ASRock X870 vs X870E: Which One's Right for Your AM5 Build?

16 Sep, 2025
Posted by: Isagani III Ocampo

ASRock X870 vs X870E: Which One's Right for Your AM5 Build?

Let’s be honest — building a new PC in 2025 isn’t as simple as it used to be. Especially now that AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 series is out and motherboard options are everywhere. Two names you’re going to see a lot are ASRock X870 and ASRock X870E. They sound almost identical, but don’t be fooled — they cater to very different kinds of builders.

So if you're debating which to buy, here’s a straight-up breakdown of what matters — no fluff, no marketing speak. Just the facts, with a bit of real-world advice thrown in.

What’s the Difference Between X870 and X870E?

In simple terms:

X870 = Great for mainstream users who want performance without going overboard.
X870E = For serious power users, overclockers, and future-proofers who want maximum expansion and features.

Here’s a quick comparison:

X870

Fewer PCIe lanes (but still enough for GPU + fast SSDs)
Good VRMs (plenty for most Ryzen CPUs)
Slightly more affordable
Ideal for gaming, streaming, and everyday productivity

X870E

More PCIe lanes (better for multi-NVMe setups or extra add-in cards)
Higher-end VRMs (better for overclocking and Ryzen 9 chips)
More high-speed USB4, SATA, and M.2 options
Built for long-term upgrades and heavy multitasking

ASRock’s Lineup: X870 vs X870E in the Real World

Let’s talk about ASRock specifically — because their AM5 boards are seriously competitive this generation.

ASRock X870 Steel Legend WiFi
This one is a solid mid-tier board. You get Gen5 M.2 support, good power delivery, and Wi-Fi 7 — all for a reasonable price. It’s perfect for a high-performance gaming PC or a build you plan to upgrade slowly over time.

ASRock X870E Taichi
This is a no-compromise board. High-end VRM design, dual PCIe Gen5 x16 slots, tons of USB4, and premium everything. If you’re dropping in a Ryzen 9 9950X and want to overclock or max out your system, this is the board to get.

ASRock X870E Taichi Lite
Same internal power as the full Taichi, just without the flashy cosmetics. Great if you want flagship performance without paying extra for RGB and aesthetics.

Which Should You Choose?

Here’s the short version:

Gaming & general use: Go with an X870 like the Steel Legend. It has all the essentials, runs cool, and supports all current-gen gear.
Heavy content creation, 3+ SSDs, extreme multitasking: The X870E Taichi or Taichi Lite is a better long-term bet.
On a tighter budget? X870 boards will give you incredible value without cutting corners where it matters.

Final Thoughts

Not everyone needs the “E” chipset — and that’s okay. If you’re not planning to run multiple NVMe drives, daisy-chain USB4 hubs, or overclock your CPU to the edge, then you can save money with an X870 and still get excellent performance.

But if you want max headroom for the future, better connectivity, and the kind of power that’ll keep up for the next 5+ years — X870E is the smarter move.

Ready to Build? Get It Done Right at Vektra PC

Once you've decided on the motherboard that fits your needs, don’t just buy random parts and hope for the best. Let the experts build it for you.

At Vektra PC, we professionally assemble high-performance gaming and creator PCs using the latest ASRock X870 and X870E boards — perfectly matched to your CPU, GPU, and cooling setup. All builds are fully tested, cable-managed, and backed by a 2-year warranty.

✅ Quality components
✅ Clean builds
✅ Fast delivery
✅ Zero guesswork

Your perfect AM5 build starts with the right motherboard — and finishes at Vektra PC.

If you’re still not sure which board is right for you, or want a custom recommendation based on your CPU and GPU, just reach out — we’ve got your back.

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