocking. Testing revealed that a DDR5-8800 kit did not function correctly, while a DDR5-8200 kit ran without issues. The recommendation is to select memory from the Qualified Vendor List for best results. The board includes two full-length PCIe slots. The primary slot runs at PCIe 5.0 x16, and the second runs at PCIe 4.0 x4. Large graphics cards may obstruct the second slot.
Rear I/O includes nine USB ports: four USB 2.0, four USB 3.2 Gen 1, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. A single USB4 Type-C port provides 40 Gbps bandwidth and DisplayPort output. A separate DisplayPort 2.1 output is also available. Audio is handled by a Realtek ALC897 codec, which serves basic needs but may not satisfy audiophiles. Six 4-pin fan headers provide up to 24W each.
Performance benchmarks show average results overall. The board performed well in 3DMark and gaming tests. It includes AI Perfdrive for customizable BIOS presets. The package includes two white SATA cables, a rubber pad, an extra M.2 thermal pad, an EZ connector, and an installation guide. Tool-free mounting features for M.2 drives are included.
Source: Tom's Hardware
