Sales advice needed

[p0t3nt1al]

Hey,

Can someone help me understand the difference between the following 2 motherboards.

Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX Ice
Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X

If it helps, they will likely be paired with the following

CPU 78003XD
GPU 7900 GRE

I have clicked on the ? next to the item, and I can see the X670E option is more expensive but its unclear to an average consumer whether the cheaper Gigabyte B650M Aorus Elite AX Ice is actually good?

 

[TonyCarter]

'Good' is subjective.

If you need/like the extra features the X670E motherboard gives you over the B650 motherboard, then go for the X670E, if not, then the B650 will be fine (although I'm not a fan of the smaller B650M motherboard).

The X670E has, over the B650M, the following, but don't forget that we don't know what YOU need:

• Wifi 7 vs Wifi 6E
• 2 x PCIe 5 / 2 x PCIe 4 m.2 slots vs 1 x PCIe 5 / 3 x PCIe 4 m.2 slots
• PCIe 5 GPU slot vs PCIe 4
• Extra 2 x PCIe 3.0 slots vs extra x PCIe 4.0 slot
• More USB 3.2 ports/headers
• Better audio chip/codec

Compare Result | Motherboard | GIGABYTE - GIGABYTE Global

www.gigabyte.com

 

[p0t3nt1al]

although I'm not a fan of the smaller B650M motherboard

Thank for the great info!
Can I ask why you have this opinion quoted? Any particular reason or just aesthetics?

 

[TonyCarter]

Thank for the great info!
Can I ask why you have this opinion quoted? Any particular reason or just aesthetics?

The mATX motherboards tend to be stripped down as being smaller they can't fit all the same components/expansion slots, so it limits upgrade options.

But your choices are already limited on the white configurator.

 

[p0t3nt1al]

On the white builder there obviously isn't a significant amount of choice.

I am looking at the Gigabyte B650m mATX motherboard. I know its probably considered budget, but from what I have read it does seem to be okay.

When I look at the spec I can see its expansion slots are

1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (supports x16 mode), 1 x PCIe 4.0 x16 slot (running at x4)

Would I be correct the first one that supports 16x mode is what the graphics card plugs into?
What would the second slot (running at 4x) be needed for?

Would I be correct in saying both the 7900 GRE or the 4070 ti Super both are designed to be used with this PCie 4.0 slot, and don't need PCie 5.0?

 

[Scoped Badger]

Currently none of the GPU's on the market have PCIe5.0, it's just m.2 drives for now.

You realise that the motherboard you have mentioned is a microATX board? Did you mean Aorus Elite AX instead?

 

[p0t3nt1al]

Currently none of the GPU's on the market have PCIe5.0

You realise that the motherboard you have mentioned is a microATX board?

Yeah I do realise its a MicroATX.
To be honest, I don't know what the real disadvantage would be as of now.
Certainly from reading, it seems to meet my current needs although probably doesn't leave a significant upgrade route.

 

[Scoped Badger]

Yeah I do realise its a MicroATX.
To be honest, I don't know what the real disadvantage would be as of now.
Certainly from reading, it seems to meet my current needs although probably doesn't leave a significant upgrade route.

It will offer you little, if anything, by way of upgrading.

In general, there's just fewer of everything. Ports, headers, DIMM slots, PCIe slots. They're just more restrictive.

Would you get an mATX case? There's nothing stopping you from using an standard ATX case, but aesthetically it wouldn't be very pleasing, at least in my opinion.

 

[p0t3nt1al]

I was looking at the following case.

CORSAIR iCUE 4000X RGB TEMPERED GLASS MID-TOWER ATX CASE - WHITE​

I believe it is on the smaller side, so hopefully won't look too bad. I don't think PC specialist have any white mATX cases.

I understand the concept of what you are saying about ports, headers, dim slots, PCIe slots but I don't really understand what they all do so don't understand the consequences of each component.

I think the PCie slots - the only one I will use is for the GPU but I could be wrong.
I am looking at 1 x larger SSD.

 

[p0t3nt1al]

You realise that the motherboard you have mentioned is a microATX board? Did you mean Aorus Elite AX instead?

I think so anyway.

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 4000X RGB TEMPERED GLASS MID-TOWER ATX CASE - WHITE
Promotional Item
Get a discount code for 20% off select peripherals at Corsair.com
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B650M AORUS ELITE AX ICE (mATX, AM5, DDR5, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 6000MHz (2 x 16GB) KIT - WHITE
Graphics Card
16GB SAPPHIRE PURE RADEON™ RX 7900 GRE - WHITE - HDMI, DP - DX® 12
Graphics Card Support Bracket
NONE (BRACKET INCLUDED AS STANDARD ON 4070 Ti / RX 7700 XT AND ABOVE)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SOLIDIGM P44 PRO GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 7000MB/sR, 6500MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1200W RMx SHIFT SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR ICUE LINK H100i RGB HIGH PERFORMANCE CPU COOLER - WHITE
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (6 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Price: £0.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-white/2gXCqBNAvS/

 

[Scott]

Like with all things, you get what you pay for. Does what you see as the difference between the Micro and non-Micro boards justify the significant difference in price? If it does.... then you know the reasons why you aren't choosing one of the higher end boards.... if it doesn't then you don't know why you choose the lower end, you just do so to save some dosh.

Saving dosh on a build of this ilk is often a very poor choice. I think if you go down this route 1 of 2 things will happen, you'll be happy and oblivious to any shortcomings or you'll regret your decision.

