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ASUS has long been a favoured and renowned brand for mini-ITX motherboards and after testing the ROG Strix Z270i Gaming it is easy to see why this is the case. Out of the three mini-ITX motherboards KitGuru has tested so far for the Z270 chipset the ASUS motherboard is easily the best.
Performance across all mini-ITX motherboards for the Z270 chipset is largely the same but the ASUS motherboard manages to outperform rivals in regards to audio quality and in terms of M.2 performance since the innovative double decker chipset heatsink almost entirely prevents thermal throttling.
ASUS also offers more rear I/O connectivity, at the sacrifice of no USB 3.1-capable ports, though buyers will still be able to get USB 3.1 through the ASUS USB 3.1 header that can be expanded into a USB 3.1 port on a compatible chassis or front panel accessory. Keep in mind though that cases which support this are not yet mainstream and the front panel accessories can be pricey.
The inclusion of a second M.2 slot on mini-ITX motherboards is almost unheard of but yet again ASUS proves the point that these things are capable with enough research and development innovation.
The motherboard is well-built and styled with its neutral colour scheme and sharp looking heatsinks. Combine that with the functionally strong RGB lighting system, the software is still a little bit fiddly, and the ASUS motherboard is a good option for system builders looking to customise their PC.
In regards to cost, the price for this ASUS motherboard ranges from £180 to £200 ($170-190) making it broadly similar to the Gigabyte Z270N-Gaming 5 and MSI Z270i Gaming Pro Carbon AC, though it is about 5-10 per cent more expensive overall. That extra cost is easily justifiable.
The ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming is available at Overclockers UK for £199.99. ASUS offers a manufacturer warranty of 3 years with this product.
Pros:
- Double-Decker heatsink significantly reduces thermal throttling for M.2 drives
- Solid CPU power delivery system
- Dual M.2 slots
- Intuitive UEFI
- Good networking capability and number of rear USB ports
- Debug LEDs
Cons:
- No USB 3.1 Gen 2 on rear I/O
- Not as over-engineered as a Maximus IX Impact would be
KitGuru says: The best Z270 mini-ITX motherboard we've tested so far, the ASUS ROG Strix Z270i Gaming is an outstanding choice for compact system builders.
This needs to be released as a x370, and I would buy it instantly.