Building a powerful gaming PC doesn’t always mean you need a massive tower with endless RGB and airflow space. In fact, many enthusiasts are moving toward compact mini-ITX builds, and that’s where the Gigabyte B660I Aorus Pro DDR4 shines. It’s a small motherboard, but it packs plenty of features to handle Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen Core processors while keeping things budget-friendly thanks to DDR4 support.
Compact Without Compromise
As a mini-ITX board, the B660I Aorus Pro DDR4 is designed for small form factor cases, making it ideal for living room setups, LAN party rigs, or just anyone who prefers a minimalist PC. Despite its size, Gigabyte didn’t cut corners. You still get solid power delivery, high-speed storage support, and plenty of connectivity options.
DDR4 Support: Smart Cost Savings
While newer DDR5 memory is gaining traction, it still comes at a premium price. Gigabyte’s decision to offer a DDR4-compatible board is a smart move for gamers and creators who want to upgrade to Alder Lake or Raptor Lake CPUs without replacing their existing RAM. The board supports dual-channel DDR4 up to 5333 MHz (OC), which is more than enough for gaming and most productivity workloads.
Power Delivery and Cooling
The 6+2+1 phase VRM design might not sound as extreme as what you’d find on high-end Z-series boards, but for a B660 chipset and mini-ITX form factor, it’s more than capable of keeping an i5 or i7 running smoothly—even with some mild overclocking on memory. Large heatsinks help dissipate heat efficiently, which is important in small cases where airflow can be limited.
Storage and Expansion
One of the pleasant surprises with the B660I Aorus Pro DDR4 is how much storage support Gigabyte squeezed into such a small board. You get:
- 2x M.2 slots (PCIe 4.0) for blazing-fast NVMe SSDs
- 4x SATA ports for traditional drives
For expansion, there’s a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, ensuring full support for the latest graphics cards.
Connectivity and Networking
Despite being compact, the board offers a strong range of connectivity features:
- WiFi 6 + Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless gaming and peripherals
- 2.5G LAN for low-latency wired connections
- Multiple USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A and Type-C ports
- HDMI and DisplayPort outputs for those using Intel’s integrated graphics
This makes it a great choice not just for gaming PCs but also for small office systems or media centers.
BIOS and Quality-of-Life Features
Gigabyte’s BIOS has come a long way, offering a clean interface with easy-to-use tuning options. You can adjust fan curves, enable XMP profiles, and tweak performance settings without getting lost in a maze of menus. The board also comes with Q-Flash Plus, allowing you to update the BIOS without even installing a CPU—very handy for future upgrades.
Who Is It For?
The Gigabyte B660I Aorus Pro DDR4 is aimed at:
- Gamers who want a compact yet powerful system
- Budget-conscious builders who prefer DDR4 savings
- Small form factor enthusiasts looking for ITX flexibility
- Home theater PC (HTPC) users who want a feature-rich yet compact motherboard
