LGA 1151 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 04 Oct 2017 20:06:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png LGA 1151 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-strix-z270i-gaming-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-strix-z270i-gaming-motherboard-review/#comments Wed, 10 May 2017 10:40:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=333003 An innovative M.2 heatsink and Dual M.2 ports crammed into the mini-ITX form factor.

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The absence of the renowned Republic of Gamers Impact mini-ITX motherboard for the new ASUS Maximus IX series has not gone unnoticed. ASUS loyalists eager to build a mini-ITX system on the Z270 platform will have to opt for something else at the current moment in time. That alternative choice is the ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming.

The ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming is not of the same pedigree as a potential Maximus IX Impact and so for the die-hard enthusiast it may well not be prestigious enough. However, ASUS has still packed in a considerable amount of hardware and features into its mini-ITX Strix motherboard. Even if ASUS fails to release an Impact board for the Maximus IX generation, the Strix Z270i Gaming should still satisfy the majority of potential buyers.

ROG has long been associated with innovation and the mini-ITX Strix doesn't disappoint. There's a quirky “double-decker” chipset heatsink that doubles as an M.2 drive heatsink, dual M.2 ports (yes, dual M.2 on a mini-ITX motherboard!) and a front panel USB 3.1 header.

Innovation aside there's a strong core specification including RGB lighting, ample USB and storage options, Intel Gigabit, Qualcomm AC Bluetooth & WiFi, Realtek ALC1220 audio and a powerful CPU VRM married to ROG's well-refined UEFI.

A neutral colour scheme plays into the hands of consumers looking to customise their build and ASUS has been one of the most proactive brands in pushing forward 3D printing customisation for its motherboards so expect ample 3D printing potential going forward.

The ASUS Strix mini-ITX board currently carries a premium over rivals like the Gigabyte Z270N-Gaming 5 and MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC so let's assess what this ASUS motherboard has to offer and see if it can justify the additional cost over its competitors.

ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming
Form Factor  mini-ITX, 17cm x 17cm
CPU Socket  LGA 1151, 6+2 phase VRM
Chipset  Intel Z270
Memory  DDR4, 2 DIMMs, up to 32GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC
Onboard Graphics  Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Single Graphics Card Configurations only
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe 3.0 16X electrical (wired to CPU)
Storage 4 x SATA III (via PCH)
2 x M.2 (Both PCIe 3.0 X4 32Gbps, one supports SATA III)
USB  6 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear [1 Type-C], 2 Front, via PCH)
4 x USB 2.0 (4 Rear, via PCH)
1 x USB 3.1 (1 Front via ASM2142)
Networking  1 x Intel I219V Gigabit LAN
Qualcomm Atheros QCNFA364A 2T2R 802.11AC WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 Combo.
Audio  Realtek ALC 1220-based 7.1 channel HD audio
Fan Headers  3, all support 3/4 pin fans (1 x CPU, 1 x SYS, 1 x AIO_PUMP)
Rear I/O  1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.0 Type-A + Type-C
4 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi GO! module (Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth v4.1)
UEFI  UEFI AMI, 1 x 128Mb Flash

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Gigabyte Z270N-Gaming 5 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z270n-gaming-5-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z270n-gaming-5-motherboard-review/#comments Fri, 05 May 2017 16:13:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=332659 Has Gigabyte ticked all the boxes for mini-ITX gamers?

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Intel's Z270 platform reigns supreme for compact mini-ITX motherboard builds. This isn't just because Intel is a clear leader in power efficiency terms, even after AMD's significant leap forward with Ryzen, but also because there is considerably more choice for Intel's mainstream platform.

Motherboard vendors have been releasing mini-ITX motherboards for Intel's Z-Series platforms for many years, enabling mini-ITX to achieve almost mainstream status. Gigabyte's Z270N-Gaming 5 is another example of a motherboard championing the mini-ITX form-factor with a well-rounded combination of connectivity and features that consumers have come to demand from all mid-range and high-end motherboards.

While considerably smaller in stature than ATX equivalents the Z270N-Gaming 5 still manages to pack away USB 3.1, M.2 NVMe, Intel Gigabit and AC Wireless Networking, Realtek ALC1220 audio and a high quality power delivery system.

Gigabyte has shied away from bold colour schemes more recently but the Z270N-Gaming 5 brings back a bold orange and still offers end-user customisation with a fully configurable RGB LED lighting system. There are some other neat touches too like a shielded PCIe lane, up-rated power components, a heat pipe to cool the CPU VRM and a metal rear I/O shield. Build quality is comparable to high-end motherboards of higher price points.

On test today the Gigabyte Z270N-Gaming 5 goes up against mini-ITX rivals such as the MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC and ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming.

Gigabyte Z270N-Gaming 5
Form Factor mini-ITX, 17cm x 17cm
CPU Socket LGA 1151, 6+2 phase VRM
Chipset Intel Z270
Memory DDR4, 2 DIMMs, up to 32GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC
Onboard Graphics Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Single Graphics Card Configurations only
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe 3.0 16X electrical (wired to CPU)
Storage 4 x SATA III (via PCH)
1 x M.2 SATA (6Gbps) or NVMe PCIe 3.0 X4
USB 2 x USB 2.0 (2 Front, via PCH)
6 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 2 Front, via PCH)
2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear, 1 Type-A, 1 Type-C, via ASM2142)
Networking  1 x Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN
Intel Wireless-AC8265 (8265NGW) 2T2R
802.11ac with Bluetooth 4.2 (populates a second M.2 slot)
Audio Realtek ALC1220-based 7.1 channel HD audio
Fan Headers  3, all support 3/4 pin fans (1 x CPU, 2 x SYS_FAN)
Rear I/O

1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
2 x SMA antenna connectors (2T2R)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI port
1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port (red)
1 x USB Type-C port, with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support
4 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports
1 x RJ-45 port
3 x audio jacks (Line In, Line Out, Mic In)

UEFI  UEFI AMI, 1 x 64Mb Flash

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MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-z270i-gaming-pro-carbon-ac-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-z270i-gaming-pro-carbon-ac-motherboard-review/#respond Mon, 10 Apr 2017 11:00:06 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=329496 Meet MSI's only mini-ITX motherboard for the Z270 chipset.

The post MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If a Z270 Kaby Lake upgrade is on the horizon then a compact mini-ITX motherboard unlikely to be the first port of call in a market dominated by ATX. However, buyers need not be so hasty to dismiss mini-ITX motherboards of the Z270 generation since most are very well equipped, even for a power user. MSI's Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC illustrates this point well and is an interesting proposition for anyone looking to down-size their PC.

What constitutes a high-end PC these days? A subjective question but key items on the agenda would undoubtedly be a powerful CPU, high-end graphics card, high-performance memory and PCIe storage. MSI's Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC meets all these criteria with support for Intel's latest Kaby Lake CPUs, high-speed memory, PCIe graphics cards and NVMe-ready M.2 drives.

There are obvious limitations of the mini-ITX form factor but for users with a typical amount of hardware – one graphics card, two memory modules, a couple of SSDs and a couple of HDDs – mini-ITX has what it takes. Perhaps it delivers even more than you might expect since MSI's mini-ITX solution also includes USB 3.1, Gigabit LAN, onboard 802.11ac WiFi, four SATA ports, an overclocking-capable power delivery system, RGB LEDs and audio based on Realtek's ALC1220 codec, the current best available on motherboards.

Even from the most critical perspective the only hardware that's missing is supplementary – additional PCIe lanes, memory slots, USB ports and so on. MSI isn't without competition and the majority of what's been written thus far applies to most rival Z270 mini-ITX motherboards from ASUS, ASRock, EVGA and Gigabyte.

Even more interesting for consumers is the fact that motherboard vendors are clustering around a similar price point, around £160-180, meaning most mini-ITX models for Z270 are in direct competition. MSI's unique selling point with the Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC isn't immediately obvious since virtually all Z270 mini-ITX motherboards have 802.11ac WiFi, support RGB LEDs and have NVMe M.2 support. However, there's no absolutely no shaming in being the perfect all-rounder – so let's see how MSI's motherboard gets on through our testing.

MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Form Factor mini-ITX, 17cm x 17cm
CPU Socket LGA 1151, 5 phase VRM
Chipset Intel Z270
Memory DDR4, 2 DIMMs, up to 32GB, up to 3800MHz+ with OC
Onboard Graphics Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Single Graphics Card Configurations only
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe 3.0 16X electrical (wired to CPU)
Storage 4 x SATA III (via PCH)
1 x M.2 SATA (6Gbps) or NVMe PCIe 3.0 X4
USB 4 x USB 2.0 (2 Front, 2 Rear, via PCH)
4 x USB 3.0 (2 Front, 2 Rear, via PCH)
2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear, 1 Type-A, 1 Type-C, via ASM2142)
Networking 1 x Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN
Intel Wireless-AC8265 802.11ac with Bluetooth 4.2 (populates a second M.2 slot)
Audio Realtek ALC1220-based 7.1 channel HD audio
Fan Headers 3, all support 3/4pin fans (1 x CPU, 2 x SYS)
Rear I/O 1 x PS/2 mouse & keyboard combo port
2 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI port
1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A port
1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
1 x LAN (RJ45) port
2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports
1 x Clear CMOS button
2 x WiFi antenna connectors
1 x Optical S/PDIF out connector
5 x OFC audio jacks
UEFI UEFI AMI

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ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-fatal1ty-z270-professional-gaming-i7-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-fatal1ty-z270-professional-gaming-i7-motherboard-review/#comments Tue, 21 Mar 2017 09:01:21 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=325809 Three M.2 and Ten SATA ports, three wired networking connections and AC WiFi, ASRock's Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7 is connectivity crazy.

The post ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
ASRock's Fatal1ty Gaming motherboards likely aren't first to mind for storage and networking connectivity but the new Fata1lty Z270 Professional Gaming i7 is jam packed – three M.2,  ten SATA III, three Ethernet ports and AC WiFi .

There's been relatively little pioneering of new connectivity standards for Z270 motherboards since the chipset is loaded as standard with the likes of M.2 NVMe, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, SATA III, PCIe 3.0 and DDR4. This presents no major problems either since that default connectivity covers the vast majority of consumers and Intel's user base for just about anything.

However, ASRock has decided to push the boundaries once again, this time in the realm of networking with the implementation of a 5Gbps network interface controller on the Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7. ASRock were, incidentally, one of the first motherboard brands to push 10 Gigabit connections with the X99 WS-E/10G.

The 5Gbps controller will be compatible with a new generation of 5Gbps routers, switches and motherboards spawned from an IEEE standard finalised in late-2016. This new standard will enable 2.5Gbps (over up to 100 metres of Cat 5e cabling) and 5Gbps (over up to 100 metres of Cat 6 cabling) but we've yet to see any consumer-oriented devices take advantage of this yet.

Thankfully, the ASRock board isn't a one trick pony and has a number of other unique selling points, 5Gbps Ethernet aside. These include further networking prowess – dual Intel Gigabit LAN and Intel 802.11ac WiFi and a significant serving of storage potential. ASRock provides three M.2 ports capable of up to 32GB/s each and 10 SATA III ports, though there are naturally bandwidth sharing issues to be aware of when using these concurrently.

ASRock's also ticked other key requirements of a high-end motherboard with a number of handy overclocking buttons and features, a very well fleshed out power delivery system and full RGB lighting capability.

   ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7
Form Factor  ATX, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm
CPU Socket  LGA 1151, 14 Phase (8+4+2) VRM
Chipset  Intel Z270
Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 3733MHz+ with OC, 2 phase
Onboard Graphics  Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 3-way/Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots  4 x PCIe 3.0 (16X/4X/8X/4X electrical – x16/x0, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4)
1 x PCIe 3.0
Storage 10 x SATA III (6 from PCH, 2 from ASM1061)
2 x SATA Express (Shared with SATA ports 0,1,2,3)
3 x M.2 supporting NVMe 32GB/s*
*M2_1 shares bandwidth with SATA 0+1, SATA Express 0
M2_2 shares bandwidth with SATA 4+5
M2_3 shares bandwidth with SATA 3, SATA Express 1
USB 6 x USB 2.0 (6 Front, via PCH)
9x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 5 Front, 4 Rear and 1 Front vertical via PCH, Front Headers via ASM1074)
2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear [Type-A and C], via ASM2142)
Networking  1 x Intel I219V Gigabit
1 x Intel I211AT Gigabit
1 x Aquantia AQC108 5-Gigabit
1 x Intel AC 3160 2T2R 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 Combo
Audio Realtek ALC 1220, 7.1 Channel
Fan Headers  5, all support 3/4pin fans (2 x CPU, 1 x W_PUMP, 2 x CHA)
Rear I/O 2 x WiFi Antenna Ports
1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
1 x HDMI Port
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
1 x USB 3.1 Type-A Port
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Port
3 x USB 3.0 Ports
1 x Fatal1ty Mouse Port (USB 3.0)
3 x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED
1 x Clear CMOS Switch
5 x HD Audio Jacks
UEFI 2 x 128Mb AMI UEFI

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ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex (Z270) Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-maximus-ix-apex-z270-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-maximus-ix-apex-z270-motherboard-review/#comments Mon, 20 Mar 2017 09:48:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=325468 Meet the latest Republic of Gamer's motherboard that's torn up the rule book.

The post ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex (Z270) Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Very rarely does a motherboard company release a product that is genuinely different and innovative, bucking wider trends in the industry. ASUS has done exactly that with its new Republic of Gamers motherboard, the Maximus IX Apex.

The ASUS Maximus IX Apex is a very different class of motherboard to the norm, even by Republic of Gamers' unusual standards. The Apex takes most of its design philosophy from the overclocking-centric Maximus Extreme, with a heavy focus on LN2 and water cooling. It doesn't look too dissimilar to the rest of the ASUS ROG range, minus some of the more stylistic elements, but has many eye-catching novelties.

The most obvious of those is the non-rectangular shape, but also the fact there are now only two DDR4 slots and only 4 SATA ports plus a strange DIMM-type slot for M.2 drives. There's a typical array of overclocking buttons, switches, jumpers and headers that aren't unusual on an overclocking motherboard but also a mammoth 10 fan headers thrown into the mix.

The design is somewhat contradictory, more so than normal for a Republic of Gamers motherboard. Is the Apex targeting extreme overclockers with its LN2 focus or is it perhaps geared towards water cooling with its array of water cooling specific features? Its LED lighting and 3D Printing suggests it could also be aimed at modders too, but then it's a Republic of Gamers motherboard so it is still, at heart, intended for a gaming audience.

ASUS ROG Maximus IX Apex
Form Factor E-ATX, 30.5 cm x 27.2 cm
CPU Socket LGA 1151, 10 Phase (8+2)
Chipset Intel Z270
Memory DDR4, 2 DIMMs, up to 32GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC, 2 Phase VRM
Onboard Graphics Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 4-way/Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x0 or x8/x8 – CPU lanes)
2 x PCIe 3.0 X16 (x4/x4 – chipset lanes)
2 x PCIe 3.0 X1 (chipset lanes)
Storage 4 x SATA III (PCH)
2 x M.2 (via DIMM.2 adapter)
USB 2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear (1 Type-A and C) via ASM2142)
8 x USB 3.0 (6 Rear, 2 Front, via PCH)
6 x USB 2.0 (6 Front, via PCH)
Networking 1 x Intel I219V
Audio Realtek ALC1220 7.1 Channel HD Audio
Fan Headers 10
(1 x CPU, 1 x CPU_OPT, 1 x W_PUMP+, 1 x AIO_PUMP, 3 x CHA, 3 x FS (Full Speed))
Rear I/O 1 x PS/2 keyboard (purple)
1 x PS/2 mouse (green)
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
2 x USB 3.1 ()Type-A + Type-C
6 x USB 3.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
1 x Clear CMOS button(s)
1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button(s)
5 x Gold-plated audio jacks
UEFI UEFI AMI

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MSI Z270 Gaming M7 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-z270-gaming-m7-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-z270-gaming-m7-motherboard-review/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2017 08:23:44 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=323145 The first motherboard to have two audio codecs? We take a look at MSI's intriguing Z270 Gaming M7.

