Gigabyte Z270X Ultra Gaming Preview

Up Close cont

Maybe we’re getting old, or maybe words have changed their meanings, but when we hear the word Ultra we assume it is at the very peak of things. Certainly above Super. Which makes the decision by Gigabyte to use only four SATA ports horizontally and have two vertical SATA headers – something which should have been consigned to history at the same time as the Penny Farthing – completely baffling. Right next to the very latest high bandwidth U.2 connector there are two vertical SATA connectors. Madness. Similarly odd decisions appear everywhere. There are loads of fan headers, all of which are of the hybrid style, but none of them are specifically labelled as being for your AIO pump beyond one right at the bottom by the front panel connectors. Likewise this is the Ultra Gaming, but only two of the three PCI Express slots have the reinforcing armour. There is loads to like here, but also a fair few things that make us scratch our heads.