ASRock Unveils Motherboard With Side-Facing PCI-e 3.0 Interface

ASRock introduces the Z170M-PIO2, a motherboard with dimensions based on a dtx variant form factor that features a side-facing PCI-e 3.0 slot. This makes the motherboard suitable for all-in-one barebones with a video card.

The Z170M-PIO2 has udtx formats of 20.3×21.1 cm and thus supports micro-atx and so-called pio housings. Pio stands for parts-in-one and is a term used to denote all-in-one barebones. Especially for this purpose, the Z170M-PIO2 has a horizontally oriented PCI-e x16 interface, which should also make it possible to attach large video cards in an all-in-one.

In addition, the motherboard has an m2 interface with ‘Key E’ or 2230 form factor for WiFi modules and there is an m2 2260/2280 variant for sata-600 and pci-e 3.0 x4. As the name implies, the motherboard is based on Intel’s Z170 chipset. There are two memory slots for up to 32GB of DDR4 memory and four SATA-600 interfaces, while the rear panel has two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports. These are supplemented with two USB 2.0 headers and a USB 3.0 variant on the motherboard.

It is not yet known for what suggested retail price ASRock will make the motherboard available.