MSI Z97-Gaming 5 or Maximus VII Hero ?

[leito360]

Coming from AMD (Phenom 2 965 mounted on a Crosshair III Formula) I've decided to move to intel, the CPU will be a i5 4690k... now that has been settled, I need an acceptable board to run it.

Having discarded the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2, and after reading some reviews, I think the MSI Gaming 5 is the way to go... it's worth mentioning that I plan to do a mild OC to the 4690k, the idea is to make it run at 4.0GHz, and see how it reacts from there.

Between the Hero and the Gaming 5, there's a difference of 70 USD (in my country). Both mobos are more or less the same in terms of hardware and general performance, but the difference relies on the software and the BIOS, both of them in favor of the Hero.

Besides, I THINK (personal opinion here) the Hero is a better overclocker than the Gaming 5, but I could be terribly wrong.
Does it worth paying the difference and grab the Hero?


EDIT: the system will be mainly used for gaming... I expect to play MKX very often, and, so far, the most demanding game I expect to play is Arkham Knight (Both games run under UE3).

EDIT2: Chagend Sabertooth mark 2 for Maximus Hero

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

the Sabertooth has the TUFF warranty, not knocking MSI(though i never used this board) I do like MSI motherboards. I have gotten great customer service from MSI. I would also make sure your memory is on the mother board compatibility list, though it seems more and more it's a none issue........
http://event.asus.com/2011/mb/TUF/TUF_Standards_3.htm

 

[leito360]

the Sabertooth has the TUFF warranty, not knocking MSI(though i never used this board) I do like MSI motherboards. I have gotten great customer service from MSI. I would also make sure your memory is on the mother board compatibility list, though it seems more and more it's a none issue........
http://event.asus.com/2011/mb/TUF/TUF_Standards_3.htm

Fortunately, both boards are compatible with my memory (F3-12800CL9Q-16GBZL(XMP))... now I'm going to start looking for a review of the Mark 2 (Or 1 taking into account that the only difference between them is the thermal cover) and see how good it is.

If anyone can post reviews or comparatives about any of the mobos, that would be awesome

 

[SR-71 Blackbird]

I own both HERO boards and they are worth it , very well built.

 

[MrGrim999]

I just built a gaming rig with the MSI Z97 Gaming 3 mobo and have no complaints. I've got the same cpu and with the game genie all you have to do is press the OC button in BIOS and it safely overclocks to 4Ghz. I was just playing a game and when I exited to my desktop, my cpu was at 35C.

 

[bonehead123]

I just built my son a gaming rig with the Gaming 5 & 4690k o/c'd to 4.2 and he loves it . Plays everything he has thrown at it so far....

I had ZERO issues when assembling the build, nor loading it up with components & software, but the same goes for MY new rig I built with the Hero & a 4790k too, so I think you would be happy with either one.

So far, mine does seem to run a few degrees cooler, but not more than 5-7 degrees, however I don't game on mine though.... other than that I really can't tell much difference between the two boards.

 

[PhIlLy ChEeSe]

I see a ton of hero's on flee Bay for sale broken, then again there probably the highest selling current mother board out there.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I use a maximus vii hero and it's been a good board for me.