Other ROG features include RAMCache, which makes a return having been introduced at the Z87 launch. The feature can cache whole data files or just frequenty-used fragements to RAM - the only thing you need to do is set the allocation size depending on your system memory amount and that's it.
KeyBot gets an upgrade to version II, but the basic functions are the same - recording and execute macros, even from a keyboard that lacks macro keys. You're also able to apply passwords and shortcuts and even boot your PC so long as your PC is in S5 shutdown mode.
There's no Combo II module here anymore - instead, the M.2 port is located in the usual place on the PCB. However, this does sit under the primary graphics slot so you'll need to remove your GPU to get at it. The port supports up to 110mm SSDs though, so there's not too many other places on the PCB for a full-length slot and vertical slots do look a little odd. USB 3.1 makes an appearance too, in both Type-A and Type-C variants, plus you get two SATA Express ports and six SATA 6Gbps ports.
Being micro-ATX, you'll never have as many expansion slots as a full size ATX board, but even by mainstream micro-ATX standards, the Gene is a tad lacking here as most other micro-ATX boards we've seen sport either three 16x slots (albeit the third is usually limited to x4 speed) and/or an extra 1x PCI-E slot. The difference with the Gene though is that Asus has focussed on offering decent audio as standard and unlike Z97 boards, there's enough bandwidth on tap to use the M.2 port for PCI-E x4/NVMe SSDs. So, really, there's not a whole lot of point offering additional ports over and above offering the ability to opt for a two-way GPU setup.
Click to enlarge
KeyBot gets an upgrade to version II, but the basic functions are the same - recording and execute macros, even from a keyboard that lacks macro keys. You're also able to apply passwords and shortcuts and even boot your PC so long as your PC is in S5 shutdown mode.
Click to enlarge
There's no Combo II module here anymore - instead, the M.2 port is located in the usual place on the PCB. However, this does sit under the primary graphics slot so you'll need to remove your GPU to get at it. The port supports up to 110mm SSDs though, so there's not too many other places on the PCB for a full-length slot and vertical slots do look a little odd. USB 3.1 makes an appearance too, in both Type-A and Type-C variants, plus you get two SATA Express ports and six SATA 6Gbps ports.
Being micro-ATX, you'll never have as many expansion slots as a full size ATX board, but even by mainstream micro-ATX standards, the Gene is a tad lacking here as most other micro-ATX boards we've seen sport either three 16x slots (albeit the third is usually limited to x4 speed) and/or an extra 1x PCI-E slot. The difference with the Gene though is that Asus has focussed on offering decent audio as standard and unlike Z97 boards, there's enough bandwidth on tap to use the M.2 port for PCI-E x4/NVMe SSDs. So, really, there's not a whole lot of point offering additional ports over and above offering the ability to opt for a two-way GPU setup.
Click to enlarge
Specifications
- Chipset Intel Z170
- Form factor Micro-ATX
- CPU support LGA1151 compatible (Skylake)
- Memory support Dual-channel DDR4, 4 slots, max 64GB
- Sound 8-channel ROG SupremeFX 2015
- Networking Intel I219V
- Ports 6 x SATA 6Gbps via Intel Z170, 1 x M.2, 2 x USB 3.1 (Type-C and Type-A), 8 x USB 3 (2 via header), 4 x USB 2 ( 4 x via header), 1 x LAN, audio out, line in, mic, Optical S/PDIF out, HDMI, DisplayPort
- Dimensions (mm) 244 x 244
- Extras LED POST code read-out, power and reset buttons, clear CMOS button, dedicated 3-pin pump header, 3 x ROG fan labels, CPU installation tool, hardware labels
RELATED ARTICLES
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review
October 14 2021 | 15:04
Want to comment? Please log in.