ASUS Z170-PRO (Intel Z170) Motherboard Review

Introduction

I have looked at many ASUS Z170 motherboards, all the way from the Z170-A to the Maximus VIII Extreme. Each one has its distinct price to performance ratio, and today I take a look at a very popular motherboard, the Z170-Pro. At first glance, the Z170-Pro looks unassuming, and, to be honest, it looks eerily similar to the Z170-A.

So the question then becomes, why is the Z170-Pro almost $40 more expensive than the Z170-A. It took me a few minutes to figure out the major differences, and honestly, there aren't too many on the surface. The big difference between the two motherboards is quality, and not necessarily where you expect it.

While the Intel Z170 chipset offers a wide variety of connectivity options, there are still a few places it lacks, and those areas are where the Z170-Pro shines. Follow me as I examine this interesting ASUS mainstream Z170 motherboard.

Specifications

The ASUS Z170-PRO has many high-end features such as M.2 32Gb/s, SATA Express, USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C, Intel 1Gbit NIC, and 7.1 channel HD-Audio.

Pricing

The ASUS Z170-PRO is available from many large retailers for roughly $195.