Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming LGA1151 Motherboard Review

Introduction Even though Kaby Lake isn't a revolutionary step forward compared to Skylake, motherboard vendors have worked tirelessly to produce innovative designs which take advantage of the Z270 Express chipset's features. Unlike the previous flagship, the Z270 platform supports more downstream PCI-E gen 3.0 lanes which provide greater flexibility to include fast storage protocols including U.2, M.2 and Thunderbolt 3. Gigabyte has been a major proponent of Thunderbolt 3 technology and unleashed the world's first Thunderbolt 3 certified motherboard in the form of the Z170X-UD5 TH. Of course, Thunderbolt 3 devices are still relatively new and it's not a feature many obsess about on budget-friendly solutions. To coincide with today's launch, Gigabyte unveiled the Z270X-Ultra Gaming which supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 via an ASMedia controller and other NVMe storage options. Also, the motherboard has an Intel Gigabit LAN, Realtek ALC1220 audio with 120dB signal-to-noise ratio and incorporates the company's stylish RGB lighting system. Not only that, the product opts for five hybrid fan headers, six temperature sensors and durable armour shielding. As you can see, this is an excellent specification and I'm expecting the motherboard to offer a great upgrade path without breaking the bank. Specifications Packaging and Accessories The Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming arrives in a really striking box which succinctly outlines the product's main features. Also, the motherboard's branding provides an insight into the spectacular RGB lighting and contrasts rather nicely with the shiny black background. Here we can see the end-user is presented with a description of the motherboard's attracting lighting, Smart Fan 5 technology, audio circuitry and much more. As per usual, the information is positioned alongside high-quality images which make the text easier to understand. The motherboard is bundled with a user's guide, G-Connector, Gigabyte Gaming sticker, drivers/utilities disk, I/O shield, installation guide and four SATA cables. A Closer Look The motherboard employs an understated jet black design and adds a more ostentatious touch through RGB lighting. This is a sensible decision because it allows the end-user to enjoy a simple, neutral aesthetic or customise the motherboard's appearance to focus on their favourite colour. Honestly, I'm quite fond of the motherboard's industrial, uniform look and extremely large I/O cover. Gigabyte's branding is fairly muted and doesn't distract from the product's balanced styling. As previously mentioned, Gigabyte included five PWM fan headers which detect if the connected cooling device is using PWM or Voltage modes. On assessed, the motherboard can determine the best possible method and configure a suitable fan curve. Furthermore, the headers support up to 2 amps and have integrated overcurrent protection. This provides peace-of-mind when using a Y-Splitter to attach high-speed fans like the Noctua IndustrialPPC series. The motherboard's six temperature sensors are another brilliant addition which allows you to monitor thermal readings at different points. This is useful when performing diagnostics and inspecting the motherboard's health. Gigabyte decided to utilise an 8-phase power delivery which should be ample for most people's overclocking needs. The 10K-rated black capacitors are designed to retain an ultra-low ESR at varying CPU loads. As a result, the motherboard shouldn't encounter stability problems or degradation over time. Interestingly, the motherboard's resistors are protected by an anti-sulfur alloy layer which prevents sulphur compounds creating chemical change and causing unwanted shorts. The CPU socket has a 15 microinch thick gold plating which allows for a better contact point and helps against corrosion. The motherboard supports up to 64GB DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration. Evidently, you can use high-frequency DIMMs providing the CPU's memory controller is able to contend with a manual overclock or XMP profile. The DIMM slots are reinforced by stainless steel metal shielding which protects against PCB bending. In theory, this should stop any damage from occurring to the DIMM slots. Despite being the most affordable Gigabyte Z270 motherboard I've been sent for review, the memory slots still have RGB illumination which creates the impression that light is surrounding the modules. This is a fantastic visual effect which looks amazing. On a similar note, the motherboard has a swappable overlay for the LED accent strip and you can install something with a different pattern. This allows you to forge a unique finish and I can see this being popular among the modding community. Next to the LED strip is the usual 24-pin ATX and two USB 3.0 headers. Here we can see the motherboard's PCH contains some attractive ridges and the Gigabyte Gaming branding. The brushed matte finished is gorgeous and should complement a wide range of components. In terms of storage, the motherboard has six SATA 3 ports, two SATA Express, a U.2 port and M.2 connector supporting types 2242/2260/2280/22110. The positioning of the SATA ports allows you to install a long