The introduction of the X570 chipset has heralded some of the most impressive and feature-rich desktop motherboards for an AMD platform in recent times. One prime example of this is the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme which includes an Aquantia powered 10 G NIC, Intel's Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax wireless interface, and has support for up to three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives. Looking to live up to the Xtreme naming, there's a 16-phase power delivery with dual BIOS for the more extreme enthusiast, whereas users looking to create a clean looking RGB laden system will appreciate the right-angled 24-pin motherboard power input. The X570 Aorus Xtreme is also the only current motherboard to include a passively cooled chipset heatsink, with GIGABYTE looking to make its flagship model unique and to stand out from the crowd.

Taking Things to The Xtreme

One thing manufacturers have been good at in recent times is providing users with plenty of options which are segmented into multiple price segments. We typically consider boards one of three segments: the low-end which includes budget-focused boards, the mid-range which caters to users looking for a good mixture of good quality and useful features but at a somewhat affordable price point, and the high-end, which focuses on providing users with premium features with sometimes overkill componentry and accessory bundles that the majority of users aren't going to make the most of.  At the high-end, there's usually a total disregard on the monetary value.

Motherboard such as the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme, which we are reviewing today, are a prime example of a flagship model cramming as much function to give users a truly premium experience. Regardless of user requirements and price points, models such as this one aren't created with budget users in mind and look to set the standard in progressing motherboards to the point that in future chipsets, premium features such as upgraded networking, delivery, and more connectivity become the norm.

The X570 Aorus Xtreme as it stands is GIGABYTE's current flagship X570 model and looks to set the standard in a very crowded premium motherboard market. Each flagship model on the X570 chipset model can be judged on its own merits, but the X570 Aorus Xtreme is the only model in the entire X570 product stack to make use of a passively cooled chipset heatsink. That is, in itself, a big plus point for most users who want a high-end board. Most motherboard fans in the past are small and high-pitched, and GIGABYTE is leading the charge here.

Other impressive features include a 16-phase power delivery, which is operating in a 14+2 configuration. There are two 8-pin 12 V ATX CPU power inputs designed to input as much power to the CPU as possible. On the PCIe front there are two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots which operate at x16 or x8/x8, with the bottom-mounted third full-length slot locked down to PCIe 4.0 x4 from the chipset. Storage capabilities include three PCIe 4.0 x4 capable M.2 slots, while users of more wallet-friendly SATA drives can make use of six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1 and 10 arrays. It should be noted that using an M.2 drive in the bottom M.2 slot will disable two of the SATA ports.

Memory support is also impressive with support for up to DDR4-4400 and is capable of housing up to 128 GB across four RAM slots. Users can also use unbuffered ECC memory. For networking we have an Aquantia AQC107 10 GbE network controller alongside an Intel 1GbE controller, and an Intel AX200 802.11ax wireless interface that offers both Wi-Fi 6 and BT 5 connectivity. A Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec and an assisting ESS Sabre 9218 DAC are designed to provide a good quality onboard audio solution.

Focusing on the aesthetics, GIGABYTE is using black armor to cover the bottom half of the motherboard to provide a subtle, but unformed look. This subtle look stretches to the rear panel cover, as well as extending from the chipset heatsink cover up to the top right-hand side of the board which incorporates power and reset switches into its design. This is an interesting design trait, aside from oodles of RGB LEDs across the clean-cut all-black motherboard. The right-angled 24-pin motherboard power input is also hidden, which is designed to provide a cleaner aesthetic and help with cable management issues.

In our system tests, we did experience an anomaly in our long idle power testing with the highest power draw of any AM4 board tested with our Ryzen 7 3700X. When it comes to our OS idle testing and with a Prime95 blend test, the results are more in line with what's expected and despite the copious amounts of premium controllers and RGB LEDs, the power draw at full load is very favorable. Our non-UEFI POST time test was competitive and in our short form CPU suite, its performance is very likeable to the GIGABYTE X470 Gaming 7 in our Handbrake and 7-Zip testing but remains highly competitive against over X570 models tested so far too. Performance in our game testing shows that things look competitive from GIGABYTE.

One of the primary aspects users will associate with an Xtreme branded motherboard is overclocking, and the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is one of the best suited AM4 boards tested so far. Not only does our thermal testing show the cooling solution equipped on the power delivery of the X570 Aorus Xtreme to be effective, but we saw no concerning temperature issues on the passively cooled X570 chipset heatsink. In our overclocking performance testing, we experienced very little VDroop on the CPU VCore with a slight 0.002 V drop at 3.6 GHz and 3.7 GHz, and a slight overcompensation of 0.01 V from 3.8 to 4.2 GHz. Even at our highest achievable clocks of 4.3 GHz on our Ryzen 7 3700X testbed CPU, and even then with default settings other than changing the CPU frequency and CPU VCore voltage yielded an extra 0.01 extra on top of our 1.375 CPU VCore value we set within the BIOS. Another interesting thing of note was when we activated Precision Boost Overdrive in the BIOS, we saw the improvement in our Pov Ray testing - making the Xtreme the first X570 motherboard we've tested so far to make a noticeable and positive difference with PBO enabled.

Looking at the market, each of the major vendors has a flagship model in a similar price bracket. The odd one out is the ASRock X570 Aqua, which is a limited edition model with a combined chipset and CPU heatsink. For the rest, the main competition to the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme ($700) is the MSI MEG X570 Godlike ($700) which we have already reviewed, and the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Formula ($700). Each has its own merits to be judged on, and in the case of the X570 Aorus Xtreme, GIGABYTE has put real effort into standing out from the crowd with a passively cooled chipset heatsink which overall might seem insignificant, but it makes a bold statement that it has the capabilities to tame the hot X570 chipset without the need of a cooling fan. Other important inclusions are the upgraded networking capabilities with a 10 G NIC and Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax wireless interface pairing leading the charge, and the efficiently cooled and powerful 14+2 phase power delivery which is impressive.

Read on for our extended analysis. 

