GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE Review
In our new review we will take a look at the flagship motherboard GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE. We will test it in conjunction with the processor. Core Ultra 9 285 and RAM Kingston Fury Renegade DDR5-8000 Limited Edition on 48 GB .
APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE — is the latest motherboard from GIGABYTE, designed for gamers and enthusiasts who want to maximize the potential of their systems. It combines cutting-edge technology, efficient cooling solutions, and signature AORUS style, providing the perfect balance between performance and features.
Below is a detailed overview of the key features of this model, designed in a style that reflects the unique characteristics of the GIGABYTE B860 chipset, as well as other advantages of this motherboard.
APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS |
Aggressive and stylish design
Motherboard GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE impresses with its unique appearance, which combines a silver-white palette and elements of futuristic design. The high-quality snow-white PCB is covered with massive aluminum radiators, which not only provides effective cooling, but also gives the device a premium look. Particular attention is drawn to details such as engravings on the radiators and the AORUS logo placed on the chipset cover. These elements add visual sophistication and emphasize the gaming focus of the board.
The board’s aesthetics fit perfectly into modern builds, especially if the PC case is equipped with transparent side panels or RGB lighting. The AORUS logo and the inscription “TEAM UP. FIGHT ON.”, engraved on various elements of the board, emphasize its belonging to the enthusiast product line.
Fusion RGB Lighting
Backlighting is not just an aesthetic element, but a functional feature. GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE... System RGBFusion allows the user to choose from a variety of colors and effects, such as pulsating, waves, or static glow. RGB lighting covers key areas, including the logo on the chipset cover, as well as elements around the RAM and audio codec slots. Synchronization with other devices is supported via Fusion, which makes it possible to create a unique color scheme for the entire system.
For those who prefer minimalism, the backlight can be turned off completely, preserving a clean and simple appearance. But if you want to highlight your build, the customization options are limited only by your imagination.
Radiators and sophisticated cooling
Particular attention in the design was given to the cooling system. Power supply circuits (VRM) covered with massive aluminum radiators that provide stable cooling under high loads. The radiators have a complex geometry with an increased heat dissipation area, which allows maintaining stable operation even when using top Intel Core processors Ultra.
Heatsinks are also provided for three of the four M.2 slots, which protects high-speed SSDs from overheating. This is especially important for enthusiasts using NVMe drives with a PCIe 5.0 interface. This approach ensures the durability of components and their performance in any conditions.
Sturdy box with premium presentation
Packaging GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE is made in a style that matches the premium class of the device. The white box with a minimalist design and an image of the board on the front side immediately attracts attention. The packaging indicates key specifications, including support for Wi-Fi 7, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5. Thick cardboard protects the device from external influences during transportation, and the inside of the package is supplemented with foam material for additional safety.
Reliable protection inside
Once you open the box, it becomes obvious that the manufacturer has paid attention to every aspect of safety. The motherboard is packed in an anti-static bag, which prevents the accumulation of static electricity. Foam material ensures that the device is tightly fixed, eliminating the risk of damage during transportation.
Complete set of accessories
Equipment GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE designed for user convenience. The kit includes:
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GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE Motherboard — the main element of the set.
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Two SATA cables for connecting storage devices.
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Wi-Fi antenna, providing a stable wireless signal and maximum connection speed.
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M.2 SSD Mounts — special screws and latches that facilitate the installation and removal of drives.
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User's Guide with detailed instructions on installing and configuring the system.
Processor compatibility
heart GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE is a socket LGA1851, which supports Intel Core processors Ultra 2nd generation. This line of processors is characterized by high performance and energy efficiency. Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 and 3.0 technologies provide dynamic increase in clock frequency, which makes the board an ideal choice for gaming, video editing and 3D rendering.
The board is equipped with premium power circuits that include high-quality MOSFETs and Digi+ elements. This allows for stable overclocking and reduced heat generation even under intensive loads.
Memory
GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE supports up to 256 GB of DDR5 RAM, which opens up wide possibilities for multitasking and working with resource-intensive applications. Four DIMM slots support frequencies up to 9200 MT/s in overclocking mode. With XMP and AORUS Memory Boost technologies, users can easily tune memory settings to achieve the optimal balance between speed and stability.
This board is ideal for both gaming and workstation systems where high memory bandwidth is critical.
Graphics and video outputs
The rear panel of the board provides a variety of video outputs, including:
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1 x HDMI 2.1, providing image output in resolution up to 4K at 60 Hz.
