Best $200 range z97 motherboard

[Upload_Complete]

I was about to purchase the Z97-A for $115 when my girlfriend gifted me an additional $100. I am now able to purchase the Hero VII. Is that a good choice or is there another motherboard in this price range that you would recommend?

Here are the rest of the parts I have bought so far: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vY7CCJ

Only missing the MOBO

Waiting for the 900 series for GPU (October is also when I'll be able to afford a GPU)

 

[Upload_Complete]

I have the Hero VII MB. Good board but I only bought it for the onboard sound. I don't think a $200 MB is needed. One question on your build. Why are you going with 1600MHZ RAM when for about 2 dollars more you could have some G-skill 2400MHZ ram?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231587

My girlfriend made her build about a year and a half ago and she received the Geil RAM for free. What MOBO do you suggest?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Hero is a very good board. The MSI GD65 is just as good however, maybe better and is $45 cheaper. Paired with 8 GB of 1866 memory, you will pay just $225

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1838455

The Hero has a pretty good deal ....1st one I have seen actually.....

Asus VII Hero = $205
Intel 4790K = $335 ($5 less than your source)
Samsung 250 GB SSD $14 cheaper than your source)
Combo Discount = $20

Total Cost = $660 (savings = $39)

MSI is still better deal.

Case is phenomenal.

Can't comment on the PSU power as no GFX listed but G2 is a very good PSU.

Unless you have a 780/ 780 Ti or 290x in there (or thinking 970 or 980) , I'd drop the SSD and spend the cash on GFX.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC FORCE ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($193.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $193.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-11 21:49 EDT-0400

Recommended by Legit Review as an Extreme Overclocking Board

 

[Tradesman1]

I'd go (and did, in sig) with the Hero, have the Z87 which was the best of the Z87s and the Z97 is even better, OCs better with less voltage, handles DRAM great, runs cooler and they've improved the BIOS, great mobo 😉

 

[Upload_Complete]

Hero is a very good board. The MSI GD65 is just as good however, maybe better and is $45 cheaper. Paired with 8 GB of 1866 memory, you will pay just $225

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1838455

The Hero has a pretty good deal ....1st one I have seen actually.....

Asus VII Hero = $205
Intel 4790K = $335 ($5 less than your source)
Samsung 250 GB SSD $14 cheaper than your source)
Combo Discount = $20

Total Cost = $660 (savings = $39)

MSI is still better deal.

Case is phenomenal.

Can't comment on the PSU power as no GFX listed but G2 is a very good PSU.

Unless you have a 780/ 780 Ti or 290x in there (or thinking 970 or 980) , I'd drop the SSD and spend the cash on GFX.

I already purchased everything but the motherboard. CPU should be arriving Monday morning. Extremely excited

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Having built with both I can't say the Z87 Hero was better than the GD65 ... neither did the reviewers a few of which set OC records.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z87_gd65_gaming/12.htm

MSI has been using components that meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G for some time as part of its Military Class build philosophy. Parts such as Super Ferrite Chokes that run at up to 35 degree Celsius lower temperatures, have a 30% higher current handling capacity, and a 20% improvement in power efficiency; Tantalum filled Hi-C Caps that are are up to 93% efficient; and "Dark Capacitors" that feature Lower ESR and a ten-year lifespan all tied into a PCB with improved temperature and humidity protections as part of the "Military Essentials" package......In the end MSI's Z87-GD65 is a board that comes with an expansive feature set that includes all your basics and the extras that set them apart such as the V-Check points, upper end audio, Dual BIOS ROMs, KIller Network package, Military Class IV package, and a three-year warranty. Couple that with good looks that carry the dragon theme through the board, and you have a winning combination at $189.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z87_gd65_gaming_review/15

Now and again a motherboard appears that is so obviously brilliant, and so affordable, that we wonder if anything will be able to top it. For a while that crown was held by the ASUS Sabertooth, both in X58 and then P67 variants. Then MSI stole the crown with the Z77 MPower. Looking at the Z87 GD65 Gaming we think it's going to take something extraordinary to top it, such is the perfect storm of price, performance, features and looks.

The switch to Military Class 4 has given us an extremely ready overclocker too. You're always thermally limited when overclocking and the i7-4770K is one of the most demanding around. Considering the amount of cooling we're using we think that although the GD65 is capable of bringing 5GHz from our i7-4770K you'd need a proper water loop to make the most of it.

Performance is outstanding. The stock results were a particular highlight. We know a lot of people still just like to put their CPU in and go, without overclocking it first. Despite how easy it is these days we know that the fear factor still exists. So you'll be glad to know that the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming really rocks hard even at stock settings. Naturally the overclocking is blistering too, with some OC3D records broken.

