APH Networks checked out the Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 Z170 mITX Motherboard
A quote from the article:
When I first built a computer, I asked Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Kwan what size of motherboard I should be going for. As this would be for my daily driver, and initially my test machine, he suggested I get a standard ATX. This would mean better options for expansion ports, while also providing more I/O such as USB ports. In addition, having the capability to SLI or CrossFire was something I was interested in, although I have yet to use more than one GPU at a time. Even though it is denoted as the standard size, the motherboard seemed relatively big to me. The desktop I used right before this, a Dell Inspiron 530, was an OEM build and it used a smaller micro ATX board. When I received today's review unit of the Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5, I opened it up, and its size, or lack thereof, shocked me. I had never held such a small motherboard before. My first reaction was, "Oh my goodness, this is cute!" I realized I was probably one of the few people to call a motherboard, or any sort of PC component, cute. I told the Editor-in-Chief, and he mocked me for it. After seeing all these sizes, I truly have to wonder if the name motherboard is correct in denoting the sizes. Rather, I think the ATX is more of a "father"-board. Meanwhile, the mATX is a "mother"-board, which is probably what the "m" in mATX stands for, haha. So, by the same logic, the mITX could be called a "baby"-board. In all seriousness, however, the Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 is one tiny board, and yet it is marked under Gigabyte's gaming lineup. Therefore I will ask: What makes this tiny motherboard a "gaming" motherboard? Can this David-sized board keep up with the Goliath challenges ahead? Read on to find out!Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 Z170 mITX Motherboard Review @ APH Networks