Looking for a mATX Z97 mobo

[Valantar]

Hi

I'm replacing my ridiculously old desktop PC (currently running an ancient Core2Quad Q9450) with something more compact this spring/summer, and I'm having some trouble finding a decent motherboard.

The plan is to use an i5-4690K, underclocked (~4690S or T speeds) for silent/low power running most of the time, with an OC profile for gaming and heavier usage. I'll most likely be using the CM Hyper 212 EVO cooler.

Initially, i was leaning towards the BitFenix Prodigy ITX case and the AsRock Z97E-ITX/ac mobo, however recently I've been looking at the Silverstone FT03 (mATX) instead, as my desk can't accomodate the PC, and a tiny ITX case on the floor seems a bit silly. Also, the cooling performance of the FT03 seems incredible, and I like the design.

Of course, using an ITX board in an mATX case seems a bit of a waste, especially considering memory clearance issues with air coolers. Also, I've read that the AsRock board might have some issues with some CPU cooler backplates. Thus I'm looking for an mATX board with the same feature set, without a significant price hike.

So, my feature wishlist:

mATX Z97
m.2/SATAe (for future-proofing)
Integrated WiFi/BT (mainly due to the bluetooth)
ALC1150 Audio Codec (preferably with some sort of PCB separation)
6 or more power phases

I don't care about Killer ethernet, replaceable op-amps or other gimmicks.

And it shouldn't cost significantly more than the Asrock ITX board.

Does anyone have any tips? So far, I've come up short, especially on the WiFi/BT point. Other than that, the ASrock Fatal1ty Z97M Killer or the MSI Z97M Gaming seem like the best options.

 

[Ranulf]

I've been looking myself lately, more just for a good overclocker.

You might be stuck with say the asus maximus vII, it has a mpcie slot, could put a BT/wifi card in there.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813132136

 

[imaheadcase]

I bought myself the Gigabyte WiFi version, it was pretty much perfect setup. The Z97N-WiFi.

Great to work with, i built two systems for it.

 

[mw8t]

I've been looking myself lately, more just for a good overclocker.

You might be stuck with say the asus maximus vII, it has a mpcie slot, could put a BT/wifi card in there.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813132136

If he does he won't be able to use the m.2 slot, you can't run both.

Just a heads up, I have this board.

 

[Ranulf]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Stuka87]

I just bought an Asrock Z97E-ITX/AC. Still putting the system together, so no details yet. Putting a 4690K into it.

I wanted the Asus Maximus VII, but could not justify the extra $90.

 

[lukart]

I just bought an Asrock Z97E-ITX/AC. Still putting the system together, so no details yet. Putting a 4690K into it.

I wanted the Asus Maximus VII, but could not justify the extra $90.

For the price, this board packs a lot of great features... The $90 extra if you had gone for the Maximus would be paying the brand that carries, nothing else :thumbsdown:

 

[MaeClark0318]

msi z97m gaming
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-773-_-Product

but about your budget???

 

[you2]

I have the asrock itx board; two comments on the m.2 (I would never buy this board for future proofing btw);

The m.2 slot is on the bottom of the board so you have to remove it from the case to install an m.2 ssd; the m.2 slot only supports two standard lengths; and not the length of the more popular high density cards (alas m.2 has started this new trend of not all cards are compatible with all boards that have m.2 slots).
-
The board has mix ratings - it was not as fast as some of the other boards but it had some benefits over them (read reviews). I personally have no complaints with the board itself; the documentation sucks (if you have a boot issue it will put out a beep code which is typical of this bios but the documentation DOES NOT LIST the beep codes).

 

[ocer9999]

I have one and I think the board packs every feature i could want onto a 8 x 8 inch square (m-itx form factor). It has 6 sata port, and m.2 port/or mSata (can't use both at once)

 

[bwbob]

I just bought an Asrock Z97E-ITX/AC. Still putting the system together, so no details yet. Putting a 4690K into it.

I wanted the Asus Maximus VII, but could not justify the extra $90.

I've been running the Z97E-itx with a 4770K, it's been a great board with never a problem

 

[Valantar]

You might be stuck with say the asus maximus vII, it has a mpcie slot, could put a BT/wifi card in there.

That's a mighty nice looking motherboard, but considering that it costs about 50% more than the ASrock (not considering the (small) added cost for an WiFi/BT card), it's just too expensive.

If he does he won't be able to use the m.2 slot, you can't run both.

Just a heads up, I have this board.

