New motherboards from ASUS. New motherboards from ASUS Package contents and packaging

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ASUS Socket-AM4 ROG CROSSHAIR VI HERO X370 is a gaming-grade motherboard from the renowned ROG line. It can form the basis of a powerful gaming computer in conjunction with AM4 processors. The board has a unique design and a whole range of advantages. Supports fast DDR4 memory, customizable AURA lighting for modding enthusiasts, Supreme FX sound card with exclusive codec, smart cooling system (including water cooling), easy one-click overclocking, support for M.2 connectors - its main advantages.
USB 3.1 ports, including type-C, high-quality components and rugged PCI-E slots, electrostatic protection are just some of the board's capabilities. On a separate line, we can mention the support of design elements for the board, which can be independently printed on a 3d printer - 3d Printing Friendly.

A small, quiet and powerful computer is the dream of any user. Slots on ATX and EATX boards are mostly empty, one or two PCI Express, two or three SATA and one M.2 are used. So why buy a big tin box, put a huge motherboard in there, if more than half of the space will be unused? That's right, there is no need. Powerful systems require small but multifunctional motherboards. Such as ASUS ROG Strix X470-I Gaming

Specifications

Form Factor: Mini ITX, 170 x 170mm
Processor socket: Socket AM4
System logic: AMD X470
RAM: 2x DIMM, DDR4-3600 up to 32 GB
Sound: 7.1 HD audio
Wired network: 1 Gbit Ethernet (Intel I211-AT)
Wireless network: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v4.2
Expansion slots: 1x PCI-Ex16
Drives: 4x SATA III 6 Gbit / s, 2x M.2
Back panel: HDMI, RJ45, 2x USB 3.1 Type-A, 4x USB 3.0, 3x 3.5 mm audio jack, 1x ASUS Wi-Fi GO!
Price: 15,000 rubles

Equipment

The box is modest in size, four times smaller than a conventional cardboard box for an ATX motherboard.

A standard set of accessories was attached - instructions, stickers, a cover for the rear panel, a disk with drivers, SATA cables, an antenna, a backlight cable. Yes, trends have already made their way into all form factors, and even if the little finger does not fit between the connectors on the PCB, there will always be a place for a dozen LEDs.

Appearance

A full-size gaming board, squeezed into Mini ITX dimensions, looks like this:

The installation is very tight. Everything that does not fit on the main board is mounted on separate small ones one above the other. In this way, ITX mothers are similar to power supplies - in cheap and weak series, everything is placed on one piece of PCB, in expensive ones, whole blocks are placed on separate printed circuit boards to save space.

An interesting point is that the board is for AMD processors. Socket AM4 took up a lot of space, but there is enough free space near the plastic mounts for oversized coolers.

All Ryzen are supported, including the 2700X with a TDP of 105 watts. It needs a powerful power converter, and it's there, right between the socket and the back panel. Six phases in total, controlled by the IR3555 controller.

A large radiator is installed on the power transistors, shifted towards the rear panel, so as not to interfere with the CO on the processor.

There are only two slots for RAM. The distance between the slots is enough to fit the slats with large radiators. Modules with frequency up to DDR4-3600 are supported.

Below the DIMM slots are the headers of the second and third USB, two of the four SATA, and the pins of the front panel indicators.

To the right of the ATX24 power outlet, there are four LEDs wired to indicate the stages of POST. This, of course, is not a two-digit indicator, but you can understand the progress of the process.

One PCI Express slot, with sixteen lanes, for a video card. They were placed at the very edge, which is not quite a "classic" for ITX motherboards, but nothing else.

Right behind PCIEx16 there is a multi-storey structure, which is crowned with a heatsink of one of the M.2 slots. To the right of it are two more SATA. The ROG logo on the heatsink is illuminated, and power is supplied through a 7-pin connector.

Underneath is a small printed circuit board that houses an M.2 connector, an audio codec, and three minijacks.

The second M.2 is on the back of the board, just below the system logic.

On the "ground floor" there is a chipset with a small radiator, a TPU control chip and an IT8760E "cartoon" (input-output controller).

