Asus shows Z270 motherboards for Kaby Lake processors

Asus has introduced a number of new motherboards based on the Z270 chipset. All these motherboards are part of the Asus Republic of Gamers line and have various properties such as a water block or adaptability using a 3d printer.

The ROG Maximus IX Apex motherboard is aimed at users who want to overclock their processors to the maximum, according to Asus. The company claims that the motherboard was used for the world record overclocking of the new Intel Core i7-7700K processor, which clocked at over 7.3GHz on all four cores.

ROG Maximus IX Extreme is an eatx motherboard that features a built-in waterblock. The motherboard can be easily connected to a water cooling installation. The water block, designed by Bitspower, also covers an m.2 slot, so that an SSD installed in it can also be cooled.

ROG Maximus IX Code, Formula, and TUF Z270 motherboards feature built-in Wi-Fi and RGB lighting. The lighting can be controlled with the Aura Sync software. Furthermore, a large part of the motherboard is covered with a protective layer, which should result in a sleek design.

In addition, Asus is expanding the Strix line with a series of new motherboards. The Z270E, Z270F and Z270H are in ATX format, with the E version being somewhat wider equipped with extra functions such as WiFi. The Z270G is a matx variant and the Z270I has a mitx format.

All motherboards announced by Asus have mounting points for modifications using a 3d printer. This allows users to customize the look of their motherboard and add extra functionalities, such as a cable cover or a fan mounting point for an m.2 SSD. Asus is working with Shapeways for this, which has started its own website for it.