Z97 boards- No one stands behind them?

[b0r]

The last component I need to choose for my rig is the Mobo. One of 2 scenarios exists in the Z97 realm, in my opinion:

1: There aren't enough people purchasing Z97 boards to account for the nitpickers/new builder errors

2: They just aren't reliable?

Obviously, I am taking the former. I can't believe that an entire series of boards is just bad. I like to use customer reviews and site reviews to help make my purchase. I challenge anyone to find ONE Z97 board that doesn't have MULTIPLE complaints, from DOA to bad DIMMs to bent pins and everything in between.

I was told before (I think by Mfenn) that it's a coin flip when it comes to these things, but the lack of sales really makes the poor reviews on EVERY SINGLE one of these mobo's stand out. I am looking at ASUS/Gigabyte. I bought an ASRock board once and it was so thin and flimsy (Z77 Extreme4 I believe) and was definitely not what I expected considering all the good you hear. Worked, but I felt like it could break just by holding it on one side.

I am in the $130-$180 range. One part of me wants to "get what I pay for", and the other doesn't want to spend $180 for ports and whistles I won't even use. Does anyone own any Z97 boards by ASUS/GB and can you recommend any? My last board was an MSI GD65 Z77 and was great, but I've heard nothing but poor things about QC since then with them. Thanks.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

I've got a GB Z97N-WIFI (here) that I picked up to mess around with a G3258 for fun. It's currently being used for HTPC purposes, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for an mITX board. The price I paid falls below your bracket, though.

No issues with the wifi as described in the newegg reviews. I've also got the board's direct predecessor (the Z87N-WIFI) with the same Intel 7260 wifi card and it's been working great. The only thing my Z97 board adds is 2 SATA ports and a MUCH better layout.

My only complaints would be the location of the USB 3 header (a long GPU will block it) and that there's only 2 fan headers. And maybe that there's no VRM cooling, but I'm not pushing for the max here.

Can't comment on the DOA/dead dimm slots/bent pins/etc aspects since I buy my boards locally at MicroCenter (to avoid those exact problems). Although I will say I saw at least 5 MSI Z97 boards (the "MAX POWER" or whatever ones, with the bright yellow boxes) on the open box/returned shelves. Not sure what that's about.

 

[Meghan54]

I challenge anyone to find ONE Z97 board that doesn't have MULTIPLE complaints, from DOA to bad DIMMs to bent pins and everything in between.

From Newegg.....(actually the links below are from their business side, but the reviews are the same on either Newegg site):

(In pos./neg. review numbers below, pos.= 3/4egg reviews, neg.= 1/2 egg reviews....if you put a lot of stock into Newegg reviews anyway.....)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-157-501 (AsRock Fatality Killer.....14+, 1-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-132-130 (Asus Z97M-Plus....7+, 0-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-157-520 (AsRock Z97M OC Formula....5+, 0-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-128-707 (Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H....29+, 3-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-132-125 (Asus ROG Max. VII Hero---the most reviewed Z97 motherboard on Newegg currently--- 52+, 16-)


I tend to discount a lot of the "bent pin" complaints on RMA back to Newegg.....very easy to bend a pin when removing the cpu if you don't pay attention, and Newegg has a reputation for claiming bent pins on a host of returned motherboards, "real" or not. This is one reason I quit buying motherboards from Newegg, that and I hate waiting for 2 weeks to have an exchange made on a motherboard that's potentially defective when I can purchase the same mb from Microcenter for at least the same price as Newegg (albeit with sales tax) or cheaper than Newegg, esp. if I buy a cpu with the mb. And that's a cpu that's easily sold if not needed, esp. given Microcenter's cut rate price in cpus.

BTW....I'm running an Asus Z97 Max. VII Gene and have had no problems at all, despite me changing hardware repeatedly since the computer was built----hardware incl. new SSD (850 Pro from an 840 Pro), gpus (GTX 780 and R9 290), memory (AMD, Samsung, Corsair have all resided on the board without incident).

