ASUS PRIME Z270-AR vs ASUS PRIME Z270-A

[poby]

The ASUS PRIME Z270-AR is easily available but the ASUS PRIME Z270-A is totally not.  Big question I have is can you utilise the 7 pcie slots for gpus on the ASUS PRIME Z270-AR??

According to the ASUS specs:

A

2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

AR

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

The pics of both look indentical (same number and type of pcie connectors)

Based on the above I would assume that one of the slots on the AR is an unconnected dummy.  But I have read in various places including here that some people have ASUS PRIME Z270-AR running 7 gpus and even 8 utilizing the M.2.

Can someone out there who actually has the AR version confirm (or deny) that it works with 7 GPU's?

[Mattthev]

Z270-A can have 9 GPUs.
I have Z270 Prime P and It can have 8.

[poby]

Z270-A can have 9 GPUs.
I have Z270 Prime P and It can have 8.

Yeah but I'm specifically talking about the ASUS PRIME Z270-AR. I've read of some people who are using 7 GPU slots with this board (not including the M.2 possibility) and I want to confirm if it's really true.  The A version can do this but ASUS specs claim only 6 PCIE on the AR version.  Is it a typo on ASUS part?

[TheRider]

but ASUS specs claim only 6 PCIE on the AR version.  Is it a typo on ASUS part?

Did you actually look at the specs? More like a typo on your part I'm thinking...

https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-AR/specifications/

Expansion Slots
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

[poby]

Ok it's looking increasingly like an ASUS typo.  Either that or there is an australian version with the same model number but different specs.

https://www.asus.com/au/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-AR/specifications/

has the specs:

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

[Mattthev]

Ok it's looking increasingly like an ASUS typo.  Either that or there is an australian version with the same model number but different specs.

https://www.asus.com/au/Motherboards/PRIME-Z270-AR/specifications/

has the specs:

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

Right so this is only about number of slots... So, why don't you write to the Asus AU support?

[fcaldas]

Yeah, it's strange that on the AU website it shows 6 PCI and not 7. I am also considering buying the AR, but need confirmation that in AU, the model definitely supports 7 GPUs.

[Mattthev]

Yeah, it's strange that on the AU website it shows 6 PCI and not 7. I am also considering buying the AR, but need confirmation that in AU, the model definitely supports 7 GPUs.

So where is the problem? Write to the AU support!

[poby]

Yeah I wrote to ASUS support and they confirmed it's a typo.  It's a 7 pcie board.

[nzalog]

Can someone out there who actually has the AR version confirm (or deny) that it works with 7 GPU's?

I was able to get 8 cards on my Prime Z270-AR with an M.2 adapter, Did not try for 9.
7 GPUs is not an issue.

[toomeke]

I have the AR version x2, 8 GPU's each using 1 of the M2 slots with a PCIE m2 adaptor, rock solid

[igotfits]

Z270-A can have 9 GPUs.
I have Z270 Prime P and It can have 8.

i am currently running 8GPUs on my z270-A but from what i hear, if i want a 9th card it will have to be a completely different maker for windows 10 pro to pick it up.
( EX: 8 = GTX1060s and 1 = rx580 )

can anyone confirm this?

[Undefined31415]

Z270-A can have 9 GPUs.
I have Z270 Prime P and It can have 8.

i am currently running 8GPUs on my z270-A but from what i hear, if i want a 9th card it will have to be a completely different maker for windows 10 pro to pick it up.
( EX: 8 = GTX1060s and 1 = rx580 )

can anyone confirm this?

I wouldn't say 9 Nvidia or 9 AMD cards is impossible, but it's definitely uncommon and would definitely require quite a bit of tinkering.

But yeah, currently the generally accepted limit for Windows 10 is 8 for Nvidia GPUs and 8 for AMD GPUs. There are other limitations to be aware of, however. I have yet to see someone running a stable 16 GPU rig with 8 Nvidia and 8 AMD GPUs, but 8 Nvidia and 1 AMD is definitely possible.

[S_Natural]

The ASUS PRIME Z270-AR is easily available but the ASUS PRIME Z270-A is totally not.  Big question I have is can you utilise the 7 pcie slots for gpus on the ASUS PRIME Z270-AR??

According to the ASUS specs:

A

2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

AR

1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (max at x4 mode)
4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1

The pics of both look indentical (same number and type of pcie connectors)

Based on the above I would assume that one of the slots on the AR is an unconnected dummy.  But I have read in various places including here that some people have ASUS PRIME Z270-AR running 7 gpus and even 8 utilizing the M.2.

Can someone out there who actually has the AR version confirm (or deny) that it works with 7 GPU's?

I have both of them. The different A and AR is Onboard connection:
Z270A: 1 HDMI, 1 Displayport, 1 DVI
Z270AR: just 1 HDMI

Both use the same bios and can run 8 GPUs perfectly.