If you're happy to save the cash and opt for blissful ignorance then we will always respect that decision. We want you to make your decision informed though. I genuinely wouldn't have an M board near any system that I ever built for myself, a family member or ever recommended to anyone on this forum. The only time you will see an M board in a spec from me is when the OP is insistent that they require it (for either a micro build or a budget constraint).

In this particular case, to choose the white aesthetic over the quality of the components is madness to me. By all means, pay the extra for the white build (it's a preference that I totally understand), but to short-change the actual build quality of the functional components for a coat of white wash isn't smart money to me.

Function over form.... always.

 

[Scoped Badger]

I would also strongly, STRONGLY, recommend that you split your SSD’s as well.

Smaller, quicker drive for your OS and larger, slightly slower, but still fast, secondary drive for games.

Not only will it keep your drives from getting too full and losing performance, if anything does go wrong, it’ll potentially save you A LOT of time and patience down the line.

The 512GB + 2TB split is popular. I actually prefer the 1+2 split, but we’re splitting hairs.

 

[p0t3nt1al]

Like with all things, you get what you pay for. Does what you see as the difference between the Micro and non-Micro boards justify the significant difference in price? If it does.... then you know the reasons why you aren't choosing one of the higher end boards.... if it doesn't then you don't know why you choose the lower end, you just do so to save some dosh.

Saving dosh on a build of this ilk is often a very poor choice. I think if you go down this route 1 of 2 things will happen, you'll be happy and oblivious to any shortcomings or you'll regret your decision.

If you're happy to save the cash and opt for blissful ignorance then we will always respect that decision. We want you to make your decision informed though. I genuinely wouldn't have an M board near any system that I ever built for myself, a family member or ever recommended to anyone on this forum. The only time you will see an M board in a spec from me is when the OP is insistent that they require it (for either a micro build or a budget constraint).

In this particular case, to choose the white aesthetic over the quality of the components is madness to me. By all means, pay the extra for the white build (it's a preference that I totally understand), but to short-change the actual build quality of the functional components for a coat of white wash isn't smart money to me.

Function over form.... always.

I guess apart from upgradability I haven't heard any significant downsides to a mATX board.
It seems to have all the ports I require.
It may well be blissful ignorance, and im sure your post is helpful but could you help me understand with detail why I would regret the decision?

 

[Scott]

I guess apart from upgradability I haven't heard any significant downsides to a mATX board.
It seems to have all the ports I require.
It may well be blissful ignorance, and im sure your post is helpful but could you help me understand with detail why I would regret the decision?

I'm going off of my experience with Micro boards, rather than what the spec sheets say.

Typically the VRM will be less capable, which in turn limits the level of CPU that they will comfortably run. Reduced PCIe lanes, reduced PCIe level (PCIe4 vs PCIe5, shouldn't impact this generation but it's coming). Far lower level of audio processing, condensed footprint which will give temperature constraints.

I uses cars as an analogy quite often. They tend to be similar in the lower price bracket as you get what you pay for. The cheapest and smallest car is still a car, but it comes with certain drawbacks, not to mention certain brand expectations.

 

[TonyCarter]

The 512GB + 2TB split is popular. I actually prefer the 1+2 split, but we’re splitting hairs.

Mine's more like 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 8x4

 

[p0t3nt1al]

Okay my next question.

After gaining some more knowledge on bottlenecks, and doing a lot of reading of reviews etc I have came to the following query.

I read somewhere that for the average casual gamer the 7800x3d is overkill, and that people would be MUCH better taking the saving by going for 7600x, and using that saving to upscale another component to get better overall performance.

Is this an opinion you would agree with - and do any of you have any knowledge or experience on the 7600x vs 7800x3d for casual gaming?

 

[FigmentOfYourImagination]

Okay my next question.

After gaining some more knowledge on bottlenecks, and doing a lot of reading of reviews etc I have came to the following query.

I read somewhere that for the average casual gamer the 7800x3d is overkill, and that people would be MUCH better taking the saving by going for 7600x, and using that saving to upscale another component to get better overall performance.

Is this an opinion you would agree with - and do any of you have any knowledge or experience on the 7600x vs 7800x3d for casual gaming?

If you spec a system and lower the quality of some components to crowbar a 7800x3D in then, yes, it would make sense. However, in the last spec you listed, you haven't lowered the quality of any components to do that...the GPU is correct for the monitor y level you are aiming for, cooling is fine.

Would a 7600 be fine for gaming? Sure, but it also depends on what games you are playing etc and how CPU intensive they are. It comes down to cost really: Will you use the machine enough to justify the cost of the 7800x3D?

If you need to save money, then I'd start with the £76 you are spending on extra fans as they aren't needed for performance.

 

[Scoped Badger]

What does casual gaming even mean? Someone that only plays games 3 hours a week? Someone that doesn't take gaming too seriously? Anyone that doesn't play professionally? It probably doesn't matter. The 7800x3d is the best gaming chip on the market at the moment, that's the bottom line. A quick look through YouTube videos showing benchmarking on a variety of games shows there's only one winner in the vast majority of games, a lot of the time by some distance.

If you're more concerned with performance, go with the x3d. If you're more concerned with saving money, go with the 7600x.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I read somewhere that for the average casual gamer the 7800x3d is overkill, and that people would be MUCH better taking the saving by going for 7600x, and using that saving to upscale another component to get better overall performance.

Literally makes no sense.

 

[p0t3nt1al]

I think the general thoughts I have been reading through are, If your setup including a 7800X3d is getting you 180frames, and your 7600x setup is getting you 135 frames, if your monitor is only displaying at 144hz which most casual users will have at a maximum, then there is no point in spending the extra money on the 7800x3d and that saving could be better used elsewhere.