*1: The PCIe x16_3 slot shares bandwidth with SATA6G_56. Supports Intel InTru 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, InsiderĭP 1.2 Multi-Stream Transport compliant, supports DP 1.2 monitor daisy chain up to 3 displays Multi-VGA output support: HDMI/DisplayPort ports Integrated Graphics Processor - Intel HD Graphics support Note that we're showing it here with the optional fan it ships with a large hole in this section instead, making it look rather unsightly.Learn more about the ASUS SABERTOOTH Z170 S Model BrandĬeleron / Core i3 / Core i5 / Core i7 / Intel Core 6th Gen (LGA 1151) / Intel Core 7th Gen (LGA 1151) / Pentium DisplayPort and HDMI are sensible outputs from the processor's IGP while audio is provided by the ever-present ALC1150 Codec. On the back we have USB 3.1 in both Type-A and Type-C flavours from an ASMedia chipset. We're fans of onboard power and reset buttons for tinkering Asus leaves it out on this edition, sadly. They denote CPU, RAM, VGA, Boot and Power status and light up ice-white if the board passes each step. Not only would it help with massive cards, it looks good and would compliment the Z170S philosophy nicely.Īnother handy feature is the five LED lights on the southbridge. These include a full-length M.2 slot, SATA Express, three PCIe x16 slots for quad-SLI or CrossFire running (two cards), but the board, like most, remains limited in terms of electrical allocation per slot due to the LGA1151 chipset.Ī nice, big gap between the primary and secondary slots is always appreciated, but we reckon it makes sense for Asus to invest in some slot-strengthening technology such as Gigabyte has done recently. Considering the Z170S also possesses a 12-phase power supply, running this board at stock speeds misses the point almost entirely. What's also different from the norm is the optional cooling on the left-hand side, just above a large heatsink, where you can add an additional 40mm fan for extra airflow. Yet we believe the extra attention to the 24/7 nature of the board is telling in a different way: Asus says 'in our development labs we heat them, chill them, bend them, shock them and drop them - so you know that your TUF motherboard is certified for 24/7 durability!' and backs it up with a five-year warranty that is uncommonly good.Ĭomparing the quality and integration of cooling to a normal Asus motherboard - the Z170 Gamer in our instance - shows this is a better-built board. While documentation states that feature 'X' is 13.6 per cent better than normal and feature 'Y' last 5x as long as standard capacitors, we have yet to have any recent motherboard die on us. These include TUF alloy chokes, capacitors, Mosfets, electro-static discharge guard across four connectors, and beefier heatsinks. Rather than bore you with a list of features that are present on each and every Z170, emanating from the chipset, let's examine what's different enough for Asus to charge a £60 premium over a number of quality boards.Ī collection of enhanced cooling and power regulation is grouped under The Ultimate Force (TUF) banner. And if it's matching that's important, the Echelon GTX 950 is a purposely fine match. One would assume that Asus and Crucial have worked to together to some degree as the latter's Ballistix Sport LT is an almost-perfect aesthetic match. The Digital Camo livery is an acquired taste, but the board looks better in the flesh.
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