Overview of the Motherboard ASUS ROG Strix H270F Gaming

The previous generation of LGA1151 motherboards from ASUS numbered several «gaming» models, which stood out among others with the designation Pro Gaming. Now, with the advent of new chipsets from Intel, the company's specialists decided to allocate such products to a separate segment, assigning them the name ROG Strix.

The main bias of these models is not based on overclocking capabilities, but on the hard- and software component related to the increased requirements of users to create the necessary atmosphere when working with a PC. So, on the background of conventional boards, the difference will be in the audio and network nodes. The brand RGB-backlighting AURA is realized here to the full extent as well.

Main Characteristics

Chipset: Intel H270
Processor socket: Socket 1151
Processors: Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, Celeron (Skylake-S, Kaby Lake-S)
Memory: 4 DIMM DDR4 SDRAM 2133/2400, a maximum of 64 GB
PCI-E slots: 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16
1 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 (x4)
4 x PCI Express 3.0 x1
M.2: 1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 (Key M, 2242/2260/2280/22110)
1 x PCI Express 3.0 x4 (Key M, 2242/2260/2280)
Built-in video core (in the processor): Intel HD 510/530/610/630
Video slots: DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4b, DVI-D
Connected fans number: 5x 4pin, 1x 5pin (Extension Fan connector)
PS/2 ports: 1 (keyboard/mouse)
USB ports: 2 x 3.1 Gen2 (2 connectors on the rear panel (A and C), ASM2142)
6 x 3.1 Gen1 (2 connectors on the rear panel, H270)
8 x 2.0 (4 connectors on the rear panel, H270)
Serial ATA: 6 x SATA 6 Gb / s (H270)
RAID: 0, 1, 5, 10 (SATA, H270)
Built-in sound: SupremeFX (7.1, HDA)
Codec – S1220 (Realtek ALC1220)
Op Amp – Texas Instruments RC4580 and OPA1688
S/PDIF: Optical (output)
Networking: Intel I219V (Gigabit Ethernet)
COM: 1 (internal)
TPM: +
UEFI: AMI UEFI
Form factor: ATX
Dimensions, mm: 305x244
Additional features: Lighting Control Center (ROG Aura lighting system including Aura RGB Strip Header), Thermal sensor connector, 3D Print ready (support for attaching products from 3D printers), support for AMD 2-Way CrossFireX, Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)

Packing and Equipment

The product is supplied in a medium-sized box. Its front side shows where exactly the main board backlighting node is located – on its right end.

Among the main features indicated here are the sound part and the availability of a pair of compact M.2. Also, there is a photo of the device and a table with its main characteristics on the back side of the box.

The provided accessories are as follows:

• • user guide that details and illustrates the UEFI items (in English);
• • set of labels with various images of the ROG Strix series;
• • disk with drivers and firmware;
• • set of ROG labels for cables;
• • screws and racks for mounting decorative elements, as well as for devices in the M.2 format;
• • case cover, supplemented with a sticker in black tones with a symbolic designation of all nests; its back part is covered with a noise-absorbing material;
• • extension cable for LED strip;
• • four SATA 6Gb/s cables, two of which have a L-shaped connector at one end.

Outlook

The board is manufactured in full ATX format and contains nine points for fixing in a case. There are no decorative linings, as well as no switches or buttons, even the proprietary MemOK has disappeared.All the coolers are fixed with screws. The audio part is not equipped with backlighting, since all twelve RGB type LEDs are shifted to the memory slot. The hub radiator is massive and there is no backlighting here as well.There are six transverse SATA sockets. Simple access is provided to any of them, due to the single execution of each. A pair of M.2 slots is provided.Following ASRock, ASUS technicians decided to solder chips with firmware, so now all the leading manufacturers are in equal conditions. Through the case cables, additional operation of four USB slots of both the second and third generations can be provided.Control of the initialization phase of the equipment is facilitated by Q-LED technology, four indicators of different color are placed on the top of the board.The reinforced PCI-Ex16 slot works with the processor, and the rest – with the H270 hub.The audio part includes the Realtek ALC1220 codec and two OCs of different models; one of them works with the front case panel and the other one with the rear socket.Two separate radiators in the VRM zone, although massive, are not too high, so there should not be any problems when installing a cooling system for the CPU.The stabilizer circuit is very similar to the one used in middle price range of ASUS boards, with one unexpected change. The integrated GP will now work only with the only single-phase stabilizer including three power packs. And the CPU, as before, works with the support of the four-channel one, where the number of elements has doubled totaling sixteen. PWM controller is ASP1400BT, there are five external drivers nearby. Almost all assembly models are NTMFS4C09B, and only two of the GPU's structure are NTMFS4C06B. Manufacturer – ON Semiconductor.At the rear part there are a sufficient number of USB ports of different generations, three digital video outputs, five audio jacks, there is also S/PDIF. It is quite a great set.

UEFI Features

Microcode updates for this model are few. Among UEFI's proprietary features there is a utility for performing the update procedure, it is called EZ Flash.There is a simplified environment for conducting basic system settings called EZ Mode.In the Advanced mode all the proprietary developments, such as the ability to form a list of items the user needed (although it is difficult to understand who might need it with such a product) are saved.There is also a section for overclocking. The increase in the multiplier for the CPU is limited by its passport data; memory will not be overclocked either, although the frequency exceeding the 4 GHz limit is formally permissible for installation. The reference change does not work at all (the item is completely absent). The proprietary overclocking mechanism (TPU) does not exist either. However, it is possible to change all important system voltages; there is also access to RAM delay settings, their decrease can be used as a means of improving the performance of the PC.Among the periphery settings it is difficult to note something unusual; the backlighting here can only be turned off.Additional features include support for an external temperature sensor, which can be used in scenarios to reduce the coolers speed, as well as readiness to work with an additional controller, which will ensure the operation of three more fans with full access to their parameters. The data is processed by the board and is available for observation, and control over a large number of system voltages also applies here.At each fan socket both reducing voltage and changing the value of the PWM duty cycle can be supplied which means that any cooler can be slowed down.

Proprietary Software

Software support is one of the main advantages of the product:
• • Proprietary: AI Suite 3 (Ai Charger, Dual Intelligent Processors 5, EZ Update, File Transfer, PC Cleaner, System Information), Boot Setting, EZ Installer, Lighting Control (AURA), Product Registration Program, RAMCache II, ROG Connect Plus
• • Sound: Sonic Radar III, Sonic Studio III
• • Network: GameFirst IV, Overwolf, WebStorage
• • Additional: Clone Drive, DAEMON Tools Pro, Intel XTU, ROG CPU-Z, WinZip
The main losses are as follows: KeyBot II (a utility for composing macros), RAMDisk and USB BIOS Flashback (firmware recovery).Downloading the latest version of the drivers and checking the actuality of the firmware is possible using EZ Installer.

Conclusion

The new series of devices ROG Strix has a slightly improved set of delivery in comparison with conventional products, greater care for cooling power elements, use condensers with a longer service life. The advantages of the series are program bonuses for network and sound adapters. UEFI features are wide, there is a chance to improve the performance of DRAM by reducing delays, and the auxiliary voltage values will help in this.A separate strength of the device is the adjustment of the operation of the five coolers, for which it is possible to rely on both reducing their supply voltage and the PWM duty cycle. To form scenarios three system temperatures can be used, as well as the value from the connected remote sensor (not included in the supplied equipment).