ASUS Intros Z270-WS Workstation Motherboard

btarunr · Feb 3, 2017

ASUS today unveiled the Z270-WS socket LGA1151 motherboard targeted at DIY workstation builds. Based on the Intel Z270 Express chipset, the board supports 7th generation Core "Kaby Lake" processors. What sets this board apart from most of the company's Z270 motherboard lineup is its PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express 3.0 x48 bridge chip. The board features a 12-phase CPU VRM with server-grade electrical components. The CPU socket is wired to four DDR4 DIMM slots, and three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots over the bridge chip (x16/NC/x16 or x16/x8/x8). The fourth x16 slot is electrical x4 and wired to the PCH. An open-ended PCI-Express 3.0 x4 completes the expansion area. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and 6-pin PCIe power connectors.

Storage connectivity on the Z270-WS includes six SATA 6 Gb/s, two 32 Gb/s M.2, and two 32 Gb/s U.2 ports. The board supports Intel Optane (3D X-point SSD) technology. Network connectivity includes two gigabit Ethernet interfaces, one driven by an Intel I210-AT controller, and another by Intel I210-LM. USB connectivity includes six USB 3.0 and four USB 3.1 ports (including one type-C port). The board offers 8-channel HD audio driven by a 115 dBA SNR CODEC. The company didn't reveal pricing.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

Ferrum Master · Feb 3, 2017

If it is a workstation... it doesn't need a tasteless WORKSTATION plate...

Like writing potato on a potato... It seems ASUS marketing doesn't get the idea that workstation market does not need bling.

pat-roner · Feb 3, 2017

Ferrum Master said:
If it is a workstation... it doesn't need a tasteless WORKSTATION plate...

Like writing potato on a potato... It seems ASUS marketing doesn't get the idea that workstation market does not need bling.

But don't you want a cooool workstation?

P4-630 · Feb 3, 2017

Cool! I can show-off this motherboard and the other hardware in a windowed case at the office!

Basard · Feb 3, 2017

Ferrum Master said:
If it is a workstation... it doesn't need a tasteless WORKSTATION plate...

Like writing potato on a potato... It seems ASUS marketing doesn't get the idea that workstation market does not need bling.

Well, how else are you going to know it's a workstation? Everything else on it screams "GAMING!"

Ferrum Master · Feb 3, 2017

Basard said:
Well, how else are you going to know it's a workstation? Everything else on it screams "GAMING!"

It does not need a windowed case in the first place... it is meant for WORK, not epeen...

So those kind of things... a miss... totally a miss.

Basard · Feb 3, 2017

Ferrum Master said:
It does not need a windowed case in the first place... it is meant for WORK, not epeen...

So those kind of things... a miss... totally a miss.

Now we get more wepeen!

pat-roner · Feb 3, 2017

But nothing screams workstation as 12 phase cpu vrm, and inefficient heatsinks

ShockG · Feb 3, 2017

I don't see why having "Workstation" on a motherboard is a problem especially if it's part of the official name. As to what people who use workstations care about, it is absurd to advocate for everybody based on one's own personal taste. For those who want a single socket workstation board these are great.
Want more server grade options for multi socket systems and "Workstation" on the board. You can always buy the ASUS ones here - https://www.asus.com/Commercial-Servers-Workstations/Commercial-Server-Motherboards-Products/

btarunr · Feb 4, 2017

IMO it isn't a true WS board unless it supports at least some Xeon chips.

ShockG · Feb 4, 2017

Well, it does use the parts they claim they use on their workstation/server grade platforms
For the same reason that the McLaren F1, didn't need to be capable of supporting any parts pulled from the MP4/13 or any of those Formula 1 cars. I believe ASUS is simply saying they have all the workstation support on this board that they have on the others that actually do support Xeon. Their boards were appropriately named before INTEL decided that you need a different chipset to support even single CPU Xeons. Either way there is a market for this, for sure

erixx · Feb 5, 2017

Only 6 SATA? A mini workstation with a maxi name plate!

Disparia · Feb 5, 2017

The name doesn't put me off that much. I'm filing it away in my memory for what it is, a decent Z270 board. Which IMO is more telling of the product than it's name or label.

System Name	RBMK-1000
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
Cooling	DeepCool Gammax L240 V2
Memory	2x 8GB G.Skill Sniper X
Video Card(s)	Palit GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GameRock
Storage	Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
Display(s)	BenQ 1440p 60 Hz 27-inch
Case	Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s)	ASUS SupremeFX S1220A
Power Supply	Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W
Mouse	ASUS ROG Strix Impact
Keyboard	Gamdias Hermes E2
Software	Windows 11 Pro

System Name	HELLSTAR
Processor	AMD RYZEN 9 5950X
Motherboard	ASUS Strix X570-E
Cooling	2x 360 + 280 rads. 3x Gentle Typhoons, 3x Phanteks T30, 2x TT T140 . EK-Quantum Momentum Monoblock.
Memory	4x8GB G.SKILL Trident Z RGB F4-4133C19D-16GTZR 14-16-12-30-44
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Pulse RX 7900XTX. Water block. Crossflashed.
Storage	Optane 900P[Fedora] + WD BLACK SN850X 4TB + 750 EVO 500GB + 1TB 980PRO+SN560 1TB(W11)
Display(s)	Philips PHL BDM3270 + Acer XV242Y
Case	Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO
Audio Device(s)	SMSL RAW-MDA1 DAC
Power Supply	Fractal Design Newton R3 1000W
Mouse	Razer Basilisk
Keyboard	Razer BlackWidow V3 - Yellow Switch
Software	FEDORA 41

Processor	Intel I7 6700
Motherboard	Msi Z170i Pro Gaming AC
Cooling	Be Quiet Shadow Rock LP
Memory	Corsair LPX 16GB
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte 980ti Extreme Gaming W3
Storage	Samsung Evo 850 500GB + 250GB
Display(s)	3x Dell Ultrasharp U2515H
Case	Ncase M1
Power Supply	Sharkoon Silentstorm SFX
Mouse	Logitech MX Master, Steelseries Rival 300
Keyboard	Corsair K65RGB
Software	Win 10

System Name	AlderLake
Processor	Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans
Memory	32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MT/s CL36
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2
Display(s)	23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p
Case	Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window
Audio Device(s)	Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W
Mouse	Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless
Keyboard	RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless
Software	Windows 11
Benchmark Scores	Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock

System Name	ChoreBoy
Processor	8700k Delided
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 Master
Cooling	420mm Custom Loop
Memory	CMK16GX4M2B3000C15 2x8GB @ 3000Mhz
Video Card(s)	EVGA 1080 SC
Storage	1TB SX8200, 250GB 850 EVO, 250GB Barracuda
Display(s)	Pixio PX329 and Dell E228WFP
Case	Fractal R6
Audio Device(s)	On-Board
Power Supply	1000w Corsair
Software	Win 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	A million on everything....

ASUS Intros Z270-WS Workstation Motherboard

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

Ferrum Master

pat-roner

P4-630

Basard

Ferrum Master

Basard

pat-roner

ShockG

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

ShockG

erixx

Disparia

Processor	Intel i5-6600
Motherboard	ASRock H170M-ITX
Cooling	Cooler Master Geminii S524
Memory	G.Skill DDR4-2133 16GB (8GB x 2)
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte R9-380X 4GB
Storage	Samsung 950 EVO 250GB (mSATA)
Display(s)	LG 29UM69G-B 2560x1080 IPS
Case	Lian Li PC-Q25
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC892
Power Supply	Seasonic SS-460FL2
Mouse	Logitech G700s
Keyboard	Logitech G110
Software	Windows 10 Pro