Overclocking and Conclusion
Overclocking
To give a feel for the Z97 Deluxe's overclocking performance potential, we attempted to push the board to known CPU-supported performance parameters with minimal tweaking. I was able to get the board running stable for over 4hrs at a 4.67GHz CPU speed, a 1780MHz memory speed, and a 4.0GHz ring bus speed with a 167MHz base clock. System stability was tested running the AIDA64 stability test in conjunction with EVGA's OC Scanner X graphical benchmark running at 1280×1024 resolution and 8x MSAA in stress test mode.
Note that this is is meant only as a quick preview of the board's performance potential. With more time to tweak the settings to a greater extent, pushing to a higher base clock and ring bus speed may have been achievable, in addition to an overnight stability run without issue.
Performance
The Z97-Deluxe performs exactly as we've come to expect from high-end ASUS boards – flawlessly. At both stock and overclocked settings, the board took everything we threw at it with blinking.
Pricing
As of May 02, the ASUS Z87-Deluxe motherboard was available at Newegg.com for $399.99.
Conclusion
Before continuing with our final thoughts on the Z97-Deluxe, we would like to take this opportunity to give our friends at ASUS a hearty “Thank You” for allowing us the opportunity and pleasure to review this board. The Z97-Deluxe is a great example of what a flagship board should be – stellar performance with every feature under the sun integrated including the kitchen sink. Ok, so maybe it didn't include the kitchen sink, but it really does have every other conceivable integrated feature you could ever ask for. The Z97-Deluxe is from ASUS' Channel line of motherboards, those boards that are used by OEM system builders and mid-tier enthusiasts. As such, I wouldn't have expected the design innovations present in the Z97-Deluxe's implementation. It sports a full 16+2 phase power delivery system with high-end 10K capacitors. ASUS even included the separate audio PCB that is normally reserved for their ROG line. The most obvious updates to the board when compared with the Z87-based model is in its aesthetics. ASUS perfectly matched the color scheme with the Z97-Deluxe to give the board a visual appeal that matches its performance punch. The BIOS redesign was also a very welcomed addition with much more thought put into the layout of the UEFI features as well as the use of graphical interfaces.
Strengths
- Stock performance
- Overclocking performance
- Board layout and design
- Accessible PCI-Express x1 slot with multiple PCI-Express x16 slots filled
- UEFI BIOS design and usability
- Motherboard manual information on base features
- Dual Intel GigE NICs
- Quality of included power circuitry
- CMOS battery placement
- ThunderboltEX II PCIe card
- NFC Express 2 modules
Weaknesses
- Performance of SATA drives connected to ASMedia controllers
can never equality spread out
can never equality spread out pcie
Short of using actual gold on
Short of using actual gold on those gaudy heatsinks, there’s nothing that could justify the sort of premium these flagship boards command.
Just for reference, at $400 MSRP, this layer-cake of traces with a bunch of connectors is more expensive than the most expensive CPU using its socket. And it performs as well as any $60 1150 board.
Bonkers.
Couldn’t have said it better
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
What’s sillier is that fancy named boards are going to be priced even higher than than. Bonkers indeed.
The price for the Deluxe (
The price for the Deluxe ( withoucthe Two Port Thunderbolt add in card, Wireless Charging box and NFC box is 289 )
Additionally if you check out the upcoming live stream I think you will see there is even more to the board to fully justify its value. Even more importantly you will see how the consistency of advance features and functions are present on more price aggressive boards like the PRO and -A.
I hope you tune in to get a better understand of the features and functionality.
Bad timing on the live
Bad timing on the live stream, unfortunately.
I still remember how glad I was when GPUs started coming out with two DVI outs, and I gladly payed for a Ti 4600 over the ‘good enough’ 4200 just for that, so I’m sure you’ll find some people who’re just waiting for this very board and its specific mix of features, whatever the price may be.
I on the other hand am just having a great time playing around with, and torturing an i7 4771 on the cheapest B85 board I could find (which will eventually go into a Haswell Pentium build), and the only reason this wouldn’t go into my personal system is the lack of front USB 3.0 connector.