Visual Inspection

The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is an E-ATX motherboard with plenty of premium controllers and componentry, with a very clean looking and subtle all-black design. It wouldn't be 2019 without multiple areas with integrated RGB LEDs which allows users to create a unique look, or if preferred, users can switch them off altogether. Looking at the general aesthetic, GIGABYTE has gone with an all-black design with its metal thermal reactive armor which covers the vast majority of the rear section of the PCB.

One of the most interesting design implementations on the X570 Aorus Xtreme is the right-angled 24-pin 12 V ATX motherboard power connector which is designed to improve overall cable management, as well as fit in with its clean stylings. Right-angled 24-pin connectors are ultimately nothing new, but integrating it in this way with an 'armor' is different.

Across the board, GIGABYTE has included customizable RGB LED zones which include the rear panel cover, the Aorus falcon branding, the audio PCB cover, and the chipset heatsink. Users looking to expand beyond this can make use of the two addressable RGB headers, with a further two standard RGB LED headers also present. 

As the thermal armor covers the majority of the PCB, GIGABYTE has had to get creative with the header placement. In the middle at the right-hand side of the board is a two-digit DEBUG LED which is handy for troubling shooting POST issues, as well as identifying possible overclocking related issues. In the bottom right-hand corner is a dual BIOS switch. As with most overclocking friendly motherboards, the X570 Aorus Xtreme has included a power and reset switch, but unlike the usual bottom-mounted position on most boards, these are located in the top right-hand corner next to the memory slots. Other connectors include a front panel audio header powered by the Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec, eight 4-pin headers which consist of one for a CPU fan, one for a water pump, and six for chassis fans. For extreme overclockers, there is an OC PEG power connector which allows more power to be delivered to the PCIe 4.0 slots.

Touching on the memory support on the X570 Aorus Xtreme, there are four memory slots with support for up to DDR4-4400 and allows users to install up to 128 GB. Both the use of non-ECC and ECC memory is supported, but only unbuffered ECC memory is supported.

The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme uses two full-length PCIe 4.0 slots which run at x16, and x8/x8. There is also third full-length PCIe 4.0 slot fromt he chipset which is locked down to x4. While the board has no PCIe 4.0 x1 slots, its space has been used to include three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots which also feature support for SATA drives. Each M.2 slot has a separate M.2 heatsink. The top-mounted PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot is driven directly from the CPU, while the other two PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots are controlled directly from the X570 chipset. There are also six SATA ports with support for RAID 0, 1, and 10 arrays, but it should be noted that the bottom-mounted PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slot and two of the SATA ports share bandwidth and cannot be used at the same time.

A lot of emphasis on the X570 chipset has been put into its power delivery configurations and when compared with previous generations of AM4 boards such as X370 and X470. In general, vendors have gone with more up-to-date and powerful VRM solutions with these boards expecting to power the 16-core Ryzen 9 3950X when it launches. The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is one shining example of its power delivery implementation, and uses a comprehensive design. The CPU VCore section is using a true 14-phase design with fourteen Infineon TDA21472 70 A power stages. Controlling the power delivery is Infineon's new 16-phase XDPE132G5C digital PWM controller which is operating in 14+2 mode. On the SoC side, the X570 Aorus Xtreme is using a standard 2-phase design which utilizes two TDA21472 70 A power stages. This includes two 8-pin 12 V CPU power inputs which give the CPU extra headroom to draw more power from the power supply when required. The power delivery on the X570 Aorus Xtreme is perhaps one of the best we have seen from a desktop motherboard in recent years and coupled with the impressive power delivery heatsink, this could be the perfect motherboard for overclockers and enthusiasts looking to push the Ryzen 3000 series of CPUs to its limits. 

Adding extra to the weight of the nearly all-metal frame of the X570 Aorus Xtreme is a large Aorus branded backplate. Not only is this designed to make the board more durable and add extra reinforcement to avoid PCB warping, but is also designed to provide extra cooling properties. This backplate is coated with a thin layer of nanocarbon which GIGABYTE state is designed to lower backside PWM component temperatures by 10%.

Focusing on the audio PCB, and GIGABYTE as usual with its premium models has provided an upgraded solution which includes basic PCB separation from the rest of the motherboards componentry. The Realtek ALC1220 HD audio codec is assisted by five Japanese gold audio capacitors, while the ESS Sabre ES9218 DAC which enhances the overall quality of the audio up to and including the 130 dB signal to noise ratio it supports. The ES9128 DAC is supported by four WIMA audio capacitors.

On the rear panel of the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is a varied selection of inputs including an impressive number of USB connections. The X570 Aorus Xtreme features a pre-attached rear I/O shield and includes five USB 3.1 G2 Type-A, one USB 3.1 G2 Type-C, two USB 3.1 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. To the left-hand side is a pair of buttons including a clear CMOS and Q-Flash Plus switch, and there are two antenna ports for the Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax wireless interface; this also gives users BT 5.0 connectivity. In addition to the Intel AX200 wireless interface is a pair of Ethernet ports powered by an Aquantia AQC107 10 GbE NIC, while the second port is controlled by a basic Intel I211-AT Gigabit NIC. For the onboard audio, there are five gold plated and labelled 3.5 mm audio jacks, with an S/PDIF optical output which are all controlled by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec. This is assisted by an ESS Sabre ES9218 DAC.

What's in the Box

Inside of the large and premium box is a wide variety of accessories and also features the functional Aorus RGB Fan Commander. Also included in the box are six premium braided SATA cables, the Intel AX200 Wi-Fi antenna, two thermal probes, a G-connector, a USB stick containing all of the drivers, a pair of RGB LED extension cables, an audio cable for detecting the dB, a case badge, and a pair of Aorus branded velcro straps.

The Aorus RGB Fan Commander comes in a within the packaging and allows users to use up to eight more 4-pin chassis fans with eight separate RGB LED headers via the use of extension cables; these are included in the Commander accessories bundle. With the eight 4-pin headers already available on the X570 Aorus Xtreme's PCB, with the Aorus RGB Fan Commander users can use up to sixteen fans which is great for enthusiasts who want extra cooling options. The Aorus RGB Fan Commander comes supplied with its own plethora of cables including RGB LED splitter cables for RGB fans, and extension cables to connect 4-pin fans to the Commander itself. 

