SuperMicro C7Z370-CG-IW Mini-ITX Motherboard Review

A Closer Look

For a no gimmicks motherboard, it’s hardly lacking in design. Straight away you can see a tidy looking black PCB that’s sure to compliment any system build.

All the primary hardware is black, so it blends in nicely. However, there’s some reassuring looking armour on the DIM slots, ensuring the motherboard doesn’t flex.

Connectivity is pretty decent, with all the usual headers. There are only two fan headers, but that’s not uncommon for a mini-ITX motherboard.

The CPU takes its power from an 8-pin header, so more than enough any 8th Gen CPU. The power runs through their digital PWMs, with Dr. MOS, and ferrite chokes, ensuring 24/7 reliability.

The first M.2 mount it tucked just above the PCIe 16x slot, and a clever heatsink design should help ensure good performance for the drive, as well as the motherboard chipsets.

More armour on the motherboard for the PCIe slot. With modern GPUs being big and heavy, it’s good to see this motherboard is prepared to take the strain.

Towards the back, a chunky lump of metal to keep the VRM cool, with the Wi-Fi card tucked in behind it.

The rear I/O is pretty straightforward. Of course, you’ll find plenty of USB ports, the audio jacks, and WiFi. I’m happy to see dual display outputs too, with both HDMI and DP on offer for SFF systems.

Finally, on the reverse side, you’ll find yet another M.2 drive mount, giving us two in total. Of course, that’s perfect for those using NVMe storage, and an Optane drive for optimal performance.