The post MSI Z270 Gaming M7 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

MSI's Gaming motherboard range, signified by the MSI Dragon, has proven very popular since it was first introduced . MSI's recent lineup has consisted of an M3, M5 and M7, with the M7 being the top of the Gaming series – second in MSI's Z270 portfolio only to XPower. Today we put MSI's Z270 Gaming M7 on test to see what MSI's high-end gaming motherboard has to offer.

MSI's Gaming M7 has has typically been overshadowed by the Gaming M5. Arguably, the MSI Gaming M5 motherboard has delivered a more optimal balance of features and pricing for consumers. In the past MSI has struggled to do enough to set the M7 apart from its more affordable sibling. Indeed it appears the differences between the M5 and M7 will be a pertinent consideration for prospective buyers of MSI's new Gaming Z270 motherboards.

Priced at around £240 | $240 | €280 the MSI Gaming M7 leans towards the upper-end of the Intel Z270 motherboard market. Motherboards in direct competition include the ASUS ROG Maximus IX Hero, EVGA Z270 FTW K, Gigabyte AORUS Z270X-Gaming 7 and ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7, all of which sit in that £220-280 price bracket for premium motherboards. The MSI Z270 Gaming M5 retails for around £190 | $200 | €240 making the M5 a considerably more affordable option than the M7.

What the M7 includes that the M5 doesn't is an extra M.2 port, front USB 3.1 Type-C header, an additional Realtek ALC1220 codec, OC features (slow mode, OC retry, etc.), power/reset buttons, enhanced memory compatibility and a more powerful CPU VRM with an additional supplementary power connection. Whether those differences combined offer enough utility and value to push consumers to make that extra spend, remains to be seen and will ultimately depend on the person.

It seems that with Intel's Z270 chipset and Kaby Lake platform being so generously equipped as standard motherboard vendors are having a tougher time creating higher-end motherboard SKUs where premiums can be justifiably charged. In the past the difference between a mid-range motherboard could have meant sacrificing access to cutting-edge connectivity standards or simply having less available in the way of networking, storage and USB connectivity.

With the Z270 generation and the last couple of Intel Z-Series chipset generations the differences have been more subtle including minor variations that have a sizeable impact on development and production costs for motherboard vendors, and subsequently the retail price, but little impact on the real-world end-user experience.

MSI Z270 Gaming M7 
Form Factor ATX, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm
CPU Socket LGA 1151, 11 Phase (8+2+1) VRM
Chipset Intel Z270
Memory DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 4133MHZ+ with OC, 2 Phase VRM
Onboard Graphics Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 3-way/Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x0 or x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4 from CPU)
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (from PCH)
Storage  6 x SATA III* (All from PCH)
3 x M.2*
1 x U.2*
*M2_3, U2_1 and SATA5+6 share the same bandwidth. Maximum of six SATA HDDs and 2 M.2 PCIe SSDs at a time.
USB  3 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear (1 Type-A and C),1 Front (Type-C) all from ASM2142)
6 x USB 3.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front, all via PCH)
7 x USB 2.0 (3 Rear, 4 Front, all via PCH)
Networking  1 x Killer E2500 Gigabit LAN
Audio  2 x Realtek ALC1220 Codecs
7.1 Channel HD Audio
Fan Headers  6 x 4-pin fan headers (1 x CPU, 1 x W_PUMP, 4 x SYS)
Rear I/O  1 x PS/2 mouse & keyboard combo port
3 x USB 2.0 Type-A ports
1 x Clear CMOS button
1 x DisplayPort
1 x HDMI port
1 x LAN (RJ45) port
2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A ports
1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-A port
1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C port
1 x Optical S/PDIF OUT connector
5 x OFC audio jacks
UEFI 1 x 128Mb flash, UEFI AMI BIOS

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-aorus-z270x-gaming-k5-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-aorus-z270x-gaming-k5-motherboard-review/#respond Fri, 10 Feb 2017 19:00:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=321288 How does Gigabyte's take on the mid-range gaming-orientated motherboard stack up to the competition?

The post Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Gigabyte's new Aorus range of Z270 motherboards spans from the ultra-high-end, £500 Gaming 9 all the way down to the mid-range, ~£170 Gaming K5. We are examining that mid-range Z270X-Gaming K5 to see how it performs and check whether Gigabyte's choice of features maintained on the more cost-effective SKU makes sense.

You can read our Kaby Lake Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K review HERE.

The Gaming K5 model for Gigabyte's Aorus Z270X range differs to its siblings (except the Gaming 8) by way of its colour scheme. Black and white styling found on the Gaming 7 and other boards is ditched in favour of a more neutral, primarily black appearance. Gigabyte is instead relying upon the significant number of onboard LEDs to add flair to this board's looks.

Despite the difference in styling, many of the Aorus range's key features are maintained for the Z270X-Gaming K5. RGB Fusion is present, even if the quantity of onboard LEDs is slightly reduced compared to the higher-end SKUs (though they are still at a double-digit count). Smart Fan 5 is also present, giving users access to a superb fan control system that works as well with 4-pin PWM fans as it does with 3-pin DC fans and pumps.

USB 3.1 Gen 2 10Gbps is available in Type-A and Type-C form though this time it is powered by the ASMedia ASM2142 chipset, rather than Intel's competing solution seen on the Z270X-Gaming 7, which also offers 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 support. Killer's E2500 NIC is the sole offering for the Gaming K5 and Realtek's new ALC1220 codec handles audio duties, as is common for Z270 motherboards in the price segment.

With support for multi-GPU configurations, and multiple high-speed storage drives through dual M.2 slots and onboard U.2, Gigabyte's Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 is shaping up to be a strong gaming motherboard option at ~£170. Let's take a closer look at the design and see how it performs in our testing.

Features:

  • Fast USB 3.1 Gen 2 with USB Type-C™ and Type-A
  • Triple NVMe PCIe SSDs in RAID 0 Support
  • NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 U.2 Connector
  • Dual Ultra-Fast M.2 with PCIe Gen3 x4 & SATA interface
  • Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5 + ALC 1220 120dB SNR HD Audio
  • Killer™ E2500 Gaming Network
  • USB DAC-UP 2 with Adjustable Voltage
  • RGB FUSION LED Light Show design
  • Swappable Overlay for Accent LED
  • Smart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan Headers

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ASRock Z270 Extreme4 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z270-extreme4-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z270-extreme4-motherboard-review/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2017 09:57:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=320793 Connectivity rich and competitively priced, the ASRock Z270 Extreme4 is magnificently mid-range.

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Motherboard manufacturers have produced a comprehensive range of products for Intel's latest-generation Z270 chipset, spanning a wide spectrum of prices. Yet it's the mid-range Intel motherboards, like ASRock's new Z270 Extreme4, that consumers typically end up buying. The Z270 Extreme4 is, on paper specification, a true all-rounder; a competitive price, plentiful connectivity options and a varied feature set, but can it keep up with its competition?

ASRock, like other motherboard companies, runs multiple different product lines for Intel's mainstream platform. The Fatal1ty series specifically targets a gaming audience while the Extreme Series is more generic in purpose. As such the Z270 Extreme4 is not Gamer-esque in appearance, though it certainly possesses an aesthetic that stands out from the ordinary. ASRock's own website describes this product as being aimed at animators, artists, designers and editors, which might be optimistic.

The headline feature for the Extreme4, and with many motherboards of this class, is RGB lighting. ASRock delivers this is two ways; onboard lighting and support for external RGB strips through a header. Rather uniquely, ASRock deploys the RGB controls through both software and the UEFI environment.

Another notable attribute of the Extreme4 that will catch the attention of consumers is the provision of dual M.2 ports, both capable of running at PCI Express Generation 3.0 4X speeds. While NVMe M.2 drives are still expensive per GB compared to traditional SATA III SSDs, the cost is coming down with each subsequent release from SSD manufacturers.

