NZXT N9 X870E AM5 motherboard review: Solid optical minimalism at a proud price (with teardown and material test)

1 - Introduction and overview 2 - The board in detail - connection and connections 3 - BIOS and CAM software 4 - Teardown: Material and thermal interface materials 5 - Teardown: Power supply and component analysis 6 - Benchmarks 7 - Summary and conclusion

With the NZXT N9 X870E, NZXT is once again entering the realm of motherboard development – this time based on the current AMD X870E chipset and therefore the AM5 platform. The aim is to appeal to enthusiasts and design aficionados alike: In addition to modern technology, the full metal cover and the consistent white and black design with RGB accents should score points in particular. But is a pleasing appearance enough to prevail in an increasingly crowded market environment? And how robust is the technology under the hood really? To get to the bottom of these questions, here is a structured functional overview of the board – precise, neutral and with a focus on practical relevance in the everyday life of an overclocker, gamer or system builder.

And if you haven’t already noticed, the motherboard layout of the N9 X870E and the ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova use the same basis, whereby the NZXT board stands out with its individualized connectors. Although NZXT does not publicly comment on the OEM, there are many details that clearly point to ASRock as the manufacturer, even if they try to hide it well. The KC (Korea Certification) and the relevant entry R-R-ZXT-MB2401 are also noteworthy in this regard. This is a certification prescribed for South Korea, whereby the manufacturer’s abbreviation “R-R” stands for “Registered – Radio”. The middle part indicates the registering company, in this case ZXT, which is clearly assigned to NZXT. The model identifier MB2401 refers to a specific platform number. This means that NZXT is now also following the path of other suppliers who use OEMs because they do not produce anything themselves, but appear under their own name for the purposes of disguise when registering. But here, too, I have the opportunity to take a closer look. It really is ASRock.

In contrast to the Nova, the backplate has unfortunately been omitted, the PCIe x1 has been removed and the fan connectors have been supplemented by a proprietary socket for single-frame fans. However, other heat conducting materials are also used, so I did an in-depth test. Apart from a different I/O block and various shapes for coolers and covers, both boards are largely identical electrically, as the teardown and component analysis will prove.

Unboxing and accessories

A special feature of the design is the consistent white or black theme with complete I/O cover and PCB in the corresponding color – a unique selling point in the AM5 mainboard segment. The complete scope of delivery of the NZXT N9 X870E includes all relevant components for commissioning and system integration.

• 1× NZXT N9 X870E mainboard (in the selected color variant: white or black)

• 2× WLAN antennas (SMA screw connection, for Wi-Fi 7 module)

• 2× NZXT 8-pin splitter cable (PWM RGB combined, for NZXT RGB core fans or fan hubs)

• 2× SATA data cables with 90° angled connectors

• 2× SATA data cables with straight connectors (4 SATA cables in total)

• 1× printed user manual

• 1× Quickstart label on the inside of the packaging

• 1× Protective film for metal covers (already mounted, due to transportation)

Not included are classic accessories such as a USB stick with drivers, an I/O shield (not required as it is permanently integrated) or M.2 screws, as all SSD slots are equipped with tool-free quick-release latches. Driver and BIOS access is exclusively digital via the NZXT website. NZXT offers an optional special front panel module for USB-C Gen2x2, but this is not part of the standard scope of delivery.

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Technical summary of the NZXT N9 X870E and comparison

The N9 X870E is based on AMD’s latest X870E chipset and is fully compatible with the AM5 processors of the Ryzen 7000, 8000 and 9000 series. The AM5 socket is designed for DDR5 and allows high memory frequencies of up to 8000 MT/s via EXPO or XMP profiles. The power supply is based on a 20 2 1-phase design with 110A Smart Power Stages, distributed on an 8-layer PCB with 2-ounce copper layers to improve thermal and electrical properties.

The memory layout includes four DIMM slots for a maximum of 192 GB DDR5 in dual-channel configuration. Both AMD EXPO and Intel XMP are supported. The GPU is connected via a fully connected PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. A second slot is available in the PCIe 3.0 x16 form factor, but is only connected with x2. Four slots are provided for M.2 drives: one PCIe 5.0 x4 slot connected directly to the CPU and three further PCIe 4.0 x4 slots via the chipset. All slots are equipped with passive heat sinks that can be accessed without tools via quick-latch systems.

In terms of network connections, the board offers both Wi-Fi 7 with support for 6 GHz bands and wired 5 GbE via a Realtek RTL8126CG controller. This is complemented by Bluetooth 5.4 and an internal Key-E-M.2 interface for the WLAN module. On the USB side, two USB4 ports (Type-C, 40 Gb/s, with Power Delivery up to 15 W) are provided, supplemented by five USB 3.2 Gen 2, three USB 3.2 Gen 1, two USB 2.0 and a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 header on the front panel. The Realtek ALC4082 with 7.1-channel HD audio, integrated copy protection and optical S/PDIF serves as the audio solution.

A 2-digit debug LED display is available for diagnostics. There is also a power and reset button directly on the PCB as well as four separate POST LEDs for CPU, DRAM, VGA and boot. In thermal terms, NZXT relies on VRM cooling made of aluminium with heat conducting pads, two PWM-controlled fans and optimized fin structures. Three additional system fan connectors as well as two combined NZXT 8-pin headers (PWM RGB) and a dedicated AIO pump interface are available. RGB control is carried out entirely via the in-house NZXT CAM software, including auto-sync with Kraken AIOs.

A direct comparison between the NZXT N9 X870E and the ASRock X870E Nova WiFi reveals different orientations despite a similar technical basis, which are reflected in the features as well as in the BIOS functionality and target group approach. Both boards rely on the AMD X870E chipset, are designed for the AM5 socket and support Ryzen processors from the 7000, 8000 and 9000 series as well as DDR5 RAM up to high OC ranges beyond 8000 MT/s. Neither has an external BCLK generator, which limits the base clock overclocking.

The NZXT N9 X870E focuses strongly on design integration and a clean look. The metal cover covers almost the entire PCB, and both a black and a white version are available, each with a matching PCB color. The power supply of both boards is absolutely identical and everything is distributed on an 8-layer 2-ounce copper PCB. RGB control is carried out exclusively via NZXT CAM, which requires integration into an NZXT ecosystem. Common OC functions are available in the BIOS, but some advanced options for manual control are missing, especially compared to classic overclocking platforms. OC with BCLK remains system-critical due to the lack of an external generator.

However, ASRock offers a significantly expanded menu for Precision Boost Overdrive, Curve Optimizer, voltage offsets and LLC configuration in the BIOS of the Nova. Despite the lack of an external BCLK generator, the combined use of PBO and CO allows very efficient CPU performance adjustments to be made, albeit without exact clock separation. A significant difference lies in the ecosystem: The NZXT board relies on CAM software for many control functions, while ASRock relies on an open BIOS layout with extensive compatibility with third-party software (e.g. HWiNFO, Ryzen Master, FanControl). Those looking for maximum transparency, sensor access and finely adjustable OC functions will certainly be more satisfied with the ASRock Nova. On the other hand, those who value an aesthetically consistent NZXT build environment will benefit from the N9 X870E. In the end, you will have to decide what exclusivity and design are really worth to you.