This is how you can simply and reliably place both a drive with a heatsink, a sound card, and the wiring for the chipset on the main board in a minimal area.
The rear panel is a bit scanty - six different USB versions, HDMI and wired network, three audio card jacks and two high-frequency sockets for an antenna Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth.

In general, a wireless network on ITX boards is much more common than on ATX. The reason for this selectivity is not very clear. Many users will willingly ditch the wires if they have a high-speed "wireless" with an external antenna that guarantees good reception in concrete boxes.

There are three four-pin connectors for fans, one of them can power a powerful consumer (pump SVO, for example). Nearby is a four-pin strip for a regular RGB tape and a three-pin strip for an addressable one.

The UEFI BIOS menu has been slightly reduced compared to full-size ATX boards.

The Ai Tweaker section still has a lot of options for changing voltages, frequencies and timings.

The Advanced section allows you to fine-tune the operating modes of the processor, slots and interfaces.

Temperature monitoring is fully available, as well as setting the fan speed.

The Tools section contains small, but very useful utilities for setting up the system. You can quickly find out the contents of the SPD RAM, view the video card data, "remember" the settings in one of the profiles, or vice versa, load them.

In general, I liked the board. The Ryzen 7 2700X processor picked up without problems and worked as part of the gaming platform together with the GTX 1080 Ti Poseidon card for a week. I did not feel any disadvantages associated with the reduction in size. One can complain about the lack of quick start, reboot and BIOS reset buttons, but such boards rarely work on open stands, and there is no particular need for them.

Let's sum up

ASUS ROG Strix X470-I Gaming is a great small motherboard for the latest AMD Ryzen processors. It is great for building both a gaming and a work system in a small package. It will not be difficult for the power system to feed the top AMD stones for Socket AM4, and the motherboard will not cause problems with the installation of oversized video cards. Everything you need for overclocking and tuning is in the BIOS, and perhaps the only objective drawback of the board is the small number of USB connectors, both on the rear panel and under the pads.

The price is adequate - building a full-fledged motherboard in Mini ITX format using high-quality components is not cheap, and it is unlikely that other manufacturers can offer something similar in functionality and dimensions for less money.

pros

Small board dimensions
Powerful power subsystem
Supports the entire Ryzen processor line
Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth modules
The ability to install two M.2 drives.
RGB backlight

May not like

Few USB ports

ASUS has unveiled a complete line of gaming motherboards that includes updated versions - Maximus IX Extreme, Maximus IX Formula and Maximus IX Hero - and two all-new models - Maximus IX Code and Maximus IX Apex. In addition, the 2017 lineup includes the all-new ROG Strix series motherboards.

Powered by the Intel® Z270 chipset, the ROG gaming motherboards are designed to unleash the full potential of the latest 7th Gen Intel® Core ™ (‘Kaby Lake’) processors. Innovative technologies and exclusive ROG solutions built into these motherboards provide the high level of performance and flexible upgrade options that are so important for modders, overclockers, professional gamers, enthusiasts and hobbyists.

Of particular note is the high-quality SupremeFX audio system and efficient air and water cooling systems featured in the 2017 ASUS motherboard range. In addition, these motherboards offer many special solutions for overclockers: special board design, proprietary utilities and technologies. ROG motherboards usher in a new era of PC customization with a world first to support Aura Sync RGB LED lighting and 3D printed parts.

The ROG Maximus IX series of motherboards includes five models. The Extreme version is equipped with a water cooling system and a number of innovative technologies. The Formula version is suitable for gamers and modders who value high performance or want to equip their PC with a water cooling system on their own. The Hero model is perfect for gamers. The new Code motherboard has an affordable price and special features that modders will appreciate. The high performance level makes the Apex an excellent choice for overclockers and enthusiasts.

Maximus IX Extreme: the best of the best

Maximus IX Extreme is the flagship high-performance water-cooled motherboard in the ROG series. It became the world's first motherboard with an integrated water block (a single design for cooling the processor and power circuit), developed by Bitspower.

The innovative ROG technologies on this motherboard are an improvement on traditional solutions: the water block detects the flow rate of the coolant, has a special function of monitoring the temperature of the inlet and outlet, and the function of tracking leaks. In addition, it integrates an M.2 heatsink to ensure the reliability and performance of the board.