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1 x DisplayPort 2.1, which supports monitors with resolution up to 8K.
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1 x USB4 Type-C with the ability to connect displays via DisplayPort Alt Mode.
These outputs allow you to drive up to four displays simultaneously, making the board an excellent choice for work and entertainment.
Networking opportunities
GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE supports the most modern connection technologies:
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Wi-Fi 7: high data transfer rate and low latency, support for 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz frequencies.
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2.5Gb Ethernet: Low latency wired connection, ideal for online gaming and streaming.
Storage devices
High-quality data storage support:
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1 PCIe 5.0 x4 slot for the latest NVMe SSDs.
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2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots for high-speed storage devices.
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4 x SATA 6Gbps ports for traditional HDD and SSD.
RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 functionality allows you to customize your storage system to suit your needs.
Sound
The board is equipped with an audio codec Realtek, which provides clear and voluminous sound. Support for 7.1-channel sound makes it an excellent choice for gaming and multimedia.
GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE — is the choice for those looking for a powerful, stylish and functional motherboard. Its modern design, support for advanced technologies and high performance make it an ideal solution for gaming and work systems. With Wi-Fi 7, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, this board is ready for future challenges and provides stable operation in any conditions.
UEFI |
AIDA64 test results at different memory frequencies |
When testing the system, we decided to forego experimenting with different DDR5 memory frequencies in order to focus on analyzing the preset profiles offered by the motherboard. These profiles, developed by GIGABYTE engineers, allow you to evaluate the system's performance in various scenarios without having to manually adjust the parameters. This approach makes it easier for the end user to understand the capabilities of the board.
TEST PART |
Test configuration | |
test stands |
GIGABYTE B860 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE Kingston XS2000 Portable SSD 4 TB- optimal solution for testing different configurations |
Multimedia equipment |
Deepcool PX1200G 1200W Power Supply Cooling system: Deepcool LT720 Housing: DeepCool CH780 WH |
Software configuration |
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Operating system | Windows 11 |
Graphics driver |
Nvidia GeForce/ION Driver Release 566.36 WHQL |
Monitoring programs |
MSI Afterburner |
Cyberpunk 2077 |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
В Cyberpunk 2077 the difference between the modes is minimal, which indicates good optimization of the system for all settings.
- Intel Default Settings - Extreme produces slightly higher minimum FPS (117 fps) and average FPS (130 fps), which can be explained by aggressive performance settings.
- Intel Default Settings - Performance и GBT Default demonstrate almost identical results: minimum FPS 115 and 114 accordingly, and the average 127 and 124.
- Intel Default Settings Closes the list with the lowest FPS 114 and average 123.
The differences between these modes are difficult to notice in actual gameplay.
Dragon's Dogma 2 |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
Here again the tendency towards minimal differences is noticeable.
- Extreme offers the maximum result (90/125 FPS), which is expected for a mode with aggressive performance.
- Economical performance и GBT Default show minimal differences (87/122 FPS and 83/118 FPS respectively).
- Intel Default Settings maintains a balance between power consumption and performance (86/120 FPS).
In this game, the difference in performance is so small that choosing the mode will not have a significant impact on the gameplay.
Horizon Forbidden West |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
The game with high graphics load demonstrates identical results in all modes.
- Extreme issues 133 / 155 FPS, just slightly ahead Economical performance (132 / 153 FPS).
- GBT Default и Intel Default Settings almost identical (132/152 and 131/151 FPS).
It is safe to say that switching between modes here will not provide a noticeable increase in performance.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
Even in the demanding STALKER 2, the difference between the modes is insignificant.
- Extreme reaches minimum FPS 78 and average 92, which is slightly higher than other modes.
- Economical performance и GBT Default equally stable with the results 75 / 88 FPS.
- Intel Default Settings only slightly lags behind (74/87 FPS), but this does not affect the comfort of the game.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard |
The testing settings are shown in the screenshots above.
RPGs with moderate system loads also do not show significant deviations between modes.
- Extreme slightly ahead (96/112 FPS), however Economical performance и GBT Default demonstrate almost identical values with minimum FPS 92-93 and average 108.
- Intel Default Settings slightly behind (90/107 FPS), but the difference remains unnoticeable to the eye.
All modes are suitable for comfortable play, the differences can be considered insignificant.
CONCLUSION |