Review: Asus Z170 Pro Gaming

Conclusion

Aggressive pricing is the name of the game with the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming so a recommended street price of £118 here in the UK allows it to go after the entry-level gaming motherboard market that is so strongly contested by rival motherboard vendors.

Like its predecessor, the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming delivers on its promise of being the foundation for a solid gaming system with excellent price-to-performance, a well-rounded UEFI and software ecosystem and safe 'gamer' aesthetics.

In terms of gaming-specific features, Asus, like many other vendors, focuses strongly on audio and networking as the two tenets of a gaming motherboard. The audio element is covered by the company's Realtek ALC1150-based SupremeFX package on an isolated and red-LED lit PCB. The Z170 Pro Gaming offers up stellar audio that almost entirely removes the need for a sound card to achieve a satisfying gaming experience. Networking is a harder concept to grasp for gaming motherboards but, in any case, the company deploys Intel's Gigabit chip which has a proven track record with throughput performance, driver stability and the lowest CPU usage among all commonly used Gigabit controllers.

With respect to new Z170 motherboards, the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming will be notably more affordable than the entry-level Republic of Gamers motherboard, the Maximus VIII Ranger, sacrificing a few of the extra bells-and-whistles to hit that lower price point.

Gamers with a keen eye on value for money will note that opting for a more affordable motherboard option like the Z170 Pro Gaming will give them extra budget to put towards a faster graphics card or adaptive V-Sync monitor. Such a build decision is likely to have a more notable impact on the gaming experience beyond anything a gaming motherboard can realistically offer.

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Asus Z170 Pro Gaming

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The Asus Z170 Pro Gaming is available from Scan.co.uk*

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