After Asus broke the NDA last Monday, the company has announced today their latest Intel Z97 and H97 chipset-based ASUS-branded, ROG, TUF and Workstation motherboards to serve a wide range of computing needs. The Asus Z97-based motherboards are the top tier motherboards with overclocking capability and more features. Meanwhile the Asus H97-based motherboards are geared towards budget conscious consumers and doesn’t really need all the perks that comes with the Z97-based motherboards. There are a total of 23 new motherboards all; 3 from the ROG family, 4 from the TUF family and 16 from the legacy lineup, ranging from full ATX down to the smallest mini-ITX form factor. Check out the Asus Z97 and H97 motherboards’ features and specifications below.
UPDATE: Asus Maximus VII Z97 Motherboards Now Available – See Specs, Price and Where to Buy
Asus Z97 and H97 Motherboard Features
ASUS complete lineup of motherboards, built around the Intel 9 Series chipset, features the LGA 1150 socket and supports Intel 4th, New 4th, and 5th-generation Core™ processors (codenamed Haswell, Haswell Refresh, Haswell Refresh K-series / Devil’s Canyon). These new motherboard offerings from ASUS-branded, Republic of Gamers (ROG), The Ultimate Force (TUF) and Workstation (WS) Series feature exclusive technologies that maximize the potential of the Z97 and H97 chipsets to deliver better user experiences, performance, stability, and upgrade options.
According to Jackie Hsu, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Worldwide Sales, ASUS Open Platform Business Group.: “Since its founding in 1989, ASUS has prided itself on the outstanding quality of its motherboards. And today, 25 years later, our approach has seen us grow into the world’s best-selling and most award-winning motherboard brand. Taking into account the feedback and needs of today’s computing public, we’re proud to introduce our comprehensive 9 Series motherboard launch line-up across the ASUS-branded, ROG, TUF and WS Series motherboards. Whether for professional use, gaming, content creation, servers or simple, everyday computing, our motherboards cover every task,”
Ultimate Gaming Performance from ROG
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) unveiled Maximus VII Gene mATX, Maximus VII Hero ATX, and the new Maximus VII Ranger ATX gaming motherboards. All three motherboards sport the distinctive ROG black and red color scheme, feature premium components, black nickel CPU socket covers and improved circuit layouts.
ROG has also improved on the RJ45 LAN port with LANGuard; it uses advanced signal-coupling technology and premium surface-mounted capacitors to improve throughput. LANGuard also features surge-protected and electrostatically-guarded components (ESD Guards) to give ROG Maximus VII series motherboards industry-leading figures of up to 1.3 times the surge protection and 1.9 times the static electricity tolerance of traditional boards. The latest ROG-exclusive GameFirst III network optimization utility prioritizes game packets, allocating more bandwidth for games to ensure a smoother online gaming experience.
The ROG Maximus VII Hero and Ranger come with SupremeFX 2014; while Maximus VII Gene features the SupremeFX Impact II discrete audio card. These solutions utilize cutting-edge isolation technologies to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI), premium ELNA® audio capacitors and 8-channel gold plated audio output ports, to provide precision-engineered audio that is on par with dedicated soundcards.
TUF server-grade reliability
Available in both ATX and mATX form factors, TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 and Gryphon Z97 Armor Edition motherboards feature TUF Fortifier, Thermal Armor, and Dust Defenders to ensure the ultimate in system durability and stability. The new onboard TUF ICe microchip delivers incredibly precise temperature monitoring and fan control whether adjusting settings manually or through the automatic one-click optimization feature found in Thermal Radar 2. TUF Fortifier uses a thermal pad attached to the motherboard, making the whole backplate a huge heat sink that directs heat away from key components such as VRMs and MOSFETs. Thermal management is aided by Thermal Armor which optimizes airflow to aid in heat dissipation, while Dust Diverter technology blows dust up and away from the heat sink VRM.
All TUF Z97 motherboards, including the new Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2 and Gryphon Z97 models, feature reliable TUF Components for military-grade durability.