Maximus IX Code: affordable luxury

The all-new Maximus IX Code motherboard is based on the popular ROG Maximus Formula. Gamers will be attracted by the aesthetic appearance of the Aura Sync RGB LED lighting system, combined with the convenience of the built-in Wi-Fi module and the high reliability of the components.

The name of the Code model is rooted in the name of the main layer of "thermal armor" ROG Armor, which serves to protect the board - the Latin word "codex", which is the predecessor of the modern book. A distinctive feature of the "code" is the unique durable cover. Using ROG Armor technology, the Maximus IX Code has set a new standard for motherboard performance.

Maximus IX Apex: new standards of speed

The all-new ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard is an innovative model in the ROG series. The novelty brings players back to the origins of the very concept of the Republic of Gamers brand as an elite community of computer enthusiasts striving to achieve maximum results in overclocking and computer games.

The Maximus IX Apex motherboard gives you incredible overclocking capabilities. The dedicated DIMM.2 on this motherboard allows you to install two M.2 SSDs next to the DDR4 slots. The asymmetric PCB design sets the Maximus IX Apex apart from conventional models and enhances its built-in Aura Sync LED lighting.

ROG Strix: a new line of devices for gamers

ROG Strix is \u200b\u200ba brand new line of devices for gamers. It includes ROG Strix Z270E Gaming, ROG Strix Z270F Gaming, ROG Strix Z270H Gaming ATX motherboards, as well as ROG Strix Z270G Gaming (mATX) and ROG Strix Z270I Gaming (mini-ITX) motherboards.

ROG Strix Z270 motherboards deliver bold designs, top-notch performance and incredible sound. In other words, everything a modern gamer needs. Unique contrasting patterns inspired by the Republic of Gamers branding and a striking gaming series emblem complete the stylish PCB design. Aura RGB lighting system with support for Aura Sync technology for an unforgettable experience.

Support for 7th Gen Intel Core processors and exclusive innovation in the ROG Strix Z270 series motherboards provide a competitive edge in the game.

Latest cooling technology

The new ROG Maximus IX and ROG Strix Z270 motherboards feature state-of-the-art and innovative water and air cooling technologies.

Of particular note is the solution for cooling solid-state drives with M. 2. For effective cooling of the Maximus IX Extreme motherboard, there is a water block with an integrated heatsink for cooling the M. 2. A special DIMM.2 module, implemented on this motherboard, allows you to install two solid-state storage with M.2 interface, where they will be cooled with maximum efficiency. The ROG Strix Z270I Gaming motherboard features an innovative two-layer passive cooling design, with an M.2 SSD sited between its own heatsink and a PCH (Platform Controller Hub) heatsink. Moreover, both heatsinks are completely isolated from each other, so that neither the PCH nor the solid-state drive can affect each other's work. This two-tier cooling design not only provides a stylish look and free space on a compact PCB, but also dramatically increases cooling efficiency by helping to lower the SSD temperature by 20 ° C for improved system stability and performance. Plus, ROG Z270 supports 3D printed parts.

The Maximus IX Formula motherboard is equipped with EKWB's highly efficient CrossChill EK II hybrid cooling unit, which achieves maximum efficiency when connected to a water-cooled circuit: lowering the temperature of the transistors installed on the motherboard by up to 23 degrees, which is 4 degrees more efficient compared to the previous generation version. In addition, the noise level has been reduced due to the use of thinner fins.

Exclusive ROG Water Cooling Zone technology keeps track of both fan speeds and water pump power. All data on coolant temperature and flow rate are displayed in the exclusive ROG Fan Xpert 4 utility, with which the user can set the desired temperature of the video card or adjust the dynamic cooling of the system depending on the current load.

Overclocking: innovative technologies for overclocking the processor clock frequency

ROG motherboards have long been known to overclockers for their outstanding overclocking capabilities. The Maximus IX series will usher in a new era of overclocking and deliver outstanding performance.