• 6 x Black braided SATA cables
• RGB LED extension cable
• ARGB LED extension cable
• Intel AX200 antenna set
• 2 x Thermal probes
• Aorus RGB Fan Commander
• Installation manual
• Quick Start Guide
• 3 x M.2 Installation screws
• USB Driver/Software installation drive
• Front panel G-Connector
• Front Panel splitter cable

BIOS

The GIGABYTE Aorus firmware has two different modes for users to sink their teeth into. The clean looking Easy Mode sets the stage, while for more experienced users, an advanced mode which allows users to tweak CPU, memory, storage, networking and PCIe related settings. It has a simple design which consists of a primarily black background, white text, and orange accents at the top and bottom. The advanced mode can be accessed by pressing the F2 key, with other functions such as the Smart Fan 5 utility accessible by pressing F6, and Q-Flash for updating the board's firmware with a press of the F8 key.

Looking at the initial splash screen upon first entering the firmware, the Easy Mode is designed to give users an easy to use and navigate the area in which they can customize basic, yet primary settings. These include being able to enable or disable memory X.M.P profiles at the click of a button, change the boot sequence, and enable AMD RAIDXpert 2, or disable of course. Basic information on the current fan and pump header speeds are shown in the central section at the bottom part of the screen, while along the top is a basic set of information on the model, firmware version, and the processor installed. To the right of this are details of the current CPU frequency, current CPU temperature, with both CPU and memory voltages also displayed. Along the right-hand side, users can navigate through a menu of clickable options including the advanced mode, the Smart Fan 5 utility, reset the firmware settings back to default settings, and access the Q-Flash firmware update tool. Each menu is represented with a corresponding key eg, F2 for advanced mode, F8 for Q-Flash etc.

Pressing F6 from the Easy Mode allows users to access the Smart Fan 5 utility. This allows users to control and set fan speed parameters based on different presets including normal, full-load, and less aggressive profiles. The option is also available to set fan profiles based on a curve with speed set to a relative temperature. Other options available with Smart Fan 5 includes giving the users the ability to set CPU Fan fail warnings so that if a CPU fan fails during operation, an alert is given to the user to warn them as it could potentially cause damage to the system.

Within the Advanced mode which can be accessed by pressing the F2 key opens all of the more functional settings. This includes the Tweaker section which allows users to overclock the CPU and memory, and customize a variety of power-related setting such as Precision Boost Overdrive, LLC configuration, and voltage settings. Users looking to customize their memory settings deeper can do so under the advanced memory settings which allow primary, secondary, and tertiary memory latency values to be changed. Below is a list of limitations when using the current firmware for settings such as CPU VCore, CPU frequency, DRAM frequency, and the Infinity Fabric/FCLK frequency. It should be noted that most of these maximum values won't even be able to be reached, even with extreme cooling methods:

• Maximum CPU Frequency = 6.375 GHz
• Maximum CPU VCore = 1.8 V
• Maximum DRAM Frequency = DDR4-6000
• Maximum Infinity Fabric/FCLK Frequency = 3000 MHz

Overall GIGABYTE's Aorus firmware is effective, simple to use and very easy to navigate with two highly user-friendly modes to switch between; the Easy and Advanced modes. The firmware itself is stable and responsive, and if earlier revisions of the firmware stood in line with other vendors at launch, those infancy issues are certainly worked out now. There is plenty of options for overclocking, tweaking and customizing settings including power-related settings. There aren't quite as many overclocking settings as models such as the MSI MEG X570 Godlike, especially in terms of memory latency settings, but the GIGABYTE Aorus firmware looks good and works well.

Software

For such a high-end motherboard, GIGABYTE's software suite doesn't quite have the clout in terms of applications compared with the likes of ASUS, but they do include a functional set of applications which all focus around the hub like GIGABYTE App Center. Unlike a lot of vendors who provide its software and drivers bundled onto a disc, GIGABYTE provides users with a USB which is more modern, and practical due to the decline in optical disc drive usage. Some of the more functional utilities which come with the X570 Aorus Xtreme include the RGB Fusion 2.0 software, the SmartFan utility, the EasyTune overclocking software, and the @BIOS firmware updater.

The GIGABYTE APP Center acts as the plexus for compatible applications and offers a couple of notable benefits. The first is it keeps all of the GIGABYTE's utilities in one place which makes it easier and more accessible for users to locate which app they are looking for. Secondly, the APP Center allows users to access Windows 10 based applications with a simple click including the device manager, power options, and even allows users to access Windows network-related settings. In the top right-hand corner, users can use the Live Update utility to keep drivers and GIGABYTE's software up-to-date.

Looking at the Aorus EasyTune application, this gives users the ability to overclock their system within Windows, and although it comes across very basic in its delivery, it does include plenty of useful settings. This includes options to alter the base clock, CPU ratio and plenty of voltage settings including CPU VCore, SoC voltage, and CPU VDDP voltage. The Advanced DDR OC is a little underwhelming and only offers options to increase memory frequency and enable or disable X.M.P; hardly advanced in comparison to the AMD Ryzen Master utility which is favored about GIGABYTE's variant.

Over the last year, we have seen many implementations of RGB customization across many vendors, but the GIGABYTE RGB Fusion 2.0 is one of the most primitive-looking, but most functional pieces of software at the same time. Users can navigate and set a multitude of different RGB awe-inspired effects such as flash, double flash, and two wave settings; there are ten different RGB LED light settings in total as well as having the option to turn them off completely. I would expect something a little more flashy for a $700 flagship motherboard such as the X570 Aorus Xtreme, but it works and that's the most important thing.

One of the more pertinent applications in the software bundle is the @BIOS utility which affords users with the ability to keep the board's firmware up-to-date. The integrated Q-Flash utility within the firmware and the related switch on the rear panel board offer the most reliable method to update the firmware, but users can download the latest version through the @BIOS utility with ease, or search for the latest version located at the official product page.

