FAQ
Purpose
Section titled “Purpose”Answer common first-time builder questions for this hardware platform.
Questions
Section titled “Questions”Can I use DDR4 memory?
Section titled “Can I use DDR4 memory?”No. The Gigabyte B850 AORUS Elite WiFi7 uses DDR5 memory. DDR4 is physically incompatible.
Which RAM slots should I use?
Section titled “Which RAM slots should I use?”Use A2 and B2 for two DIMMs.
Should EXPO be enabled before first boot?
Section titled “Should EXPO be enabled before first boot?”No. First boot at default settings. Enable EXPO only after BIOS detects the CPU, RAM, SSD, pump/fans, and GPU correctly.
Is the ARCTIC 360mm AIO compatible with the case?
Section titled “Is the ARCTIC 360mm AIO compatible with the case?”Yes, with a clearance note. The case supports a top 360mm radiator, and the ARCTIC cooler is a 360mm AIO, but the ARCTIC radiator is thick. Dry-fit the radiator and route CPU EPS cables before final radiator mounting.
Should the monitor connect to the motherboard or graphics card?
Section titled “Should the monitor connect to the motherboard or graphics card?”Connect the monitor to the graphics card.
Can I use another SSD?
Section titled “Can I use another SSD?”Not for the locked build. Use the Samsung 990 PRO 2TB model listed in the bill of materials unless component selection is deliberately reopened and reverified.
Should I split the SSD into OS and data partitions?
Section titled “Should I split the SSD into OS and data partitions?”No. Use one main C: volume on the Samsung 990 PRO unless you have a specific recovery workflow that requires partition separation. A separate partition on the same SSD is not a backup. See SSD Storage Plan.
Can I add another RAM kit later?
Section titled “Can I add another RAM kit later?”Avoid adding a separate kit. Replace the full memory kit with a verified matched kit if upgrading capacity.
Do I need a BIOS update?
Section titled “Do I need a BIOS update?”Only update BIOS when there is a relevant reason: CPU support, memory stability, security fix, or a documented issue affecting this build. Use the exact Gigabyte support page for the motherboard revision.
Why does first boot take a long time?
Section titled “Why does first boot take a long time?”DDR5 memory training can delay first display output. Wait several minutes before treating a blank screen as a fault.
Should I install motherboard utilities?
Section titled “Should I install motherboard utilities?”Install drivers first. Add utilities only when they provide a function you need and cannot get from BIOS, Windows, or AMD Radeon Software.
Where should I check cable and connector names?
Section titled “Where should I check cable and connector names?”Use the connector and cable reference. It consolidates the motherboard headers, PSU cable rules, front-panel polarity guidance, cooling cable paths, and routing dependencies used by this build.