[section_title title=Conclusion]
Conclusion
Testing the very first Z170 ITX motherboard in the Play3r.net labs is over. It’s time to draw things to a close and to give the verdict for the ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING. Should it be an ITX board on your shortlist or should it be the one that you should perhaps give a miss? Let’s add up the pros and cons and get to the bottom of this one.
The ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING was most definitely a strong contender against more expensive motherboards, in both the performance and the features that are included on this particular model. From the 802.11AC Wi-Fi to the more basic things such as the USB ports, it really has it all, even an M.2 PCI-E slot! Expansion via the PCI-E lanes is limited due to the nature of ITX motherboards, but at least it has a full array of IO ports that are most likely not going to get used to their full potential by a large number of us, but it is always nice to have the option.
Performance wise, you really cannot complain as this motherboard is pretty much slap bang in the middle once all things level out. If it will remain like that as time goes by is anyone’s guess, but for now, that’s where it will remain. I know there is a Maximus VIII Impact just around the corner, so it will be interesting to compare the two against one another. As I’ve mentioned previously, the results are often within a fraction of a percent which makes the difference so close to call that they carry no real statistical significance. A motherboard isn’t entirely built up on the performance that it can offer to 99% of us, but rather on the features that it provides at a certain price point. Of course a performance aspect comes into play, but there’s no sense in having the best performing motherboard in one or two areas if it falls flat in all other areas. Luckily, the ASUS doesn’t fall flat and the performance is there, so it’s looking good for the Z170I PRO GAMING at the moment.
Aesthetically speaking, the board carries through the new PRO GAMING style that I expected to see, based on the ATX variant of this board that we saw before, the Z170 PRO GAMING. The subtle hints of red combined with black and grey have just the right balance to avoid making them look overdone. The design can often play a part in someone’s decision when they are purchasing a product, so it is essential to get this right. I feel that ASUS have executed their design well and that they have given the consumers something that they would want to buy.
Pricing an item is often down to what is on the board and the things that make a product what it should be. ITX components are always more expensive than their mATX or ATX counterparts, and that’s to be expected. Tiny components carry a premium charge, and that cannot be avoided. The ASUS Z170I PRO GAMING is set to retail at approx. £125, which in my eyes in a reasonable price for what it is, an ITX board with a whole host of features such as its 802.11AC wireless adapter and its nine phase power design that allows for some serious overclocking headroom.
If you were looking to build an ITX gaming rig and it had to be built now, is this the motherboard that you should consider? Well, you have not got a lot of choice in the matter as the Z170 ITX motherboard market is a little lacking at present, but that is due to change in the future. For now, the Z170I PRO GAMING has a lot to offer and it is one which I’d suggest you take a finer look at. It is able to overclock your i5 or i7 ‘K’ CPU without any hassle, it’s able to push your RAM frequencies high, it’s able to maintain such performance and it is able to offer you a vast amount of connectivity given it size. There’s even an M.2 PCI-E slot so that you can take advantage of one of the biggest features on the Intel Skylake platform. With all that we have seen, I feel as if it is time to give a final rating for the Z170I PRO GAMING.
The design of the motherboard is pretty close to an ideal ITX set up. I’ve got a Maximus VII Impact on loan from a friend and it is laid out a little better with regards to the 8 pin EPS and the four SATA ports, but that is a premium board that commands a much higher price tag (as will the VIII Impact). Believe it or not, you are able to fit some of the largest air coolers on the market to this board without any hassle. The only issue I can foresee is for those whom want to use more than just one or two SATA ports that are on the outer edge of the motherboard, as they are concealed by the fan/heatsink of a larger cooler. The performance falls roughly in the middle of the pack compared to larger motherboards, which is a little strange given that the smaller motherboards tend to outshine their bigger rivals, but it is ultimately down to just a few points or a fraction of a frame per second. Value wise, the price tag that of £125 is not yet set in stone (at the time of review) but if it does end up retailing for that when it hits the shelves, you cannot complain given that it offers so much. Until more of the ITX motherboards come to market from various manufacturers, it is tough to say what will happen to the pricing, but for now, it looks good as it is. I’m going to be awarding the Z170I PRO GAMING with a design award and a value award. It didn’t clinch the win in the performance sector, which is what let it down from being a 5/5 star performer. Don’t let that deter you, though, as it is still an excellent choice in the £125 price bracket.
Special thanks go to ASUS for providing us with a sample for today’s review.