ROG's engineers have brought their expertise to the Maximus IX Apex to make this motherboard as powerful as possible, and the results that overclockers have already achieved are proof of their success. In particular, it achieved the highest operating frequencies of the Intel Core processor since the X58 platform: 7.383 GHz (one core and one thread) and 7.328 GHz (four cores, eight threads). It also obtained a BCLK frequency of 584 MHz and a memory frequency of 5041 MHz. In total, the Maximus IX Apex motherboard has set 8 world records and won 13 global top spots.

SupremeFX: new codec for flexible sound tuning

At the heart of the ROG and ROG Strix motherboards' audio are the S1220 and S1220A codecs, which deliver superior performance. So, the signal-to-noise ratio of this audio solution is 120 dB for stereo line-out and 113 dB for line-in. Plugging in headphones automatically adjusts the gain level to provide the optimum sound volume range.

An enhanced Sonic Studio III utility is available as a software add-on to the motherboards, allowing you to customize a variety of on-board audio settings. With its help, you can create and apply profiles with different sets of parameters, optimized for specific applications. A new feature in this version of Sonic Studio is the ability to route audio streams from different applications to different audio outputs (headphones, external speakers, etc.).

ASUS Sonic Radar III enables visualization of sound sources in a PC game, even if they are not in line of sight. In this case, the direction to the position of the enemy is indicated by an arrow.

Aura Sync: Synchronized LED Lighting System

ASUS exclusive Aura Sync technology lets you use multiple Aura LED lighting devices together, such as compatible motherboards, graphics cards or accessories, to perfectly synchronize visual effects with a single control center from a convenient app. Aura LED Backlight can illuminate your computer in almost countless different colors, and the color of the backlight can also change in time with the music being played or depending on the temperature of the processor. Of particular note is the 4-pin 12V RGB connector, which will help make your computer's design unique.

3D printing: personalization

ASUS has always strived to make it easier for its users to customize the look and feel of computers and components. Now ASUS is the first motherboard manufacturer to offer motherboard models that support the installation of unique replacement parts, printed on a 3D printer. This means that the user can create various parts on the 3D printer that will help to personalize the appearance or expand the functionality of the device. The motherboard has dedicated mounting holes for attaching 3D printed accessories. They are secured with the same screws used for M.2 drives, so users can easily install a nameplate, cable holder, SLI ™ bridge cover, ROG branding panel, or even a holder for fan. All this will allow you to create a completely individual design of your system.

In partnership with Shapeways, a world leader in 3D printing services, ASUS has opened the ASUS 3D Printing Store, where users from all over the world can download 3D drawings of replacement parts and then 3D print them themselves. or order ready-made replacement parts.

Wide network capabilities: for a comfortable game over the Internet

The Intel Gigabit Ethernet LAN on ROG and ROG Strix motherboards delivers fast TCP and UDP packet processing and reduces CPU utilization. Thanks to LANGuard technology, the wired network connector on the motherboard is equipped with special protection against static electricity and voltage surges, while the resistance to static electricity and voltage surges increases 1.9 times and 2.5 times, respectively.

As network and bandwidth requirements continue to grow, ASUS teamed up with Aquantia to unveil the ROG Areion 10G, the world's first network controller card to support the latest PCIe 3.0 interface. A distinctive feature of this board is a large heatsink, which guarantees stable operation even at maximum speeds up to 10 Gbps.

GameFirst IV's exclusive technology optimizes network traffic and ensures that online games run as fast as possible without annoying lags. Its new version includes the Multi-Gate Teaming function, which allows combining channels of different networks in order to increase the overall bandwidth. In addition, GameFirst IV supports a special smart mode that automatically generates an application database to monitor network activity and optimize game traffic.

Some models are supplied with dual-band 802.11ac (2.4 / 5 GHz) Wi-Fi with a maximum data transfer rate of 867 Mbps and support for MU-MIMO technology, which allows multiple client devices to connect to a wireless network on their maximum speed.

Modern interfaces: high data rates

The new ROG and ROG Strix Z270 motherboards feature USB 3.1 Type-A ports for backward compatibility. The bandwidth of the USB 3.1 interface reaches 10 Gb / s. Most models also have a modern USB Type-C ™ (USB-C) port, convenient for connecting USB peripherals. Users can even bring the USB 3.1 Type-C port to the front of the computer case, where it is always at hand.