The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme comes supplied with a software variant of its Smart Fan utility, but we failed to get it to fire on our operating system. A piece of software excluded from the bundle which is a reoccurring theme of late is a form of audio control. Users can download a version from the Windows store and given GIGABYTE's insistence in providing uprated audio componentry onboard, it's something that would be expected to come supplied with the board as standard. The bundle with the X570 Aorus Xtreme is a little underwhelming for a board of this pedigree, with the EasyTune software looking a little bare, but users can download the Ryzen Master overclocking utility for free and from all the vendors own overclocking software so far for Ryzen 3000 processors, AMD's seems to offer the most customization at present.

Board Features

The GIGABYTE X570 Xtreme is the current flagship in its product stack, with a current selling price of $700 at Newegg and Amazon. The premium and core feature set includes an Aquantia AQC107 10 GbE NIC, with an assisting Intel I211-AT Gigabit NIC which provides users with dual Ethernet ports on the rear panel, and an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax wireless interface offers users with both Wi-Fi and BT 5.0 connectivity. The onboard audio solution is higher quality than standard models with a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec with GIGABYTE also included an ESS Sabre 9218 DAC with uprated WIMA audio capacitors located on the audio section of the PCB. As with other high-end X570 models, there are three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots with the bottom-mounted slot on the PCB shared with two of the six SATA ports which supports RAID 0, 1 and 10 arrays.

GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme E-ATX Motherboard
Warranty Period	3 Years
Product Page	Link
Price	$700
Size	E-ATX
CPU Interface	AM4
Chipset	AMD X570
Memory Slots (DDR4)	Four DDR4 Supporting 128 GB Dual Channel Up to DDR4-4400
Video Outputs	N/A
Network Connectivity	Aquantia AQC107 10 G Intel I211-AT 1 G Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax
Onboard Audio	Realtek ALC1220-VB ESS 9218 DAC
PCIe Slots for Graphics (from CPU)	2 x PCIe 4.0 x16 (x16, x8/x8)
PCIe Slots for Other (from PCH)	1 x PCIe 4.0 x4
Onboard SATA	Six, RAID 0/1/10
Onboard M.2	1 x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA (CPU) 2 x PCIe 4.0 x4/SATA (Chipset)
USB 3.1 (10 Gbps)	5 x Type-A Rear Panel 1 x Type-C Rear Panel 1 x Type-C Header
USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)	2 x Type-A Rear Panel 2 x Type-A Header
USB 2.0	4 x Type-A Rear Panel 1 x Header (two ports)
Power Connectors	1 x 24-pin ATX 2 x 8pin CPU
Fan Headers	1 x CPU (4-pin) 1 x Water Pump (4-pin) 7 x System (4-pin) 8 x System (4-pin) - Fan Commander
IO Panel	5 x USB 3.1 G2 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 G2 Type-C 2 x USB 3.1 G1 Type-A 4 x USB 2.0 Type-A 2 x Network RJ45 (Aquantia/Intel) 5 x 3.5mm Audio Jacks (Realtek) 1 x S/PDIF Output (Realtek)) 2 x Intel AX200 Antenna Ports 1 x Q-Flash BIOS Button 1 x Clear CMOS Button

The rear panel includes a pre-installed rear IO shield and also features five USB 3.1 G2 Type-A, one USB 3.1 G2 Type-C and two USB 3.1 G1 Type-A ports, and four USB 2.0 ports. Users can expand on this with a single USB 3.1 G2 Type-C header which provides a single port, a USB 3.1 G1 Type-A header for two additional ports, and a single USB 2.0 header which offers users two additional ports. The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme includes a comprehensive 14-phase power delivery for the CPU and a 2-phase solution for the SoC. Given the high-end and flagship status of the X570 Aorus Xtreme, there are no video outputs on the rear panel with the board design for the higher-end Ryzen 3rd generation processors such as the Ryzen 9 3900X and the impending Ryzen 9 3950X which is due later this year. 

Test Bed

As per our testing policy, we take a high-end CPU suitable for the motherboard that was released during the socket’s initial launch and equip the system with a suitable amount of memory running at the processor maximum supported frequency. This is also typically run at JEDEC subtimings where possible. It is noted that some users are not keen on this policy, stating that sometimes the maximum supported frequency is quite low, or faster memory is available at a similar price, or that the JEDEC speeds can be prohibitive for performance. While these comments make sense, ultimately very few users apply memory profiles (either XMP or other) as they require interaction with the BIOS, and most users will fall back on JEDEC supported speeds - this includes home users as well as industry who might want to shave off a cent or two from the cost or stay within the margins set by the manufacturer. Where possible, we will extend out testing to include faster memory modules either at the same time as the review or a later date.

While we have been able to measure audio performance from previous Z370 motherboards, the task has been made even harder with the roll-out of the Z390 chipset and none of the boards tested so far has played ball. It seems all USB support for Windows 7 is now extinct so until we can find a reliable way of measuring audio performance on Windows 10 or until a workaround can be found, audio testing will have to be done at a later date.

Test Setup
Processor	AMD Ryzen 3700X, 65W, $329  8 Cores, 16 Threads, 3.6 GHz (4.4 GHz Turbo)
Motherboard	GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme (BIOS F3i)
Cooling	ID Cooling Auraflow 240mm AIO
Power Supply	Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1200W Gold PSU
Memory	2x8GB G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3200 16-16-16-36 2T
Video Card	ASUS GTX 980 STRIX (1178/1279 Boost)
Hard Drive	Crucial MX300 1TB
Case	Open Benchtable BC1.1 (Silver)
Operating System	Windows 10 1903 inc. Spectre/Meltdown Patches

Readers of our motherboard review section will have noted the trend in modern motherboards to implement a form of MultiCore Enhancement / Acceleration / Turbo (read our report here) on their motherboards. This does several things, including better benchmark results at stock settings (not entirely needed if overclocking is an end-user goal) at the expense of heat and temperature. It also gives, in essence, an automatic overclock which may be against what the user wants. Our testing methodology is ‘out-of-the-box’, with the latest public BIOS installed and XMP enabled, and thus subject to the whims of this feature. It is ultimately up to the motherboard manufacturer to take this risk – and manufacturers taking risks in the setup is something they do on every product (think C-state settings, USB priority, DPC Latency / monitoring priority, overriding memory sub-timings at JEDEC). Processor speed change is part of that risk, and ultimately if no overclocking is planned, some motherboards will affect how fast that shiny new processor goes and can be an important factor in the system build.

