The ASUS Z170-A ATX Motherboard ties all your components together to create a PC system with the power of a 6th-generation Intel processor and DDR4 memory. It has an LGA1151 socket for a Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, or a Celeron processor and four DIMM slots, which can hold up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. Utilizing its M.2 and SATA Express connectors with high performance SSDs, this motherboard delivers data faster when compared to drives connected via SATA III.
The Z170-A motherboard supports integrated Intel HD Graphics or dedicated graphics cards linked via SLI or CrossFireX technology. It comes outfitted with three PCI Express 3.0 x16 and three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots as well as a PCI slot. To complete the multimedia experience, this motherboard comes built with Realtek ALC892 that offers immersive sounds through five audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF out port. To quickly transfer data to external drives, it comes with 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 type-A and type-C ports. It also has a total of six SATA III 6 Gb/s ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and two USB 2.0 ports as well as a PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port and an Intel I219V Gigabit LAN port.
5-Way Optimization
The Z170-A motherboard dynamically optimizes essential aspects of your system based on real-time use to provide CPU performance, everyday energy savings, ultra-stable digital power, and cool and quiet fans. It even adjusts the networking and audio settings for the apps that you are using. In short, 5-Way Optimization ensures that your PC is suitable for gaming, entertainment, productivity, or just about anything else.
- Games run swiftly and smoothly with high performance, prioritized bandwidth, and clear sound
- Fans stay whisper-quiet for everyday computing and ensure cooling efficiency when gaming
- Helps prevent stutter when running professional apps and heavy loading
- Energy waste is reduced so you'll save money
TurboV Processing Unit
Increase the system's performance by using the two-phase on-board switch or the AI Suite 3 utility software. The TurboV Processing Unit (TPU) offers precise voltage control and advanced monitoring for the CPU and graphics card, enabling you to adjust CPU frequencies and ratios for optimized performance and exploit the potential out of your graphics card.
Energy Processing Unit
This Energy Processing Unit (EPU) automatically detects and adjusts the power consumption based upon the system's needs. It can reduce the CPU wattage to a set level or even provide more savings with Away Mode, which creates an extreme energy-saving scenario by shutting down unused extra I/O controllers and reduces the power level in graphics cards.
Fan Xpert 3
With thermal sensors and hardware-level 4-pin/3-pin PWM/DC mode detection, Fan Xpert 3 helps ensure each fan achieves the best balance of cooling performance and low noise.
- Dedicated water-pump header for water-cooling efficiency
- Auto-Tuning Mode: Scans and detects all fan characteristics for single-click customization
- Extreme Quite Mode: Reduces the CPU fan speed to below the default minimum, for quiet operation and power savings during light loads
- RPM Fixed Mode: Lowers noise levels to near-0dB silence, allowing to you fix the fan's speed
ASUS PRO Clock technology
ASUS offers a dedicated base-clock (BCLK) generator designed for 6th-generation Intel processors so you can overclock the base clock frequencies up to or beyond 400 MHz. This custom solution works with the ASUS TurboV Processing Unit to enhance voltage and base-clock overclocking control.
DDR4
Second-generation ASUS T-Topology enables DDR4 memory overclocking to reach over 3400 MHz with all memory slots populated. Featuring a customized trace layout for reduced crosstalk and coupling noise, this T-Topology ensures time-aligned signal transfers for improved memory stability and compatibility.
M.2/NVMe PCIe RAID Support
This motherboard allows you to build a RAID 0 array using two PCIe storage drives.
SATA Express Support
Some SSDs consume up to 550 MB/s, which is close to saturation point for SATA III 6 Gb/s connections. The SATA Express port is backwards compatible, which can support up to two SATA drives.
M.2 Slot
With x4 PCI Express 3.0/2.0 bandwidth, M.2 supports up to 32 Gb/s data-transfer speeds. It is suitable for use as an operating system or application drive connection, making your whole PC work that much faster.
USB 3.1 Onboard
This motherboard comes with a USB 3.1 type-A port and a reversible USB 3.1 type-C port. These ports transfer data at rate up to 10 Gb/s, which is twice as fast as USB 3.0. The USB 3.1 type-A port is even backwards compatible with your existing USB devices. ASUS also provides USB 3.1 Boost technology that automatically accelerates USB 3.1 performance even further.
UEFI BIOS
The BIOS offers a mouse-controlled graphical interface along with EZ and Advanced Modes so you can find your way quickly and easily.