 

[boondocks]

I'm running a Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H, and I have had both a 4770K & 4790K on the board. I tend to stick with the UD5H series since Z77, and I currently own Z77/Z87/Z97 Gigabyte UD5H boards.

I've never had any XMP/memory compatibility problems or other weirdness, and the boards OC great if you're interested.

The Z97 UD5H saw a price drop this year which puts it in your price range.

There is a good rundown of features and board circuitry on another site very recently posted. If you can't find it PM me since I doubt they will want me linking to it here.

 

[cbrunny]

I have ASUS Z97 ROG Maximus Hero. It's a sweet board. No DOA issues at all. I did not purchase from Newegg though.

 

[schmuckley]

I have 2 z97 boards.
A Maximus 7 Gene and Biostar z97 whatever.
I like them both
No problems with either..well..with the Biostar you have to set to x.m.p. profile to
get it to boot with my RAMs but..eh..no biggie.

 

[Compman55]

Keep in mind the UEFI bios's are so complicated, people configure them all wrong and then try to install the OS. Blue screens, lockups, etc take place and people slam the product with poor reviews.

Before UEFI, the bios was set for ACPI config and that was it, and windows XP, Vista, 7 would just install. Today we have UEFI with or without the CSM support. Secure boot or not. And about a bazillion other settings most people are not familiar with.

I can see it now, people do not put the case standoffs in the right place, or they buy a cheap a$$ case that has them welded in, and when the board is mounted the standoffs short the back side of the board. Couple that with people assembling stuff loose to make sure it works and let metal to metal contact occur and smoke somthing, not even know it (I did this to a hard drive once).

Buy an Asus or Gigabyte and be happy. If it does not fail in a week chances are you will be fine for a long time.

 

[b0r]

And that's why I always find myself back at Anandtech forums. You guys are great. I appreciate all the feedback, honestly. I am just very weary when it comes to Mobo's and spending too much and not getting enough. It's funny how A LOT of components are so "easy" to purchase.

PSU: Seasonics. Easy.
Processor: Was it ever a question? Intel K series.
Video Cards: I stick to Radeons. XFX Lifetime warranty? Hello? Easy.
RAM: G. Skill. Again, too easy.
Cases: Fractal.
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro. Done.

It's just too easy to piece together a "quality" rig with parts that are repeatedly praised everywhere. I don't like to give too much stock to reviews like you said, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't at least 25% of my decision. It's always the Mobo's that have fluctuating names at the top. I think I am going to go with a Gigabyte. Possibly a UD5H. Haven't decided if I should get the UD3H-BK. Sick looking board, and the 168 hour testing which I doubt is a gimmick seems like a nice burn in...at least for the ridiculous DOA situations. Let me know what you guys think of the BK series boards. Thanks again!

 

[b0r]

From Newegg.....(actually the links below are from their business side, but the reviews are the same on either Newegg site):

(In pos./neg. review numbers below, pos.= 3/4egg reviews, neg.= 1/2 egg reviews....if you put a lot of stock into Newegg reviews anyway.....)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-157-501 (AsRock Fatality Killer.....14+, 1-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-132-130 (Asus Z97M-Plus....7+, 0-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-157-520 (AsRock Z97M OC Formula....5+, 0-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-128-707 (Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H....29+, 3-)

http://www.neweggbusiness.com/product/product.aspx?item=9b-13-132-125 (Asus ROG Max. VII Hero---the most reviewed Z97 motherboard on Newegg currently--- 52+, 16-)


I tend to discount a lot of the "bent pin" complaints on RMA back to Newegg.....very easy to bend a pin when removing the cpu if you don't pay attention, and Newegg has a reputation for claiming bent pins on a host of returned motherboards, "real" or not. This is one reason I quit buying motherboards from Newegg, that and I hate waiting for 2 weeks to have an exchange made on a motherboard that's potentially defective when I can purchase the same mb from Microcenter for at least the same price as Newegg (albeit with sales tax) or cheaper than Newegg, esp. if I buy a cpu with the mb. And that's a cpu that's easily sold if not needed, esp. given Microcenter's cut rate price in cpus.