graphics card and easily unplug any connected cables. This illustrates Gigabyte's attentive nature and the thought which went into the PCB layout. The motherboard's audio solution is based on the latest Realtek ALC1220 codec which has been covered by an EMI shield. As expected, the audio chipset is on a separate PCB to reduce interference and enhance the sound quality. The audio hardware has a really impressive 120dB signal-to-noise ratio with a smart headphone amplifier which automatically adjusts the volume based on a headphone's impedance. The audio segment supports DSD128 hardware decoding and opts for premium Nichicon capacitors. Gigabyte's PCI-E arrangement is optimal for the average user and revolves around three PCI-E x16 slots alongside three PCI-E x1 slots. Please note, the motherboard supports 2-way SLI via an x8/x8 configuration and 3-way CrossfireX running at x8/x4/x4. The wide spacing is helpful for those using two card setups and allows for good airflow to pass over both GPUs. On another note, the first two PCI-E x16 slots are covered in stainless steel metal shielding with extra anchor points and a double locking bracket. This adds an extra layer of protection and stabilises graphics cards with a hefty weight. On the rear I/O, there's a PS/2 combo port, four USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, DVI-D, USB 3.1 Gen 2 port Type-A, USB 3.1 Gen 2 port Type-C, HDMI 2.0b, RJ45, two USB 2.0, 5 audio jacks and S/PDIF. Please note, the yellow USB ports have a dedicated power design and voltage compensator resulting in a cleaner noise when connecting a DAC. Gigabyte's RGB Fusion technology completely transforms the motherboard's design and the vibrant lighting emanates from key areas including the PCI-E slots, power delivery, DIMM slots and accent LED cover. Evidently, you can select from a whopping 16.8 million colours and customise each section of the motherboard in various shades. The lighting helps to flesh out the accent LED's pattern which gives the motherboard a unique sense of style. Here we can see the motherboard's lighting can be viewed from a distance quite easily and creates the impression of light leaking from underneath the PCB. Testing & Methodology Here is the test bench used for all Z270 motherboard reviews: Hardware Motherboard varies by review CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K GPU: Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 980Ti 6GB GDDR5 RAM: Crucial Elite 16GB (2x8GB) 2666MHz Cooling: Thermaltake Water 3.0 AIO with Gelid GC-Extreme Case: Lian Li T80 Test Bench Storage Drives: Main storage: Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB SATA, Test Devices: Toshiba OCZ VX500 500GB SATA , Toshiba OCZ RD400 512GB NVMe M.2 and Patriot SuperSonic Magnum 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive PSU: Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 11 850W Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit Networking: ASUS RT-AC68U router Software SiSoft Sandra Engineer - available here WPrime - available here Cinebench - available here 3DMark - available here AIDA 64 Engineer - available here Latencymon - available here Rightmark Audio Analyser - available here Passmark - available here Memory For our memory tests, we use the built-in memory benchmarks in AIDA64 Engineer and SiSoft Sandra. For more details on each of the benchmarks please see here and here respectively. Storage To test the storage performance in our motherboard reviews we use AIDA's Disk Benchmark utility built into their AIDA64 Engineer Edition software package and run linear read and write tests. We run each of the benchmark tests on a SATA III, USB 3.0 and M.2 device. For SATA III testing we use a SanDisk Extreme Pro 240GB, for USB 3.0 testing we use the Supersonic Magnum 256 GB USB 3.0 flash drive and for M.2 testing we use Plextor's 256GB M.2 M6e SSD. The drives are always formatted before use. Networking For our networking tests we connect the test system up to our Intel Gigabit-enabled ASUS Rampage IV Extreme X79 motherboard test system through the ASUS RT-AC68U router and run our tests. We opted for this over a direct point-to-point connection because we wanted to simulate real-world performance. For our WiFi tests we do the same except we connect the test system to the ASUS RT-AC68U router via WiFi at a distance of 2 metres from the router. The testing is conducted using PassMark's Advanced Network Test detailed below. PassMark The PassMark Advanced Network Test (which is part of PerformanceTest) is designed to test the data transfer rate between two computers both of which must be running PerformanceTest. One of the computers must act as the server and will sit waiting for a connection. The other computer acts as a client. It connects to the server machine and sends data to it for the duration of the test. You can download a trial version of PerformanceTest from here. Power Usage To measure power consumption we, use a "killawatt" meter and measure the total system power draw at the wall. We run three different use-case scenarios for 5 minutes and take the average reading. RightMark Audio Analyser (RMAA) RMAA suite is designed for testing quality of analog and digital paths of any audio device. The results are obtained by playing and recording test signals passed