MSI have laid the gauntlet down to all the other manufacturers. Gorgeous to look at, blistering performance and all at a very affordable price, the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming is not only the new benchmark for Z87 motherboards, but probably for all motherboards.

Doesn't make the Hero a bad board..... just not seeing that ya get anything for the extra $45... no extra features, no better components, no better reliability history

I haven't used the Z97 Hero yet as the BIOS announced on June 11 still has yet to be released for the BIOS Clock freeze bug.

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?45079-BIOS-Time-Clock-not-Keeping-Correct-Time-or-Date
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?49989-VII-HERO-Clock-never-changes-hour
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?49904-VII-Hero-Real-Time-Clock-Issues
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33895-Hero-Time-Clock-Problem
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?46242-Hero-boot-shutdown-time-clock-error

1st post here and newgg user reviews show it affecting Z97 boards as well.
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?36676-Frozen-Time-Clock-in-UEFI-The-Fix/page33

 

[dish_moose]

I have an Asus z97A - works pretty good for me. It gets favorable reviews as well. How much of an OC are you going for?
-Bruce

 

[Upload_Complete]

I have an Asus z97A - works pretty good for me. It gets favorable reviews as well. How much of an OC are you going for?
-Bruce

I was thinking about getting the Z97-A as well. It's a mere $115 on TigerDirect's daily deal (9/11).
I might just end up getting the Z97-A and upgrading my RAM or just saving the rest of money. Im so unsure though.

 

[Upload_Complete]

Having built with both I can't say the Z87 Hero was better than the GD65 ... neither did the reviewers a few of which set OC records.

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z87_gd65_gaming/12.htm

MSI has been using components that meet or exceed MIL-STD-810G for some time as part of its Military Class build philosophy. Parts such as Super Ferrite Chokes that run at up to 35 degree Celsius lower temperatures, have a 30% higher current handling capacity, and a 20% improvement in power efficiency; Tantalum filled Hi-C Caps that are are up to 93% efficient; and "Dark Capacitors" that feature Lower ESR and a ten-year lifespan all tied into a PCB with improved temperature and humidity protections as part of the "Military Essentials" package......In the end MSI's Z87-GD65 is a board that comes with an expansive feature set that includes all your basics and the extras that set them apart such as the V-Check points, upper end audio, Dual BIOS ROMs, KIller Network package, Military Class IV package, and a three-year warranty. Couple that with good looks that carry the dragon theme through the board, and you have a winning combination at $189.

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/msi_z87_gd65_gaming_review/15

Now and again a motherboard appears that is so obviously brilliant, and so affordable, that we wonder if anything will be able to top it. For a while that crown was held by the ASUS Sabertooth, both in X58 and then P67 variants. Then MSI stole the crown with the Z77 MPower. Looking at the Z87 GD65 Gaming we think it's going to take something extraordinary to top it, such is the perfect storm of price, performance, features and looks.

The switch to Military Class 4 has given us an extremely ready overclocker too. You're always thermally limited when overclocking and the i7-4770K is one of the most demanding around. Considering the amount of cooling we're using we think that although the GD65 is capable of bringing 5GHz from our i7-4770K you'd need a proper water loop to make the most of it.

Performance is outstanding. The stock results were a particular highlight. We know a lot of people still just like to put their CPU in and go, without overclocking it first. Despite how easy it is these days we know that the fear factor still exists. So you'll be glad to know that the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming really rocks hard even at stock settings. Naturally the overclocking is blistering too, with some OC3D records broken.

MSI have laid the gauntlet down to all the other manufacturers. Gorgeous to look at, blistering performance and all at a very affordable price, the MSI Z87 GD65 Gaming is not only the new benchmark for Z87 motherboards, but probably for all motherboards.

Doesn't make the Hero a bad board..... just not seeing that ya get anything for the extra $45... no extra features, no better components, no better reliability history

I haven't used the Z97 Hero yet as the BIOS announced on June 11 still has yet to be released for the BIOS Clock freeze bug.

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?45079-BIOS-Time-Clock-not-Keeping-Correct-Time-or-Date
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?49989-VII-HERO-Clock-never-changes-hour
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?49904-VII-Hero-Real-Time-Clock-Issues
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?33895-Hero-Time-Clock-Problem
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?46242-Hero-boot-shutdown-time-clock-error

1st post here and newgg user reviews show it affecting Z97 boards as well.
http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?36676-Frozen-Time-Clock-in-UEFI-The-Fix/page33

Thanks for all the links. You did your research. This makes it harder for me to decide.

 

[jasonite]

The Asus Hero VII is a great mobo, but if you're overclocking as well the Gigabyte GA-Z97X-SOC FORCE is the fastest OC motherboard in the Z97 chipset.

J