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The ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F Gaming is a good mid-range motherboard that offers strong performance alongside a comprehensive list of physical and software-based features.
Performance was good and so was the board's consistency throughout testing. ASUS includes several automated overclocking options and frequency-adjusting presets which work very well, even if they are a touch on the aggressive side. We had no problem manually taking our 7700K to its 4.8GHz AVX-stable limit using the Z270F Gaming motherboard.
Physical motherboard layout minimises interference issues and PCIe lane-routing decisions are generally smart. Using a couple of M.2 devices will limit the number of SATA ports available, and there's no onboard U.2 connector. But for gamers in this section of the market, the ability to use dual graphics cards alongside a couple of M.2 SSDs is a positive. It's just a shame that ASUS does not include an M.2 cooling solution as MSI's competitor at this price point does.
ASUS' UEFI implementation is very easy to navigate and features plenty of tweaking options. I would have liked to see some form of RGB control available through the UEFI and I think that a tool similar to MSI's Board Explorer and ASRock's System Browser would be a good addition. SSD Secure Erase worked very well. The quantity and quality of OS-based software tools is excellent. AI Suite 3 is filled with management options and AURA provides a good level of RGB LED tuning flexibility.
The STRIX Z270F Gaming motherboard's cooling solution is a positive thanks to excellent fan control abilities. All six of the fan headers can operate by PWM and DC control modes and the UEFI- and OS-based speed tuning interfaces are good, even if they lack a 0% operating mode. The ability to adjust fan speeds based on a number of different temperature reading points is also good to see.
The inclusion of dual onboard 4-pin RGB headers is a smart move by ASUS and their positioning on the top and bottom of the motherboards is even smarter. Unfortunately, the motherboard's clearly-visible onboard RGB lighting is limited to only a small zone on the rear IO cover. This is far less lighting than some competing options at this price point and seems to be a business decision designed to push customers towards ASUS' higher-priced SKUs. Thankfully, the quality of ASUS' LEDs is certainly strong.
The ASUS ROG STRIX Z270F Gaming is available at Overclockers UK for £172.99.
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Pros:
- Two 4-pin RGB headers is a positive.
- Numerous automated overclocking options and solid manual tweaking abilities.
- Good fan system with the ability to control PWM and DC fans.
- Mounting points for 3D printed accessories.
- The variety of OS-based software is strong.
- Good settings options and ease-of-use from the UEFI implementation.
Cons:
- Minimal onboard RGB LED lighting.
- Additional UEFI features would be welcomed – especially RGB LED colour control ability.
- No M.2 SSD cooling or U.2 connector like competing products offer.
KitGuru says: A solid mix of useful features and superb software make the ASUS STRIX Z270F Gaming a strong option if you are looking for a mid-range motherboard with a hint of RGB lighting.
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