Hardware Providers for CPU and Motherboard Reviews
Sapphire RX 460 Nitro	MSI GTX 1080 Gaming X OC	Crucial MX200 + MX500 SSDs	Corsair AX860i + AX1200i PSUs
G.Skill RipjawsV, SniperX, FlareX	Crucial Ballistix DDR4	Silverstone Coolers	Silverstone Fans

New Test Suite: Spectre and Meltdown Hardened

Since the start of our Z390 reviews, we are using an updated OS, updated drivers, and updated software. This is in line with our CPU testing updates, which includes Spectre and Meltdown patches. We are also running the testbed with the new Windows 10 1903 update for AMD's Ryzen 3000 series CPUs, and X570 motherboard reviews. The Windows 1903 update improves multi-core and multi-thread performance on AMD's Ryzen processors with topology awareness meaning previous issues in regards to latency have been known to affect performance. As users are recommended to keep their Windows 10 operating system updates, our performance data is reflected with the 1903 update.

System Performance

Not all motherboards are created equal. On the face of it, they should all perform the same and differ only in the functionality they provide - however, this is not the case. The obvious pointers are power consumption, but also the ability for the manufacturer to optimize USB speed, audio quality (based on audio codec), POST time and latency. This can come down to the manufacturing process and prowess, so these are tested.

For X570 we are running using Windows 10 64-bit with the 1903 update as per our Ryzen 3000 CPU review.

Power Consumption

Power consumption was tested on the system while in a single ASUS GTX 980 GPU configuration with a wall meter connected to the Thermaltake 1200W power supply. This power supply has ~75% efficiency > 50W, and 90%+ efficiency at 250W, suitable for both idle and multi-GPU loading. This method of power reading allows us to compare the power management of the UEFI and the board to supply components with power under load, and includes typical PSU losses due to efficiency. These are the real-world values that consumers may expect from a typical system (minus the monitor) using this motherboard.

While this method for power measurement may not be ideal, and you feel these numbers are not representative due to the high wattage power supply being used (we use the same PSU to remain consistent over a series of reviews, and the fact that some boards on our testbed get tested with three or four high powered GPUs), the important point to take away is the relationship between the numbers. These boards are all under the same conditions, and thus the differences between them should be easy to spot.

The power consumption at full load is very efficient with a clear cut lead of over 14 W over the MSI MEG X570 Godlike and 13 W over the slightly lesser spec MSI MEG X570 Ace. In our long Idle test, the X570 Aorus Xtreme performed surprisingly worse with a power draw of 82 W; this looks like an anomaly but this was tested three times with similar results, probably indicative of a system running something in the background when long idle is detected. Looking at our OS Idle result, this put the X570 Aorus Xtreme back into the normal range of results we've seen from AM4 motherboards with a respectable power draw of just 63 W.

Non-UEFI POST Time

Different motherboards have different POST sequences before an operating system is initialized. A lot of this is dependent on the board itself, and POST boot time is determined by the controllers on board (and the sequence of how those extras are organized). As part of our testing, we look at the POST Boot Time using a stopwatch. This is the time from pressing the ON button on the computer to when Windows starts loading. (We discount Windows loading as it is highly variable given Windows specific features.)

The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme performed competitively with other boards on test with a default POST time of just over 25 seconds. This isn't too bad but doesn't quite match up with ASRock models we have tested so far which dominate our charts. With audio and networking controllers disabled, we managed to shave off a couple of seconds off the overall boot time.

DPC Latency

Deferred Procedure Call latency is a way in which Windows handles interrupt servicing. In order to wait for a processor to acknowledge the request, the system will queue all interrupt requests by priority. Critical interrupts will be handled as soon as possible, whereas lesser priority requests such as audio will be further down the line. If the audio device requires data, it will have to wait until the request is processed before the buffer is filled.

If the device drivers of higher priority components in a system are poorly implemented, this can cause delays in request scheduling and process time. This can lead to an empty audio buffer and characteristic audible pauses, pops and clicks. The DPC latency checker measures how much time is taken processing DPCs from driver invocation. The lower the value will result in better audio transfer at smaller buffer sizes. Results are measured in microseconds.

We test the DPC at the default settings straight from the box, and the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme performed similarly to the MSI MEG X570 Godlike which this model competes with at the upper-end of the X570 product stack.

CPU Performance, Short Form

For our motherboard reviews, we use our short form testing method. These tests usually focus on if a motherboard is using MultiCore Turbo (the feature used to have maximum turbo on at all times, giving a frequency advantage), or if there are slight gains to be had from tweaking the firmware. We put the memory settings at the CPU manufacturers suggested frequency, making it very easy to see which motherboards have MCT enabled by default.

For X570 we are running using Windows 10 64-bit with the 1903 update as per our Ryzen 3000 CPU review.

Rendering - Blender 2.7b: 3D Creation Suite - link

A high profile rendering tool, Blender is open-source allowing for massive amounts of configurability, and is used by a number of high-profile animation studios worldwide. The organization recently released a Blender benchmark package, a couple of weeks after we had narrowed our Blender test for our new suite, however their test can take over an hour. For our results, we run one of the sub-tests in that suite through the command line - a standard ‘bmw27’ scene in CPU only mode, and measure the time to complete the render.

Streaming and Archival Video Transcoding - Handbrake 1.1.0

A popular open source tool, Handbrake is the anything-to-anything video conversion software that a number of people use as a reference point. The danger is always on version numbers and optimization, for example the latest versions of the software can take advantage of AVX-512 and OpenCL to accelerate certain types of transcoding and algorithms. The version we use here is a pure CPU play, with common transcoding variations.

We have split Handbrake up into several tests, using a Logitech C920 1080p60 native webcam recording (essentially a streamer recording), and convert them into two types of streaming formats and one for archival. The output settings used are:

• 720p60 at 6000 kbps constant bit rate, fast setting, high profile
• 1080p60 at 3500 kbps constant bit rate, faster setting, main profile
• 1080p60 HEVC at 3500 kbps variable bit rate, fast setting, main profile

Rendering – POV-Ray 3.7.1: Ray Tracing - link

The Persistence of Vision Ray Tracer, or POV-Ray, is a freeware package for as the name suggests, ray tracing. It is a pure renderer, rather than modeling software, but the latest beta version contains a handy benchmark for stressing all processing threads on a platform. We have been using this test in motherboard reviews to test memory stability at various CPU speeds to good effect – if it passes the test, the IMC in the CPU is stable for a given CPU speed. As a CPU test, it runs for approximately 1-2 minutes on high-end platforms.

