Establishing a Golden Standard? ASUS Z87-EXPERT Motherboard Review

[PAGETITLE=Introduction, Specifications & Board Comparison][Top Ad] ASUS is going for the gold with its mainstream Z87 lineup... quite literally. As we detailed prior to the official Z87 chipset launch, ASUS has retired its long-standing blue-ish color scheme for its mainstream line and is instead opting for a gold-colored one. The reason? Well, gold represents an ultra-high standard, one that ASUS believes it meets with this lineup. As usual, ASUS' collection of current-gen motherboards is a bit overwhelming, and I'm sure we'll be taking a look at some of the non-mainstream models in the future. What do I mean by "mainstream"? That's ASUS denotation to a lineup that caters to virtually everyone. This differs from its more targeted series, like Republic of Gamers, WS (workstation), or Sabertooth (stable, long-lasting). You can't go wrong with a mainstream series board if you're simply looking to build a Z87-based PC. Among its Z87 mainstream lineup, the EXPERT board sits closer to the top than the bottom, offering a bevy of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt. As we'll soon see, that addition adds a fair price premium to the board, so if you couldn't care less about the connector, then the similarly-spec'd Z87-PRO is the next-best thing. We'll be taking a tour around the board shortly, but to gain a quicker understanding of what the Z87-EXPERT is all about, let's take a look at its specs table: ASUS Z87-EXPERT Architecture Intel Z87 (LGA1150) Form-Factor ATX (12" x 9.6") Memory Up to 4x8GB DDR3-3000 Multi-GPU 3-way NVIDIA SLI3-way AMD CrossFireX Expansion 3x PCIe 3.0 x16 (x16 or x8+x8 or x8+x4+x4)4x PCIe 3.0 x1 Storage 6x SATA 6Gbps (Intel)2x SATA 6Gbps (ASMedia) Network 1x Intel I217V Gigabit Wireless Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/nBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth V3.0+HS Audio Realtek ALC1150 8-channelOutput S/PDIF USB / Thunderbolt Back-panel: 2x USB 3.0 (Intel), 4x USB 3.0 (ASMedia), 1x Thunderbolt 10GbpsInternal: 8x USB 2.0 (Intel) Back I/O 1x 1Gbps LAN, 6x USB 3.0/2.0, 1x Optical S/PDIF, 5x Audio Jacks, VGA, DVI, HDMI, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi, PS/2 Features DIGI+ Power Control, EPU, Ai Suite III, USB 3.0 Boost, Q-Design, Wi-Fi GO!, EZ DIY, Ai Charger+, MemOK!, USB BIOS Flashback Given where we were with RAM speed just a couple of years ago, I have to say it's rather impressive to see that this board supports running up to 32GB of memory at DDR3-3000 speeds - it's almost mind-blowing. I'm still not quite over the fact that I'm running 32GB at DDR3-2133 in one of our other test machines! A quick synopsis shows us that the Z87-EXPERT supports multi-GPU just fine, though it's recommended to stick to 2 cards in total (even then, bandwidth will be degraded vs. an X79 platform). All internal SATA ports are spec'd at 6Gbps, and thanks to the new Z87 chipset, six out of the eight are driven by Intel. The board also includes a single Intel NIC, along with an n-based wireless solution for those who might want it, and also Bluetooth, something that has only recently become a little more common on the desktop side. ASUS Z87 Mainstream Boards Comparison. One of the most challenging things consumers can encounter when choosing parts for a new build is deciding between one motherboard and another, even of the same brand. This isn't helped when a vendor might sell 10+ boards from the same series. In ASUS' Z87 mainstream line, there are 12 boards to choose from, and another 15 or so among its other series. To help understand the differences between the mid-to-high tier options in ASUS' Z87 mainstream line, I've compiled a table that takes a look at four boards in sequential order, ranging from $160 straight up to $290 (as of the time of writing). Z87-DELUXE Z87-EXPERT Z87-PRO Z87-PLUS Price ~$290 ~$240 ~$200 ~$160 Multi-GPU 3-way SLI3-way CrossFire 3-way SLI3-way CrossFire 3-way SLI3-way CrossFire 3-way SLI3-way CrossFire Expansion 2x PCIe 3.0 x161x PCIe 2.0 x1614x PCIe 2.0 x1 3x PCIe 3.0 x164x PCIe 2.0 x1 2x PCIe 3.0 x161x PCIe 2.0 x1614x PCIe 2.0 x1 2x PCIe 3.0 x161x PCIe 2.0 x1622x PCIe 2.0 x12x PCI SATA 6x 6Gbps (Intel)4x 6Gbps (ASMedia) 6x 6Gbps (Intel)2x 6Gbps (ASMedia) 6x 6Gbps (Intel)2x 6Gbps (ASMedia) 6x 6Gbps (Intel)2x 