EVGA Launches Three Intel Z270 Motherboards
EVGA Launches Three Intel Z270 Motherboards at CES 2017
Like most motherboard manufacturer’s, EVGA is releasing new motherboards to support the latest Intel chipset, the Intel Z270 along with the Kaby Lake processor. EVGA is following the trend on many aspects, but also skipping a few features. In addition, while many manufacturers have many Intel Z270 motherboards, EVGA is once again keeping it simple with just a few select models designed to cover the wide range of needs of its fans.
Across the three models that EVGA is currently launching, there are many similarities, and several different differences. Let’s take a quick look at each one of them and see what some of the differences are. We can spend a lot of time discussing the various motherboards and the differences, however we will just touch on several of the features.
Starting with their top of the line, Z270 Classified K motherboard, we can immediately see that it is an E-ATX motherboard, so that means there are a few added features. For storage support, you are looking at all of the most common types supported, with up to 8 SATA 6Gb/s, 2 SATA Express, 1 U.2, 2 M.2 Key-M and 1 M.2 Key-E. In addition, it’ll support Intel’s Optane drive if you want the latest M.2 drive. For dedicated graphics solutions, you are limited to 2-Way SLI. Audio, is supplied by the Creative Sound Core 3D. Its networking features are no slouch either, supporting two Ethernet ports one Killer E2500 and the other Intel i219 Gigabit NIC; the choice is up to you which you prefer.
The EVGA Z270 FTW K is their main enthusiast grade motherboard, and is a standard ATX motherboard. Storage, is a little less than the Classified K, the Z270 FTW K, EVGA removed the Marvell SATA controller, which causes you to lose two SATA 6Gb/s ports, so the FTW K has 6 SATA 6Gb/s, 2 SATA Express, 1 U.2, 2 M.2 Key-M and 1 M.2 Key-E. Graphics support is still limited to 2-Way SLI. Another change comes from the removal of the Creative Core 3D chip, taking you back to Intel HD Audio. Ethernet is also the same between the two models with two Ethernet ports one Killer E2500 and the other Intel i219 Gigabit NIC. However, for power, EVGA has reduced the power switching from a 13 Phase PWM system on the Classified K, to 11 Phase PWM on the FTW K.
The last EVGA motherboard is the EVGA Z270 Stinger, a mini-ITX motherboard, that EVGA has squeezed on a lot of features. DDR4 memory support is one obvious change, going from 4x DDR4 down to 2x DDR4. Storage has also been decreased to 4 SATA 6Gb/s ports, 1 U.2, 1 M.2 Key-M and 1 M.2 Key-E (which is taken up by an included 802.11AC Dual-Band WiFi + Bluetooth card). EVGA moved the M.2 Key-M slot to the back of the motherboard to save space on the front of the board. Graphics has been changed to just one PCIe x16 slot, so no SLI (shouldn’t come as any surprise though). Networking was also changed a little to support just the Intel i219 Gigabit NIC and the 802.1AC WiFi card.
There is one big trend that is missing from the EVGA motherboards, which some like, and others won’t be too happy about; the inclusion of RGB lighting on the motherboard! EVGA has kept it simple, not only with just three models to choose from, but also keeping the color scheme neutral and without covering the motherboard in RGB LEDs.
That wraps up a quick overview of the EVGA Z270 motherboard line-up, you can find out more information on the EVGA Z270 motherboard line-up by visiting their website here.