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It has become increasingly difficult for motherboard vendors to differentiate premium models not only from other products in their own range but also from products from rival companies. A large part of the reason for this is that so much previously high-end or exclusive connectivity is now integrated into Intel's chipset as standard. When virtually every Z270 motherboard from the entry-level, bar a few exceptions, has USB 3.1, USB Type-C and M.2 NVMe as well as USB 3.0, SATA III and DDR4 it's challenging to persuade consumers to part with more money for premium models.
ASRock's approach to differentiation with the Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7 has been to focus on storage and networking connectivity. That's a different strategy to that which ASUS took with it's similar-priced Maximus IX Apex or that MSI took with its similarly positioned Z270 Gaming M7.
The result of ASRock's unique decisions is that the Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7 does differentiate itself from the competition as it offers many unique things including ten SATA ports, three M.2 ports and three Ethernet connections – two Gigabit, one five-gigabit. Even though we've not been able to test the 5Gbe controller, since consumer availability of 5Gbe devices is basically non-existent, ASRock's design choice is unique and does future proof the board's connectivity.
The Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7 is an interesting and well-rounded motherboard, even if it's positioning as a gaming motherboard is somewhat dubious. Not only does it hold sway with its unique storage and networking capabilities but it's also a solid motherboard for overclocking with onboard buttons and debug tools as well as a premium power delivery system. The UEFI does need some work in terms of voltage operation modes and the translation of UEFI VCore values into actual VCore values, but this is easily fixed via a UEFI update.
There are a number of minor flaws elsewhere that need to be taken into consideration though. While there is an abundance of connectivity, especially for storage, there are complex bandwidth sharing rules that mean when certain connections are being used others are disabled. ASRock does communicate these in its specifications but a wiring diagram would go a long way to clear up any potential confusion among customers.
Furthermore, the focus on providing best-in-class networking connectivity on the rear I/O has inevitably resulted in fewer USB ports being available. There are ample front headers to make up for this but most PC cases will struggle to find use for three USB 2.0 headers and two USB 3.0 headers, so there is still a slight USB deficit in practice.
ASRock should also have better utilised space on the motherboard to add more fan headers, 5 fan headers is a little stingy for a motherboard of this calibre, the ASUS Maximus IX Apex has 10 and the MSI Z270 Gaming M7 has 6. The location of the water pump fan header, all the way at the bottom of the motherboard next to the SATA ports, left us a bit baffled too.
On the whole the Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7 is a worthy contender in the premium motherboard market for consumers with a keen interest in storage and networking. It's on the expensive side but that expense is understandable and justified given how much hardware ASRock has invested into the design.
The ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Professional Gaming i7 is available at Scan for £273.98. ASRock’s standard warranty duration for this product is 2 years.
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Pros:
- Impressive networking connectivity – dual 1 gigabit, 5 gigabit and 802.11ac WiFi with Bluetooth 4.0
- Ample storage connectivity – three M.2 and ten SATA III
- Strong power delivery system
- Onboard buttons, debug LED and reinforced PCIe lanes
- Pleasant aesthetic with easy to use RGB LED system
Cons:
- Quirk with fixed VCore values and some voltage operational modes not available
- Complex bandwidth sharing caveats for users to figure out
- Low on rear USB ports because of networking connections
- Needs more fan headers, water pump header location is questionable
KitGuru says: The ASRock Fatal1ty Z270 Gaming i7 is a strong contender in the premium motherboard market thanks to its unique networking and storage capabilities.
Might just grab this one, and Im thinking to get the next 580 Red Devil, will be a very good devilish looking match 😀
It’s damn beautiful mobo, just got time last wk.. you cannot go wrong.
Regarding the questionable fan/water pump header location. There is one right under the power 8pin connector. The one at the bottom could be used for another water cooling circuit (GPU).