Two PCIe-based M.2 ports with data transfer rates up to 32Gb / s are ideal for connecting today's solid state drives.

Maximu Series Motherboard Specifications

	Maximus IX Extreme	Maximus IX Formula		Maximus IX Code	Maximus IX Apex	Maximus IX Hero
CPU	LGA 1151 socket for Intel® Core ™ i7 / Core ™ i5 / Core ™ i3 / Pentium® / Celeron® processors
Chipset
RAM			4 x DIMM, max. 64GB DDR4 4133MHz (OC)	4 x DIMM, max. 64GB DDR4 4133MHz (OC)	2 x DIMM, max. 32GB DDR4 4266MHz (OC)		4x DIMM, max. 64GB DDR4 4133MHz (OC)
Expansion slots	1 x PCIe 3.0 x 16 slot (PCH) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x 4 (PCH)		2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)	2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH)	3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH) 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)		2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH)
Sound	ROG SupremeFX S1220 Codec		ROG SupremeFX S1220 Codec ESS® ES9023P D / A Converter	ROG SupremeFX S1220 Codec ESS® ES9023P D / A Converter	ROG SupremeFX S1220A Codec		ROG SupremeFX S1220 Codec ESS® ES9023P D / A Converter

SATA	6 x SATA 6Gb / s		6 x SATA 6Gb / s	6 x SATA 6Gb / s	4 x SATA Gb / s		6 x SATA 6Gb / s
M.2
Wi-Fi					not available		M.2 (E-Key) slot for Wi-Fi expansion cards
USB	1 x USB 3.1 (Type-A) 1 x USB 3.1 (Type-C)		1 x USB3.1 (front) 1 x USB3.1 (Type-A) 1 x USB3.1 (Type-C)	1 x USB3.1 (Type-A) port 1 x USB3.1 (Type-C) port 6 x USB 3.0 ports 6 x USB 2.0 ports	1 x USB 3.1 (Type A) 1 x USB 3.1 (Type C) 8 x USB 3.0 ports		1 x USB3.1 (front) 1 x USB3.1 (Type-A) 1 x USB3.1 (Type-C)
Aura sync
4-pin led strip
Thunderbolt 3	Built in			Thunderbolt expansion card support	Not available		Thunderbolt expansion card support
Technology	lBuilt-in ROG waterblock lLiquid Cooled Heat Sink for M.2 l LED-backlit audio outputs		lROG ARMOR lCrossChill EK II lPre-installed I / O Interface Panel		lDIMM.2 lAbility to install a nameplate lCES Innovation Award		lCES Innovation Award

ROG Strix Series Motherboard Specifications

	ROG Strix Z270E Gaming		ROG Strix Z270F Gaming	ROG Strix Z270H Gaming	ROG Strix Z270G Gaming	ROG Strix Z270I Gaming
CPU		LGA 1151 socket for Intel® Core ™ i7 / Core i5 / Core i3 / Pentium / Celeron processors
Chipset
RAM Expansion slots		4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB,	4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB,	4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB, DDR4 3866 MHz (OC)	4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB, DDR4, 4000 MHz (OC)	4 x DIMM, max. 32 GB,
RAM Expansion slots		DDR4 3866 MHz (OC)	DDR4 3866 MHz (OC)	4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB, DDR4 3866 MHz (OC)	4 x DIMM, max. 64 GB, DDR4, 4000 MHz (OC)	DDR4 4266 MHz (OC)
Sound		1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 4 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)	2 x PCIe 3.0 × 16 SafeSlots (CPU) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH) 4 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)	2 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlots (CPU) 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 (PCH) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)	2 x PCIe 3.0 × 16 SafeSlots (CPU) 2 x PCIe 3.0 x1 (PCH)	1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 SafeSlot (CPU)
Network controller (Gbit LAN)		SupremeFX S1220A	SupremeFX S1220A	SupremeFX S1220A	SupremeFX S1220A	SupremeFX S1220A
SATA
M.2		6 x SATA 6Gb / s	6 x SATA 6Gb / s	6 x SATA 6Gb / s	6 x SATA 6Gb / s	4 x SATA 6Gb / s
Wi-Fi
USB		2 × 2 MU-MIMO 802.11AC Wi-Fi	Not available	Not available	2 × 2 MU-MIMO 802.11AC Wi-Fi	2 × 2 MU-MIMO 802.11AC Wi-Fi
Aura sync		1x USB3.1 on the front panel 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C	1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C	1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C	1 x USB 3.1 Type-A 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C	1x USB 3.1 on the front panel
4-pin led strip				Not available
Thunderbolt 3
Technology		Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
CPU		The ability to install parts printed on a 3D printer	The ability to install parts printed on a 3D printer	The ability to install parts printed on a 3D printer	The ability to install parts printed on a 3D printer	Two-level radiator

