The no-compromise AM5 flagship
ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial
Seven M.2 sockets, dual USB4, 10 GbE and a 5-inch LCD on an icy-white E-ATX board. Nobody needs this. That is the point.
Our verdict
The Glacial is what you buy when the build itself is the point: a white showcase machine where $1,300 for a motherboard is a styling decision, not a spec one. Its I/O and Gen5 SSD cooling genuinely lead the platform. If you just want a great AM5 board, the X870E Taichi does the job for $950 less.
Best for: All-white flagship builds, and workstations that will actually use seven M.2 slots, dual 10GbE and USB4.
Skip it if: You want performance rather than presence - nothing here games faster than a $350 board.
Chipset
X870E
Socket
AM5
Form factor
EATX
RAM
4x DDR5 to 192GB
Full specifications
| CPU Support | AMD Ryzen 9000, 8000 & 7000 Series Desktop Processors |
|---|---|
| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 |
| Chipset | AMD X870E |
| Power Stages | 24+2+2 power stages (110A, teamed design) |
| Memory | 4x DIMM, DDR5, max 256GB, dual channel, AMD EXPO |
| Max Memory Speed | Up to 8600+ MT/s (OC) with Ryzen 9000; 8000+ MT/s (OC) with Ryzen 7000 |
| Expansion Slots | 2x PCIe 5.0 x16 SafeSlots (x16 or x8/x8) with Ryzen 9000/7000 |
| M.2 Slots | Up to 7 total: 3 onboard (2x PCIe 5.0 x4 + 1x PCIe 4.0 x4), 2 via ROG Hyper M.2 card (PCIe 5.0 x4), 2 via ROG DIMM.2 module (PCIe 4.0) |
| SATA | 4x SATA 6Gb/s ports |
| Rear USB | 14 ports: 2x USB4 (40Gbps) Type-C + 12x USB 10Gbps (8x Type-A, 4x Type-C) |
| Networking | 2x Realtek 10Gb Ethernet; Wi-Fi 7 (MediaTek MT7927); Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Audio | ROG SupremeFX 7.1 Surround Sound High Definition Audio CODEC ALC4082 |
| Form Factor | E-ATX, 12 x 10.9 in (30.5 x 27.7 cm) |
Transcribed from the manufacturer's official spec sheet - always confirm details there before buying.
Why buy it
- Up to seven M.2 slots and 14 rear USB ports (dual USB4) - the most complete I/O on AM5
- Dual 10 GbE plus Wi-Fi 7, with class-leading Gen5 SSD cooling
- Striking all-white design with a 5-inch info LCD
Think twice if
- $1,300 buys a whole midrange PC
- Decorative covers must come off to actually access slots
- Full M.2 count needs the included expansion cards, with bandwidth sharing
What reviewers say
TechPowerUp
Editor's Choice + Innovation awardsTitled 'A Masterpiece' - 'quite possibly the most desirable mainstream desktop motherboard available on either AMD or Intel platforms,' with the lowest PCIe Gen5 SSD temperatures they have seen; criticisms include a 'prohibitively expensive' price, disappointing lower M.2 heatsink performance, and bandwidth sharing when using the Hyper M.2 card or second Gen5 slot.
Full review ↗Tom's Hardware
4.5/5 stars - Editor's Choice'A true flagship, packing seven M.2 slots, dual 10GbE, Wi-Fi 7, USB4, and a striking 5-inch LCD... expensive, but unmatched in features, performance, and premium design for AM5 builders'; cons were the decorative plate that must be removed to access the primary PCIe slot, and the price.
Full review ↗PC Gamer
92/100Its 'mind-boggling $1,200 price tag is thankfully matched by its stunning design, staggering feature set and imposing presence... undoubtedly one of the most impressive motherboards ever made'; knocks were the eyewatering price, bandwidth sharing, and that the best SSD temperatures require the expansion card.
Full review ↗OC3D
Sharply split verdict: electrically 'a master class' with a spec sheet 'leagues above' rivals and VRMs peaking at just 61C, but the decorative magnetic covers must be removed to actually use the board - 'utterly brilliant and annoyingly stupid in equal measure.'
Full review ↗Build around it
A full build starting from this board - picks computed from our live catalog, matched to the board's budget class.
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The strongest gaming CPU we track for AM5 - score 99/100 at ~$450.
GPU
NVIDIA RTX 5090
The ceiling pairing - a board this far up the stack deserves the fastest card we track. Score 99/100 at ~$3,600.
RAM
Crucial Pro DDR5-6000 CL36 32GB (2x16GB)
DDR5-6000 CL36, 2x16GB - the cheapest kit on the X870E sweet spot at ~$395. Faster kits are mostly wasted money here.
Case
This is an E-ATX board and E-ATX support is NOT a given - many mid-towers stop at ATX. Filter for cases that explicitly list it.
Find an E-ATX case →Frequently Asked Questions
What CPUs does the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial support?
It uses the AMD X870E chipset on the AM5 socket. That means AMD Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series desktop CPUs, including X3D gaming chips. Check any specific pairing with our free bottleneck checker before you buy.
What RAM should I put in the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial?
It takes DDR5 in 4 slots (up to 192GB). The sweet spot on X870E is DDR5-6000 CL30 for the 1:1 Infinity Fabric ratio - faster kits cost more for little real-world gain. Our RAM advisor picks a kit for your exact use.
Will the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial fit my case?
It is an EATX board. E-ATX needs a case that explicitly lists E-ATX support - many mid-towers do not. Our case finder filters cases by the form factors they actually take.
How much does the ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial cost?
As of our last price check it was $1,299.99. The price on the retailer page is the real one.
Prices are from our latest first-party retailer check and change constantly - always confirm on the product page. Reviewer citations are attributed and linked; we summarize, they tested. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.