Introduction

This is the second newer Intel X99 motherboard I've had in my hands recently. ASRock's X99 Taichi isn't really all that different from the Fatal1ty-branded motherboard that will grace these pages soon, yet at the same time, it definitely is not the same board or design. This is the board for all you guys and gals who don't like black and red and aren't too fond of the huge number of gaming-focused products out there; the Taichi name says it all - it's got some graceful skills for you to put to use.

Intel's Broadwell-E platform is not the best choice for all users, but if you need the high core counts offered by Intel's HEDT platform, the ASRock X99 Taichi provides a great mix of focus and features to help you get exactly what you want out of your PC. Dual Intel NICs with Teaming, dual M.2 slots, an 8-layer PCB and steel-reinforced PCIe slots for your VGAs are all present, as is a decent VRM design and ready support for an AIO liquid cooler. We can't forget the built-in USB 3.1 Type-C and Wi-Fi support either.

Specifications