What is your most Liked \ Disliked Z97 Board?

[ProKoN]

Just wanted to see what everyone thinks of the new boards that have been launched recently.

 

you can find the majority of them here.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=z97&N=-1&isNodeId=1

 

 

 

My likes.

 

MSI Z97 XPower- Grossly overpriced and who needs 4 way sli but I think Im gonna grab one anyways

 

Gigabyte Black UD series- I like all the UD series on Z97 the black is kinda sexy

 

 

 

 

 

My Dislikes

 

Asus ROG Z97 Hero- Never liked the Hero for the price and certainly not a fan of this one. Keybot are you for real?

 

Gigabyte Z97 SOC\ SOC Force- Nice for multi gpu configs but the vrm got a downgrade judging by the vrm heatsink. seems like a step backwards for a OC board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The_Strict_Nein]

I'm liking the MPOWER MAX and Sabertooth Mk1 a lot, but they all have little things about them that annoy me

[Phllips]

The new asrock pro4 is really cool looking. 

[Lays]

I like the x / m power quite a bit this gen, I may get a 4790k when it comes out with either an EVGA classified z97 or an X / m power.

 

What size are the barbs on the x/ m power?  And do they have the same VRM?

[ProKoN]

I like the x / m power quite a bit this gen, I may get a 4790k when it comes out with either an EVGA classified z97 or an X / m power.

 

What size are the barbs on the x/ m power?  And do they have the same VRM?

 

Judging by the pics both x\ m have different vrm design. I like the fact they moved the surface mounted  power \ reset buttons to the appropriate place on the mpower.

 

no idea on barb size.

[Lays]

Judging by the pics both x\ m have different vrm design. I like the fact they moved the surface mounted  power \ reset buttons to the appropriate place on the mpower.

 

no idea on barb size.

 

 

Why the F do they not tell us barb size ._.

 

 

"YEA GUYS U CAN WATERCOOL THE VRM BUT WE WONT TELL YOU WHAT SIZE FITTINGS WE PUT ON IT"

[Unlocker9000]

I like that Asus walked away from that ugly ass gold theme on their mainstream motherboards to a more black and and darker gold theme. Looks a lot better in my opinion.

[The_Strict_Nein]

I like the x / m power quite a bit this gen, I may get a 4790k when it comes out with either an EVGA classified z97 or an X / m power.

 

What size are the barbs on the x/ m power?  And do they have the same VRM?

 

The XPOWER has 16 phases, the MPOWER MAX has 12, and I believe the MPOWER also has 12.

 

To me, the XPOWER only makes sense if you de-lid with LN2. The most compelling to me is the MPOWER MAX

[ProKoN]

I like that Asus walked away from that ugly ass gold theme on their mainstream motherboards to a more black and and darker gold theme. Looks a lot better in my opinion.

 

I have to agree as well. I really like the Deluxe this go around.

[Akolyte]

The new asrock pro4 is really cool looking. 

Asus boards 'used' to look like that :'(  

[ProKoN]

The XPOWER has 16 phases, the MPOWER MAX has 12, and I believe the MPOWER also has 12.

 

To me, the XPOWER only makes sense if you de-lid with LN2. The most compelling to me is the MPOWER MAX

 

It doesnt make sense for alot of reasons. I do prefer the X on the chipset rather than the M. good enough reason for me lol.

 

for sure the mpower is really where its at for great price to performance.

[Lays]

It doesnt make sense for alot of reasons. I do prefer the X on the chipset rather than the M. good enough reason for me lol.

 

for sure the mpower is really where its at for great price to performance.

 

 

I think whenever the 4790k is released I may get an x power + 4790k and 16gb of dominator plats  Maybe the m power max, but idk yet.

I don't really use my 12 threads/ 32gb anywhere near enough for me to warrant having this much money in things I don't use.

 

Plus some of the games I play benefit heavily from single core performance, so that'd be nice as well.

[Phage]

Yes the GIGABYTE boards are amazing, the msi board looks pretty cool too

 

I dont like the red/black blue/black colour schemes

[ProKoN]

 

I don't really use my 12 threads near enough for me to warrant having this much money in things I don't use.

 

 

 

I was gonna go x79, but I came to that same conclusion.

 

Haswell-E on the other hand, makes me wet.

[droidxd00d]

Sabertooth mk1 ftw

[Unlocker9000]

Also, Gigabyte shouldn't have changed the colour scheme on their gaming boards from green to red. It makes them look like almost every other gaming board out there (especially the one MSI have).

[Lays]

I was gonna go x79, but I came to that same conclusion.

 

Haswell-E on the other hand, makes me wet.

 

 

I really think I may actually get an x / m power max then watercool dem VRM's and switch my coolant to yellow  :wub:  :wub:  :wub:  :wub:

[7nationarmy]

EVGA Classified! Too big tho so if I am to buy one will be the MPower, Gigabyte Black or Stinger for ITX

[MetEishYa]

The XPOWER has 16 phases, the MPOWER MAX has 12, and I believe the MPOWER also has 12.

 

To me, the XPOWER only makes sense if you de-lid with LN2. The most compelling to me is the MPOWER MAX

MPOWER MAX has a 20 phase design

 

http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_MPOWER_MAX_AC.html#specification

[MetEishYa]

My Favorite board is the Asus z97 Deluxe

 

The ones i dnt like are all the ones with a red color scheme, red is so over rated.

[The_Strict_Nein]

MPOWER MAX has a 20 phase design

 

http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_MPOWER_MAX_AC.html#specification

 

That's got to be a miss print. Techpowerup lists it as 12 phase, and the MSI UK and Global sites both say 12 phase

 

EDIT: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_MPOWER_MAX_AC.html#overview

[MetEishYa]

Why the F do they not tell us barb size ._.

 

 

"YEA GUYS U CAN WATERCOOL THE VRM BUT WE WONT TELL YOU WHAT SIZE FITTINGS WE PUT ON IT"

Lol yeah there manual and website don't say anything about the size but is suspect it should be 1/4"

[Lays]

Lol yeah there manual and website don't say anything about the size but is suspect it should be 1/4"

 

 

I hope they're interchangeable, I have 3/8 5/8 tubing, I'd rather not have a giant headache trying to get them to stay put on the barbs lol 

[MetEishYa]

That's got to be a miss print. Techpowerup lists it as 12 phase, and the MSI UK and Global sites both say 12 phase

 

EDIT: http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_MPOWER_MAX_AC.html#overview

Yeah you probably right makes more sense seen as the xpower is 16. I didn't even look at the non-usa page thinking they'll all be the same as the usa one.

[MetEishYa]

I hope they're interchangeable, I have 3/8 5/8 tubing, I'd rather not have a giant headache trying to get them to stay put on the barbs lol 

They should have all learnt from Asus on this one the maximus V formula used 3/8" barbs and the maximus vi formula changed to G1/4" threads.