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Overview of the ASUS Prime Z270-A Motherboard

Today we’ll have a glance at one of the ASUS Prime series motherboards. The model having A- index has all the necessary basic features, when nothing has yet been simplified, the power subsystem seems to be good enough and there are no additional controllers of any sort.

Technical characteristics


We can see that the PCI, and SATA-E interfaces are already renounced, and the M.2 is increasing its presence. All the other main characteristics are listed below:

  • • Chipset – Intel Z270
  • • 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*/2666*/2800*/3000*/3200*/3300*/3333*/ 3400*/3466*/3600*/3733*/3866* (OC), a maximum of 64 GB
  • • PCI-E Slots – 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 (x16 + x0, x8 + x8)
  • 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)
  • • Processor integrated graphics core – Intel HD 510/530/610/630
  • • Video inputs – DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4b, DVI-D
  • • Number of connected fans – 6x 4pin,
  • 1x 5pin (Extension Fan connector)
  • • Ports PS/2 – 1 (keyboard/mouse)
  • • USB ports – 2 x 3.1 Gen2 (2 sockets on the rear panel (A and C), ASM2142)
  • 6 x 3.1 Gen1 (4 sockets on the rear panel, Z270)6 x 2.0 (no sockets on the rear panel, Z270)
  • • Serial ATA – 6 x SATA 6Gb/s (Z270)
  • • RAID – 0, 1, 5, 10 (SATA, Z270)
  • • Integrated audio – Crystal Sound 3 (7.1, HDA):
  • Codec – S1220 (Realtek ALC1220)
  • • S/PDIF – optical (out)
  • • Network capabilities – Intel I219V (Gigabit Ethernet)
  • • COM – 1 (internal)
  • • TPM – +
  • • UEFI – AMI UEFI
  • • Form Factor – ATX
  • • Dimensions, mm – 305 x 244
  • • Additional features – Thermal sensor connector, Thunderbolt header, buttons Start and MemOK!, EZ XMP switch, support for AMD 3-Way CrossFireX and NVIDIA 2-Way SLI, Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)

Equipment


The box is executed in the style characteristic of all the ASUS products, no drastic changes can be found here. On its back side there is a photo of the product and the table with its main features. The presence of the latest Realtek codec and availability of a branded lighting system AURA are emphasized.

The accessories’ kit is as follows:

  • • User’s guide with all UEFI subparagraphs described in detail (in English) and illustrated;
  • • QR-code DIY guide, leading to the page of the official website containing the detailed instructions for assembling a PC;
  • • Short multilingual user’s manual;
  • • Additional booklet with information about the need to comply with a number of safety measures during assembly and operation of the system;
  • • CD with drivers and proprietary software;
  • • Discount coupon for the procedure braiding wires (raundinga);
  • • Three SATA 6 Gb/s cables, one of which has an L-shaped connector on one end;
  • • Set of a pair of screws and racks M.2 format devices;
  • • Adapter for easy connection of ASUS Q-Connector case socket;
  • • Branded plastic processor tab;
  • • Dual hard SLI bridge;
  • • Case plug with the embossed symbols and icons denoting nests. The contact side is papered with noise absorbing material.

UEFI Features


The 3 EZ Flash utility integrated into the UEFI environment is used to upgrade the firmware. The simplified UEFI topic has a new and unusual note in its design – the space movement effect. All the functions planted here by engineers will be useful for the basic PC configuration.

The advanced display mode does not contain any distracting background content. Its structure is the same for all sorts of this manufacturer’s products. “My Favorites” section will be useful for the fans of experiments to collect there according to personal preferences all the UEFI items needed more frequently than the other ones.

Ai Tweaker is necessary to adjust the overclocked system. The composition of this section is not lopped, the settings are absolutely sufficient even for nitrogen experiments, not to mention the traditional cooling systems. Not so many ready-made profiles for the individual system components are included. The most important parameters and their values are as follows:

