Gigabyte has launched its B760M Aorus Ari WiFi6E DDR4 motherboard, offering PCIe 5.0 support for graphics and dual M.2 slots for SSD storage, but without the need to use expensive DDR5 memory. This micro-ATX board brings back DDR4, while keeping support for the latest hardware, making for an accessible entry point for users on tight budgets.
In terms of core specs, the B760M Aorus Ari WiFi6E DDR4 is pretty much a carbon copy of the B760M Aorus Elite WiFi6E-P Gen5, but it swaps the DDR5 slots for DDR4. For those wondering, yes, Intel’s B760 platform supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, as do the company’s LGA1700 CPUs, which gives it valuable flexibility in the current memory crisis.
This cross compatibility has enabled Gigabyte to install four DDR4 UDIMM slots, capable of housing up to 128GB of memory. The brand claims the board offers support for up to DDR4-5333 modules via XMP profiles or manual overclocking.
You’ll also spot Gigabyte’s anime mascot Ari here, which we’ve seen on other products too. A representation of Ari can be found on the back and on top of the I/O cover, adding some flair to the board. That said, this time the illustration of Ari isn’t backlit like the one on the B850 Aorus Elite-P Ice.
Aside from the return to DDR4, the rest of the board packs modern features and connections, including two full-size PCIe slots – running at Gen 5 x16 and Gen 4 x4 speeds, two Gen 4 x4 M.2 slots for fast SSD storage, and 2.5GbE LAN. Both M.2 slots come equipped with Gigabyte’s Thermal Guard heatsinks, which, alongside the main PCIe slots, feature tool-free EZ-Latch mechanisms to simplify installation and maintenance. You can also add more, lower-speed storage via the four SATA III ports.
Gigabyte advertises a 12+1+1 twin hybrid VRM power delivery system, thanks to a 60A DrMOS setup, fed via two (8-pin plus 4-pin) EPS power connectors. This should be enough to power any Intel LGA1700 CPU, including top-end 14th, 13th, and 12th-gen processors. Both the top and side VRM sets are covered by large metal heatsinks to ensure optimum performance even under load.
Moving to I/O, we find a solid set of four USB 2.0 and three USB 3.2 5Gbps ports, plus a USB 3.2 10Gbps socket and one USB-C 20Gbps connector. There are also single HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, and both analogue and optical audio. Finally, there’s the aforementioned 2.5GbE LAN port, plus Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 6E connections.
The latter features what Gigabyte calls WiFi Compass, a tool it says scans for Wi-Fi signals to help users better position their antenna for maximum performance. Meanwhile, the Q-Flash (BIOS flash back) button, is still available – it’s just been relocated to the main PCB, above the memory slots.
The B760M Aorus Ari WiFi6E DDR4 is available in Hong Kong at HK$ 1,599, which equates to £154. This sounds about right considering that the DDR5 variant (B760M Aorus Elite WiFi6E-P Gen5) is found in the UK for around £140.
