Review: Asus Z97-A

Conclusion

The Intel Z97 chipset constitutes a minor upgrade over the Z87 introduced almost a year ago. Main advantages include provision for M.2 SSDs, SATA Express and specific support for the Haswell refresh chips known as Devil's Canyon. Z97 is more about futureproofing the LGA1150 platform than reinventing it.

If you already have a Z87 chipset-based board then there's little to tempt you to upgrade. Z97 is primarily aimed at enthusiast-level users coming from older machines and platforms. Business-wise, for now, it also provides some impetus for motherboard vendors who have been waiting patiently for the release of next-generation Broadwell processors that seem to be pushed back until later on in the year.

Asus goes in heavy on Z97, releasing a flurry of updated boards that feature a welcome redesign and an updated BIOS. The relatively budget Z97-A is certainly better than its predecessor, with upgrades a-plenty, and it makes a sound case for investment in mainstream LGA1150 build.

The Asus Z97-A is a fine example of a manufacturer looking beyond the anaemic chipset upgrades by putting the focus on company-specific features. Recommended at the £110 price point.

The Good

Clean layout
Nice BIOS upgrade
SATA Express support
Thoughtful mix of features

The Bad

PCIe lane usage could be an issue

HEXUS.awards

Asus Z97-A

HEXUS.where2buy

The Asus Z97-A motherboard will be available to purchase from Scan Computers* starting May 11, 2014.

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