Benchmark Testing
Synthetic Benchmark Testing
SiSoft Sandra 2014 SP3
The Sandra benchmarks remain a fast and easy way to determine system quality from a CPU and memory subsystem perspective. The Z170-A performance falls in between that of the Z97 and X99-based systems, as expected because of the Skylake processor enhancements as well as the dual channel DDR4 memory used with the Z170-A system.
LinX
LinX is a graphical interface for CPU-based testing using the Intel Linpack benchmarks. It serves as a good indicator of proper system CPU functioning and is considered one of the most intensive CPU benchmarks currently available. LinX was run with Memory set to All and for a total of 3 runs. This test was repeated three times with the highest repeatable GFlops (Giga-Floating Point Operations Per Second) score recorded.
This CPU torture test is a proven method for identifying possible issues with the CPU to motherboard interface layer. Surprisingly, the Z170-A system's performance falls slightly behind that of the Z97-based system. This is surprising because of the higher default clock speed of the i7-6700K processor used with the Z170-A motherboard.
Multimedia and System Benchmark Testing
Maxon Cinebench R15
Maxon’s Cinebench R15 benchmark can be used determine a system's ability to render 3D content based on their Cinema 4D animation software. The CPU benchmark test was run three times, with the highest reproducible Cinebench points score recorded.
In this multimedia benchmark, the Z170-A's performance falls more within expectations in between that of the Z97 and X99-based systems.
No HDMI 2.0 or HEVC support?
No HDMI 2.0 or HEVC support? Grrr.
Would that be CPU or
Would that be CPU or motherboard constraint?
Most likely both.
The IGP
Most likely both.
The IGP needs to support HEVC to a degree. Has/Browadwell had a hybrid CPU/IGP implementation for HEVC and no true GPU only en/decoding like Nvidia’s Maxwell does.
As for HDMI v2, this is also dependent on how Intel implemented the IGP. On one hand, 4k 60hz monitors are rare, but are emerging into the enthusiast market. On the other, Intel might not felt it was worth the cost for R&D to implement that.
Right now, we know very little about Skylake’s architecture and thus we cannot say for certain (until IDF) if the IGP does in fact support HDMI v2 and full GPU accelerated HEVC en/decode or if the motherboard manufactures just did not implement HDMI v2 port on the board. I doubt the latter.
The Z170-A does NOT include
The Z170-A does NOT include BIOS Flashback. It only has a header and a separate card is required which does not yet appear to be available to the public. BEWARE!
I am also in the BIOS
I am also in the BIOS Flashback boat. I flashed the bios to get more current and now it just beeps 6 times. Bad A20 gate. If I just had this header it could be fixed in minutes. Now I have to wait for Asus to get back to me.
Another thing that seems stupid is the crashfee Bios option from the DVD. It is supposed to help if there was corruption during the flash process. If it can’t boot, then what good does that do????
Same BIOS corruption problem
Same BIOS corruption problem after a standard BIOS upgrade, it froze and now the motherboard is not bootable.
Thanks Asus for once again a super buggy BIOS. I’m not gonna bet again on this brand for MB.
what change bios setting at
what change bios setting at starting Window stop in window 7?why?
please explain.
I am trying to boot windows
I am trying to boot windows from my new installed ssd. I have migrated the os, and i have entered bios to change the prioritized boot driver, but the ssd in the sata_2 does not appear?
The hdd is in sata_1, but i can not find the option for sata_2 which has the ssd.
Any ideas?
Dig around in the BIOS, some
Dig around in the BIOS, some SATA ports may be disabled by default.