High-value ASRock Z170 Extreme4 Motherboard Detailed

[btarunr]

ASRock is seeking to strike a cost-features sweet-spot around the $130-150 mark with the new Z170 Extreme4 motherboard. ASRock didn't finalize the board's heatsink design, but showed it off at Computex. This ATX form-factor, socket LGA1151 motherboard based on Intel's Z170 Express chipset, features four DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR4-3400 MHz memory. A 10-phase VRM powers the CPU. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors; and with this generation, is appears that ASRock has finally got the onboard electrical distribution right; with the board lacking any additional power inputs.

Expansion slots include two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x16/NC or x8/x8), one PCI-Express x16 (electrical x4) wired to the PCH, and three PCIe 3.0 x1 slots. Much like the beefier Z170 Extreme7, this board offers three SATA-Express 16 Gb/s ports, but just one M.2 (32 Gb/s) slot; and six SATA 6 Gb/s ports. All other essentials for this generation are covered, with two USB 3.1 ports (one each of Type-C and Type-A), and eight USB 3.0 (four on the rear panel, four by headers); 115 dBA SNR onboard audio with a headphones amp and ground-layer isolation; and a single gigabit Ethernet interface (Intel controller).



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[Juventas]

PS/2 ports still...? Ugh.

 

[newtekie1]

is appears that ASRock has finally got the onboard electrical distribution right; with the board lacking any additional power inputs.

That is the wrong way to do it. Any board that is intended for more than one high end graphics card should have an additional power input for the PCI-E slots. The 24-pin simply can't supply sufficient +12v power for more than 1 high draw card.

 

[Nordic]

PS/2 ports still...? Ugh.

I for one am really happy they include those.

 

[tomkaten]

PS/2 ports still...? Ugh.

PS/2 is still the best port for keyboards/mice, is it not ? Full anti-ghosting on most mechanical keyboards needs PS/2, so...

 

[newtekie1]

Full anti-ghosting on most mechanical keyboards needs PS/2, so...

There are USB keyboards with 104-key Rollover, the need for PS/2 with modern keyboards is pretty much gone. But there are a lot of people that still use PS/2 Model M keyboards and stuff. Not to mention a lot of people using PS/2 based KVMs.

 

[Caring1]

That is the wrong way to do it. Any board that is intended for more than one high end graphics card should have an additional power input for the PCI-E slots. The 24-pin simply can't supply sufficient +12v power for more than 1 high draw card.

It shouldn't have to if the cards have sufficient power through the peripheral connections.

 

[newtekie1]

It shouldn't have to if the cards have sufficient power through the peripheral connections.

Nope. Regardless of the peripheral connector setup, the card is still allowed to draw up to 75w from the PCI-E slot, and high draw cards often do.

The 24-Pin only has 2 wires for the +12v, it is only good for 75w. So if you have two cards, both drawing near 75w each, those two wires and the pins in the connectors get pretty toasty.

 

[Nordic]

Not to mention a card like the 750ti which does not have peripheral connections.

 

[Juventas]

I for one am really happy they include those.

For vintage keyboards? Mechanical mice? Please, do tell...

 

[Nordic]

For vintage keyboards? Mechanical mice? Please, do tell...

I am a cruncher, so I have more than one computer. I have 5 right now. 3 of them sit in a corner and crunch untouched. I have a few older mice and keyboards, but no older than 5 years, that I use for those computers. Not exactly vintage. I would rather upgrade those computers than buy new mice and keyboards.

 

[Juventas]

I have a few older mice and keyboards, but no older than 5 years, that I use for those computers.

5 years? I think time slips by faster than you think. Let's hop into a time machine.

On May 2010, the only mentioned of "PS/2" on Logitech's website was this guy. It's a USB mouse with a PS/2 adapter.

On June 2005, it was still the same story. USB mice with PS/2 adapters, such as this white and grey beauty. On June 2003, wheels are all the rage, but even the First Wheel Mouse is USB with a PS/2 adapter.

Admittedly, it's not impossible to find discontinued PS/2-only mice for sale even today. The point is, USB has the de facto standard for at least 12 years.

 

[Nordic]

They are less than 5 years old. I didn't start collecting parts till 5 years ago. It doesn't even matter how old they are though. The fact is I have use of them, and choose motherboards that have ps/2 connectors.

 

[deemon]

On May 2010, the only mentioned of "PS/2" on Logitech's website was this guy. It's a USB mouse with a PS/2 adapter.

