The USB 2/3 information in the table on the first page doesn't appear consistent between C236/C232 and Q170/B150. Is it correct? eg the latter lists 10/14 USB3/2 ports reflecting support for 14 USB ports, of which up to 10 can be converted into USB3 ports by combining them with a high speed IO lane from the chipset. The C236 lists 10/4 ports; which is the distribution you'd get if using 10 HSIO lanes to make the max number of USB3 ports. However putting it in the table like that implies that the 10 lanes are locked into USB3; which strikes me as odd, since for server/workstation uses SATA/PCIe/m.2 seem like they'd be more generally useful than lots of USB3.
Apparently you can slap "performance-gaming" even on a product based on a cut down B150 with Xeon support. This is one way to devalue this kind of branding.
@close: "Apparently you can slap "performance-gaming" even on a product based on a cut down B150 with Xeon support. This is one way to devalue this kind of branding."
The mentality is a little different than that. They think you can slap "performance-gaming" on anything with overclocking features. Putting aside the fact that these are two different markets, they had the unfortunate lack of foresight to predict that Intel would shut the new fangled Xeon overclocking features down. Now the board no longer fits even their definition of "performance-gaming", but their is no way for the average consumer to know that. They should have rebranded the product. Instead, they've done exactly as you said, devalued the branding.
Actually I have this motherboard and a E3 1275 V5. You can still OC on the very first BIOS (v1) or on the beta BIOS 1.3. Enjoying a 4.5GHz Skylake Xeon.
Can I still download this bios anywhere. I was told that this overclocking still works and now im sitting here with a GTX 1070 and a locked Intel Xeon E3-1245v5, i mean it boosts up to 3.9Ghz but i would love to overclock it.
Let's face it, the branding doesn't have much value anyway at this point regardless of what ASRock does to it. It's silly to stick numbers into words these days as is done with the 1 in the word Fatal1ty. That just comes off as 1990's era childish. "Performance-gaming" is just marketing speak that is intended to appeal to a targeted audience of potential buyers in order to enable an exchange of money and products. The same is true of the color scheme the vendor selected, some of the "features" of the motherboard itself, and licensing the use of a now unknown crusty old "pro gamer." In order to charge a price premium, companies have to ensure their products fit the buyer both in actual capabilities, perceived benefits, and emotional appeal. It's pretty safe to dismiss the majority of ASRock's marketing materials (and probably for the best in all product purchases in order to make a rational decision) so a potential buyer can assess the actual benefits the product offers.
And yes, I've been accused of being a buzzkill more than once. :)
So this is the weird byproduct of Xeon overclocking being discovered? But since Intel slapped down all the board manufacturers this is now an effectively useless product?
Intel just doesnt wanna sell the new gen CPU's with OC and ECC..
tons of people wanna build a skylake nas box with ECC for freenas, but intel is making it very hard to do this without buying a integrated board with a bunch of atom cores. We want the OC for VM performance, while still keeping ECC
If someone is compelled to overclock to eek out what usually ends up being a rather small amount of additional performance, it was probably a better idea in the first place to include faster hardware in the budget. Such as in the case of an overclocked FreeNAS box in the above comment, overclocking what ought to be a stable, appliance-like system might result in additional, otherwise unnecessary considerations like more expensive and complex cooling and a potentially more costly motherboard that supports overclocking among other things that add to the overall system cost and eat into the advantage of buying a less expensive CPU, but overclocking it to get more expensive CPU-like performance. It may end up not saving much and burdening the system owner with the sunk time spent troubleshooting additional problems.
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DanNeely - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
The USB 2/3 information in the table on the first page doesn't appear consistent between C236/C232 and Q170/B150. Is it correct? eg the latter lists 10/14 USB3/2 ports reflecting support for 14 USB ports, of which up to 10 can be converted into USB3 ports by combining them with a high speed IO lane from the chipset. The C236 lists 10/4 ports; which is the distribution you'd get if using 10 HSIO lanes to make the max number of USB3 ports. However putting it in the table like that implies that the 10 lanes are locked into USB3; which strikes me as odd, since for server/workstation uses SATA/PCIe/m.2 seem like they'd be more generally useful than lots of USB3.close - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
Apparently you can slap "performance-gaming" even on a product based on a cut down B150 with Xeon support. This is one way to devalue this kind of branding.BurntMyBacon - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
@close: "Apparently you can slap "performance-gaming" even on a product based on a cut down B150 with Xeon support. This is one way to devalue this kind of branding."The mentality is a little different than that. They think you can slap "performance-gaming" on anything with overclocking features. Putting aside the fact that these are two different markets, they had the unfortunate lack of foresight to predict that Intel would shut the new fangled Xeon overclocking features down. Now the board no longer fits even their definition of "performance-gaming", but their is no way for the average consumer to know that. They should have rebranded the product. Instead, they've done exactly as you said, devalued the branding.
close - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
To be honest I only spotted the "OC" part after I posted the comment. Waiting for the "Gaming-Performance-OC-Megatron stick in the mud" edition.xKrNMBoYx - Monday, May 9, 2016 - link
Actually I have this motherboard and a E3 1275 V5. You can still OC on the very first BIOS (v1) or on the beta BIOS 1.3. Enjoying a 4.5GHz Skylake Xeon.Zarok001 - Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - link
Can I still download this bios anywhere. I was told that this overclocking still works and now im sitting here with a GTX 1070 and a locked Intel Xeon E3-1245v5, i mean it boosts up to 3.9Ghz but i would love to overclock it.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
Let's face it, the branding doesn't have much value anyway at this point regardless of what ASRock does to it. It's silly to stick numbers into words these days as is done with the 1 in the word Fatal1ty. That just comes off as 1990's era childish. "Performance-gaming" is just marketing speak that is intended to appeal to a targeted audience of potential buyers in order to enable an exchange of money and products. The same is true of the color scheme the vendor selected, some of the "features" of the motherboard itself, and licensing the use of a now unknown crusty old "pro gamer." In order to charge a price premium, companies have to ensure their products fit the buyer both in actual capabilities, perceived benefits, and emotional appeal. It's pretty safe to dismiss the majority of ASRock's marketing materials (and probably for the best in all product purchases in order to make a rational decision) so a potential buyer can assess the actual benefits the product offers.And yes, I've been accused of being a buzzkill more than once. :)
Gunbuster - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
So this is the weird byproduct of Xeon overclocking being discovered? But since Intel slapped down all the board manufacturers this is now an effectively useless product?jasonelmore - Wednesday, May 4, 2016 - link
Intel just doesnt wanna sell the new gen CPU's with OC and ECC..tons of people wanna build a skylake nas box with ECC for freenas, but intel is making it very hard to do this without buying a integrated board with a bunch of atom cores. We want the OC for VM performance, while still keeping ECC
StrangerGuy - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
I for one, is still amazed that people expects overclocking free lunches from Intel in year 2016 like they are still living in 2007.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
If someone is compelled to overclock to eek out what usually ends up being a rather small amount of additional performance, it was probably a better idea in the first place to include faster hardware in the budget. Such as in the case of an overclocked FreeNAS box in the above comment, overclocking what ought to be a stable, appliance-like system might result in additional, otherwise unnecessary considerations like more expensive and complex cooling and a potentially more costly motherboard that supports overclocking among other things that add to the overall system cost and eat into the advantage of buying a less expensive CPU, but overclocking it to get more expensive CPU-like performance. It may end up not saving much and burdening the system owner with the sunk time spent troubleshooting additional problems.xKrNMBoYx - Monday, May 9, 2016 - link
OCing still works with the factory BIOS or the newest beta BIOSUbercake - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
I can't take anything ASRock seriously no matter how big the bargain.I just don't want to build a system based on a cut-rate foundation.
wyssn11 - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
Sky OC still works on this board.http://forums.vr-zone.com/hardware-depot/3349860-t...
Jrood89 - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
Are you sure? I am in desperate need of a new PC and would get this if it works stillxKrNMBoYx - Monday, May 9, 2016 - link
Still works. Have a 3.6GHz 1275 V5 running at 4.5GHzblack8dragon - Wednesday, May 11, 2016 - link
Hi,i found someone who ownes this MB. Did you also Test avx2 performance? Like linpack?
sajiby3k - Thursday, May 5, 2016 - link
If possible, review the MSI C236A workstation. Feature wise that is a good alternative and also good price.12k456 - Saturday, May 7, 2016 - link
Thats really a awesome gaming motherboard and good review ............. http://techgrabo.comEtern205 - Saturday, May 7, 2016 - link
Asrock gaming logo looks like the fangs of Brak from Space Ghost Coast to Coast.xKrNMBoYx - Monday, May 9, 2016 - link
Two things wrong I see from skipping through the review.1) There ARE 1200 V5 models that have an IGP. The 12X5 V5 models all have an IGP (like my 1275 V5)
2) OCing is still possible with the motherboard. You either stick with the oldest/first BIOS or use the latest beta BIOS (1.3)
Alfredly - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - link
Just got this board plus skylake xeon, so much fun overclocking it. As it is one of its kind, this board's oc function was its selling point for me.