Gigabyte Z890M Aorus Elite WiFi7 Ice launches at $209
The white Micro ATX board offers full ATX features, including PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7, for Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus systems.
By Adewale Fletcher ·
Gigabyte has introduced the Z890M Aorus Elite WiFi7 Ice, a white Micro ATX motherboard priced at $209 on Amazon. The board targets builders using Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus processors who want a compact case without sacrificing key high-end features. It carries over the core specifications of its full-size ATX sibling, including PCIe 5.0 support and modern wireless connectivity.
The design prioritizes thermal management. Unlike many budget competitors that leave the lower half of the board exposed, this model provides full heatsink coverage. A large heatsink also protects the primary M.2 socket. Two RGB lighting zones are integrated into the VRM and chipset heatsinks. The board includes six 4-pin fan headers, each capable of delivering up to 24W.
Storage and expansion options mirror the full-size version. The primary M.2 slot connects directly to the CPU at PCIe 5.0 x4 speeds. Two additional M.2 slots run through the chipset at PCIe 4.0 x4. One of these accepts drives up to 110mm in length. The board supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 for NVMe drives. Two PCIe slots are available: a reinforced CPU-fed slot running at PCIe 5.0 x16 and a chipset-fed slot at PCIe 4.0 x4. A large graphics card may obstruct the second slot.
Power delivery consists of 15 phases, with 12 dedicated to the Vcore. Dual 8-pin EPS connectors feed 60A DrMOS parts, totaling 720A. This setup supports the Core Ultra 9 285K, Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. The reviewer advises caution with heavy overclocking on the higher-end chips and recommends good case airflow.
Memory support lists DDR5-9200 in overclocking mode. Testing showed that a DDR5-8800 kit failed to operate correctly, while a DDR5-8200 kit ran without issues. The reviewer suggests sticking to the Qualified Vendor List for stable performance. 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 connectivity and DisplayPort output.
Performance tests yielded average results. The board performed well in 3DMark and real-world gaming scenarios. It also supports AI Perfdrive, a feature that offers customizable BIOS presets for one-click CPU optimization. The package includes two white SATA cables, an extra M.2 thermal pad, and an EZ connector for the front panel. Tool-free features like EZ-Latch and EZ-Click M.2 mounting are included.
The board is now available for purchase. It targets the white-themed build market with a focus on value and feature parity with larger formats.