Motherboards for gamers of the Republic of Gamers series are presented in the electronic discounter "Citylink":

Enjoy your shopping at Citylink!

New question

In this article, we take a look at the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming motherboard of the Asus ROG (Republic Of Gamers) series on the Intel Z370 chipset for Coffee Lake processors.

Completion and packaging

The Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board comes in a small box.

The delivery set includes a user manual, a DVD with drivers and utilities, stickers for cables, four SATA cables (all connectors are latched, two cables have an angled connector on one side), a cover for the rear panel of the board, an SLI bridge for two video cards , an antenna for a Wi-Fi module, a cable for connecting an RGB tape, a cable for connecting an addressable RGB tape, one thermal sensor, a set of cable ties, a holder for installing an additional fan on the board with a size of 40 × 40 or 50 × 50 mm (itself fan is not included) and a plastic frame for secure installation of the processor into the socket.

Hardware configuration of the board

A summary table of the characteristics of the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board is given below, and then we will consider all its features and functionalities.

The Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board is made in the ATX form factor (305 × 244 mm). Standard nine holes are provided for its installation in the housing.

The board is based on the new Intel Z370 chipset. Accordingly, the board only supports 8th Gen Intel Core processors (codenamed Coffee Lake) with an LGA1151 socket.

Since Coffee Lake processors have an integrated graphics core, there are Display Port 1.2, DVI-D and HDMI 1.4 video outputs for connecting a monitor on the back of the board.

There are four DIMM slots for installing memory modules on the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board. Unbuffered DDR4 (non-ECC) memory is supported, and the maximum memory capacity is 64 GB (when using modules with a capacity of 16 GB).

To connect storage devices or optical drives, the board provides six SATA 6 Gb / s ports, which are based on the controller integrated into the Intel Z370 chipset. These ports support the ability to create RAID arrays of levels 0, 1, 5, 10.

One of the features of the board is a large number of implemented USB ports. So, there are six USB 3.0 ports, six USB 2.0 ports and three USB 3.1 ports.

All USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports are implemented directly through the Intel Z370 chipset. Two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports are routed to the rear panel of the board, and to connect four more USB 2.0 ports and four USB 3.0 ports, the board has two USB 2.0 connectors and two USB 3.0 connectors (two ports per connector).

Two USB 3.1 ports brought out to the rear panel of the board are based on the ASMedia ASM3142 controller, which is connected to the chipset via two PCIe 3.0 lanes. One of these ports is Type-A and the other is Type-C.

The board also has one more vertical type connector (typical for Asus boards) for connecting the front USB 3.1 port, which is implemented on the basis of another ASMedia ASM3142 controller.

To connect to the network, the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board provides a gigabit network interface and a Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac wireless interface. The gigabit network interface is based on the Intel I219-V physical layer controller (used in combination with the chipset MAC-layer controller). The Wi-Fi module is based on the Realtek RTL8822BE controller. This module fits into a vertical type M.2 slot.

There are three PCI Express x16 slots, four PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots and two M.2 slots for installing video cards, expansion cards and drives on the board.

The first (if you count from the processor socket) slot with the PCI Express x16 form factor (PCIE_X16 / X8_1) is implemented on the basis of PCIe 3.0 processor lines and is a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot. This is a switchable slot that can operate at x16 / x8 speeds (the multiplexers-demultiplexers of the PCIe 3.0 ASMedia ASM1480 lines are responsible for switching lines).