The default connectivity provisioned with Intel's mainstream Z-series chipsets has been generous for a while now so the fact ASRock has USB 3.1 Type-A and C is a tick on the checklist rather than a unique selling point. ASRock does, however, attempt to differentiate itself by throwing in an additional two SATA ports, taking the total to 8, for users with a larger-than-average storage array.

ASRock includes a number of other in-fashion features for motherboards of the current moment including PCIe slot shielding and improved audio based on the Realtek ALC1220 codec.

A good start then for the Z270 Extreme4 which finds itself priced in-line with motherboards such as the ASUS Prime Z270-A,  Gigabyte Z270-X Ultra Gaming and MSI Z270 Gaming Pro.

ASRock Z270 Extreme4
Form Factor ATX, 30.5 cm x 24.4 cm
CPU Socket  LGA 1151, 10-phase VRM
Chipset Intel Z270
Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 3866MHz+ (with OC)
Onboard Graphics  Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics  Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 3-way/Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x0 or x8/x8, from CPU)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x4 electrical, from PCH)
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (from PCH)
Storage 8 x SATA III (6 from PCH, 2 from ASM1061)
2 x M.2 NVMe or SATA*
(M2_1 shares bandwidth with SATA3_0, SATA3_1 and M2_2 shares bandwidth with SATA3_4, SATA3_5_
USB 6 x USB 2.0 (6 Front, via PCH)
8 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 4 Front, 6 via PCH, 2 Front via ASM1074)
2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear [Type-A and C], via ASM2142)
Networking Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN
Audio  Realtek ALC 1220, 7.1 Channel
Fan Headers  5, all support 3/4pin fans (2 x CPU, 1 x W_PUMP, 2 x CHA)
Rear I/O  2 x Antenna Ports
1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
1 x D-Sub Port
1 x DVI-D Port
1 x HDMI Port
1 x USB 3.1 Type-A Port (ASMedia ASM2142)
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Port (ASMedia ASM2142)
4 x USB 3.0 Ports (Intel Z270)
1 x RJ-45 LAN Port with LED
1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
5 x Audio Jacks
UEFI 2 x 128Mb AMI UEFI BIOS chips

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MSI Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/msi-z270-gaming-pro-carbon-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/msi-z270-gaming-pro-carbon-motherboard-review/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2017 14:11:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=316778 MSI's Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon is the company's take on a mid-range motherboard with features that will appeal to gamers. Noteworthy inclusions are a comprehensive set of RGB LEDs spread across the board, a design which caters for dual-GPU gamers, and the company's smart M.2 Shield cooling plate. You can read our Kaby Lake Core …

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MSI's Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon is the company's take on a mid-range motherboard with features that will appeal to gamers. Noteworthy inclusions are a comprehensive set of RGB LEDs spread across the board, a design which caters for dual-GPU gamers, and the company's smart M.2 Shield cooling plate.

You can read our Kaby Lake Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K review HERE.

board-650-2

Styling is, in a sense, played safe by MSI. And that's a good thing. The board's largely black and silver aesthetic leans on a comprehensive set of individually controllable RGB LED lighting zones to give an explosion of colour built to a user's preference. Additional appearance boosts come in the form of Steel Armor PCIe and DDR4 slots, both of which also serve a rigidity-enhancing function.

The Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon's feature list should tick the box for most gaming enthusiasts. There's support for 2-card SLI and 3-card CrossFire, dual M.2 PCIe NVMe or SATA SSDs, and 10Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 2 is present in both Type-A and Type-C form. MSI has an additional trick which is the board's ability to RAID together a trio of PCIe storage devices (two through M.2 and one through the PCIe slot, for example) in order to enhance transfer rates. That's without stealing CPU-fed PCIe lanes from the GPUs.

A Realtek ALC1220-based audio system, Intel NIC, and plenty of fan headers are further parts of the package. Retailing for around £167.99, the MSI Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon has it sights firmly set on mid-range gamers who want added flare from their feature-filled motherboard.

Features:

  • Supports DDR4-3866+(OC) Memory
  • DDR4 Boost with Steel Armor: Give your DDR4 memory a performance boost
  • VR Ready and VR Boost: Best virtual reality game experience without latency, reduces motion sickness
  • Mystic Light and Mystic Light Sync: 16.8 milliom colors /17 effects controlled in one click with GAMING APP or mobile devices.
  • Lightning Fast Game experience: Twin Turbo M.2, Steel Armor, M.2 Shield. Intel Optane Memory Ready, Lightning USB 3.1 Gen2
  • Audio Boost 4 with Nahimic 2: Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality for the most immersive gaming experience
  • GAMING LAN with LAN Protect, powered by Intel® : The best online gaming experience with lowest latency and bandwidth management
  • Military Class 5, Guard-Pro: Latest evolution in high quality components for best protection and efficiency
  • MULTI-GPU: With Steel Armor PCI-E slots. Supports NVIDIA SLI™ & AMD Crossfire™
  • In-Game Weapons: Game Boost, GAMING Hotkey, X-Boost, Xsplit Gamecaster
  • EZ Debug LED: Easiest way to troubleshoot
  • Click BIOS 5: Award-winning BIOS with high resolution scalable font, favorites and search function

z270-chipset-diagram

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Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z270x-ultra-gaming-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z270x-ultra-gaming-motherboard-review/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2017 17:00:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=315625 The Gigabyte Ultra Gaming motherboard is a fairly new model which was first released for the Z170 chipset shortly after Computex 2016. Only half a year later and Gigabyte has released a Z270 variant of the Ultra Gaming, the Z270X-Ultra Gaming, to coincide with the launch of Intel's new Kaby Lake platform and CPUs. You …

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The Gigabyte Ultra Gaming motherboard is a fairly new model which was first released for the Z170 chipset shortly after Computex 2016. Only half a year later and Gigabyte has released a Z270 variant of the Ultra Gaming, the Z270X-Ultra Gaming, to coincide with the launch of Intel's new Kaby Lake platform and CPUs.

You can read our Kaby Lake Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K review HERE.

gigabyte_z270x_ultra_gaming_650-1

The emphasis of the Z270X-Ultra Gaming is still on the PC gaming audience but this time Gigabyte has rethought some of the hardware features and functionality to deliver a motherboard that meets more gaming motherboard criteria than before.

In a market that is transitioning to RGB lighting being the norm the Z270X-Ultra Gaming is now an RGB-ready product, unlike its predecessor which had red LEDs only. Gigabyte has also upped its game on the audio side of things by implementing the latest Realtek ALC 1220 codec, compared to the relatively archaic ALC 892 found on the Z170 version.

The changes continue with redesigned heatsinks for both the PCH and CPU VRMs, and a new rear plastic shroud. The rear I/O connections have been altered slightly with the two mini DisplayPort connections being replaced by a DVI-D port. Gigabyte has ditched the Intel Thunderbolt 3 controller found on the Z170 model, which was provided over the USB Type-C port, and replaced it with the ASMedia ASM2142 controller.

The Z270X-Ultra Gaming is being positioned between the Gigabyte Z270X-Gaming K3 and Z270X-Gaming K5 with a price point estimated to be around £160. As such the Z270X-Ultra Gaming will compete in the most competitive price segment of the market alongside other cost-competitive models from rival vendors, many of which KitGuru will be reviewing over the coming months.

Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming
CPU Socket  LGA 1151, 7 phase VRM
Chipset  Intel Z270
Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB and 3866MHz+ with OC
Onboard Graphics   Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs), up to 1024MB of video memory
Discrete Graphics Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 3-way/Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x0 or x8/x8, from CPU)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16* (x4 electrical, from PCH)
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (from PCH)
*Shares bandwidth with PCIe x1_2 and PCIe x1_3, operates at 1X when either is populated.
Storage 6 x SATA III
2 x SATA Express (shared with four SATA ports)
1 x M.2
1 x U.2
USB 6 x USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front, via PCH)
8 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 4 Front, via PCH)
2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear [Type-A and C], via ASM2142)
Networking  Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN
Audio  Realtek ALC 1220, 7.1 Channel
Fan Headers  5, all support 3/4 pin fans (2 x CPU, 1 x SYS_PUMP, 2 x SYS)
Rear I/O  1 x PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
1 x USB 3.1 Type-A
1 x DVI-D
1 x HDMI 1.4b
4 x USB 3.0
2 x USB 2.0
1 x Gigabit LAN RJ45
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio Jacks
UEFI  UEFI AMI, DualBIOS, 2 x 64Mbit flash

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ASUS ROG Maximus IX Formula (Z270) Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-maximus-ix-formula-z270-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-maximus-ix-formula-z270-motherboard-review/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2017 17:00:34 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=315623 The Maximus IX Formula is the latest top-tier ASUS Republic of Gamers motherboard for Intel's new Kaby Lake CPUs and Z270 chipset. While below the Maximus IX Extreme in the ROG product hierarchy, the Formula is likely to be more popular as it targets a lower price, has a more customisable aesthetic and more features …

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The Maximus IX Formula is the latest top-tier ASUS Republic of Gamers motherboard for Intel's new Kaby Lake CPUs and Z270 chipset. While below the Maximus IX Extreme in the ROG product hierarchy, the Formula is likely to be more popular as it targets a lower price, has a more customisable aesthetic and more features that are usable to the average PC builder, rather than an extreme overclocking audience.

You can read our Kaby Lake Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K review HERE.

asus_maximus_ix_formula_650px-2_2

A quick glance at the new Maximus IX Formula versus the previous generation Maximus VIII Formula highlights a limited number of visual differences, though a good number of changes and improvements have still taken place under-the-hood in terms of hardware and features. The Maximus IX Formula is best interpreted as an incremental improvement to its predecessor, rather than an overhaul or major redesign, which is in keeping with the relationship Kaby Lake (Z270) has to its predecessor Skylake (Z170).

Some of the key innovations ASUS ROG has introduced with the Maximus IX Formula should make it an appealing upgrade for consumers on older Intel platforms. These include an integrated rear I/O shield and backplate, dedicated motherboard headers for water cooling gear, a USB 3.1 front panel header, 3D Printing support and an overhauled audio system.

ASUS is keen to emphasise the water cooling credentials of the Maximus IX Formula and the integrated CrossChill EK II waterblock promises up to 4 degrees Celsius temperature improvements over the previous generation for the motherboard VRMs. The improved water block comes in addition to 2 water temperature sensors and a water flow sensor to help monitor the entire watercooling system that prospective buyers may choose to configure.

ASUS has also reiterated its continued commitment to 3D Printing, that it initially outlined with the Z170 Pro Gaming AURA, and provides the templates required to reprint and customise the plastic shroud elements of the Maximus IX Formula motherboard.

ASUS ROG Maximus IX Formula (Z270)
 CPU Socket  LGA 1151, 10 phase VRM
 Chipset  Intel Z270
 Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB and 4133+ MHz with OC
 Onboard Graphics  Intel HD Graphics (supported CPUs)
 Discrete Graphics Up to Nvidia 2-way/Quad SLI, AMD 3-way/Quad CrossFireX
 Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16/x0 or x8/x8, from CPU)
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16* (x4 electrical, from PCH)
3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (from PCH)
*Shares bandwidth with PCIe x1_3 and is default set at x2 mode, not x4
 Storage 6 x SATA III
2 x M.2, up to 32Gbps**(SATA mode for M.2_1 shares bandwidth with SATA port 1,
M.2_2 shares bandwidth with SATA port 5,6
 USB 6 x USB 2.0* (4 Rear, 2 Front, via PCH)
6 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear, 2 Front, via PCH)
3 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear [Type-A and C], 1 Front, via 2 x ASM2142 controllers)*2 front share with ROG_EXT port
 Networking Intel I219-V Gigabit LAN
Intel 802.11.ac 2T2R MU-MIMO and Bluetooth v4.1
 Audio  Realtek ALC 1220 with ESS ES9023 Sabre DAC
 Fan Headers  8, all support 3/4 pin fans in DC or PWM
(2 x CPU, 3 x CHA, 2 x W_PUMP, 1 x H_AMP [high amperage])
 Rear I/O  1 x BIOS flashback button
1 x Clear CMOS button
2 x Wi-Fi Antennae
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
1 x HDMI 1.4b
4 x USB 2.0
4 x USB 3.0
1 x USB 3.1 Type-A
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C
1 x Gigabit LAN RJ45
5 x Audio Jacks
1 x Optical S/PDIF
 UEFI Crashfree UEFI with USB BIOS Flashback

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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Gigabyte Z170-Gaming K3 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z170-gaming-k3-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/gigabyte-z170-gaming-k3-motherboard-review/#comments Tue, 03 May 2016 09:02:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=291175 Gigabyte’s Z170-Gaming K3 motherboard plays along nicely with that idea, costing just £95 which makes it the most affordable Gaming branded Z170 motherboard in the UK. Yet, you may still be pleasantly surprised by how much you get for your money with the Z170-Gaming K3 – few sacrifices have been made to reach such an aggressive price point.

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While the glitz and glamour of flagship motherboards may have many enthusiasts reaching for their wallets, most will spend a much more conservative sum on the board that forms the basis of their gaming system. The logic for that decision is sound – less money spent on a motherboard is more money to spend elsewhere on components that will enhance the gaming experience in more tangible ways, such as the graphics card.

650px2

Gigabyte's Z170-Gaming K3 motherboard plays along nicely with that idea, costing just £95 which makes it the most affordable Gaming branded Z170 motherboard in the UK. Yet, you may still be pleasantly surprised by how much you get for your money with the Z170-Gaming K3 – few sacrifices have been made to reach such an aggressive price point.

Gigabyte has managed to include all the essentials for a Skylake gaming motherboard including good quality Realtek ALC1150-based audio, Killer E2200 networking, 32Gb/s M.2, 10Gb/s USB 3.1, SATA Express and a reasonably stylish red and black themed aesthetic.

Some of the areas where sacrifices appear to have been made include a lack of SLI support, a 7-phase VRM and a PCB which is more brown than black, but we'll analyse these things more closely as we progress through the review. At first glance the Gigabyte Z170-Gaming K3 looks to be a compelling option if you've got less than £100 to spend on a motherboard.

Features:

  • Supports 6th Generation Intel® Core™ Processor
  • Dual Channel DDR4, 4 DIMMs
  • Fast USB 3.1 -The World’s Next Universal Connector
  • 2-Way Graphics Support with Exclusive Ultra Durable Metal Shielding over the PCIe Slots
  • Gen3 x4 M.2 Connector with up to 32Gb/s Data Transfer (PCIe NVMe & SATA SSD support)
  • 2 SATA Express Connectors for up to 16Gb/s Data Transfer
  • 115dB SNR HD Audio with Built-in Rear Audio Amplifier
  • Killer™ E2200 Gaming Networks
  • High Quality Audio Capacitors and Audio Noise Guard with LED Trace Path Lighting
  • APP Center Including EasyTune™ and Cloud Station™ Utilities
  • GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS™ Technology
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ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/asus-z170-pro-gaming-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ryan-martin/asus-z170-pro-gaming-motherboard-review/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2016 08:07:31 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=290417 There are an extraordinary number of Z170 motherboards currently available to buy, of which a substantial proportion of these directly target the growing PC Gaming market. While it is true that Gaming motherboards tend to be more expensive than non-Gaming counterparts, due to the extra design work and features implemented on them, Gaming motherboards are …

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There are an extraordinary number of Z170 motherboards currently available to buy, of which a substantial proportion of these directly target the growing PC Gaming market. While it is true that Gaming motherboards tend to be more expensive than non-Gaming counterparts, due to the extra design work and features implemented on them, Gaming motherboards are still available at surprisingly aggressive price points. 

650px2

The point in case is the current generation of Z170 motherboards which have ASUS, ASRock, Gigabyte and MSI all offering a Z170 Gaming motherboards in the “around £100” sweet spot. ASUS, proclaiming itself (in no uncertain terms) as “the best motherboard brand”, delivers it's entry-level Z170 gaming motherboard at the highest price of all the major motherboard vendors. 

