ECS Z77H2-AX Motherboard

Conclusions

The ECS Z77H2-AX is a high-end motherboard, meaning it is targeted to the user who wants to buy a motherboard loaded with extra features. This comes in the form of an additional PCI Express x16 slot (allowing you to install up to three video cards under SLI or CrossFireX modes), six USB 3.0 ports (motherboards based on the Z77 chipset usually come with four), a mini PCI Express slot (for you to install a small SSD unit or expansion card based on this form factor), two independent eSATA-300 ports, support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, voltage monitoring points, and an adequate voltage regulator circuit.

Under the hood, however, is where one of the most important aspects of this motherboard lies: the PLX PEX8747 switch chip. This chip allows the second PCI Express x16 slot to work at x16 when two video cards are installed (not x8 as is the norm), and the third PCI Express x16 slot to work at x8 and be compatible with the PCI Express 3.0 specification when an “Ivy Bridge” processor is installed. It is simply unbelievable how ECS is not explaining this very important feature in its manual or on its website.

It is clear that ECS improved their design a lot. The Z77H2-AX motherboard looks more professionally-designed than ECS’s previous attempts to enter the high-end segment, and the addition of actual high-end features such as a PLX chip and a better-designed voltage regulator circuit are very welcome. However, this motherboard is still plagued with some minor but important problems, such as the use of a mainstream audio codec instead of a high-end one, the very low number of fan connectors, and a badly-written product manual, which misses important technical information (the speed configuration of the PCI Express x16 slots and the importance of the PLX PEX8747 chip, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi supported speeds, information about the chip that controls the additional USB 3.0 ports, speed of the eSATA connectors, etc.).

In summary, it is a terrific option if you want the extra features brought by this motherboard. If you don’t need so many fancy features, you can pick a more affordable product.