ASUS-branded motherboards — optimized performance for a wide range of computing scenarios
ASUS-branded Z97 and H97 motherboards feature a stunning new design with a unique and distinctive perfectly circular heat-sink on the next-generation Platform Controller Hub (PCH) chip, and boast comprehensive features for users looking to create a high-performance PC, a potent gaming rig or a multimedia entertainment center.
5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5 optimizes PC performance with a simple click. It improves on its 4-Way Optimization predecessor with the Turbo App, tailored networking and audio settings, together with upgraded fan control, robust overclocking, energy savings and digital power. ASUS-branded motherboards also feature Crystal Sound 2 and Turbo LAN, which together deliver flawless audio and reduce lag to improve the gaming experience.
In PC home entertainment centers, ASUS HomeCloud turns the hard drive into a private cloud. The built-in Wake-on-WAN feature lets users wake and control the PC remotely with a smart device. Users can also stream multimedia content from the PC to any device. The capacity to interact with smart devices wirelessly is further enhanced by the inclusion of the ASUS-exclusive NFC Express 2 and wireless charger.
Total SATA Express solution plus high-speed M.2 support
ASUS is the only brand to provide a total SATA Express solution, from motherboards to Hyper Express, an exclusive SATA Express external enclosure compatible with all available chassis-equipped 3.5-inch drive bays. It can accept two high-speed M.2 modules, two mSATA modules or two 2.5-inch SATA hard drives, and allows them to operate at full speed. ASUS Z97 and H97 motherboards* have been tested and validated to meet SATA Express standards, including the Separate Reference Clock with Independent Spread Spectrum Clocking Architecture (SRIS), to ensure the very best SATA Express performance. M.2, with its two native PCI Express 2.0 bandwidth and up to 10Gbit/s data transfer speeds, makes ASUS Z97 and H97 motherboards ideal choices for operating system drives.
Critically-acclaimed reliability and performance
ASUS employs strict compatibility and validation standards, and ASUS 5X Protection ensures that the finest components are used for long-term reliability and durability; these include DIGI+ VRM, DRAM overcurrent protection, ESD Guards, high quality 5K-hr solid state capacitors and a corrosion-resistant stainless steel back I/O panel. Additionally, all motherboards are validated for compatibility with over 1000 devices, and undergo more than 7000 hours of rigorous endurance testing to assure quality and long-term reliability.
These motherboards feature the latest Intel Gigabit Ethernet for faster, smoother gaming sessions. It reduces CPU overhead to allot more processing power for gaming and offers exceptionally high Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) throughput. The smooth mouse-controlled graphics-based BIOS has been improved and now includes EZ Tuning Wizard-OC and RAID. These tools intelligently tune system performance and streamline RAID configuration for faster data retrieval and backups.
Asus 9 Series Motherboard Specifications
ASU Republic of Gamers (ROG) Z97 Series motherboards
| Specifications | Maximus VII Gene | Maximus VII Hero | Maximus VII Ranger |
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| CPU | Intel® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Ready |
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| Chipset | Intel Z97 Express Chipset |
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| Power Phase Design | Extreme Engine Digi+ III | Extreme Engine Digi+ III | Fully Digital VRM |
| Memory | DDR3 3300MHz (O.C.) | DDR3 3200MHz (O.C.) | DDR3 3200MHz (O.C.) |
4 DIMM, up to 32GB, non-ECC, un-buffered memory[1] |
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| Expansion slots | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4 1 x mPCIe 2.0 x1 | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 |
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| Multi-GPU support | Quad-GPU NVIDIA SLI/ AMD CrossFireX |
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| Storage | 8 x SATA 6Gbit/s 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 | 8 x SATA 6Gbit/s 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 | 6 x SATA 6Gbit/s 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 |
| USB | 6 x USB 3.0 7 x USB 2.0 | 6 x USB 3.0 7 x USB 2.0 | 6 x USB 3.0 7 x USB 2.0 |
| Networking (LAN) | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, ROG GameFirst III, LANGuard |
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| Audio | SupremeFX Impact II add-in card, 8-Channel High-Definition audio codec, Sonic SoundStage, Sonic SenseAmp, Sonic Radar II, Sonic Studio, DTS Connect | SupremeFX 2014 |
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| Form Factor | mATX | ATX | ATX |