through the tested audio path by means of frequency analysis algorithms. A more common mark is also provided for those unfamiliar with measured technical parameters. Available here. We run the RMAA test using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable connecting the line out to the line in to test the quality of the motherboard audio codec, not any external audio devices. We run the complete playback and recording test at default settings and then get RMAA to interpret the results giving the below outputs. We sync the playback and recording audio devices to the same setting as the test for accurate results. DPC DPC is a Windows tool that analyses the capabilities of a computer system to handle real-time data streams properly. It may help to find the cause for interruptions in real-time audio and video streams, also known as drop-outs. This software is available for download free here. wPrime wPrime is a leading multithreaded benchmark for x86 processors that tests your processor performance by calculating square roots with a recursive call of Newton's method for estimating functions. wPrime is a free utility that is available for download here. Cinebench R15 Cinebench is a widely respected benchmark for testing the performance of x86 CPUs. The program allows you to test single and multi-threaded performance as well as GPU performance by rendering with Open GL. Download here. 3D Mark The new 3DMark includes everything you need to benchmark your hardware. With three all new tests you can bench everything from smartphones and tablets to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. Download here. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an action role-playing stealth video game developed by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix. Set in a cyberpunk-themed dystopian world in 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution, Mankind Divided features the return of Adam Jensen from the previous game, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, with new technology and body augmentations. Rise of the Tomb Raider Rise of the Tomb Raider is a third-person action-adventure game that features similar gameplay found in 2013's Tomb Raider. Players control Lara Croft through various environments, battling enemies, and completing puzzle-platforming sections while using improvised weapons and gadgets in order to progress through the story. The game is run on the Very High preset with FXAA enabled. Please note, the DirectX 12 API has been selected and an average from 3 benchmark runs is taken for the final result. BIOS and Overclocking Gigabyte’s revised BIOS layout is based on a simplistic design and clean aesthetic which makes navigation a simple task. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the BIOS, it’s a quick process to adjust to the logical arrangement. Additionally, the black background and white font combine rather well and the pin sharp text can be read from numerous angles. This is handy if you’re monitoring voltage changes while visually inspecting the motherboard. Overall, I’m really impressed with the BIOS’ functionality and modern style. It’s possible to cycle between the Easy Mode which lists essential readings on a single page and Advanced Mode for those who want to make more substantial changes. The Easy Mode is really useful for beginners who feel a little overwhelmed by the number of settings on offer and prevents them from making errors. As you can see, the Easy Mode provides details on the BIOS version, storage configuration, and CPU thermals. On the M.I.T page, you can access a large array of menus to adjust voltages, the CPU frequency and even allow the motherboard to automatically configure the fans based on thermal values. The BIOS automatically configures the CPU's base clock to 100MHz but this can be changed if you want to push the performance further. Of course, most users will simply want to leave this on the default setting and alter the multiplier. By default, this is set to 42, the i7-7700K's base frequency. Not only that, the BIOS has a number of pre-defined profiles for various processors and helps those without the overclocking expertise to run the CPU at a higher frequency. However, I’d recommend investing the time and finding out what the sample you have is capable of. Here we can see the memory tab which allows you to enable the DIMM’s XMP profile and manually enter the operational speed. Also, the memory timings options are useful if you want to tighten the standard timings to achieve better latency figures. The CPU voltage menu is packed with an assortment of variables including the Vcore, VCCIO and much more. This provides hardware enthusiasts with all the tools to finely tune the CPU and reach a stable voltage for the inputted multiplier. While the number of options may seem a little confusing, the average user can focus on Vcore and ignore other elements quite easily. Rather impressively, the memory voltage section contains a comprehensive range of settings to modify the individual channel voltages. The System Information tab outlines key details about your PC such as the model name, BIOS version, and BIOS ID. The BIOS tab can be deployed to change the boot priority, configure an administrator password and choose between Legacy/UEFI