Intel Z270 Motherboard Round-Up: MSI, Gigabyte, And ASUS Offerings For Kaby Lake
Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 Motherboard In Detail
Gigabyte’s Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 is currently the lowest priced board we'll be showing you here today. Though it is available for under $160 at the moment, it features a ton of sought-after features, typically found on more expensive boards. In fact, a muted color scheme and fewer LEDs are the main differences between this board and the company’s pricier Aorus Gaming 7, which makes the K5 a tempting and more affordable option for gamers on a tight budget.
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| CPU: | Intel Core i7 processors - LGA1151 |
| Chipset: | Intel Z270 Chipset |
| Multi GPU: | Supports NVIDIA 2-Way GPU SLI Technology Supports AMD 2-Way CrossFireX Technology |
| Memory: | 4 x DIMM, 64GB max Dual-Channel DDR4 up to 3866MHZ OC |
| Audio: | 8-Channel Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5 + ALC 1220 120DB SNR HD Audio w/ Built-in Rear Audio Amp |
| Connectivity: | LAN: Killer Ethernet GbE |
| Slots: | 3x PCIE 3.0 slots (x6/x8/x4) 3 x PCIe 3.0 x1 Slots |
| Storage: | 1 x NVMe U.2, 2 x M.2 supports, 6 x SATA3 6Gb/s port(s), 3 x SATA Express ports |
| USB 3.1: | 4 x USB 3.1 w/ USB Type-C support |
| USB 2.0: | 6 x USB 2.0 ports (4x via internal header) |
| Form Factor: | ATX 305cm x 244cm |
| Price: | $159.99 Amazon |
Standout features on the Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 include 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (x6/x8/x4), a single x1 PCIe slot, support for two M.2 SSDs plus a U.2 NVMe SSD, and dual yellow-colored Gen 1 5Gbps USB 3.1 ports on the rear I/O panel that feature USB DAC-UP 2 support, which supplies cleaner power to USB audio devices like headsets, speakers and mics.
There are two more standard Type-A USB 3.1 ports, a blue 5Gbps port mounted above a red 10Gbps Gen 2 port, and a 10Gbps USB 3.1 Type-C connector sits to right of those. Overall, the Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5's layout is clean and well labeled. It has plenty of IO and there is ample cooling on the chipset and in the VRM. Metal reinforcements also add some additional durability and a bit of bling to the DIMM slots and x16 PEG slots.
The Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 is also dotted with 4-pin fan headers throughout, and it features AMP-UP 8-channel audio by way of a Realtek ALC 1220 codec, complemented by Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5, Killer Ethernet, and RGB lighting that can be controlled and customized from within the included RGB Fusion app.
In the end, the Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming K5 is a high quality, though value-driven product. Performance is solid, however, and overclocking was a breeze. The board's UEFI BIOS also offers comprehensive fan profile controls should you want to fine tune the cooling configuration.