BTW....I'm running an Asus Z97 Max. VII Gene and have had no problems at all, despite me changing hardware repeatedly since the computer was built----hardware incl. new SSD (850 Pro from an 840 Pro), gpus (GTX 780 and R9 290), memory (AMD, Samsung, Corsair have all resided on the board without incident).

Y'know, I DO have a MicroCenter....55 miles away, but I have one, nonetheless. Perhaps I should look and see if they have a CPU/Mobo combo that way it's just another hour drive if there's a problem rather than days/weeks with no rig.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Interesting, when I build a new computer, I always start with the mobo and build around it since I consider it to be the most important piece of hardware. Of course I haven't built a new one in a couple of years, so hardware changes I suppose. And I might add that a lot of people don't read the manual, which is why they have a lot of problems.

 

[JeffMD]

The last component I need to choose for my rig is the Mobo. One of 2 scenarios exists in the Z97 realm, in my opinion:

I am in the $130-$180 range. One part of me wants to "get what I pay for", and the other doesn't want to spend $180 for ports and whistles I won't even use. Does anyone own any Z97 boards by ASUS/GB and can you recommend any? My last board was an MSI GD65 Z77 and was great, but I've heard nothing but poor things about QC since then with them. Thanks.

I think the reason why is the same reason I never went for it, I wasn't putting together an SLI board. And most people arn't these days. I recently set up a medium-high gaming system for a friend and picked out the asus H97 plus, great board, lots of features, support for the future. AMD is the same way, you only need to go with their expensive chip line if you are going with SLI. You get all the same features in their secondary chip line except that.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Y'know, I DO have a MicroCenter....55 miles away, but I have one, nonetheless. Perhaps I should look and see if they have a CPU/Mobo combo that way it's just another hour drive if there's a problem rather than days/weeks with no rig.

That's what I do. The combo applies to the i7 4960X, 4930K, 4820K, 4790K, i5 4690K, and i3 4360 and (in my experience) all regular-price boards.

My MC is really lax about returns, I returned a board for a boot loop problem and noticed they didn't even check for bent pins. Most of the open-box mobos were missing the socket cover, and when I asked a guy working in that section why they took them back he just said "iono, that's something for the suits to figure out." Hell they even took back a board with just its antistatic bag, no box or anything.

Great service. I always give them my business when I can.

 

[nickbits]

I put a Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H in my home server... Seems to work fine.

 

[wbfelix]

I run my my universal wall mount for flat screens from 23 "to 37" with 15 ° tilt +/-

 

[b0r]

Just got back from Micro Center. Sadly, I knew more than the "BYOS" sales guy when it came to pretty much every topic we spoke about...but not a big deal. Their Mobo deals can't be beaten...I ended up leaving with the ASUS DVD drive, the i5 4690K and the ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2. I wouldn't have gained anything I needed going with the Mark 1, and saved over $50 not taking the sick deal they had on the Maximus VII just because I didn't need anything that board offered.

I also don't like the "TUF" armor on the Mark 1, so the Mark 2 is essentially the same board with a few less bells and no armor. Hopefully it all works itself out. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Maximilian]

I had some irritating issues with my Z97 sabertooth mark 2.

- Failing to boot
- USB3 ports not working
- Graphics driver crashes
- Booting up with a blank screen

Those issues were UEFI related, fiddling with the USB settings make it work but it took a few UEFI updates to fix things for good, although I still dont screw around with any of the PCIE power saving features just in case, they are what caused the graphics issues on the older UEFI version.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

My MC is really lax about returns

And that's why folks like me can pick up nice mobo's on the cheap. Alot of wanna-be computer builders who can't be trusted to put together a happy meal toy.

 

[Dannar26]

And that's why folks like me can pick up nice mobo's on the cheap. Alot of wanna-be computer builders who can't be trusted to put together a happy meal toy.

Heh heh, your 8 buck wonder is still going strong?

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Heh heh, your 8 buck wonder is still going strong?

Yep, no worries it's a solid piece.