Choosing a Motherboard Z87 v Z97

janicskovsky

janicskovsky

janicskovsky

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I've been looking to build my PC for a bit and decided on the Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H (http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4518#ov) motherboardoard but have put off the purchase with the announcment of the Z97 boards.

One thing I like about this board is the fact that it has 2 USB 3 Headers internally becasue I will have 2 USB3 sockets on the case I chose and also need USB3 for my Card reader I will put in.

It doesn't seem like they have brought out a Z97 version and I can't seem to find a comparable board with 2 internal headers in the same price range/specs. Does anyone know of one? Or is it worth the upgrade to have to have USB3 wires to come out the case into the back. Thanks for your help.
 
I'd also noticed that regarding the USB.

From what I've been reading, the z97 will add SATA Express and M.2 slots and also be compatible going forward with the forthcoming Devils Canyon CPUs. I'm not sure if they are the same as the haswell refresh that is coming. I thought the refresh ones should work on z87 but the ones after won't, while the z97 ones will. I'm not convinced this is the case, so wait for someone else to reply or do some searching ;]

If you aren't planning on upgrading the cpu for ages, or getting a SATAe or M.2 SSD drive in the future then you will probably be fine with a z87 board imo. You can always get a pci-e card for a faster ssd connection if that's something you really wanted.

Otherwise I think the cheapest z97 mobo that has 2 internal usb3 headers will be the asus z97-pro. Also has no PCI slots which I'm surprised seem to be on so many motherboards still. I can understand them being on a few but wouldn't have thought there were that many people needed them, let alone 2! Prices for all the mobos should be out on monday afaik so will be better able to compare features and prices.

From what I've seen though, all the low end boards will only have one internal usb3.0 header for 2 ports and most appear to have 2x PCI slots (I don't know if that is a concern for you).
 
http://blogs-images.forbes.com/antonyleather/files/2014/04/intel-unlocked-pentium.jpg[IMG]

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Ah seems I was right Devils Canyon will need a series 9 chipset. Z87 boards may well go on sale when the Z97 are on sale next week. If you waited for the DC chips they may be even cheaper, or perhaps out of stock everywhere. Though you may decide to spend a bit more for a z97 and a DC chip. Choices choices!
 
Grumbledook said:
Otherwise I think the cheapest z97 mobo that has 2 internal usb3 headers will be the asus z97-pro.
Click to expand...

I have found the ASUS Z97 Sabertooth Mark 1 and 2 do have 2 internal USB3 Headers but their Z87 counterpart was still about twice the price of the Gigabyte I am looking at so assuming the Z97 are the same price range they would be out of mine.

I hadn't heard about the Devil's Canyon CPU's, only the refresh so will have to look that up. I am hoping this build will last me a while now. I havn't upgraded my PC in a very long time and have had my laptop for nearly 5 years which is seriously starting to slow down so hopefully this build will last me a while too. I wish I was doing this a few months ago and then I wouldn't have worried about the Z97 series but as it is literally days away I can't help but wonder.
 
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