[quotemsg=15722495,0,721887]This Asrock board doesn't make a sensible purchase. Asrock offers a much nicer version (Z97E-ITX/ac) with a 6-phase power controller, Display Port, Intel LAN, VRM Heatsink, better audio and more. It's usually about $117 AR in the US, only a $15 premium over the reviewed Z97M-ITX/ac.
Asrock also offers the H97M-ITX/ac, which is virtually identical to the reviewed Z97M-ITX/ac other than the chipset. Seriously, it's the same PCB. It's also $19
less expensive. I doubt that anyone is going to buy the Z97M-ITX/ac to overclock, so what's the point of choosing Z97 over H97? Oh, the H97M-ITX/ac can overclock too. So again, why does the Z97M-ITX/ac even exist?
TL,DR: Save your money and get the H97M-ITX/ac if you want a decent HTPC/NAS/Whatever. Buy the Z97E-ITX/ac if you want more features and better OC potential. Skip the Z97M-ITX/ac.[/quotemsg]Agreed, I would have liked to see the 6-phase board
[quotemsg=15722992,0,59887]I wonder why Asrock sent there inferior board? Maybe someone at Asrock goofed. The Z97E-ITX/ac is definitely a far better board and includes an M.2 slot. Also the other companies that declined to offer a review sample, makes me feel they didn't see their product as good enough to compete. I shall avoid their ITX boards, in the future.[/quotemsg]I wondered the same thing. All I could come up with was "It's the cheapest, so they sent it hoping for a value award". But we all know features and overclocking are major components in value award calculations.
[quotemsg=15723853,0,47340]Perhaps other mITX offerings will make an appearance soon...
(If you don't care about overclocking, the H97M-ITXa/c is indeed a nice board)
Reviews are sometimes centered around a particular price point, which may be why the more premium products aren't shown here.
I just built Minion using a Maximus VII Impact. The only thing I wish it had, and this is minor, is a second USB2.0 header so I can use an existing card reader with it. I'll just buy an external USB3.0 card reader instead.[/quotemsg]No price restrictions here,
we said "Anything Mini ITX with Z97, multiple awards are available at different price points, send two samples if you'd like" and most companies said "we don't have anything appropriate" or something to that effect.
[quotemsg=15724891,0,47340]Vendors choose what boards to send.[/quotemsg]
Yep.
[quotemsg=15724952,0,59887][quotemsg=15724891,0,47340]Vendors choose what boards to send.[/quotemsg]
Yes, I am just curious as to why they didn't send their better board, or if someone at Asrock goofed up and sent the wrong one. Easy to do, when the names are so damn close. [/quotemsg]Me Too.