Today we see motherboard-laden, gaming-focused Motherboard from GIGABYTE: Aorus AX370-Gaming 5. If the user wants a LED for Ryzen under $ 200, this is one of the main competitors. Being part of the GIGABYTE game product line means we get SLI support, and GIGABYTE uses a game focus controller (one of two) and some overclocking options for the processor. The interesting part of this board, however, is the use of multiple audio codecs: one for the back panel and another for the front panel. To do this physically requires some compromise, so we have put the whiteboard through its paces to see if it is worth buying.
The GIGABYTE Aorus AX370-Gaming 5 Overview
GIGABYTE AX370-Gaming 5 shows that not every motherboard has to conform to a regular game-themed combination with a black PCB with a red or silver aluminum heatsink. With Gaming 5, it has a wave of black and white contrasting heatsinks displayed across the board. GIGABYTE has chosen to implement a fairly standard PCIe X370 layout consisting of two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots supported by the CPU, which supports dual graphics card configurations on SLI or CrossFire and has additional stiffness support. This is the addition of a single full-length slot at the bottom that operates on PCIe 2.0 x4 also with stiffness support, and three PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.
This will be of little interest when we start discussing the controllers. Moving onboard audio is a pair of Realtek ALC1220 codecs, one dedicated to the rear panel and one special for the front. Very few boards (if ever?) Have this setting, make Gaming 5 specials in that. Audio is bundled with the WiiBlaster XB25 XB Wii software utility. For the network, the main port comes from the game-focused Killer E2500 Gigabit controller, and the second one from the I211-AT Intel controller.
The flagship is a 10-phase power design, which GIGABYTE aims for solid and consistent power delivery, and its claims are useful for overclocking. It should be noted that VRM is divided into 4 + 2 designs with a dedicated phase for the SoC using doubler to provide 8 + 2 phase design as a whole.
With wise storage, Gaming 5 has eight SATA 6Gbs ports along with two SATA Express ports. PCIe storage comes through a single U.2 port, which shares bandwidth with a single M.2-2280 slot found between two first full-length PCIe slots.
Performance on Gaming 5 essentially matches what we see on other X370 boards. Although there are two audio codecs, this means each codec has only half the space, so our audio results show that this is one of the weaker ALC1220 solutions (although better than the ALC892 units we've tested). Unemployed power consumption is in some watts of other boards even though the LED, and while loading the system actually pulls 15W less than our other tests, we're still looking for explanations. Overclocking, as described below, is relatively easy.
The Gaming 5 is near the top of the current pile of GIGABYTE X370 offerings, with the only model on it as the AX370-Gaming K7. It should also be noted that the GIGABYTE X370 range stops only about $ 200 even with their top AX370-Gaming K7 models; with AX370-Gaming 5 which is very similar to which these reviews actually entered $ 184 (at time of review).
Overclocking
Most, if not all, mid-range motherboards are highly capable of overclocking the processor, and most include a one-click OC button (either physical or in BIOS) that assigns tasks to the motherboard based on how confidently it can be safely done. this is that almost every motherboard I use is very careful because it does not give enough voltage, so CPU is too much. This gives more chance of overclocking to keep it stable, but it creates a little profit havoc with the price of extra energy lost as heat; Thermal sensors can start kicking even if the auto option is safe. With Gaming 5, automatic overclocking and manual overclocking is available.
Methodology
Our standard overclocking methodology is as follows. We selected the automatic overclock option and tested the stability with POV-Ray and OCCT to simulate high-end workload. This stability test aims to capture the immediate cause of memory or CPU errors.
For manual overclocks, based on information collected from previous tests, starting at the nominal voltage multiplier and CPU, and multipliers increased until the stability test fails. The CPU voltage increases gradually until the stability test is passed, and the process repeats until the motherboard reduces the multiplier automatically (due to safety protocol) or the CPU temperature reaches a very high level (100ºC +). Our test bed is not in the case, which should push the overclock higher with fresh air (cooler).
Overclocking results
Referring back to the Biostar X370GTN review, our Ryzen 7 1700 CPU does have limitations between 3.9GHz and 4.0GHz; at least on the blackboard we've tested so far. This goes down to the silicon lottery and the combination of the sharp line voltage to the temperature as it moves upwards of each different step; Therefore, the cuts / discharges due to thermal limitations when pushed too far on cooling around.
Ryzen 7 1700 processor that we use has a clock speed of 3.0 GHz core and turbo cores 3.7 GHz, and rated 65W. When overclocked to 3.9 GHz with 1.375v, overall power consumption captured on the wall pushes just under 187W at the peak.