The ASUS entry-level Gaming Z170 motherboard is the Z170 Pro Gaming, retailing for around £125 in the UK and $160 over in the USA. By ASUS standards this is a very aggressive price point given that prior to the Z97 generation of motherboards the only ASUS motherboards to carry any Gaming branding were part of the Republic of Gamers range and carried a lofty price premium.

In the present market, ASRock, Gigabyte and MSI all offer Z170 Gaming motherboards in the £95-105 price bracket, making ASUS the most expensive option. Even so, there is currently something close to a price war going on between the motherboard vendors to continuously bring the price of gaming motherboards down, resulting in an extremely healthy number of options for consumers.

The traits required for a good “Gaming” motherboard, aside from a competitive price, are still largely recognised as being strong audio, networking, performance and an aggressive styling – though the overall concept of a gaming motherboard is somewhat difficult to grasp since any motherboard can be used to power a gaming machine.

ASUS has made sensible design choices to target gamers with the Z170 Pro Gaming, deploying Realtek ALC1150-based audio which is currently one of the best audio codecs available, a high-quality Intel I219V Gigabit network controller and a traditional red & black “gaming” theme. Performance is covered by offering all the latest connectivity standards of the Z170 platform including M.2, DDR4, USB 3.1, SATA Express and support for Intel Skylake CPUs with full overclocking capabilities.

Features:

  • LGA1151 socket for 6th Gen Intel® Core™ Desktop Processors
  • Dual DDR4 3400 (OC) support
  • PRO Clock technology, 5-Way Optimization and 2nd-generation T-Topology: Easy and stable overclocking
  • SupremeFX: Flawless audio that makes you part of the game
  • Intel Gigabit Ethernet, LANGuard & GameFirst III: Top-speed protected networking
  • RAMCache: Speed up your game loads
  • USB 3.1 Type A/C & M.2: Ultra-speedy transfers for faster gaming
  • Gamer's Guardian: Highly-durable components and smart DIY features
  • Sonic Radar ll: Scan and detect your enemies to dominate
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Intel launches Skylake Xeon E3-1200 V5 Greenlow chip family https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/jon-martindale/intel-launches-skylake-xeon-e3-1200-v5-greenlow-chip-family/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/jon-martindale/intel-launches-skylake-xeon-e3-1200-v5-greenlow-chip-family/#respond Tue, 20 Oct 2015 10:39:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=272325 Although we all get rather excited when companies like Intel launch their new-generations of consumer grade hardware, we aren't the only target audience for new CPU technology. Indeed, there's also a large enterprise sector to cater to, which is often where Intel aims its Xeon processors. That's exactly what's happened with the new launch of …

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Although we all get rather excited when companies like Intel launch their new-generations of consumer grade hardware, we aren't the only target audience for new CPU technology. Indeed, there's also a large enterprise sector to cater to, which is often where Intel aims its Xeon processors. That's exactly what's happened with the new launch of the Xeon E3-1200 V5 Greenlow line, which is now available for servers and workstations around the world.

There's a full 11 processors in the range, with three more expected next year. While performance will of course vary across the range, they all support up to 32GB of video memory, as much as 64GB of DDR4 system memory, up to 20 third generation PCIExpress sockets, 10 USB 3.0 ports and 14 USB 2.0 ports, as well as a full eight SATA III ports.

skylakexeon

The first line up of Greenlow hardware can be broken down into three stacks, the first of which is characterised by its lack of an internal graphics core chip (thanks WCCFTech). The second, will have a traditional Intel iGPU, while the third will come with its much higher end Iris and Iris Pro GPU, supporting the performance enhancing eDRAM which was previously only available in socketed form in the Broadwell range of processors.

All of the processors, regardless of stack – save for those designed with datacentres in mind – use the LGA 1151 socket. This is significant because it means that none of the Xeon chips will work with Intel's 100 series chipsets and will instead work only with the C232 and C236 chipsets.

In terms of clock speeds, cache and TDP, the line up is as follows:

GT0 – No graphics- LGA 1151

  • Xeon E3-1280 V5: quad core, 3.7GHz base (4.0GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1270 V5: quad core, 3.6GHz base (4.0GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1240 V5: quad core, 3.5GHz base (3.9GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1230 V5: quad core, 3.4GHz base (3.8GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1220 V5: quad core, 3.0GHz base (3.5GHz boost), 6MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.

GT2 – Standard GPU – LGA 1151

  • Xeon E3-1275 V5: quad core, 3.6GHz base (4.0GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1245 V5: quad core, 3.5GHz base (3.9GHz boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.
  • Xeon E3-1225 V5: quad core, 3.6GHz base (4.0GHz boost) 6MB of L3 cache, TDP of 80w.

Low-Power – LGA 1151

  • Xeon E3-1260L V5: quad core 2.9GHz base (3.9GHZ boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, 45w TDP, no graphics.
  • Xeon E3-1240L V5: quad core 2.1GHz base (3.2GHZ boost), multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, 25w TDP, no graphics.
  • Xeon E3-1235L V5: quad core 2.0GHz base (3.0GHZ boost) 6MB of L3 cache, 25w TDP, GT2 graphics.

Along with the above more standard CPUs, Intel's BGA socket Skylake products have been detailed to some extent, though won't be available until sometime in 2016.

GT4e (Iris Pro with 64MB of eDRAM) – BGA

  • Xeon E3-1585 V5: quad core, clocks TBD, multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, 65W TDP.
  • Xeon E3-1585L V5: quad core, clocks TBD, multi-threaded, 8MB of L3 cache, 45W TDP.
  • Xeon E3-1565 V5: quad core, clocks TBD, 6MB of L3 cache, 35W TDP.

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KitGuru Says: Although the Skylake line hasn't really blown the roof off of the CPU industry, it continues to make high-speed processing more energy efficient, which has been much more of a drive in recent years. Still, I think we're all a little more excited to see what comes out of the next tick cycle.

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Asustek readies 21 mainboards for Intel’s ‘Skylake-S’ processors https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/anton-shilov/asustek-readies-21-mainboards-for-intels-skylake-s-processors/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/anton-shilov/asustek-readies-21-mainboards-for-intels-skylake-s-processors/#comments Fri, 22 May 2015 01:19:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=250661 Being the world’s largest maker of mainboards, Asustek Computer traditionally offers the broadest lineup of motherboards for all new microprocessors. This fall Asus plans to introduce 21 new platforms designed for Intel Corp.’s upcoming code-named “Skylake-S”central processing units. Intel’s “Skylake-S” processors will be supported by the company’s new 100-series core-logic sets, including Z170, H170, H110, B150, …

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Being the world’s largest maker of mainboards, Asustek Computer traditionally offers the broadest lineup of motherboards for all new microprocessors. This fall Asus plans to introduce 21 new platforms designed for Intel Corp.’s upcoming code-named “Skylake-S”central processing units.

Intel’s “Skylake-S” processors will be supported by the company’s new 100-series core-logic sets, including Z170, H170, H110, B150, Q150 and Q170. The vast majority of platforms for the channel and retail markets will be based on either the high-performance Z170 and H170 core-logic sets or the inexpensive H110 chipset. Other core-logic sets will be aimed at OEMs and producers of PCs for corporate customers.

Asustek plans to offer 13 mainboards based on the Intel Z170 chipset that supports overclocking of microprocessors, including flagship Sabertooth Z170, Maximus VIII Extreme, Maximus VIII Gene and Maximus VIII Hero, reports BenchLife web-site. The list of other Intel Z170-based mainboards for LGA1151 processors includes Z170 Pro Gaming, Z170-A, Z170-Deluxe, Z170-G, Z170-K, Z170-P and Z-170 Pro. Asustek will also offer two – Z170M-E and Z170i Pro Gaming – motherboards for compact systems in micro-ATX and mini-ITX form-factors respectively.

PR ASUS Z87 new color - CPU socket, power delivery heatsinks, and memory slots

The world’s largest maker of mainboards will also offer five platforms based on the Intel H170 chipset, including H170 Pro Gaming and H170-Plus in ATX form-factor, H170M-E and H170M-Plus in micro-ATX form-factor as well as H170i Plus in mini-ITX form-factor.