modes. Here we can see the Peripherals menu which houses numerous options to select the primary display adapter, turn the RGB Fusion lighting on or off, enable/disable the onboard LAN controller and more. Honestly, you shouldn’t really need to mess with any of these settings as the default configuration is perfectly fine for the average user. Unless you have a high level of expertise, the Chipset section is to be avoided, but it’s still crammed packed full of useful features for those who enjoy tweaking every possible aspect of their system. Next up is the Power tab which can be deployed to enable or disable Platform Power Management, adjust the AC BACK mode and much more. Once again, you probably won’t be spending much time on this page. On the final page, you can save any changes, restore optimal defaults, adjust the default boot priority and load/save any overclocking profiles. Gigabyte’s Smart Fan 5 utility displays the current thermal readings and RPM values in a clear manner. Additionally, it’s possible to monitor the RPM curves and choose between normal, silent and full speed presets. Not only that, the manual setting is a wonderful addition which allows you to create your own curve based on temperatures. The graphic is really handy and makes custom fan graphs a simple task. Also, the astounding number of thermal readings helps to diagnose any problem areas. Updating the BIOS directly shouldn't take too long and the end-user is walked through the process via clear instructions and captivating images. All you have to do is make sure the flash drive is formatted to the correct FAT32 format and click update BIOS. Overclocking Unlike some of the motherboards which were tested at a later date, the Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming's overclocking was conducted using a chip which requires less voltage to reach 5.0GHz. This isn't ideal and I would have preferred to use the same CPU for all the motherboards, but sampling issues and timing impacted on the process. Nevertheless, overclocking the i7-7700K was a really simple task and the CPU remained stable at 5.0GHz with a modest voltage of 1.368V. Sadly, I wasn't able to match Gigabyte's higher-end motherboards which overclocked to 5.1GHz. Despite employing a ridiculously high 1.475V, the 5.1GHz overclock just wasn't going to happen. Software Overview Gigabyte has completely overhauled the App Center’s GUI which now uses a larger square window instead of being positioned on the system tray. While it takes up more desktop real estate, it’s a visually appealing design and a joy to use. The previous concoction featured huge icons and an overly bright colour scheme. This time, it’s a neutral main menu which evokes a sense of professionalism. The @BIOS utility displays the current BIOS details and allows you to update to the latest version via a server or downloaded file. Gigabyte’s EasyTune software offers similar functionality to the BIOS and allows you to overclock the CPU, memory and make other essential changes. The first page includes three profiles which configure the system based on your specific requirements or you can let the application analyse the thermals and cooling hardware to find a suitable frequency. Also, notice the useful information near the bottom which outlines your system’s key specification. For some bizarre reason, the software displayed the iGPU instead of the GTX 980Ti but I'm sure this bug will be resolved after the launch. On the Advanced tab, you can manually set the BCLK, multiplier per core, CPU voltage, VCCIO and a modify a whole host of complex settings. The Advanced DDR OC portion allows you to input the memory frequency, enable the XMP profile and make changes to the default timings. Next up is the Advanced Power section which can be used to adjust the CPU VRIN loadline and GFX loadline. As its name suggests, Gigabyte’s Easy RAID utility makes setting up a RAID array ridiculously simple due to the user-friendly interface. Now, consumers don’t have to navigate through a command line or system outside of Windows to configure a RAID setup and enjoy huge sequential rates across multiple drives. The Fast Boot software has the option to quickly boot into Windows or directly enter the BIOS. Please note, the Ultra Fast setting will make it challenging to press the BIOS key in time due to the rapid boot times on NMVe storage devices. Here we can see the System Information Viewer which relays details on the CPU’s current parameters and its core specification. Furthermore, the menu contains information about the motherboard version and memory’s SPD. The System Information Viewer includes different fan profiles which prioritise raw performance, silent running or a combination of the two. In addition to the automatic fan configuration, it’s possible to create a custom curve by balancing thermal loads and the rate of CPU utilisation. This offers great flexibility for those users who prefer a more gentle or aggressive fan curve. If you’re concerned about your system exceeding a certain thermal threshold and potentially degrading the CPU’s lifespan, it’s quite easy to configure alerts when specific voltages are reached. The software’s record function is a great way of monitoring voltages, load temperatures and other essential values throughout idle and heavy