Honey, I shrunk the boards! Intel Z170 boards for your mini-ITX system

Powerful pint-sized Mobo

Intel Z170 may be Intel’s performance-oriented chipset for anyone who doesn’t need the 40 PCIe lanes offered by Intel X99, but that doesn’t mean that you need a full-sized ATX chassis to accommodate it.

For those of us who deal with small apartments and cramped desks on a daily basis, space is a luxury we don’t have. Mini-ITX cases like this beauty from Lian-Li, and mini-ITX boards, are a godsend if all you need is a functional gaming system without the extravagance of multi-GPU setups or the full 64GB of DDR4 RAM (most gamers are well served by just over 10% of that RAM capacity).

We’ve rounded up a selection of mini-ITX boards from various manufacturers to help you with your decision.

ASRock

ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac

The ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac is a mini-ITX motherboard targeted at the gaming crowd. As part of ASRock’s Fatal1ty series of boards, it comes with features like high-quality 60A chokes, Nichicon capacitors and an eight-phase digital power design.

As it’s a mini-ITX board, you only get a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, but ASRock has also included a single M.2 socket that supports both PCIe and SATA devices. It is also compatible with ASRock’s U.2-to-M.2 adapter for installing 2.5-inch PCIe drives like the Intel 750 series SSD.

And bearing in mind that mini-ITX boards often find use in HTPCs where connectivity is of paramount importance, ASRock has also included a 2x2 dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 module that supports the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. Finally, there are two USB 3.1 (one Type-A, one Type-C) ports on the rear I/O panel for support of the latest devices.

ASRock Z170M-ITX/ac

The ASRock Z170M-ITX/ac is a slightly cutdown version of its Fatal1ty counterpart. Instead of an eight-phase power delivery system, it is equipped with just six. The power chokes are also 45A variants instead of the 60A chokes found on the Fatal1ty board. It is also lacking the dual Intel Gigabit LAN and USB 3.1 ports found on the latter board.

There is also just a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot on the Z170M-ITX/ac, and it retains the 2x2 dual-band Wi-Fi module from the Fatal1ty board. However, wireless support now takes the form of two antennas that interface with the rear I/O panel, instead of the Wi-Fi module in the Fatal1ty board.

ASUS

ASUS Z170I Pro Gaming

Before the arrival of the ASUS Maximus VIII Impact, we have the ASUS Z170I Pro Gaming, another gaming-oriented mini-ITX motherboard.

As expected, there is just a single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and one M.2 socket that supports both PCIe and SATA drives. There are just three SATA 6Gbps ports (including one SATA Express port), but that should be enough for most small form factor systems.

The rear I/O panel also houses two USB 3.1 ports (one Type-A, one Type-C) for compatibility with the latest devices. Dual LAN ports are missing, and there is just a single Gigabit Ethernet port provided via the Intel I219-V controller. However, there is still wireless support with an included 2x2 dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 module.

Finally, the board also features ASUS’ SupremeFX audio solution, which can drive up to 300ohm headphones and is equipped with EMI shielding for less signal interference.

EVGA

EVGA Z170 Stinger

The EVGA Z170 Stinger is one stealthy looking board. However, it has just four power phases in its power delivery system, so it doesn’t look like EVGA is placing a lot of emphasis on overclocking here.

Nevertheless, it comes with a beefy-looking I/O cover, a feature that is missing from quite a few mini-ITX boards. It also features four SATA 6Gbps ports, but it doesn’t look like there are any SATA Express connectors. Networking is handled by a single Intel Gigabit NIC, but EVGA did not mention any wireless support for the board. However, the board does have one M.2 connector (Key E), which will take Wi-Fi add-in cards so there is still the possibility of adding wireless support.

EVGA has opted not to implement any USB 3.1 ports, and the board has just six USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports on its rear I/O panel.

Gigabyte

Gigabyte Z170N Gaming 5

The Gigabyte Z170N Gaming 5 is a high-end mini-ITX motherboard. To appeal to demanding small system builders, it comes equipped with features like USB 3.1 ports powered by Intel’s Alpine Ridge controller, USB 3.1 Type-C, metal reinforcement for its single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, and even dual BIOS.

Unlike the more common ASMedia ASM1142 controller, the Alpine Ridge controller actually supports the full data rate of the USB 3.1 specification with a full four PCIe lanes available. Also included are a total of six SATA 6Gbps ports, two SATA Express connectors, and a single M.2 socket for both PCIe and SATA devices.

To further boost its gaming credentials, the board has dispensed with an Intel network controller and gone with a Killer E2201 chip. There is also support for 2x2 dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 via an onboard wireless module, which is intended to interface with the M.2 socket.

Gigabyte Z170N-WiFi

The Gigabyte Z170N-WiFi is a more modest mini-ITX offering from Gigabyte. It shares features with the Z170N Gaming 5, like support for dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and a dual BIOS feature. However, it lacks USB 3.1 support – although it does have a USB 3.0 Type-C port – and metal reinforcement on its single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot.

Storage options are similar to that on the Gaming 5, with six SATA 6Gbps ports, inclusive of two SATA Express connectors, and a single M.2 socket for the Wi-Fi module.

Gigabyte isn’t going after gamers with this board, which is why it has ditched the Killer E2201 chip on the Gaming 5 and gone with dual Intel Gigabit Ethernet LAN chips. Gigabyte didn’t specify if teaming is supported, but it does come with the cFosSpeed network prioritization software.

MSI

MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC

From what we’ve seen so far, there are certainly a lot of mini-ITX motherboards targeted at gamers, and the MSI Z170I Gaming Pro AC is another fine specimen. We particularly like the aesthetic of the board as the bright red detailing on the VRM and PCH heatsinks and the memory circuitry gives the board quite an arresting look.

As expected, there is the usual single PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and M.2 socket. There are a total of four SATA 6Gbps ports, including one SATA Express connector. Other boards may have more SATA ports, but four is still a good number to work with in a mini-ITX system.

There is a single Gigabit Ethernet port provided by an Intel I219-V controller, in addition to support for dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.

But other than the standard raft of features, the board still has some unique capabilities, like a one-click overclocking Game Boost button for a quick performance boost and MSI’s DDR4 Boost feature. The latter supposedly isolates the memory signals to improve memory overclocking, much like the audio signals are isolated to reduce digital noise.

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