The list of Intel H110-based motherboards from Asus will include three models: H110H4-TM for ATX chassis, H110M-C for micro-ATX cases and H110i-Plus for compact mini-ITX systems.

The majority of Asustek’s mainboards for Intel’s “Skylake-S” microprocessors will rely on 288-pin DDR4 memory modules, but those designed for smaller systems will likely support 204-pin DDR3L SO-DIMMs.

Features, capabilities and prices of Asustek’s upcoming LGA1151 mainboards for Intel “Skylake” processors are currently unknown.

Intel's 100-series chipsets will feature a number of substantial upgrades when it comes to support for PCI Express 3.0 and some other things. The Z170 and the Q170 core-logic sets aimed at premium PCs will feature 20 PCI Express 3.0 lanes, whereas the H170 will support 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes. The expanded support of PCI Express 3.0 will let mainboard makers to implement multiple SATA Express and M.2 ports for high-performance solid-state drives with up to 4GB/s of bandwidth (in case of PCIe 3.0 x4 interface). In addition, it will be possible to implement multiple additional PCI Express x8/x16 slots for multi-GPU systems. The Q170 will support corporate-oriented technologies like vPro, active management, small business advantage and some other.

Asustek Computer and Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Expect Asustek and other makers of mainboards to demonstrate their LGA1151 mainboards for Intel’s upcoming code-named “Skylake-S” microprocessors at the Computex Taipei 2015 trade-show in early June. Thanks to improved chipsets, the news platforms promise to be really powerful.

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Asrock shows off LGA1151 mainboard for Intel ‘Skylake’ processors https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/asrock-shows-off-lga1151-mainboard-for-intel-skylake-processors/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/asrock-shows-off-lga1151-mainboard-for-intel-skylake-processors/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2015 11:24:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=237452 At the Embedded World 2015 trade-show this week Asrock demonstrated its first mainboard for LGA1151 central processing units code-named Skylake. DFI, a well-known maker of mainboards that no longer produces products for consumers, is also showcasing its embedded/industrial LGA1151 roadmap at the show. Although makers of desktop mainboards are not allowed to demonstrate motherboards for …

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At the Embedded World 2015 trade-show this week Asrock demonstrated its first mainboard for LGA1151 central processing units code-named Skylake. DFI, a well-known maker of mainboards that no longer produces products for consumers, is also showcasing its embedded/industrial LGA1151 roadmap at the show.

Although makers of desktop mainboards are not allowed to demonstrate motherboards for next-generation Intel Corp.’s processors code-named “Skylake” before actual launch, the situation is considerably different on the market of platforms for embedded applications. Given extremely long lifecycles of products there, manufacturers have to demo future mainboards as early as possible to give their clients a clear understanding what to expect.

asrock_imb_190_skylake_lga1151

Asrock’s IMB-190 mainboard for industrial PCs comes in mini-ITX form-factor and sports LGA1151 socket for next-generation Intel Core i-series or Celeron processors based on the code-named “Skylake” micro-architecture. The motherboard supports two DDR3 DIMM slots for up to 16GB of memory, one mSATA port, one PCIe 3.0 x4 slot, one miniPCIe port, two SATA-6Gb/s connectors as well as one mSATA. The platform has two Gigabit Ethernet adapters and supports an optional TPM module. The IMB-190 also features three HDMI outputs as well as one eDP or one dual-channel LVDS to enable embedded display support.

asrock_imb_190_skylake_lga1151_2

The Asrock IMB-190 motherboard, which image was published by ComputerBase, is nothing really special. It has all the connectors needed for industrial-grade platforms and design optimized for unfriendly environments. What is noteworthy is that Asrock decided not to implement the new M.2 slot for modern solid-state drives. While at present there are not a lot of rugged SSDs in that form-factor, this will change in the future.

asrock_imb_190_skylake_lga1151_3

DFI, a motherboards maker that is dedicated solely to embedded and industrial mainboards, outlined plans to introduce 17 platforms for Intel “Skylake” processors based on Intel’s Q170, H110, QM170 and C236 chipsets. The new motherboards will support chips with 15W, 35W, 65W and 95W thermal design power. DFI plans to sample its new LGA1151 mainboards in Q3 or Q4 this year and to start their mass production in Q1 2016, a year from now.

dfi_socket_lga1151_roadmap

If mainboard makers believe that Intel will roll-out embedded versions of its “Skylake” microprocessors in the first quarter of next year, then it is guaranteed that regular versions of the chips will hit the market in 2015. Of course, if Intel does not change its plans.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While Asrock’s IMB-190 is a year away, it looks like a finished product. Apparently, mainboard makers have already designed their platforms for Intel’s “Skylake” and are only waiting for the CPUs to arrive…

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Specifications of Intel’s ‘Skylake’ 100-series chipsets unveiled https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/specifications-of-intels-skylake-100-series-chipsets-unveiled/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/specifications-of-intels-skylake-100-series-chipsets-unveiled/#respond Wed, 04 Feb 2015 03:07:40 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=233817 A web-site has published specifications of Intel Corp.’s 100-series core-logic sets designed for the code-named “Skylake” microprocessors due in the third quarter of the year. The new platforms will receive a significant upgrade of PCI Express lanes, which will improve their storage and multi-GPU capabilities. The family of “Skylake”-supporting Intel 100-series chipsets will include six …

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A web-site has published specifications of Intel Corp.’s 100-series core-logic sets designed for the code-named “Skylake” microprocessors due in the third quarter of the year. The new platforms will receive a significant upgrade of PCI Express lanes, which will improve their storage and multi-GPU capabilities.

intel_chipsets_artwork

The family of “Skylake”-supporting Intel 100-series chipsets will include six models: Intel Z170, Intel H170, Intel Q170, Intel Q150, Intel B150 and Intel H110, reports Chinese VR-Zone. Traditionally, different core-logic sets will be aimed at different market segments. The only SKU that will support overclocking will be the Z170. Another core-logic – the Q170 – will support corporate-oriented technologies like vPro, active management, small business advantage and some other.

intel_chipsets_2015

The advanced 100-series chipsets – such as Z170, Q170 and H170 – will receive substantial upgrade of PCI Express lanes. The Z170 and the Q170 core-logic sets will feature 20 PCI Express 3.0 lanes, whereas the H170 will support 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes.

intel_chipsets_2015_2

The expanded support of PCI Express 3.0 will let mainboard makers to implement multiple SATA Express and M.2 ports for high-performance solid-state drives with up to 4GB/s of bandwidth (in case of PCIe 3.0 x4 interface). In addition, it will be possible to implement multiple additional PCI Express x8/x86 slots for multi-GPU configurations.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The improved PCI Express support by the new core-logic sets will make it considerably easier for mainboard makers to implement modern storage interfaces, something that will make SSD makers (including Intel) very glad as this will boost demand for higher-end SSDs.

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Intel to offer unlocked ‘Skylake’ processors for overclockers in Q3 2015 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-to-offer-unlocked-skylake-processors-for-overclockers-in-q3-2015/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-to-offer-unlocked-skylake-processors-for-overclockers-in-q3-2015/#comments Fri, 30 Jan 2015 23:59:30 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=233328 Although Intel Corp. did not plan to offer central processing units featuring “Skylake” microarchitecture for overclockers along with the first wave of such chips, the company has changed its plans and will release unlocked versions of its “Skylake” CPUs in the third quarter of 2015. As reported last week, Intel will delay introduction of its …

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Although Intel Corp. did not plan to offer central processing units featuring “Skylake” microarchitecture for overclockers along with the first wave of such chips, the company has changed its plans and will release unlocked versions of its “Skylake” CPUs in the third quarter of 2015.