Compression – WinRAR 5.60b3: link

Our WinRAR test from 2013 is updated to the latest version of WinRAR at the start of 2014. We compress a set of 2867 files across 320 folders totaling 1.52 GB in size – 95% of these files are small typical website files, and the rest (90% of the size) are small 30-second 720p videos.

Synthetic – 7-Zip v1805: link

Out of our compression/decompression tool tests, 7-zip is the most requested and comes with a built-in benchmark. For our test suite, we’ve pulled the latest version of the software and we run the benchmark from the command line, reporting the compression, decompression, and a combined score.

It is noted in this benchmark that the latest multi-die processors have very bi-modal performance between compression and decompression, performing well in one and badly in the other. There are also discussions around how the Windows Scheduler is implementing every thread. As we get more results, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Point Calculations – 3D Movement Algorithm Test: link

3DPM is a self-penned benchmark, taking basic 3D movement algorithms used in Brownian Motion simulations and testing them for speed. High floating point performance, MHz, and IPC win in the single thread version, whereas the multithread version has to handle the threads and loves more cores. For a brief explanation of the platform agnostic coding behind this benchmark, see my forum post here.

Neuron Simulation - DigiCortex v1.20: link

The newest benchmark in our suite is DigiCortex, a simulation of biologically plausible neural network circuits, and simulates activity of neurons and synapses. DigiCortex relies heavily on a mix of DRAM speed and computational throughput, indicating that systems which apply memory profiles properly should benefit and those that play fast and loose with overclocking settings might get some extra speed up. Results are taken during the steady-state period in a 32k neuron simulation and represented as a function of the ability to simulate in real time (1.000x equals real-time).

Gaming Performance

For X570 we are running using Windows 10 64-bit with the 1903 update as per our Ryzen 3000 CPU review.

World of Tanks enCore

Albeit different to most of the other commonly played MMO or massively multiplayer online games, World of Tanks is set in the mid-20th century and allows players to take control of a range of military based armored vehicles. World of Tanks (WoT) is developed and published by Wargaming who are based in Belarus, with the game’s soundtrack being primarily composed by Belarusian composer Sergey Khmelevsky. The game offers multiple entry points including a free-to-play element as well as allowing players to pay a fee to open up more features. One of the most interesting things about this tank based MMO is that it achieved eSports status when it debuted at the World Cyber Games back in 2012.

World of Tanks enCore is a demo application for a new and unreleased graphics engine penned by the Wargaming development team. Over time the new core engine will implemented into the full game upgrading the games visuals with key elements such as improved water, flora, shadows, lighting as well as other objects such as buildings. The World of Tanks enCore demo app not only offers up insight into the impending game engine changes, but allows users to check system performance to see if the new engine run optimally on their system.

Grand Theft Auto V

The highly anticipated iteration of the Grand Theft Auto franchise hit the shelves on April 14th 2015, with both AMD and NVIDIA in tow to help optimize the title. GTA doesn’t provide graphical presets, but opens up the options to users and extends the boundaries by pushing even the hardest systems to the limit using Rockstar’s Advanced Game Engine under DirectX 11. Whether the user is flying high in the mountains with long draw distances or dealing with assorted trash in the city, when cranked up to maximum it creates stunning visuals but hard work for both the CPU and the GPU.

For our test we have scripted a version of the in-game benchmark. The in-game benchmark consists of five scenarios: four short panning shots with varying lighting and weather effects, and a fifth action sequence that lasts around 90 seconds. We use only the final part of the benchmark, which combines a flight scene in a jet followed by an inner city drive-by through several intersections followed by ramming a tanker that explodes, causing other cars to explode as well. This is a mix of distance rendering followed by a detailed near-rendering action sequence, and the title thankfully spits out frame time data.

F1 2018

Aside from keeping up-to-date on the Formula One world, F1 2017 added HDR support, which F1 2018 has maintained; otherwise, we should see any newer versions of Codemasters' EGO engine find its way into F1. Graphically demanding in its own right, F1 2018 keeps a useful racing-type graphics workload in our benchmarks.

Aside from keeping up-to-date on the Formula One world, F1 2017 added HDR support, which F1 2018 has maintained. We use the in-game benchmark, set to run on the Montreal track in the wet, driving as Lewis Hamilton from last place on the grid. Data is taken over a one-lap race.

Overclocking Ryzen 3000

Experience with the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme

Users looking to get the most from the new Ryzen 3000 series of processors will likely be considering a little overclock. With the current iteration of Precision Boost Overdrive or PBO for short looking a little roughshod at present, the best performance gains can be had from simply overclocking the processor to a reasonable amount. A couple of things to consider first before overclocking your processor. Firstly the cooling is a considerable bulk of the potential overclocking yield as the Ryzen 3000 series tends to run quite warm, even at the default settings on the basic stock cooler. The second main variable is the motherboard that's been selected for the job. With cheaper motherboards which utilize weaker and less efficient power deliveries, with less durable designs. It is prudent to forward think these decisions before purchasing, but it's good to know that all of AMD's X570 all support overclocking from the bottom to the very top.

GIGABYTE's Aorus firmware, for the most part, is very easy to navigate around, with all of the overclocking related settings housed within the Tweaker sub-section of the advanced mode. As the X570 Aorus Xtreme is designed with overclocking in mind due to the impressive 16-phase power delivery, the firmware offers plenty of options for overclocking both CPU and memory. The CPU Core ratio can be adjusted in increments of 0.25 MHz which is useful for fine-tuning, whereas users can also enable memory X.M.P profiles and tweak memory with plenty of primary, secondary, and tertiary memory latencies settings which are found under the advanced memory settings section. Users can also enable Precision Boost Overdrive which is AMD's integrated CPU overclocking technology, but users can also fine-tune certain power variables for a more advanced and customized experience.

