GIGABYTE X399 Designare EX Wifi DDR4 AMD Motherboard

The GIGABYTE X399 Designare EX is a full-ATX enthusiast-class motherboard built around the AMD X399 chipset and Socket TR4, designed to pair with AMD Ryzen Threadripper processors. At 30.5 cm × 24.4 cm it fits standard ATX enclosures while packing a feature set aimed at content creators, workstation builders, and multi-GPU system integrators. Memory capacity is a standout strength: eight DDR4 DIMM slots accommodate up to 128 GB of system memory in quad-channel configuration. Supported speeds run from 2133 MHz up to 3600 MHz (the latter requires overclocking and a 1st-Gen Ryzen Threadripper CPU). Both ECC and non-ECC unbuffered modules are supported, and XMP profiles are recognised for straightforward overclocking. Storage options are equally generous. Three M.2 slots — all Socket 3, M-key, PCIe Gen3 x4 — are accompanied by Gigabyte’s M.2 Thermal Guard heatsinks to help dissipate drive heat before throttling occurs. Eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports round out local storage, with RAID 0, 1, and 10 support across the SATA array. For graphics, five PCIe slots (two x16, two x8, one x4) utilise the processor’s full 48 PCIe lanes in 3-way or 4-way configurations, supporting both AMD CrossFire and NVIDIA SLI up to quad-GPU arrangements. Connectivity is comprehensive. Dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet ports provide wired redundancy, while an Intel 802.11ac (AC 8265) module delivers dual-band Wi-Fi up to 867 Mbps and Bluetooth 4.2. The rear I/O includes 8 × USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, and dual RJ-45 jacks. Audio is handled by a Realtek ALC1220 codec with 120 dB SNR, supporting Sound BlasterX 720°, 7.1-channel output, S/PDIF optical out, and WIMA audio capacitors. RGB Fusion controls multi-zone LED lighting across digital and analogue LED strips. Smart Fan 5 manages up to six fan or pump headers with hybrid PWM/DC control and flow-rate monitoring. The BIOS runs licensed AMI UEFI on dual 128 Mbit flash chips with DualBIOS redundancy and Q-Flash Plus for no-POST firmware recovery. A 3-year warranty is stated by the seller. Verified Specifications: • Socket: TR4 | Chipset: AMD X399 • Memory: 8 × DDR4, up to 128 GB, quad-channel, 2133–3600 MHz (OC), ECC/non-ECC unbuffered, XMP • Storage: 3 × M.2 PCIe Gen3 x4 (with Thermal Guard), 8 × SATA 6 Gb/s, RAID 0/1/10 • Expansion: 2 × PCIe x16, 2 × PCIe x8, 1 × PCIe x4 (PCIe 3.0/2.0) • Multi-GPU: AMD CrossFire (up to 4-way), NVIDIA SLI (up to 4-way) • LAN: 2 × Intel GbE (10/100/1000 Mbps) • Wi-Fi: Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz, up to 867 Mbps • Bluetooth: 4.2 • USB (rear): 1 × USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 × USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 8 × USB 3.1 Gen 1 • Audio: Realtek ALC1220, 7.1-channel HD Audio, S/PDIF optical out • Form Factor: ATX, 30.5 cm × 24.4 cm • BIOS: Dual AMI UEFI, DualBIOS, Q-Flash Plus • OS Support: Windows 10 64-bit • Warranty: 3 years (seller-stated)