Gigabyte's $209 White Board Cuts Costs But Keeps Core Intel Specs

Gigabyte has introduced the Z890M Aorus Elite WiFi7 Ice, a Micro ATX motherboard priced at $209 that targets builders seeking a white-themed system. The board is designed for Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors and retains many specifications found in larger ATX models. It currently lists on Amazon at that price point.

The design prioritizes aesthetics for compact builds. Reviewers noted that the board's appearance is a primary strength, making it a strong option for white-themed systems. It features two RGB lighting zones, one near the voltage regulator modules and another beneath the chipset heatsink.

Thermal management distinguishes the board from some budget competitors. While other boards in this price range often leave the lower half of the PCB without cooling, this model provides full coverage. A large heatsink is also attached to the primary M.2 slot to manage storage temperatures.

Connectivity includes PCIe 5.0 support for both the graphics card and the primary storage drive. The primary M.2 socket runs at PCIe 5.0 x4 speeds, while two additional M.2 slots operate at PCIe 4.0 x4. The board supports RAID configurations 0, 1, 5, and 10 for NVMe drives. Networking hardware includes 2.5 GbE Ethernet and Wi-Fi 7, although the wireless chip is limited to 160 MHz channels.

Power delivery consists of 15 phases, with 12 dedicated to the processor core. The board uses 60A DrMOS components and dual 8-pin EPS connectors to supply 720A total. This setup supports the Core Ultra 9 285K, Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. Reviewers advised maintaining good case airflow for heavy workloads or overclocking.

Memory support is rated up to DDR5-9200 in overclocked modes. Testing revealed that a DDR5-8800 kit did not function correctly, while a DDR5-8200 kit ran without issues. The recommendation for buyers is to select memory from the vendor's Qualified Vendor List to ensure stability.

The rear I/O panel offers nine USB ports in total. This includes four USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port. A single USB4 Type-C port provides 40 Gbps connectivity and DisplayPort output. A separate DisplayPort 2.1 output is also present. The limited number of Type-C ports is a noted drawback compared to higher-end boards.

Performance results are described as average. The board performed well in 3DMark benchmarks and real-world gaming scenarios. It includes AI Perfdrive, a feature that allows users to apply customizable BIOS presets for CPU performance improvements. The package includes two white SATA cables, a rubber pad, an extra M.2 thermal pad, and an EZ connector for front panel wiring.

The board uses tool-free mounting features such as EZ-Latch and EZ-Click for M.2 installation. These elements are cited as strengths for ease of assembly. The audio solution uses a Realtek ALC897 codec, which is considered adequate for general use but not for professional audio production.