usage scenarios. Gigabyte’s Smart Backup is fairly self-explanatory and has the ability to rescue a drive, backup essential files or recover your PC from a backup image created ever hour. In theory, this should protect your data without the need to perform laborious manual backups. The Smart TimeLock can restrict PC access for a particular interval or indefinitely to ensure other PC users aren’t spending too much time browsing the internet unsupervised. Here we can see the Smart Keyboard application which can be used to create macros, shortcuts and other commands. The V-Tuner is a graphics card overclocking tool which contains all the features you need in a compact user interface. Saying that, it’s very basic and you’re better off using something like MSI Afterburner to monitor overclocked performance. Gigabyte has developed a brand new RGB lighting tool which allows you to select from an array of transitional effects including pulse, colour cycle, double flash, wave and even sync the lighting to a piece of music. It's also possible to use the full RGB spectrum as a way of observing temperatures. On another note, the RGB Fusion software has an advanced mode to customise different sections of the motherboard and modify the colour, time interval and other attributes. The ability to have a different aesthetic for the I/O cover, PCH, memory slots and power circuitry is impressive and ensures the motherboard's appearance can be moulded to an individual's preferences. CPU & GPU Performance Cinebench In Cinebench R15, the motherboard outputs great scores isn't too far behind the top-tier results. Once overclocked, the performance remains competitive and the motherboard defeats other products from rival vendors. WPrime Here we can see the motherboard fares really well during the WPrime calculation tasks and just edges the ASUS MAXIMUS IX HERO while using the CPU's stock configuration. The overclocked result was pretty impressive despite the motherboard falling ever so slightly behind an ASUS premium model. SiSoft Sandra The motherboard begins to falter slightly and finishes behind the rest of the Z270 field. However, it's important to put the results into perspective and the deficit to the top remains extremely slim. 3DMark On a more positive note, the motherboard performs admirably during the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark and attains really good scores. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Rather impressively, the Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming reigns supreme and demonstrates its gaming credentials when running Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on the Ultra preset. Rise of the Tomb Raider The motherboard's performance is superb during the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark at 4.5GHz and 5.0GHz. Memory Performance AIDA64 Engineer In terms of memory bandwidth, the motherboard is fantastic and only the second Z270 product to achieve a write rate above 41000. Not only that, the read speed is the highest by a considerable margin and makes the lower-end results look quite ordinary. SiSoft Sandra Interestingly, the motherboard's predecessor records the highest memory bandwidth figures and couldn't be matched. Nevertheless, the new model has a very consistent memory bandwidth and rivals Gigabyte's flagship Z270 solution. Combined Latency Test The Gigabyte Z270-Ultra Gaming's memory latency is extremely low and deserves a great deal of praise. Storage Performance Linear Read The motherboard's M.2 read rate is pretty good and faster than a number of its closest rivals. Additionally, the SATA read speeds consistently hovered around the 530MB/s range with some minor drops while the USB 3.0 performance fell just under 300MB/s. Linear Write When it comes to linear write speeds, the motherboard begins to struggle using the test bench's NVMe drive to its full potential. On another note, the SATA write was impressive although the USB 3.0 performance left me feeling a little underwhelmed. Networking Performance Passmark Performance Test 8 - Ethernet The Intel i219V networking solution upholds excellent bandwidth numbers during TCP and UDP testing. Passmark Performance Test 8 - CPU Work Load As expected for Intel networking hardware, the CPU utilisation is minimal and doesn't reach two percent. Audio Performance The motherboard's audio circuitry is able to deliver and rich, warm sound at commonly used bit-rates. Evidently, the noise level, dB(A) and dynamic range is better once the bit-rate goes beyond DVD quality. Even at 16 bit 44KHz, the audio performance is pretty good and on-par with other Z270 motherboards. 