During Computex 2024, Gigabyte announced their adoption of the "back-connect" motherboard standard with the release of the Aorus B650E Stealth Ice motherboard. Similar to other back-connect motherboards, all cables are connected to the rear of this motherboard, providing a cable-free look for PCs utilizing this motherboard.
Gigabyte has recently introduced their ICE series motherboard, featuring a large shroud and a white PCB. This motherboard is said to be the first of its kind to support backside connectivity, according to Gigabyte.
The image above illustrates that this motherboard is equipped with a solitary PCIe x16 slot. This slot is compatible with PCIe 5.0, enabling it to fully support the latest GPUs. It is anticipated that next-generation GPUs will also be compatible with PCIe 5.0 connectivity.
Back-connect style motherboards have a drawback in their limited case support. Those using such motherboards must ensure that their PC case is compatible with back-connect motherboards. Otherwise, PC builders will have to make modifications to their PC cases to accommodate this type of motherboard. Given that most PC builders are reluctant to make alterations to their motherboard trays, purchasing a compatible case will be necessary for the majority of users.