As reported last week, Intel will delay introduction of its new desktop “Skylake-S” processors to the third quarter of the year due to unknown reasons. However, when the company finally releases its new breed of chips, the family will include a lot of different processors in LGA1151 form-factor with two or four cores as well as 65W or 35W thermal design power. The new chips will be compatible with the Z170 and the H170 core-logic sets. Different “Skylake-S” platforms will support DDR3, DDR3L or DDR4 memory.

intel_core_i7_haswell_edited

The most intriguing thing about the “Skylake-S” family of products is that it will include quad-core “Skylake-K” chips with unlocked multiplier, according to an excerpt from a document that resembles those from Intel, which was published by Chinese VR-Zone web-site on Friday. The new CPUs will have 95W thermal design power and will be aimed at overclockers.

intel_roadmap_broadwell_unlocked_skylake

The decision to release “Skylake-K” microprocessors in the third quarter have both pros and cons. On the one hand, such chips will let makers of mainboards to introduce all-new models for enthusiasts and sell them at high profit margin. On the other hand, such motherboards will compete against motherboards for the “Broadwell-K” processors that are due in the second quarter.

As reported, co-existence of Intel’s “Broadwell” and “Skylake” microprocessors on the market this year will result in availability of five competing types of platforms for Intel’s desktop microprocessors. For makers of motherboards this means increased costs and internal competition. Since “Broadwell-K” and “Skylake-K” will be aimed at the same market segment, it will cause a lot of confusion on the market.

Since Intel’s “Skylake” platforms will offer all-new CPU micro-architecture (with AVX 3.2, 512-bit extensions and so on) with increased instructions per clock (IPC), native SATA Express support (which means they will support high-end SSDs with 2TB/s or even 4TB/s read speeds), optional Thunderbolt 3.0 (40Gb/s) and DDR4 memory, they will be Intel’s most technologically advanced desktop offerings this year. Moreover, unlocked multiplier will make them platforms of choice for many enthusiasts, provided that their overclocking potential is decent.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: 95W thermal design power of “Skylake-K” may indicate that it is not that easy for the microarchitecture and/or particular design to hit high clock-rates. By contrast, the “Broadwell-K” only has TDP of 65W. It is too early to make conclusions regarding overclocking potential of the two chips. However, what is absolutely clear is that this year Intel’s processors for overclockers will compete against each other.

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Intel to delay Skylake processors for desktops to third quarter https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-to-delay-skylake-processors-for-desktops-to-third-quarter/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/anton-shilov/intel-to-delay-skylake-processors-for-desktops-to-third-quarter/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:56:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=232241 Just a week ago Intel Corp. said that it would not postpone introduction of its code-named “Skylake” microprocessors in a bid to sell-off the remaining inventory of current-generation chips. However, a source with knowledge of Intel’s plans revealed on Friday that the world’s largest chipmaker will delay commercial launch of its future CPUs by about one quarter. …

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Just a week ago Intel Corp. said that it would not postpone introduction of its code-named “Skylake” microprocessors in a bid to sell-off the remaining inventory of current-generation chips. However, a source with knowledge of Intel’s plans revealed on Friday that the world’s largest chipmaker will delay commercial launch of its future CPUs by about one quarter.

Intel has always said publicly that it would ship its “Skylake” processors in the second half of 2015. However, for a number of times last year the company demonstrated in its confidential documents and presentations for partners that it intends to release the first “Skylake” central processing units for desktops in the second quarter of 2015. Back in early November, 2014, Intel showcased a slide at its technology conference for partners indicating that the first “Skylake” chips in LGA1151 form-factor along with Z170 and H170 platforms will hit the market in the first half of the year (i.e., Q2 2015). This will not happen, despite of claims made last week.

A source with knowledge of Intel’s plans said that the chipmaker will delay commercial launch of the “Skylake” processors to the third quarter of 2015. Traditionally Intel released new microprocessors in the first half of the year (it did so with Westmere, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Haswell and Haswell Refresh), but this time the company will not ship its new chips earlier than sometimes in Q3 2015. Moreover, makers of mainboards and high-performance PCs may not even get commercial “Skylake” CPUs to showcase their latest products at the Computex Taipei trade-show in early June.

intel_core_pentium_devil_s_canyon_lga1150_haswell

The reasons for the delay are unclear. Moreover, given the fact that Intel is ramping up production of chips using 14nm process technology, it is relatively easy for the company to start volume production of processors based on the code-named “Skylake” micro-architecture. All Intel has to do, at least in theory, is to change photomasks in the scanner.

“[Broadwell and Skylake] are on the same technology, the same piece of silicon, the same factory,” said Brian Krzanich, chief executive officer of Intel, during a conference call with investors and financial analysts. “All we [need to] do is change the piece of glass in the scanner to get a different product. There is not a change or revamp of our factories that needs to occur for this.”

intel_broadwell_skylake_edited

While the delay of the “Skylake” central processing units will postpone introduction of certain new platform features, this may actually be good for makers of motherboards. The co-existence of Intel’s “Broadwell” and “Skylake” microprocessors on the market this year was expected to result in availability of five competing types of platforms for Intel’s desktop central processing units. For makers of motherboards this means increased costs and internal competition. If Intel helps its partners to sell through their existing chips and mainboards based on previous-generation chipsets, the slight delay could be a good thing for them.

intel_skylake_platform

Intel’s “Skylake” platforms will offer all-new CPU micro-architecture (with AVX 3.2, 512-bit extensions and so on), native SATA Express support (which means they will support advanced SSDs with 2TB/s or even 4TB/s read speeds), Thunderbolt 3.0 (40Gb/s) and DDR4 memory option. Unfortunately, they will not offer overclockability since Intel has no intentions to launch Skylake processors with unlocked multiplier in Q3 2015. By contrast, Intel’s “Haswell-K” and “Broadwell Unlocked” will offer overclockability, but will not provide native SATA Express support and will continue to use DDR3 memory.

Back in November, 2014, it was reported that Intel had set the “ready to ship” schedule for the mainstream “Skylake” processors (Skylake-H, Skylake-U) for notebooks to the 37th – 47th weeks of 2015 (early-September – mid-November). If the information is correct, then the first laptops based on the mainstream “Skylake” processors will hit the market in late-September at the earliest. Mobile platforms featuring “Skylake” chips will sport wireless charging, WiGig and other technologies, which will boost demand for new tablets, 2-in-1s and notebooks.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: In the light of recent delays of Intel’s “Broadwell” CPUs by about a year, the postponement of the company’s “Skylake” processors by a quarter does not seem dramatic. Still, it is rather alarming to see how Intel adjusts its plans…

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Intel Skylake-S CPUs to support new LGA 1151 socket https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/intel-skylake-s-cpus-to-support-new-lga-1151-socket/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cpu/matthew-wilson/intel-skylake-s-cpus-to-support-new-lga-1151-socket/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2014 12:30:33 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=219829 Intel's upcoming Skylake-S 14nm  CPUs are set to replace Intel's Haswell refresh line some time next year, bringing with it a new socket, chipset and motherboards. The new socket is called LGA 1151 and has just one pin more than Haswell, Intel's current generation architecture. The new CPU will support both DDR4 1.2v and DDR3L …

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Intel's upcoming Skylake-S 14nm  CPUs are set to replace Intel's Haswell refresh line some time next year, bringing with it a new socket, chipset and motherboards. The new socket is called LGA 1151 and has just one pin more than Haswell, Intel's current generation architecture.

The new CPU will support both DDR4 1.2v and DDR3L 1.35V, it will be up to motherboard manufacturers to support one or the other. The chipset that will allow you to overclock the new CPUs is called Z170 and it comes with a 1 x 16 plus 2×8 or 1×8 plus 2×4 PCIe express 3.0 combination.

Generic Intel CPU

The Z170 boards will support two memory channels with two modules each, six SATA 16Gbps ports, a maximum of 20 lanes for PCI Express ports and for your storage needs, these new motherboards will support a max of three SATA Express ports x2 and either four M.2 connections or two SATA Express.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology 14 and Intel Smart Response Technology will also be supported. Some boards may come with up to 14 USB ports, ten of which can be USB 3.0. Intel won't be supporting USB 3.1 just yet, although that technology is due out sometime next year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Intel's Skylake CPUs will be with us fairly soon, bringing with it new motherboards, a new socket and a new chipset. The new CPUs are estimated to launch around June next year. Will any of you guys be upgrading? What CPU are you currently using? Are you happy with it?

Via: Fudzilla

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