The second slot with the form factor PCI Express x16 (PCIE_X8_2) is also implemented on the basis of PCIe 3.0 processor lines, but always works at x8 speed. In other words, this is a PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot, but in a PCI Express x16 form factor.

The third slot with the PCI Express x16 form factor (PCIE_X4) is based on the PCIe 3.0 chipset lanes and is a PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot, but in the PCI Express x16 form factor.

The operating mode of the PCIE_X4 slot based on PCIe 3.0 chipset lines is in no way related to the operation of the other slots based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines. The operating modes of the PCIE_X16 / X8_1 / PCIE_X8_2 slots, that is, slots based on 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lanes, can be as follows: x16 / -, x8 / x8.

The board supports Nvidia SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies and allows the installation of two Nvidia video cards (symmetric mode x8 / x8), as well as two or three (in x8 / x8 / x4 mode) AMD video cards.

PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots are implemented via Intel Z370 chipset.

In addition to PCI Express slots, there are two M.2 slots on the board, which are designed for SSD-drives with a size of 2242/2260/2280. One slot (M2_1) supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA drives, and the other (M2_2) supports PCIe 3.0 x4 drives only.

Like most boards, the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming model has 24-pin and 8-pin connectors for connecting a power supply. The on-board processor voltage regulator is controlled by the ASP1400BT PWM controller in combination with six MOSFET drivers. The power channels themselves use Vishay Intertechnology SiRA12DP and SiRA14DP MOSFETs.

The cooling system of the board consists of three radiators. Two heat sinks are located on two adjacent sides of the processor socket and are designed to remove heat from the MOSFETs of the processor voltage regulator. Another radiator has two parts. One part is intended for cooling the chipset, and the second part is for cooling the SSD-drive installed in the M.2_1 slot.

In addition, to create an efficient heat dissipation system, the board provides six four-pin connectors for connecting fans. Two connectors are for a processor cooler, two more for additional case fans. One connector can be used to connect the SVO pump, and another one - for the cooling fan of the SSD-drive installed in the M.2 connector. In addition, there is a connector for the Asus Fan Extension board (not included in the package), as well as a connector for a thermal sensor.

The audio subsystem of the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board is based on the Realtek ALC1220 codec and is isolated at the PCB layer level from other board components. The back panel of the board provides five audio connectors of the mini-jack type (3.5 mm) and one optical S / PDIF connector (output).

How it works

Now, after a brief acquaintance with the technical characteristics of the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board, let's see what is shared with what (if shared at all), that is, is there enough capabilities of the Intel Z370 chipset to implement the entire set of ports, slots and controllers that was discussed above, without dividing them with each other.

Recall that the Intel Z370 chipset has 30 high-speed input / output ports (HSIO), which can be PCIe 3.0, USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb / s ports. Some of the ports are strictly fixed, but there are HSIO ports that can be configured as USB 3.0 or PCIe 3.0, SATA or PCIe 3.0. Moreover, there can be no more than 10 USB 3.0 ports, no more than 6 SATA ports and no more than 24 PCIe 3.0 ports.

The chipset on the board implements: PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot, four PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots, two M.2 slots, a network controller, a Wi-Fi module and two ASMedia ASM3142 controllers. All of this together requires 22 PCIe 3.0 ports. In addition, six SATA ports and six USB 3.0 ports are involved, and this is another 12 HSIO ports. In other words, there are 34 HSIO ports in total. And we have not yet taken into account that one M.2 connector can work in SATA mode. It is clear that you cannot do without separating ports and connectors.

The M.2_1 connector is shared along the SATA line with the SATA # 1 port, that is, if the M.2 connector is used in SATA mode, then SATA # 1 will be unavailable. Conversely, if SATA port # 1 is used, then the M.2 connector is only available in PCIe 3.0 x4 mode.

