ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac: Why mini-PCIe slot?
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1001
Printed Date: 14 Jan 2025 at 6:07am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac: Why mini-PCIe slot?
Posted By: Synomenon
Subject: ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac: Why mini-PCIe slot?
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 1:58pm
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Now that Asus has revealed their underwhelming Maximus VIII Impact, I'm looking for alternatives. The ASRock Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac caught my eye, but WTF were ASRock's engineers thinking when they decided to go with a mini-PCIe slot for the wifi module instead of a M.2 slot? Was planning on upgrading the wifi module to an Intel 8260, but that's only available in M.2 format. I think the Killer N1535 is only M.2 as well... |
Replies:
Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 3:37pm
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The majority of WiFi modules are mini-PCIe interface based. Intel has 21 WiFi modules in their current listing, 16 models available in mini-PCIe, and 13 models available in mini-PCIe only. That's 75% in mini-PCIe, and 67% in mini-PCIe only. http://ark.intel.com/compare/83635,84177,84178,75439,75440,75174,75442,66888,66889,59481,59480,59478,66886,59482,66887,59474,59470,59471,59472,66890,86068" rel="nofollow - http://ark.intel.com/compare/83635,84177,84178,75439,75440,75174,75442,66888,66889,59481,59480,59478,66886,59482,66887,59474,59470,59471,59472,66890,86068 I was surprised how many M.2 WiFi modules Intel has now, so your point has some merit. Personally, I would not want to waste an M.2 slot on a WiFi module. The fastest Intel WiFi module is 867Mbps, still below 1Gbps. One PCIe 3.0 lane on an M.2 slot is 8Gbps, and one PCIe 2.0 lane is 5Gbps. The ASRock Ultra M.2 slot is PCIe 3.0 x4, or 32Gbps. The M.2 8260 would be using 1/32 of the available bandwidth. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: ASRock Expert
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:14pm
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Agree, the Ultra M.2 should be used for a fast SSD and nothing more. ------------- 990FX Extreme 9 MOD P1.70 AMD FX 8120 4GHz 1.25V Thermalright HR-02 Patriot Viper 2x4GB 2133MHz Samsung 850 EVO 250GB MSI R7970 TFIII 3GB CORSAIR VX550W LanCool K62 Dragonlord ASUS Xonar D2X |
Posted By: Synomenon
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:20pm
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It's not a big deal I guess. I could always grab a mini-PCIe to M.2 adapter so I can use the Intel 8260. |
Posted By: ASRock Expert
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:24pm
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Do You need the Intel 8260? The on-board Wifi chip bottlenecks You? ------------- 990FX Extreme 9 MOD P1.70 AMD FX 8120 4GHz 1.25V Thermalright HR-02 Patriot Viper 2x4GB 2133MHz Samsung 850 EVO 250GB MSI R7970 TFIII 3GB CORSAIR VX550W LanCool K62 Dragonlord ASUS Xonar D2X |
Posted By: Synomenon
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:26pm
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No one needs specific wifi cards. I just prefer Intel ones. |
Posted By: ASRock Expert
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:29pm
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You could go with the M2MU2-S adapter. It ads mPCIe to M.2 adapter with a SIM slot for 4G, if ever needed. ------------- 990FX Extreme 9 MOD P1.70 AMD FX 8120 4GHz 1.25V Thermalright HR-02 Patriot Viper 2x4GB 2133MHz Samsung 850 EVO 250GB MSI R7970 TFIII 3GB CORSAIR VX550W LanCool K62 Dragonlord ASUS Xonar D2X |
Posted By: Synomenon
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:31pm
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I was actually looking at this earlier: http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/M2MP1.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/M2MP1.html |
Posted By: ASRock Expert
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 4:34pm
If it fits - it sits.   ------------- 990FX Extreme 9 MOD P1.70 AMD FX 8120 4GHz 1.25V Thermalright HR-02 Patriot Viper 2x4GB 2133MHz Samsung 850 EVO 250GB MSI R7970 TFIII 3GB CORSAIR VX550W LanCool K62 Dragonlord ASUS Xonar D2X |