Sapphire’s Pure X870A WiFi 7: A Fresh Era for White AM5 Builds?
Sapphire is expanding its AM5 motherboard lineup with the Pure X870A WiFi 7, a board that aims to deliver high performance and striking aesthetics at a competitive price point of £210 / $249. This marks a shift for Sapphire, previously focused on B850 chipsets, into the higher-complete X870 space.
Striking Design and Build Quality
The Pure X870A immediately stands out with its all-white aesthetic. Beyond appearances, the board boasts a solid build quality, utilizing premium materials for heatsinks and PCIe shrouds. This focus on quality extends to the VRM design, featuring a 16+2+1 phase setup with 55A phases, capable of handling AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors and providing headroom for overclocking.
Connectivity and Expansion
The Pure X870A offers a solid range of connectivity options, including PCIe 5.0 x16 and x4 slots, alongside a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot. Storage options include one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot, two PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, and four SATA 6Gb ports. Networking is handled by a Realtek 2.5 GbE controller, complemented by Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. The rear I/O panel features DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 4.0 (40Gbps), and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 ports.
BIOS and Performance
Sapphire’s Core BIOS has been refined, offering a clean and intuitive interface. Key settings like XMP/EXPO and PBO are easily accessible. Performance testing demonstrated comparable results to other X870 boards, with VRM temperatures remaining well-controlled at 42°C. Power consumption was measured at 79W idle and 250W under load.
| Sapphire Pure X870A WiFi 7 | |
|---|---|
| VRM | 16+2+1, 55A |
| RAM support | Slots: 4 Max. Capacity: 256GB Max. OC speed: 8,400+MT/s |
| Onboard graphics | DisplayPort (x1) HDMI (x1) USB-C (x2) |
| PCIe expansion slots | PCIe 5.0 x16 (x1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (x1) PCIe 3.0 x1 (x1) |
| Audio | Realtek ALC897 |
| Storage | PCIe 5.0 x4 (x1) PCIe 4.0 x4 (x2) SATA 6Gb (x4) |
| Rear USB | USB 4 (40Gb) (x1) USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb) (x1) USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb) (x4) USB-A 2.0 (480Mb) (x2) |
| Front USB | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gb) (x1) USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gb) (x2) USB-A 2.0 (480Mb) (x4) |
| LAN | Realtek 5Gb (x1) |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.4 Wi-Fi 7 |
| Price | £210 / $249 |
Areas for Improvement
While the Pure X870A excels in many areas, some compromises were made to reach its price point. The lack of toolless installation for the PCIe slots and M.2 heatsinks is a notable drawback. The onboard audio codec is a Realtek ALC897, which is good but not as high-end as the ALC1220 found on some competing boards.
Future Trends in Motherboard Design
The Sapphire Pure X870A WiFi 7 exemplifies several emerging trends in motherboard design. The demand for aesthetically pleasing motherboards, particularly those with clean, minimalist designs like the all-white scheme, is growing. This is driven by the increasing popularity of PC building as a hobby and the desire for visually appealing systems.
The adoption of PCIe 5.0 and Wi-Fi 7 is becoming standard on high-end motherboards, ensuring compatibility with the latest and future generations of components. The inclusion of USB 4.0 ports, offering high-speed data transfer and DisplayPort Alt Mode, is also becoming more common. However, the cost of implementing these features can impact the overall price of the motherboard.
VRM design continues to be a critical area of focus, with manufacturers striving to deliver stable and efficient power delivery to demanding processors. The use of high-quality components and effective cooling solutions is essential for ensuring optimal performance and longevity.
FAQ
- What processors does the Sapphire Pure X870A WiFi 7 support?
- It supports AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors.
- What is the maximum RAM capacity?
- The maximum RAM capacity is 256GB (4x64GB).
- Does this motherboard support PCIe 5.0?
- Yes, it features one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one PCIe 5.0 M.2 slot.
- What type of Wi-Fi does it have?
- It supports Wi-Fi 7.
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