ASRock Z170A-X1/3.1 delivers USB 3.1 for under $100

ASRock is rolling out its Z170A-X1/3.1 motherboard, a new LGA1151 model with a sub-$100 price. The Z170A-X1/3.1 supports Intel's Skylake processors, offers four DDR4 slots with support for up to 64GB of dual-channel memory clocked, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots, and USB 3.1 ports. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, and has 5-phase VRM for the CPU.

Expansion slots on the Z170A-X1/3.1 include one PCI-Express 3.0 x16 wired to the CPU, a PCIe 3.0 x16 (electrical x4), wired to the Z170 PCH, and three other PCIe 3.0 x1 ports. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s ports. The centerpiece of this board's feature-set is its pair of 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 ports, including a type-A, and a type-C. There are eight other USB 3.0 ports, six on the rear panel, two by headers. Gigabit Ethernet, driven by an Intel-made controller, and 6-channel HD audio with ground layer isolation, make for the rest of it.

Exact pricing and availability is unknown. Design-wise the board looks a bit strange with those wheels near the CPU area, it seems the designers wanted to give the PCB a racing-look.



Via: TPU