16 Bit, 44KHz (DVD Quality) 16 Bit, 96KHz (Studio Quality) 24 Bit, 96KHz (Studio Quality) DPC Audio Latency Analyser The motherboard's audio latency is exceptional and greatly exceeded my expectations. Power Consumption At stock settings, the total system power consumption is significantly higher than the majority of Z270 motherboards. Once overclocked, the power draw hardly changes and the motherboard suddenly becomes the most efficient option. Final Thoughts Pricing Unfortunately, there's been a complete lack of information regarding the Z270 motherboards and their retail prices. As a result, it's impossible to conduct a fair comparison between numerous products and assess the value proposition. Rest assured, once the full Z270 range is available to purchase, I'll be adding the appropriate links and revisiting the pricing analysis. According to my sources, it's likely vendors will add approximately £10-£30 compared to the previous generation. However, this doesn't help matters when a company unveils something completely new and the predecessor can't be researched to gauge a pricing estimate. Honestly, I'd expect more details to emerge during CES when PR contacts return from the holiday break. Overview The motherboard is based on a jet black theme which works alongside the stainless steel shielding to form a distinctive aesthetic. Not only that, the imposing I/O cover with the bold Gigabyte branding is stunning and injects a hint of character into the motherboard's visual style. Of course, the classic colour combination lends itself well to a huge range of builds and you can opt for a more flamboyant touch via the company's RGB Fusion technology. This particular form of lighting illuminates the underside of the PCB, PCI-E segment and even an attractive strip positioned next to the DIMM slots. The lighting strip has a lovely pattern and you can mod it to create a truly individual product. The lighting is really bright and each colour has a lovely hue. Also, you can attach a LED strip and control it using Gigabyte's software suite. Honestly, the jet black colour scheme and RGB lighting is a match made in heaven. Gigabyte didn't scrimp on the motherboard's electronics and utilised an 8-phase power delivery, 10k-rated black capacitors with an ultra-low ESR and anti-sulfur alloy layer on the resistors to prevent damage from shorts. Additionally, the CPU has a 15 microinch thick gold plating combating corrosion over time. The Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming contains five fan headers which all can be controlled and they support up to 2A as well as taking advantage of overcurrent protection. The six temperature sensors can be handy to analyse the motherboard's health. As expected, the memory slots and the main PCI-E x16 slots have a fortifying metal shielding to reduce EMI and support the connected devices more effectively. In terms of storage, Gigabyte ignored the typical Z270 arrangement and incorporated SATA Express and U.2 support. Unfortunately, the bandwidth limitations mean this was chosen instead of a secondary M.2 slot. Honestly, I don't think this is a wise move because the U.2 standard only applies to a tiny section of customers and SATA Express adoption is pretty much non-existent. On the other hand, M.2 is becoming more popular and seems the go-to successor to SATA. The motherboard's storage performance was commendable apart from the M.2 write which fell below the mark. On a more positive note, the Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming has USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C connectivity which should prove useful in the near future. The motherboard's audio solution revolves around the Realtek ALC1220 codec which is protected by an EMI cover. Additionally, the audio section is on a dedicated PCB to reduce interference and has a 120dB signal-to-noise ratio. Not only that, there's a smart headphone amplifier which adjusts the impedance rating and support for DSD128 hardware decoding. Throughout the testing process, the audio performance was stellar, especially at higher bit-rates. Gigabyte's BIOS has been improved at a progressive pace and is really easy-to-use. In particular, the end-user isn't swamped with a huge array of settings and everything is divided into clearly labelled sections. Furthermore, the BIOS' UI is easy on the eyes and the new fan software utility makes optimising your cooling hardware a simple task. The Easy Mode is useful for those wanting to enact small changes or check certain parameters on a single page. As mentioned in the other Z270 motherboard reviews, the performance variation between different products is extremely small. Despite this, the motherboard doesn't have any major weaknesses barring the weak M.2 write result and impressed on a regular basis. The networking, audio latency and memory bandwidth figures are brilliant and even surpasses the company's own flagship AORUS Z270X-Gaming 9. Overall, the motherboard is a superb creation which offers fantastic performance in many important areas. Pros Attractive LED accent strip Comprehensive ESR protection Decent software suite Dual BIOS Excellent networking performance Fantastic memory bandwidth Fans all have PWM control functionality Industrial, rugged styling Intuitive BIOS Low memory latency Metal shielding New fan calibration is a vast improvement Superb audio latency USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C support Vibrant lighting system Cons M.2 write speed could be better Second M.2 slot sacrificed for the niche U.2 protocol "The Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming performs brilliantly in a wide range of benchmarks and has a user-friendly BIOS. Furthermore, the motherboard incorporates USB 3.1 functionality, a superb audio solution and beautiful RGB lighting which offers astounding customisation." Gigabyte Z270X-Ultra Gaming LGA1151 Motherboard Review Thank you Gigabyte for providing us with this sample.