  • • BCLK Frequency (MHz) – adjustment range 40-650 and a step from 0.01 to 0.50
  • • CPU Core Ratio (Multiplier) with the adjustment range of 8-83 and a step of 1
  • • CPU Load-line calibration – Auto/Level1 through 7 and adjusting step of 1
  • • CPU Current Capability (%) – Auto/100 through 140 (step 10)
  • • CPU Core Voltage Override (V) – 0,6-1,7 (step 0,005)
  • • CPU Core Voltage Offset (B) – (±) 0,005-0,635 (step 0,005)
  • • CPU Cache Ratio (Multiplier) – 8-83 with an adjusting step of 1
  • • DRAM Frequency (MHz) – 800-3200 (step 100)
  • 800-4266 (step 133)
  • • DRAM Voltage (B) – 1,0032-2,0064 (step 0,0066)
  • • CPU System Agent Voltage (V) – 0,7-1,8 (step 0.0125)
  • • CPU VCCIO Voltage (V) – 0.9-1.8 (step 0.0125)
  • • PCH Core Voltage (V) – 0,7-1,8 (step 0,01)
  • • Max. CPU Graphics Ratio (Multiplier) – 1 (by CPU) – 60 (step 1)
  • • CPU Graphics Voltage Override (V) – 0,6-1,7 (step 0,005)
  • • CPU Graphics Voltage Offset (B) – (±) 0,005-0,635 (step 0,005)

Selection of operating modes for the drives, USB ports, lights, and other components is implemented in the “Advanced” paragraph.

The board already has information about the temperatures in the three components; the values can be used in the schemes of coolers operation. For all the six cooling units any type of control can be chosen: changing the voltage or the PWM duty cycle.

Auxiliary set consists of the following items:

  • • information viewers for the graphics subsystem and memory kit features
  • • safe cleaner for the SSD content
  • • wizard for saving the settings to one of the eight places in the memory or to an external drive.

Of course, there is also an EZ Flash.

Software Provided


There are no bright and unique tools offered as part of the accompanying software, but even though the set is quite traditional it is very diverse:

  • • Proprietary software: AI Suite 3 (Ai Charger, Dual Intelligent Processors 5, EZ Update, File Transfer, PC Cleaner, System Information), Boot Setting, Lighting Control (AURA), Product Registration Program
  • • Sound: DTS Audio
  • • Networking: Turbo LAN, WebStorage
  • • Optional: ASUS CPU-Z, DAEMON Tools Pro, Intel XTU

Most of the proprietary solutions are sheltered in AI Suite.

The Dual Intelligent Processors 5 plays the primary role and includes the following: TPU, Turbo App, EPU, Fan Xpert 4 and DIGI + VRM. A single wizard for configurating the entire system is offered. The EZ Update is provided to find fresh firmware or replace the start-up screen. Direct entry into the UEFI immediately after the restart is possible when using the Boot Setting.

Conclusions


ASUS Prime Z270-A is very similar to its predecessor. Slightly modernized is the set of interface sockets, but the tangible changes cannot be found. The newly included second port for M.2 devices pleases, but it is ant a breakthrough at all. The really interesting point for considerable number of future Z170-A owners is the PCI slot.

CPU frequency is at 4.5 GHz level which is highly effected by the step taken just immediately after the activation of XMP mode in the UEFI. Disclaiming MultiCore Enhancement allows the system to operate in a mode corresponding to the idea of Turbo Boost Technology. The product corresponds to all the announced characteristics:

  • • the memory operation is well-organized
  • • no problems with simple calculations are present
  • • higher efficiency in a more resource-intensive applications
  • • smooth performance in 3DMark.

Using the board for game scenarios is fully justified, there were noticed no anomalies of any kind. As for the energy consumption, the whole picture looks quite reasonable and nothing should cause any problems.

Sound implementation is better manifested in software products, and the board has no OSwhich affects the output signal. However, the steps taken show the clear progress in respect to ALC892. The network subsystem has no changes at all.

The opportunities of the UEFI system settings are quite wide. And special attention should be paid to the complex configuration of the cooling devices which is still the best in the market. Very nice the RAM is overclocked pretty well, the BCLK increase caused no problems as well.

The voltage regulation block is the most disturbing component as the changes have not benefitted it at all. The processor can be overclocked, but overheating comes under very small voltages. Of course, scalping allows to seriously reduce CPU heating, but the power quality will still remain the same, which is markedly inferior to the previously released Z270-based motherboards.

But still the correct operation with the standard settings is for Prime Z270-A. For serious overclocking this motherboard will not be the best choice, but working with the modes leaving the initial ones not far aside allows the beginners join the overclocking. There is a good master EZ Tuning Wizard included for them, which will offer a lot of options for a quick boost of a PC performance.
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  • 27 January 2017, 15:24
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