This is an overview of the two … errr … three key performance platforms on Intel based machines. Now this is just an overview, but let’s jump in with both feet. There are three Intel performance platforms that anyone can build on. Z170 (Skylake’s performance platform, and many of these boards are compatible with Kabylake microprocessors), Z270 (Kabylake’s performance platform, and the current consumer performance king, with a few updated features, and much like many of the Z170 boards can run Kabylake these boards can also run Skylake microprocessors), and X99 (the high-end performance for builders who want to build SLI powerhouses, have a ton of PCIe SSD based storage or CPUs over 4 cores … well most of the time anyway).
Now for the sake of this article I am going to treat Z170 and Z270 as the same platform. So let’s take a brief look at each of these platform.
Processor Support: Kaby Lake/Skylake (LGA 1151) (On Z170 Kaby Lake requires a BIOS update)
Graphics Support: 1x16 or 2x8 or 1x8+2x4
DRAM Support: DDR4 64GB Total
Intel Rapid Storage Technology: Yes
Intel Smart Response Technology: Yes
USB Total (USB 3.0): 14(10)
Additional PCI-E lanes*: 20x PCI-E 3.0 (24X PCI-E 3.0 on Z270)
Independent Display Support: 3
Max Intel RST for PCI-E Storage ports (x4 M.2 or x2 SATA Express): 3
Intel Optane Technology: (Available on Z270 only)
The Z170 and Z270 platforms are very reliable. They are fine for the majority of day to day computer needs (in fact a high spec build maxed out would be overkill for most day to day use) and will work for web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets and the like. They are great platforms for high-spec gaming computers. You can easily run every game currently on the market with a good video card like an Nvidia GTX 10 (1050, 1060, 1070, 1080, Titan X-P) series or an AMD RX (460, 470, 480, 490) series card. As for life outside of gaming this platform is great for digital artists as long as you purchase enough RAM, fast and ample storage, and a big enough graphics card. The Z270 is slightly more expensive due to the fact that this is the newest available, and the fact that it has more PCI-E bandwidth (24 lanes of PCI-E 3.0 versus 20) which will allow for better SLI and CrossFire support, and Intel’s new super fast Optane SSD technology. If your goal is to be a streamer or gaming vlogger (video blogging your gaming sessions) this platform will work, but you might be better off with X-99
Processor Support: Haswell E, X, EP / Broadwell E, X, EP (LGA 2011-3 processors)
Graphics Support: 2x16 or 4x8 or 1x16+2x8* or 1x16+3x8* (*depends on motherboard support)
DRAM Support: DDR4 512GB Total
Intel Rapid Storage Technology: Yes
Intel Smart Response Technology: Yes
USB Total (USB 3.0 / 3.1): 14(10)
Additional PCI-E lanes*: 40x PCI-E 3.0
Independent Display Support: none (X99 cpu’s do not have an integrated graphics chip)
CPU Overclocking: Yes* (only on i7 E and X based CPUs
Max Intel RST for PCI-E Storage ports (x4 M.2 or x2 SATA Express): 3
Intel Optane Technology: None
X99 is a Swiss army knife-like platform. With X99 you can build the ultimate workstation, a scalable office network server, an artists dream rig, or the ultimate streaming gaming rig. You can install Broadwell EP Xeon CPUs with up to 21 cores for the most demanding workloads, or Core i7 CPUs with up to 12 cores so you can play the most demanding games while streaming (a good graphics is required with X99). With 40 lanes of PCI-E 3.0 you can easily install up to 4 SLI or CrossFire based graphics cards (SLI is only supported in pairs after the introduction of the GeForce GTX 10 series) to provide multi-monitor rendering support, and still have lanes left over for M.2 based SSDs and networking cards. The system is rather massive, and unlike Z170 / Z270 it has a much greater range for adaptability and extensibility, but all of this comes at a much higher cost.
Well Now it's time to talk about why I chose the X99 platform. I wanted to build a good all rounder with the ability to run a pair of graphics cards (2 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070) at 16 lanes of PCI-E 3.0 (yep, using 32 of the 40 PCI-E lanes off of the bat), run a couple of M.2 SSDs, and of course add a good Wifi card for Miracast. It's the perfect build for my art workstation even with the 3.5GHz quad-core multi-threaded Xeon microprocessor. More updates are in the works for this computer and I will be discussing some of my choices as I discuss graphics cards, hard drives, computer cases, fans, CPU coolers and more. So … stay tuned. Next week we I will be discussing warranties.