Aaand that just killed that option extra dead. Oh well, now I won't be lusting after a far too expensive motherboard

I bought myself the Gigabyte WiFi version, it was pretty much perfect setup. The Z97N-WiFi.

Great to work with, i built two systems for it.

I've had good experiences with Gigabyte hardware previously, but if I'm to build a Haswell/Broadwell system (and not wait for Skylake) the lack of the m.2 slot is pretty much a deal breaker, unfortunately, even if it has everything else for slightly less money.

I just bought an Asrock Z97E-ITX/AC. Still putting the system together, so no details yet. Putting a 4690K into it.

Have you finished your build yet? Any opinions?

For the price, this board packs a lot of great features... The $90 extra if you had gone for the Maximus would be paying the brand that carries, nothing else :thumbsdown:

Weeelllll... the power delivery of the Maximus is superior to any other ITX board (and it should be, considering that it occupies a rather huge daughterboard). Its combo m.2/WiFi mounting system is also rather ingenious, and definitely drives costs up. So does the audio daughterboard - but that should again help due to unbeatable EMI separation and more room for high end components. So it's a crazy expensive board, but it does throw in everything but the kitchen sink when it comes to premium features too.

msi z97m gaming
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-773-_-Product

but about your budget???

Again, a nice board, but having to add a PCIe WiFi/BT board (or more likely an Intel 7260AC + a PCIe to mPCIe riser board) makes it far more expensive than ITX boards that already have WiFi. I have no idea how to convert Norwegian hardware prices to dollars (we have 25% VAT, among other complicating factors), but the motherboard shouldn't be significantly more expensive than the ASrock Z97E-ITX/AC.

The m.2 slot is on the bottom of the board so you have to remove it from the case to install an m.2 ssd; the m.2 slot only supports two standard lengths; and not the length of the more popular high density cards (alas m.2 has started this new trend of not all cards are compatible with all boards that have m.2 slots).

Yeah, I've seen that, and that's the one real drawback of the ASrock board. Right now I'm more tempted by the Asus Z97I-PLUS, as it's cheaper than the Maximus, has everything I need, isn't that much more expensive than the ASrock, and has the back-of-the-board m.2 slot rotated so that it doesn't interfere with the CPU backplate (and thus supports longer SSDs). The weaker audio codec is a bummer, though, but at least easier to compensate for (and I'm mostly happy as long as it's better than what I have now).


For those of you that have the ASrock, do you have any experiences to share regarding memory clearances or backplate mounting for CPU coolers? That's the only other real issue that I've come across for it.

 

[you2]

I have the asrock with 4790K. The cpu runs pretty hot (there is a long thread @ intel ont his issue); I replace the stock cooler with a Prolimatech Samuel 17; but I don't think it really helped that much (maybe 7C). The problem is in the eliete 130 there is almost no clearance between the 120mm fan on the heat sink and the psu. It runs in spec (around 72 peak when gaming; 91 peak with prime stress test; 27C idle) so I've decided to leave it this way - but eventually I'll replace the elite 130 with 250D. I have no desire to water cool. There was no issues with regards to back plane or memory clearance with this cooler. I have no complaints about the board other than the documentation not mentioning the beep codes. I have no intention of using the M.2 slot; wifi and broadcom ports owrk fine but kind of prefer realtek or intel as they have better support in linux.

 

[Valantar]

So in your case, the cpu fan and PSU fan are situated millimeters/centimeters apart, pulling in opposite directions? Now that sounds not only like a recipe for disaster cooling-wise, but for fan logevity as well. I see how that would cause things to run hot. I won't be having issues like these though, as I'll be using a bigger case.

As a suggestion, why not look at the Fractal Design Node 304 as a replacement case? It probably doesn't quite match the airflow of your Cooler Master, but it has an excellent layout in terms of CPU cooler space, hard drive mounting, and as long as you don't need an ODD or have a ridiculously large GPU for an ITX build, it should work out great. Also, unlike the 250D, it's very close to the same size as the Elite 130.

 

[you2]

That's why I would go with the 250D; I want the optical drive and it doesn't have the issue of the elite 130. I have a seasonic xp2 660 and the fan pretty much almost never runs so it is not quite as bad as you suggest but not great. An alternative case would be one of the silverstone f's; A friend has one and it is similar in size to the elite 130 but the layout is completely different in terms of the orientation of the fan/motherboard. To be honest I think the silverstone is the best alternative with regards to the size but I'll probalby go with the 250D. Btw the graphics card is a reference 290 so while 'ridiculously large gpu' is relative it is not a small gpu