As with many vendors including its own pre-defined overclocking profiles, it's a little bizarre that a board of this pedigree has none for users to select from. Perhaps GIGABYTE has made an assumption that users looking to use the X570 Aorus Xtreme as the foundation for their new system might want to create everything themselves, but even a couple of basic profiles with general variables would have been nice to see; not everyone who spends a vast amount of cash is experienced in overclocking and profiles offer a gateway for novice users looking for extra performance from a simple click.

Overclocking Methodology

Our standard overclocking methodology is as follows. We select the automatic overclock options and test for stability with POV-Ray and OCCT to simulate high-end workloads. These stability tests aim to catch any immediate causes for memory or CPU errors.

For manual overclocks, based on the information gathered from the previous testing, starts off at a nominal voltage and CPU multiplier, and the multiplier is increased until the stability tests are failed. The CPU voltage is increased gradually until the stability tests are passed, and the process repeated until the motherboard reduces the multiplier automatically (due to safety protocol) or the CPU temperature reaches a stupidly high level (105ºC+). Our testbed is not in a case, which should push overclocks higher with fresher (cooler) air.

Overclocking Results

The lack of preset overclocking profiles can be forgiven due to the nature of how well the X570 Aorus Xtreme performs in our overclock testing. The overclocking performance of the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme boasts very tight VDroop with the biggest variation from the value set for the CPU VCore in the firmware by a slight overcompensation of just 0.05 at our highest overclock of 4.3 GHz. Even at the lower frequencies ranging from 3.6 GHz all cores, to 4.2 GHz, we experienced a slight margin of variance by around 0.002 V to 0.01 V which is very impressive, to say the least. 

GIGABYTE's biggest win here is that when Precision Boost Overdrive is in the firmware is set from default to enabled, the performance jump in our Pov-Ray testing yielded a massive improvement over stock settings; the score was increased from 4440 to 4701. While this equates to a performance jump of just under 6%, it's still something which other boards we've tested so far on earlier firmware have been able to achieve. Another interesting focal point is the power draw under load at our maximum settings of 4.3 GHz at 1.375 V on the CPU VCore. In comparison to the MSI MEG X570 Godlike which it competes in both spec and pricing, the X570 Aorus Xtreme managed to do this with 24 W of power draw. This shows the efficiency of the power delivery when extra voltage is put through Infineon's new 16-phase XDPE132G5C Digital PWM controller. Overall performance in Pov-Ray increased by a nice margin at each 100 MHz CPU ratio we tested, and we found no anomalies.

Power Delivery Thermal Analysis

One of the most requested elements of our motherboard reviews revolves around the power delivery and its componentry. Aside from the quality of the components and its capability for overclocking to push out higher clock speeds which in turn improves performance, is the thermal capability of the cooling solutions implemented by manufacturers. While almost always fine for users running processors at default settings, the cooling capability of the VRMs isn't something that users should worry too much about, but for those looking to squeeze out extra performance from the CPU via overclocking, this puts extra pressure on the power delivery and in turn, generates extra heat. This is why more premium models often include heatsinks on its models with better cooling designs, heftier chunks of metal, and in some cases, even with water blocks such as the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Formula.

Two K-Type Thermal Probes attached to the rear of the power delivery on the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme

Testing Methodology

Out method of testing out if the power delivery and its heatsink are effective at dissipating heat, is by running an intensely heavy CPU workload for a prolonged method of time. We apply an overclock which is deemed safe and at the maximum that the silicon on our AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor allows. We then run the Prime95 with AVX2 enabled under a torture test for an hour at the maximum stable overclock we can which puts insane pressure on the processor. We collect our data via three different methods which include the following:

• Taking a thermal image from a birds-eye view after an hour with a Flir Pro thermal imaging camera
• Securing two probes on to the rear of the PCB, right underneath CPU VCore section of the power delivery for better parity in case a probe reports a faulty reading
• Taking a reading of the VRM temperature from the sensor reading within the HWInfo monitoring application

The reason for using three different methods is that some sensors can read inaccurate temperatures, which can give very erratic results for users looking to gauge whether an overclock is too much pressure for the power delivery handle. With using a probe on the rear, it can also show the efficiency of the power stages and heatsinks as a wide margin between the probe and sensor temperature can show that the heatsink is dissipating heat and that the design is working, or that the internal sensor is massively wrong. To ensure our probe was accurate before testing, I binned 10 and selected the most accurate (within 1c of the actual temperature) for better parity in our testing.

For thermal image, we use a Flir One camera as it gives a good indication of where the heat is generated around the socket area, as some designs use different configurations and an evenly spread power delivery with good components will usually generate less heat. Manufacturers who use inefficient heatsinks and cheap out on power delivery components should run hotter than those who have invested. Of course, a $700 flagship motherboard is likely to outperform a cheaper $100 model under the same testing conditions, but it is still worth testing to see which vendors are doing things correctly.

Thermal Analysis Results

We measured 54°C on the hottest part of the power delivery, the inductors.

The GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is using a 16-phase power delivery running in a 14+2 configuration. The CPU section is running fourteen TDA21472 70 A power stages, with two TDA21472 70 A power stages dedicated to the boards SoC. This is being controlled by the new Infineon XDPE132G5C 16-phase digital PWM controller and it's a serious bit of kit. Unlike other models in the X570 product stack which rely on a lesser phase count or doublers, GIGABYTE claims the true 16-phases to be 4% more efficient when compared to other designs. Although the power delivery is usually aimed at extreme overclockers who frequently push components to the limits for world record attempts, the design on the X570 Aorus Xtreme looks to aim at reducing heat, inefficient power loss, and for an overall more stable experience. The cooling solution on the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is noticeable throughout the entirety of the board with thermal reactive armor on the front, a nanocarbon coated backplate, and as we're focusing on here, the large and robust aluminium finned power delivery heatsink.

