NZXT N9 X870E AMD motherboard Review @ Guru3D
Guru3D highlighted the NZXT N9 X870E as a premium AM5 board that brings together high-end hardware and refined aesthetics for around $499. It packs a strong 20+2+1 phase power delivery setup, dual VRM fans, and active cooling for all M.2 slots, keeping thermals well-managed under load. The board includes modern connectivity like USB4, Wi-Fi 7, and 5 Gigabit Ethernet, and offers full PCIe 5.0 support for both GPU and primary SSD. Visually, it aims for understated elegance, featuring a single LED strip and full-metal coverage rather than flashy lighting.
When NZXT steps into the AMD AM5 motherboard space, they don’t just go for a rebrand—they build something with their own signature. Partnering with ASRock, they’ve created the N9 X870E, a board that blends proven engineering with NZXT’s distinct design language. It’s not just a clone of ASRock’s own Phantom Gaming line either. NZXT tweaked the PCB layout, adjusted connector placements, and fine-tuned the trace routing to match their style and internal ecosystem. The result? A clean, modern-looking board available in black or white, with a solid metal cover and a subtle RGB strip across the I/O shroud that gives it some visual character.
In benchmarks, the performance closely matched other X870E boards, with only minor gains over previous-generation options, suggesting that choosing this model is more about design and ecosystem alignment. The board ties in tightly with NZXT’s CAM software for streamlined lighting and fan control. Some practical trade-offs emerged: the BIOS is basic, VRM fans can be noisy unless manually adjusted, and maintaining access to rear components like lower M.2 slots requires more effort due to a large heatsink. For builders who prioritize clean aesthetics, solid feature integration, and cohesive software management, this board offers excellent value, provided its minor usability quirks are acceptable.
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