ASUS The Ultimate Force (TUF) Z97 Series motherboards
| Specifications | SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 1 | SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 2 | GRYPHON Z97 ARMOR EDITION | GRYPHON Z97 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | LGA1150 socket for 5th, new 4th and 4th-gen Intel® Core i7/i5/i3, Pentium®/Celeron® processors |
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| Chipset | Intel Z97 Express Chipset |
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| Memory | Dual-channel DDR3 1866/1600/1333, max. 32GB |
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| VGA Output | HDMI/DP | HDMI/DP/DVI |
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| Power Phase Design | Digital 8+2 phase |
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| PCIe x16 slots | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 slots |
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| PCIe x1 slots | 3 x PCIe 2.0x1 | 1 x PCIe 2.0x1 |
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| Multi-GPU | Quad-GPU SLI & CFX |
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| LAN | 1x Intel Gigabit LAN 1x Realtek Gigabit LAN | 1x Intel Gigabit LAN |
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| Audio | Realtek 1150 8-channel HD | Realtek 892 8-channel HD |
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| Storage | 1x SATA Express(compatible with 2 x SATA 6Gb/s), 6 x SATA 6Gb/s | 6x SATA 6Gbit/s |
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| USB | 8x USB 3.0 (4 front); 8 x USB 2.0 | 6 x USB 3.0 (2 front); 6 x USB 2.0 |
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| TUF Features | Thermal Armor with Flow Valve TUF ICe Dust Diverter TUF Fortifier Dust Defenders Thermal Radar 2 TUF Components | TUF ICe Thermal Radar 2 TUF Components | Thermal Armor TUF ICe Dust Diverter TUF Fortifier Dust Defenders Thermal Radar 2 TUF Components | TUF ICe Thermal Radar 2 TUF Components |
| Form factor | ATX | mATX |
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ASUS-branded Z97 Series motherboards
| Specifications | Z97-DELUXE (NFC&WLC ) | Z97-DELUXE | Z97-PRO (Wi-Fi ac) | Z97-PRO | Z97-A | Z97-AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Ready |
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| Chipset | Intel® Z97 Express Chipset |
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| Power Phase Design | DIGI+ 16-Phase VRM | DIGI+ 12-Phase VRM, | DIGI+ 8-Phase VRM |
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| Memory | 4xDDR3 DIMM, max. 32GB, 3300(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | 4xDDR3 DIMM, max. 32GB, 3200(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | 4xDDR3 DIMM, max. 32GB, 3200(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered |
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| PCIex16 Slots | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 | 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 |
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| Output Support | DP/mDP/HDMI | DP/HDMI/DVI/D-sub | DP/HDMI/DVI/D-sub | DP/HDMI |
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| SATA Express | 2x | 1x | 1x |
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| SATA 6Gb/s | 10x | 8x | 6x |
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| M.2 | 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2/SATA mode) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 | 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 |
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| Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) | N/A |
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| USB 3.0 | 10 (4 at front) | 8 (4 at front) | 6 (2 at front) |
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| Audio | Realtek® ALC1150 with Crystal Sound 2, DTS UltraPC II, DTS Connect | Realtek® ALC1150 with Crystal Sound 2, DTS UltraPC II, DTS Connect | Realtek® ALC1150 with Crystal Sound 2, DTS UltraPC II, DTS Connect |
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| Networking (LAN) | 2 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN |
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| Exclusive features | 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5, UEFI BIOS, ASUS HomeCloud, 5X Protection |
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| Form Factor | ATX |
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ASUS-branded Z97 and Workstation Series motherboards
| Specifications | Z97-C | Z97-K | Z97M-PLUS | Z97I-PLUS | Z97-WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Ready |
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| Chipset | Intel® Z97 Express Chipset |
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| Memory | 4xDDR3 DIMM, max. 32GB, 3200 (O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | 2 x DIMM, max. 16GB. DDR3 3200(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | 4xDDR3 DIMM, max. 32GB, 3300(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | ||