As it currently stands, the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme includes the best power delivery of any X570 motherboard we have seen so far in our testing. With the quality of the power delivery being an increasingly popular aspect in which users make a buying decision, and especially on an overclocking friendly platform such as AM4, vendors need to get this right. In the case of the X570 Aorus Xtreme, GIGABYTE's true 14-phase design for the CPU section is cooled by a very nice aluminium finned heatsink which when our Ryzen 7 3700X is at full load at 1.475 V on the CPU VCore and with a core clock speed of 4.1 GHz, the temperatures speak for themselves. The integrated sensor within the power delivery itself monitored a maximum temperature of 49°C, with our thermal probe hitting around 44°C. While it was slightly cooler in the testing room than with other boards due to a change in weather, the results conclude that the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme is the real deal. Using our FLIR thermal imaging camera, the hottest part of the power delivery was the inductors which measured at 54°C; for what it's worth, these aren't covered by a heatsink and cooling these comes directly from passive airflow.

GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme Conclusion

As it currently stands, the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme sits atop its current X570 product stack as the flagship model from its gaming-focused Aorus brand. Not only is it one of the most expensive models with an MSRP of $700, but it has competition from a couple of motherboards including the already reviewed MSI MEG X570 Godlike ($700), and the ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Formula ($700). One primary feature that sets the X570 Aorus Xtreme apart from any other X570 model at present is its use of a completely passively cooled chipset heatsink. Every other X570 motherboard on the market relies on a cooling fan to keep the warm running X570 chipset cool.

The bulk of the X570 Aorus Xtreme's feature set is based on a highly premium set of controllers including an Aquantia AQC107 10 GbE and a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec which is assisted by an ESS Sabre ESS9218 digital to analogue converter for better audio capabilities. Also present is a second Ethernet port controlled by an Intel I211-AT Gigabit NIC and the inclusion of an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax capable wireless interface is likely to be popular with users looking to make the most of BT 5.0 connectivity too.

One of the most important traits for overclockers is the power delivery and the X570 Aorus Xtreme has one of the most formidable out of all the current X570 product stack. It consists of a 16-phase design split into a 14+2 configuration with the use of Infineon's new 16-phase XDPE132G5C digital PWM controller. Each of the sixteen phases consists of an Infineon TDA21472 70 A power stage and comes supplied with an inductor. GIGABYTE's decision to include such a powerful and efficient looking power delivery will be popular to sub-zero overclockers and enthusiasts looking to push the limits of the Ryzen 3000 processors. In our overclocking testing, the X570 Aorus Xtreme performs superbly with a positive impact on power consumption at full load with our Ryzen 7 3700X testbed processor. Not only is the power draw more efficient with our processor than other models on test, but it translates well into the thermal properties with the lowest power delivery temperatures of any board we've tested so far. This can be attributed to the quality of the power delivery, as well as the robust power delivery heatsink that's hidden away under the beautiful rear panel cover.

Touching more on the aesthetics, the all-black design which comprises of a rear panel cover, a PCB dominating coating of GIGABYTE's reactive thermal armor, and the reinforcing nanocarbon coated backplate on the rear all a touch of class at the expense of overall weight. The X570 Aorus Xtreme is a heavy-duty model in both aspects and for users looking to add a little flair to their system, the integrated RGB zones and the ability to add more via the use of integrated ARGB and RGB headers gives users the ability to do this. The old debate of RGB versus non-RGB remains hotly discussed on various internet forums, but with the RGB LEDs switched off the X570 Aorus Xtreme is one of the best-looking motherboards to date from GIGABYTE.

General system performance is competitive with a good showing in idle state power consumption and at full load. We did pick up what seems to be an anomaly in our long idle power testing which was considerably higher than other boards on test, but we did run this test multiple times and kept getting the same type of result. Not only was system performance competitive, but the results in our CPU and game testing yielded similar findings. In our Handbrake testing, the X570 Aorus Xtreme performed on par with the GIGABYTE X470 Gaming 7 WIFI which we tested during the launch of the X570 chipset; this could be an attribute in the wiring of the components within the boards PCB, but all other scores did seem to be in-line with what other vendors have to offer from our testing.

Overclocking testing was a standout point which is no surprise given the X570 Aorus Xtreme is geared up for extreme overclocking and enthusiasts with its aforementioned true 14-phase power delivery for the CPU. Our testing showed quite tight VDroop control at all of the frequencies testing with the biggest over compensation coming at our max overclock of 4.3 GHz at 1.375 V; the maximum load voltage observed was 1.380 V which is a 0.05 V increase over the set value. Performance in our POV-Ray benchmark also jumped up incrementally as we tested each 100 MHz ratio step as expected and we were glad to see Precision Boost Overdrive did make a noticeable improvement over stock for the first time on X570. This is likely down to the new firmware, but there is a lot of talk at present on boost clock values achieved on Ryzen 3000 processors when comparing older and newer firmware; something we don't want to speculate on. Either this is observed from, the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme performs very well.

GIGABYTE includes support for DDR4-4400 memory and has support for up to 128 GB of system memory across its four available memory slots. Storage is also important to factor in with three PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 slots which each includes individual heatsinks, but the bottom-mounted slot does share bandwidth with two of the six SATA ports which are present on the board. On the rear panel is plenty of USB connectivity to utilize with five USB 3.1 G2 Type-A, one USB 3.1 G2 Type-C, two USB 3.1 G1 Type-A, and four USB 2.0 ports. For users looking to maximise the boards potential with water cooling, the eight 4-pin fan headers can be expanded by a further eight 4-pin headers with the inclusion of the bulky, yet functional Aorus RGB Fan Commander in the accessories bundle.

For enthusiasts and performance users, the GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Xtreme does little wrong to solidify its position as one of the top X570 motherboards on the market. While it does come under GIGABYTE's Aorus gaming based brand, the X570 Xtreme is much more than that with plenty of connectivity for cooling, overclocking, and even more USB on the rear panel that would be expected. With its solid and high-performance 16-phase power delivery combined with elegant and PCB covering armor, the X570 Xtreme is the board that enthusiasts that aren't put off by the $700 price tag looking to build an AM4 based gaming system should be looking towards. It has the features, it has the looks and it has the power delivery to make it one of the best X570 boards at present and even without a lot of fluff or fanfare, it sits as the only model without an actively cooled chipset heatsink and that just adds to the allure.