Features of GIGABYTE Aorus AX370-Gaming 5 Board hardware
The Gaming 5 has a lot to say about it if we take into account the high volume of connections and inputs on the sub $ 200 offer. Physically Gaming 5 has support for multi-directional two-way SLI and 3-way CrossFire configuration, although theoretically there is support for SLI 4-way and 4-way CrossFire with GPU featuring two GPU cores on one PCB. GIGABYTE is known for emphasizing onboard onboard audio solutions, but the AX370-Gaming 5 has a dual-channel Realtek ALC1220 with a second one designed specifically for front panel audio.
GIGABYTE Aorus AX370-Gaming 5 ATX Motherboard
- Warranty Period 3 Years
- Price : $174
- Size ATX
- CPU Interface AM4
- Chipset : AMD X370
- Memory Slots (DDR4): Four DDR4 Supporting 64GB Dual Channel Up to 3200 MHz
- Video Outputs : HDMI 1.4
- Network Connectivity : Killer E2500 & Intel I211-AT
- Onboard Audio : Realtek ALC1220
- PCIe Slots for Graphics (from CPU) : 2 x PCIe 3.0 (x16, x8/x8)
- PCIe Slots for Other (from PCH) : 1 x PCIe 2.0 (x4)
- 3 x PCIe (x1)
- Onboard SATA Eight, RAID 0/1/10
- Onboard M.2 1 x PCIe 3.0 x4, on Front
- USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) 1 x Type-C
- 3 x Type-A
- USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) 2 x Rear Panel 4 x Header
- USB 2.0 4 × Header
- Power Connectors : 1 x 24-pin ATX 1 x 8-pin CPU
- Fan Headers: 1 x CPU (4-pin) , 4 x System (4-pin) , 2 x System/Pump (4-pin)
- IO Panel : 6 x USB 3.1 (USB 3.1 Gen 1), 3 x USB 3.1 (USB 3.1 Gen 2) , 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 2 x Network RJ-45, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x Combo PS/2, 5 x 3.5 mm Audio Jacks, 1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
Visual inspection
Gaming 5 has an adjustable RGB LED zone wave in some areas. From left to right, there are LEDs that are placed slowly on the cover of a plastic audio component, and next to this there are several single LEDs placed on both sides of the choke in the VRM area. In the middle, and below each of the two PCIe x16 3.0 slots, we get three LEDs that form the strip directly below the slot. On the right side, there is a row of illumination between the memory slots, and the LED bar on the right using a replaceable plastic pattern.
The top right corner of the board feature (which I like to call) 'basic overclocker toolkit', and consists of a power button, one click OC button and a reset button and a small reset button. There are also five 4-pin PWM headers (including CPU) on the board, with two high-powered fan headers for users with water cooling pumps. The audio area has a pair of Realtek ALC1220 codecs, both for front and rear audio panels, which use Japanese gold Nichon audio capacitors. Nippon Chemi-Con 10k solid capacitor is used elsewhere on the board and its color is black.
In addition to a single and centralized PCIe x4 NVMe M.2 storage slot, other storage options can be found on the lower right side of the board. There are eight SATA 6Gb / s ports as well as two SATA Express ports. To the right is one U.2 port as well.
With power delivery, GIGABYTE uses 10-phase digital power design. VRM is controlled by the International Rectifier IR35201 digital PWM controller, which runs in 4 + 2 mode, with the IR3599 doubler carrying the count to 8 + 2. Completing the VRM controller, this board uses the IR3553M 40A International Rectifier MOSFET and the GIGABYTE-designed ferrite core axis.
One of the premium features on Gaming 5 is having a dual system BIOS. The BIOS used can be selected through a switch on the board. At the bottom of the board under the bottom PCIe x16 slot there are two switches that allow the user to change the BIOS configuration: when turned into single mode, each of the two BIOS chips can run different versions of the BIOS (ie useful for overclockers using different versions of the BIOS depending on the CPU model). When selecting dual BIOS mode, they run the mirror configuration; It reflects the image on both BIOS chips for redundancy purposes.
On the rear panel, there is a USB port 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C and one USB port 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A is powered through the ASMedia ASM1143 USB controller. Also present are two additional USB A-type 3 A ports and six USB 3.0 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack for onboard audio with S / PDIF output. Much less emphasis on onboard graphics is because there is only one HDMI 1.4 output, with GIGABYTE demonstrating its desire to market this board especially for those who plan to use discrete graphics. There are two physical network ports, using Rivet Networks Killer E2500 chip and Intel I211-AT controller. Also present a PS / 2 combination port.