What would you rather have for the same money – i7 + entry level board, or high-end board (be that $300 or $400) and whatever Pentium you could find for what little cash remains? 😉
Gentlemen in the forum, I’m
Gentlemen in the forum, I’m gonna build a new computer and I was looking at this motherboard.
Please shoot me your specific suggestions for a motherboard and entire system. I’m willing to spend around $1700 or so.
I would like to build a good gaming system.
Thanks for your help.
You can email me your suggestions at jonesytv@gmail.com
Thank you.
Mark
This board has lots of
This board has lots of features but why does a $400 board not have at least 4 PCI-E x16 slots capable of running full x16, x16, x16, x16 or at least x8 across. Freak, $400 mobo but I can’t run decet 3 way or 4 way GPUs?
And speaking honestly, the look is pretty ugly compared to previous offerings for Haswell mobo’s. Both Asus and Gigabyte produced much better looking mobo’s last gen. If this board was $250 or so, I’d understand the compromise/non-flagship look but for $400? Give me a break.
It is a limitation of the
It is a limitation of the number of PCI-E lanes supported by Haswell LGA 1150 processors. The mobo makers could use a PLX chip to support four x16 slots but they would still be effectively limited electrically.
As of what we’ve heard about
As of what we've heard about the ASUS offerings, only the Z97-WS board will have an in-built PLX chip for PCIe x16 slots at launch. There may be other board offerings in the future though.
Also, part of the price premium comes with the bundled in ThunderboltEX 2 PCIe card, WIFi, and the NFC modules included. Without those, the board MSRP drops to $289…
Yup, it absolutely does drop
Yup, it absolutely does drop to $289…
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132127
There is a Deluxe version with and without those pricey accessories.
Indeed,…..
However, Newegg
Indeed,…..
However, Newegg also has the Asus ThunderboltEX II expansion card (single Thunderbolt port not dual version) for $57.80 (open box) and $68 (new) respectively.
They also have the previous gen Asus NFC Express / USB module for $23.99 (after rebate / $43.99 before) and $35.19 respectively (open box).
Not sure how the last gen NFC Express / USB module differs from the new version but I think the newer version added wireless charging of devices:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995015R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995027R
So anyway, my point is that you could just spend the ~$289.99 on the Asus Z97 Deluxe (non NFC / WLC / Thunderbolt II version) and just add these two features at a lower cost either at the time of purchase of the motherboard or at a later date.
Honestly I am more interested in Haswell-E though and I fully expect those motherboards will be in the $400 range,…..to start.
Indeed,…..
However, Newegg
Indeed,…..
However, Newegg also has the Asus ThunderboltEX II expansion card (single Thunderbolt port not dual version) for $57.80 (open box) and $68 (new) respectively.
They also have the previous gen Asus NFC Express / USB module for $23.99 (after rebate / $43.99 before) and $35.19 respectively (open box).
Not sure how the last gen NFC Express / USB module differs from the new version but I think the newer version added wireless charging of devices:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995015R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995027R
So anyway, my point is that you could just spend the ~$289.99 on the Asus Z97 Deluxe (non NFC / WLC / Thunderbolt II version) and just add these two features at a lower cost either at the time of purchase of the motherboard or at a later date.
Honestly I am more interested in Haswell-E though and I fully expect those motherboards will be in the $400 range,…..to start.
That’s exactly why I’m
That’s exactly why I’m jumping to the Z97 chipset right now. The Haswell-E stuff will be very pricey along with DDR4. I’m coming from an old 1366 system, so jumping to the z97 from 1366 will a fantastic upgrade for me. Then, I can wait for Haswell-E prices to drop and stabilize.
I ain’t buying, unless it
I ain’t buying, unless it comes with a Bass-O-Matic an’ a big ice chest full-o big mouth!