The M.2_2 connector is shared with SATA # 5 and SATA # 6 ports as follows. The chipset's two HSIO ports can be configured as either two SATA ports (SATA # 5, SATA # 6), or as two PCIe 3.0 ports. If these ports are configured as two PCIe 3.0 ports, then in conjunction with two more PCIe 3.0 chipset ports we get four PCIe 3.0 ports, which are used for the M.2_2 slot in PCIe mode. If the ports SATA # 5 and SATA # 6 are used (that is, two HSIO ports of the chipset are configured as two SATA ports), then the M.2_2 connector is available only in PCIe 3.0 x2 mode. The operating mode of the M.2_2 connector is set in the BIOS settings.

In addition, one ASMedia ASM3142 controller, on the basis of which a vertical connector for connecting the front USB 3.1 port is implemented, is shared with two PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots (PCIE_x1_2 and PCIE_x1_4). The operating mode (slots PCIE_x1_2 and PCIE_x1_4 or ASMedia ASM3142 controller) is set in the BIOS settings.

Taking into account these divisions, the board uses all 30 high-speed ports of the chipset: 18 PCIe 3.0 ports, 4 SATA ports and 6 USB 3.0 ports. Two more chipset HSIO ports can be configured as either two SATA ports or two PCIe 3.0 ports.

The block diagram of the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board is shown in the figure.

Extra features

The Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board does not belong to the top segment and does not have many additional features. There is no indicator for POST codes, nor any buttons. There is only a CLRTC jumper for resetting BIOS settings and a two-position jumper CPU_OV, which allows you to set higher voltages on the processor during overclocking.

The only thing that can be noted is the implementation of the RGB backlighting of the connector panel shroud. The backlighting of the casing is quite bright and expressive. The backlight is configured traditionally using the Asus Aura Sync utility, which allows you to select the backlight color and various effects.

But nothing else is highlighted on the board.

In addition to illuminating the cover of the connector panel, the board has three connectors for connecting LED strips. Two four-pin connectors (12V / G / R / B) are intended for connecting LED strips with 12V power supply of the 5050 RGB LED type, and one three-pin (5V / D / G) connector is for connecting a WS2812B digital tape with individually addressable LEDs. The LED strips are controlled through the same Asus Aura Sync utility, which is used to control the board's backlighting.

Among the additional features, one can also note the presence of a five-pin connector for connecting the Fan Extension board, which allows you to connect additional fans and thermal sensors, as well as the presence of a connector for connecting a COM port (although hardly anyone needs it today).

And the last thing worth mentioning is the presence of special mounting holes for attaching modding elements made on a 3D printer to the board.

UEFI BIOS

Of course, there is nothing special that would not be on other Asus motherboards based on the Intel Z370 chipset, the UEFI BIOS of the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming board is not. Actually, it should be so. Everything is standard, typical and functional.

Diagnosis

Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming can be considered a classic solution based on the Intel Z370 chipset. On the one hand, it is quite simple (for a solution based on the Intel Z370 chipset), on the other hand, everything you need and even more is on the board.

Indeed, in addition to the traditional SATA ports, there are two M.2 connectors, which will create a very high performance storage subsystem. For example, two M.2 drives with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface can be combined into RAID 0 and use this array as a system drive, while slower, but capacious HDDs can be connected to SATA ports. However, even one M.2 drive with PCIe 3.0 x4 interface will be enough for a high-performance PC.

We add here the presence of modern USB 3.1 ports, the ability to install two video cards in Nvidia SLI or AMD CrossFireX mode, as well as the presence of a wireless Wi-Fi module.

If a K-series processor is used in combination with the board, the UEFI BIOS of the board provides excellent opportunities for overclocking the processor. In addition, you can create an efficient, customizable cooling system.

What distinguishes this board from top-end solutions is the lack of fancy backlighting, which, by the way, is not needed by everyone. However, the lack of fancy backlighting in this case does not mean, of course, that it cannot be created. The board has as many as three connectors for connecting LED strips. So lovers of transparent cases will have something to do here.

If you need a productive, functional computer without excessive show-off, then the Asus ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming is a great option. The retail cost of the board at the time of publication of the article was about 16 thousand rubles.

We have already received several new Asus Prime series motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset in our lab. But let's start our acquaintance with the new generation models with the ROG Strix series gaming board - Asus ROG Strix X299-E Gaming.