On June 2005, it was still the same story. USB mice with PS/2 adapters, such as this white and grey beauty. On June 2003, wheels are all the rage, but even the First Wheel Mouse is USB with a PS/2 adapter.

Admittedly, it's not impossible to find discontinued PS/2-only mice for sale even today. The point is, USB has the de facto standard for at least 12 years.

Because Logitech is the only mice and keyboard manufacturer? Several low-cost (and quite often no-name) mice manufacturers still TODAY make PS/2 mice:

http://www.sweex.com/en/notebook-pc-accessoires/muizen/MI510/
http://www.gembird.com/item.aspx?id=7907
http://www.gembird.com/item.aspx?id=3428
http://www.4world.pl/categories/product/38/201/
http://www.geniusnet.com/wSite/ct?xItem=16501&ctNode=104
http://www.geniusnet.com/wSite/ct?xItem=16529&ctNode=104
http://www.geniusnet.com/wSite/ct?xItem=16497&ctNode=104

 

[Juventas]

Alright, I concede. Long live PS/2!

I will just add that, back in 2000 (15 years ago), Microsoft and Intel published something called the "PC 2001 System Design Guide". In this guide, PS/2 was dropped and referred to as a "legacy" connection.

 

[Nordic]

If it makes you feel better, I will agree that usb is the superior connection interface.

 

[rooivalk]

PS/2 ports still...? Ugh.

- Usually only more expensive USB keyboards allow you to do more than 3-6KRO. Not the case with PS/2. This port may prevent you to spend more just for compatibility sake.
- Sometimes my USB keyboard doesn't work in BIOS/POST environment. At that time my old PS/2 keyboard is never fail.
- In theory, with shitload of USB peripherals working at the same time, it's possible to run out USB bandwith leading to irresponsive mouse/keyboard. I'm sure it'll be rare case though.

Besides, it's only a small cute pastel colored port. DVI/DSUB combo is far more annoying.

Oh, and about Logitech thingie. I'm pretty sure when I started my office back in 2009, we bought plenty of PS/2 only Logitech mouse. Not sure the model but it's pretty basic and it's black. I think different country has different products after all.

 

[Chaitanya]

- Usually only more expensive USB keyboards allow you to do more than 3-6KRO. Not the case with PS/2. This port may prevent you to spend more just for compatibility sake.
- Sometimes my USB keyboard doesn't work in BIOS/POST environment. At that time my old PS/2 keyboard is never fail.
- In theory, with shitload of USB peripherals working at the same time, it's possible to run out USB bandwith leading to irresponsive mouse/keyboard. I'm sure it'll be rare case though.

Besides, it's only a small cute pastel colored port. DVI/DSUB combo is far more annoying.

Oh, and about Logitech thingie. I'm pretty sure when I started my office back in 2009, we bought plenty of PS/2 only Logitech mouse. Not sure the model but it's pretty basic and it's black. I think different country has different products after all.

For keyboards you forgot that n-key rollover is only properly supported by PS/2 and provides a direct hardware interrupt to CPU where USB doesnt have both of those essential features.

 

[micropage7]

the sata ports? make it right angle

 

[Toothless]

One VRM is not like the others.

 

[efikkan]

PS/2 is still the best port for keyboards/mice, is it not ? Full anti-ghosting on most mechanical keyboards needs PS/2, so...

You are right. In order to have low latency and NKRO you need a good keyboard controller and an interface supporting it. The problem with most USB keyboards is they support the old USB 1.1 HID protocol for keyboards from the 90s, which is limited to 6 keys plus special keys, and have a very high latency. Some keyboards have over the years experimented with non-standardized protocols to achieve NKRO, the support among chipset has varied and some needed special drivers. Some keyboards like the new Das Keyboard claim NKRO with an USB 3 controller. Hopefully we can soon have a standardized implementation on USB 3.x which we know will work perfectly across cipsets from a certain point and forward. Also, the implementation should drop the back-and-forth acks on packets to reduce latency. But until then, the PS/2 port i still needed.

 

[AsRock]

A total fail to me as those SATA plugs are terrible. So glad i am not in the market for a new PC if that's what they got to offer.

 

[newtekie1]

A total fail to me as those SATA plugs are terrible. So glad i am not in the market for a new PC if that's what they got to offer.

How so?

 

[deemon]

am I missing something, but I count only 2 sata ports on bottom right on the motherboard... where are the other 4?

 

[Caring1]

the sata ports? make it right angle

They are under that stupid placement for the USB C flag, right where they normally are.