So Z97 is compatible with
So Z97 is compatible with Haswell afterall? There was some talk about electrical incompatibility with 4th gen but it seems I can put my i5-4670K on that board afterall?
Yes, Z97 is compatible with
Yes, Z97 is compatible with existing Haswell parts…
Thank you! I’ve seen the
Thank you! I’ve seen the unveiled Z97 motherboards to have the mentions of supporting 4th generation CPU’s but I wasn’t sure at all a couple of days ago when they started appearing.
Why you not checked the
Why you not checked the boards pcb layer? It shows on the back of the board arround the corner
Please tell JJ, Michael
Please tell JJ, Michael Bivins says hello!
Want. Built Z87-Pro system 9
Want. Built Z87-Pro system 9 months ago, so no can get, but can’t blame a guy for coveting. Can’t help noticing also that to make this board sing, you need to start from scratch with 4-Channel DRAM, PCI-E 10GBps-worthy SSD, and all the other pricey stuff. Can’t see doing that anytime soon. Didn’r expect Asus to come up with anything this year that might make we wistful, but they did!
I bought the new
I bought the new ThunderboltEX II and the Asus Z-97 PRO (wifi-ac) motherboard. The ASUS site showed it was compatible with the new Z-97 series but never mentioned the 9-pin to 5 pin adapter was required. I contact Asus Customer Service and on how to obtain the 9-pin to 5-pin TB Header cable/adaptor. I was told to contact the retailer (Newegg) to go about getting the cable. It’s been 2 weeks now and still info no news on how to buy the adaptor. Anyone have this experience or knows where to buy this adaptor
The email I received from Tech Support: The part NO. of the cable is 14003-00380000. Please contact your retailer to order. To me it is just a ruse to get rid of me asking now for a week on how the get the cable. The newer ThunderboltEX II have the adaptor cable with their orders and the Asus Z-97 Deluxe has it bundles with it components the dual Thunderbolt EX II Dual card.
Doesn’t this motherboard come
Doesn’t this motherboard come with the Thunderbolt card and cables all in one package? I have the sabertooth z97 mark2 and it is missing the 5-pin to 9-pin cable adapter, “adaptor” needed.
That sucks…I have to
That sucks…I have to opposite problem…I have the cable but need the 5-pin to 9-pin adapter. you have the right number for the cable…do you have the part number for the 5-pin to 9-pin? Gave me the same run around to contact the vendor Amazon or Asus estore which knows nothing either.
Thanks
Well the only part number I
Well the only part number I have is 14003-00380000 for the 9pin-5pin TB_header converter for connecting the TB_header cable to the TB-header port on the MB.
I hope you have better luck in getting the cable. I asked ASUS but they don’t seem to give a shit once they have your money. I asked if I can return the whole card and components to get a new one and as usual they are closed mouth and never replied so I am sitting here with a $70.00 expansion card I can’t use or even return for a new one.
Got the following email from
Got the following email from Asus Technical Support:
My name is Carter and it is my pleasure to help you with your problem.
Unfortunately I am afraid to say that generally we don’t directly provide this adapter.
The part number of this adapter is the P/N : 14003-00380000, you would need to contact your retailer to see if you could order it.
If you continue to experience issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Hell. Newegg doesn’t carry the part and told me to contact ASUS. ? I have been trying almost 2 months get this problem resolved. I only need the TB_header converter
So I just picked up the Z97
So I just picked up the Z97 PRO b/c I needed Thunderbolt as well. First board was DOA so I had to get another and swap it out.. Ok I’m good there.
Thunderbolt card was hard as heck to find but I tracked one down and now lack the 5 pin to 9 pin adapter that you folks are talking about.
Wow.
As a quick follow-up, the
As a quick follow-up, the ASUS e-Store sent me to ASUS tech support to get the adapter.
The ASUS tech support guy told me like 5 times to “simply look in the box for the adapter”, which pissed me off.
Once we cleared that hurdle, the ASUS guy said:
“Call your retailer”
“Call Newegg”
“Try calling Amazon sir”
I hung up at that point.