ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard vs ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E
Both are LGA1151 Z270 ATX boards with 4 DDR4 slots, 64GB max and 3866MHz overclocked memory support, so the choice comes down to features and price. The ROG Strix Z270E adds built-in Wi-Fi, more USB and stronger overclocking tools; the Prime Z270-A is the plainer board with DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI outputs. No current prices were provided for either board, so compare live store prices before deciding.
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ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard
Choose the Prime Z270-A if you want a straightforward Z270 board with DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI outputs for a multi-monitor or non-gaming build and you find it cheaper.
- DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI cover most monitors without adapters
- Dual M.2 slots and Intel Optane memory support
- 5-Way Optimization tunes the system in one click
- Aura Sync RGB header for synced lighting
- SLI and CrossFire support for dual graphics cards
- No built-in Wi-Fi
- Fewer USB ports than the Strix
- No onboard RGB lighting zones
What separates them
| ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard | ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset and socket | Intel Z270, LGA1151 | Intel Z270, LGA1151 |
| Memory | 4 DDR4 slots, 64GB max, 3866MHz O.C. | 4 DDR4 slots, 64GB max, 3866MHz O.C. |
| Wireless networking | Gigabit Ethernet only (Intel I219V) | Built-in Wi-Fi plus Ethernet |
| Display outputs | DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI | HDMI and DisplayPort |
| Lighting | Aura Sync RGB header | Aura Sync RGB with onboard lighting zones |
| Overclocking tools | 5-Way Optimization one-click tuning | ROG overclocking and fan controls |
| Multi-GPU | SLI and CrossFire support | SLI and CrossFire support |
| Audio |
Price history
- ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard: lowest $69.98 on Nov 2 at SPCP.
- ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E: lowest $159.92 on Nov 2 at Newegg.com.
Prices at every store
ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- Newegg.comCheck price at Newegg.com
- SPCPCheck price at SPCP
ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E
- AmazonCheck price at Amazon
- eBayCheck price at eBay
- Newegg.comCheck price at Newegg.com
Specs compared
| Spec | ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard | ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E |
|---|---|---|
| Memory slots | 4 x DIMM | 4 |
| Memory type | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Form factor | ATX | ATX |
| Socket Type | Socket LGA1151 | LGA 1151 |
| RAM Type | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| CPU socket | Intel® Socket 1151 | — |
| Chipset | Intel® Z270 | — |
| Maximum memory | Max. 64GB | — |
| SATA ports | 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s) | — |
| LAN controller | Intel® I219V, 1 x Gigabit LAN Controller(s) | — |
What reviewers say
ASUS Prime Z270-A ATX Motherboard
Buyers of this open-box listing report the board works as expected and often arrives faster than the estimate, with the I/O shield included. Complaints center on missing small parts and a BIOS set to Chinese.
- Works fully functional as expected
- Arrived in the USA and Canada faster than predicted
- Included the I/O shield
- No issues reported after installation
- Arrived a little dirty
- No M.2 standoffs and no CMOS battery
- BIOS was in Chinese
- TPM caused POST to fail, stuck on Windows 10
ASUS ROG STRIX Z270E
Owners generally praise the board's stability, overclocking headroom, and RGB lighting, but some note the lack of built-in Wi-Fi and the dated chipset. Reception is positive among those building retro or budget gaming PCs.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for gaming?
- The ROG Strix Z270E. It adds built-in Wi-Fi, ROG SupremeFX audio, Aura Sync lighting and stronger overclocking controls, which matter more in a gaming build than the Prime's extra DVI output.
- Do both support the same CPUs?
- Yes. Both use the LGA1151 socket and Intel Z270 chipset, so they take 6th and 7th-gen Intel Core processors. Neither supports 8th-gen or later CPUs.
- Which has better display outputs?
- The Prime Z270-A. It has DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI, while the Strix Z270E has HDMI and DisplayPort only. If you need DVI, pick the Prime.
- Is the Strix Z270E worth the extra cost?
- Only if you need built-in Wi-Fi, more USB ports or ROG audio and lighting. If you use wired Ethernet and a single GPU, the Prime covers the basics for less.
- Do both support 64GB of RAM?
- Yes. Both have four DDR4 slots and support up to 64GB at up to 3866MHz when overclocked.
- Which is better for a multi-GPU build?
- Either works. Both boards support SLI and CrossFire, so pick based on price and the features you need rather than multi-GPU support.