| Power Phase Design | DIGI+ 6-phase VRM | DIGI+ 4-phase VRM | DIGI+ 4-phase VRM | DIGI+ 6-phase VRM | DIGI+ 8-phase VRM |
| PCIex16 Slots | 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16; 1 x PCIe 2.0/x16(@x4) | 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16; 1 x PCIe 2.0/x16(@x4) | 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16; 1 x PCIe 2.0/x16 (@x4) | 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 | 4 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (dual x16, quad x8) |
| Output Support | HDMI/DVI/D-sub | HDMI/DVI/D-sub | HDMI/DVI/D-sub | DP/HDMI/DVI/D-sub | DP/mDP/HDM |
| SATA Express | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2 |
| SATA 6Gb/s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| M.2 | 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2/SATA mode) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 |
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| Wi-Fi | N/A | N/A | N/A | Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz) | N/A |
| USB 3.0 | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 10 (4 at front) |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC892 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC892 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC892 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC892 with audio features. DTS UltraPC II, DTS Connect | Realtek® ALC1150 |
| Networking (LAN) | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN | 1 x Realtek LAN, Turbo LAN | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN | 2 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN |
| Exclusive features | 5X Protection, UEFI BIOS, Fan Xpert 3, ASUS HomeCloud | 5-Way Optimization by Dual Intelligent Processors 5, UEFI BIOS, ASUS HomeCloud, Quad-Strength Graphic Power |
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| Form Factor | ATX | ATX | m-ATX | mini-ITX | ATX |
ASUS H97 Series motherboards
| Specifications | H97-PRO | H97-PLUS | H97M-PLUS | H97M-E | H97I-PLUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® LGA1150 4th, New 4th & 5th Generation Core i7/Core i5/Core i3/Pentium®/Celeron® Processors Ready |
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| Chipset | Intel H97 Express Chipset |
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| Memory | 4 x DIMM, max. 32GB. DDR3 1600(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | 2x DIMM, max. 16GB. DDR3 1600(O.C.) MHz, non-ECC, un-buffered | |||
| Power Phase Design | DIGI+6-phase VRM | DIGI+4-phase VRM | DIGI+4-phase VRM | DIGI+4-phase VRM | DIGI+6-phase VRM |
| PCIex16 Slots | 1x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16, 1 x PCIe 2.0x16(@x4) | 1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 |
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| Output Support | HDMI/DVI/D-sub | DP/HDMI/DVI/D-sub | |||
| SATA Express | 1 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SATA 6Gb/s | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| M.2 | 1 x M.2 (PCIe x2/SATA mode) socket 3 with M key, supports type 2260/2280 |
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| USB 3.0 | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) | 6 (2 at front) |
| Audio | Realtek® ALC892 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC887 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC887 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC887 with Crystal Sound 2 | Realtek® ALC887 with audio features |
| Networking (LAN) | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Turbo LAN | 1 x Realtek LAN | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet | 1 x Realtek LAN | 1 x Intel Gigabit Ethernet |
| Features | 5X Protection, UEFI BIOS, Fan Xpert 3, ASUS HomeCloud | 5X Protection, UEFI BIOS, Fan Xpert 2+, ASUS HomeCloud |
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| Form Factor | ATX | m-ATX | mini-ITX | ||
Price and Availability
As of todate, Asus hasn’t disclosed the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of their latest 9 series motherboards. But I previously posted an article where the prices of some of the Asus Z97 and H97 motherboards were revealed. You can check the article here: Asus Z97 and H97 Motherboard Prices Revealed – Starting at $109.99 Only. Meanwhile, it is expected that the new Asus Z97 and H97 series will hit shelves starting towards the end of May or sometime in June.
I’ll post update once these new motherboards will become available to order online. Expect that Asus Z97 and H97 motherboard reviews will go live very soon as well.
UPDATE: Asus Maximus VII Z97 Motherboards Now Available – See Specs, Price and Where to Buy
Let me know what you think about this new Asus Z97 and H97 lineup by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below.