EZ Mode
Advanced Mode
- EZ Flash 3 - lets you update the BIOS via the Internet and from within the BIOS
- S.M.A.R.T - checks your device's Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology logs to gauge reliability and even determine if they're about to fail
- EZ Tuning Wizard - OC and RAID - allow you to select your hardware and apply different scenarios to tune system performance or streamline your RAID configuration
- My Favorites - provides a list that contains your preferred tuning options and tools
EZ Mode
- Intuitive Graphical Fan Control: Adjusts the spin speed for each fan by dragging a curve with the mouse
- EZ XMP Settings: Improve DRAM performance
- SATA Information: Each SATA port has details displayed, so you can easily recognize devices
- Fast Clock Adjustment: Change the time and date in EZ Mode using the mouse
Advanced Mode
- GPU Port: Automatically detect selected ASUS graphics cards to view detailed information
- Secure Erase: Restores your SSDs to the day you first received them
- Last Modified Log: Track last change and save preferred profiles onto a USB drive
- SATA Port Renaming: Rename the SATA ports for easy identification
Crystal Sound 3
- Power pre-regulator - reduces power-input noise to ensure consistent performance
- Audio shielding - ensures analog/digital separation and reduces multi-lateral interference
- Separate layers for left and right tracks deliver consistent and equal quality
- EMI protection - prevents electrical noise to preserve audio quality
- Japanese-made audio capacitors - provide warm, natural, and immersive sound with clarity and fidelity
- De-pop circuit - reduces start-up popping noise to all audio outputs
- Audio amplifier - produces quality sound for headphone and speakers
Intel Ethernet
The built-in Intel Ethernet controller reduces the processor's overhead and offers high TCP and UDP throughput.
Turbo LAN
This network-optimization software features cFosSpeed traffic-shaping technology that provides lag-reducing support as well as an intuitive user interface. It allows a basic user to lower lag up to 1.45 times and offers an Advanced mode for experts.
LANGuard
Signal-coupling technology and premium anti-EMI surface-mounted capacitors improve throughput and a more reliable connection, while surge-protected and electrostatically-guarded components protect your motherboard from surges and static electricity.
Wi-Fi GO
Wi-Fi GO gives you control of your PC, even when you're away from home. Access your forgotten files on your PC with an Internet connected device while you are in traffic or outside. Plus, there is only one step if you'd like to manage all your public clouds or sync files among your PC and devices in a click.
- CloudGO!: Gather your ASUS WebStorage, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive accounts in one place and even backup to PC at the same time
- File Transfer: Sync files between your PCs and smart devices with just a click
- Remote Desktop: Easily access and control your PC, virtually anytime and anywhere
- Remote Keyboard and Mouse: Control media playback from the comfort of your bed or couch
- Media Streamer: Streams the content on your PC or online storage to your connected devices
- Mobo Connect: Allows you to share the PC's keyboard and mouse with your smart device or streams audio playback from a smart device to a PC. It even charges your mobile devices
Hardware Safeguards
ASUS has designed this motherboard with 5X Protection II that employs reliable components and an efficient circuit design as well as exacting standards to provide long-term durability and all-round protection.
Easy PC DIY
- CPU Installation Kit: Helps ensure your processor is installed correctly
- PC Cleaner: Cleans up unused, unwanted files and programs that take up space on your storage drives so you can work faster and startup quicker
- Q-DIMM: One-sided clips can be push down for easily removing RAM modules
- Q-Slot: The PCI slots feature large-winged clips so you can easily remove your PCI express cards
- Q-Connector: This one-piece plug helps you connect the wires to the motherboard
- Q-LED: Informs you of problems with the CPU, memory, graphics card, or boot device
Intel Z170 Express Chipset
The Intel Z170 Express features a single-chipset design that supports 6th-generation Intel LGA1151 Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, and Celeron processors. It provides improved performance by utilizing serial point-to-point links, allowing increased bandwidth and stability. It also supports integrated-graphics (iGPU) functions, so you'll enjoy Intel's integrated graphics performance. This motherboard has four USB 3.0 ports and two internal USB 3.0 connectors, which support four additional USB 3.0 ports. It features four SATA III 6 Gb/s ports, four two-channel DDR3L DIMM slots, and three PCI Express 3.0 slots as well as a 32 Gb/s M.2 interface for faster data retrieval.