6Gbps (ASMedia) USB External:2x 3.0 (Intel)4x 3.0 (ASMedia)4x 2.0 (Intel)Internal:2x 3.0 (Intel)4x 2.0 (Intel) External:2x 3.0 (Intel)4x 3.0 (ASMedia)Internal:2x 3.0 (Intel)8x 2.0 (Intel) External:2x 3.0 (Intel)4x 3.0 (ASMedia)Internal:2x 3.0 (Intel)8x 2.0 (Intel) External:2x 3.0 (Intel)4x 3.0 (ASMedia)Internal:2x 3.0 (Intel)8x 2.0 (Intel) Thunderbolt None 1x 10Gbps None None Network 1x Intel (I217V)1x Realtek (8111GR)802.11ac Wireless 1x Intel (I217V)802.11n Wireless 1x Intel (I217V)802.11n Wireless 1x Intel (I217V) Bluetooth 4.0, 3.0+HS 4.0, 3.0+HS 4.0, 3.0+HS None Audio Realtek AC1150112dBA Output104dBA Input192kHz/24-bitDTS & Blu-ray Support Realtek AC1150112dBA Output104dBA Input192kHz/24-bitDTS & Blu-ray Support Realtek AC1150112dBA Output104dBA Input192kHz/24-bitDTS & Blu-ray Support Realtek AC892 Power 16+2 Power PhaseDigital VRM5K Solid Caps 8+2 Power PhaseDigital VRM5K Solid Caps 12+2 Power PhaseDigital VRM5K Solid Caps 8+2 Power PhaseDigital VRM5K Solid Caps Back Ports 6x USB 3.02x LAN1x Bluetooth Transmittor1x Optical S/PDIF1x HDMI1x DisplayPort1x Mini DisplayPort6x Audio Jacks 6x USB 3.01x LAN1x Bluetooth Transmittor1x Optical S/PDIF1x HDMI1x DVI-D1x VGA6x Audio Jacks1x PS/2 KB+Mouse 6x USB 3.01x LAN1x Bluetooth Transmittor1x Optical S/PDIF1x HDMI1x DVI-D1x VGA1x DisplayPort6x Audio Jacks1x PS/2 KB+Mouse 6x USB 3.01x LAN1x Optical S/PDIF1x HDMI1x DVI-D1x VGA1x Mini DisplayPort6x Audio Jacks1x PS/2 KB+Mouse 1 x4 Mode; 2 x2 Mode; All wired Ethernet is 1Gbps; All audio is 8-channel Compared to the $200 Z87-PRO, the Z87-EXPERT offers a single added perk: support for Thunderbolt. The board also integrates a third 3.0 PCIe x16 slot, in lieu of the 2.0 one on the PRO board, but its uses are going to be limited, and exclusive to those wanting to configure a 3x GPU setup - and even then, that will result in a lane configuration of x8+x4+x4... that's not too attractive. So, if you don't mind losing out on Thunderbolt, the Z87-PRO is the board to consider. The Z87-DELUXE comes in for those who still don't care about Thunderbolt, but might want even more connectivity options. Versrus the EXPERT, the DELUXE adds 4 more USB ports (2.0) at the back, a second NIC (Realtek), and a much more robust power configuration (16+2 phase). Not listed above but also worth consideration is the DELUXE/DUAL, which is for those who want the best of everything, including Thunderbolt (2 ports, no less). That board is currently priced at about $350. Let's get to that hardware tour, shall we? [PAGEBREAK][PAGETITLE=A Hardware Tour of ASUS' Z87-EXPERT][Top Ad] Since ASUS has availed us a nice high-res top-down view shot of its Z87-EXPERT, I thought we'd start out taking a look at it to gain an easier understanding of what we're dealing with - especially with regards to where all of the notable connectors are located. The first thing I scan a motherboard for once I tear it out of the box is the number of fan headers made available, and their locations. There's been a recent trend where vendors have begun putting at least five headers on their mainstream and above boards, and that's great to see. In the case of this EXPERT board, there are six fan headers at the ready: Two can be found to the top-right of the socket, while another can be seen to the bottom-left. This takes care of your CPU and back chassis fans. For the rest, two more headers are made available to the right of the DIMM slots (one is center, and one just below), and lastly, one is situated next to the USB headers and chassis connectors. Also seen in this image is the single USB 3.0 header to the bottom-right of the DIMM slots, the chassis connectors at the absolute bottom-right of the board (a preference of mine), four internal USB 2.0 headers, an onboard power switch at the bottom, an LED error code screen (another big plus), and the 8-pin power connector situated horizontally at the top - yet another preference, given it tends to be easier to route your cable in behind the motherboard tray when it's in this position and not too far into the board. Continuing on, let's take a brief look at all of the areas of the board. First up, the top-right of the board, where the 4x DIMM slots can be found (again, supporting up to 32GB of RAM @ DDR3-3000 speeds), the two fan headers, the single USB 3.0 internal header, and also the MemOK! button (helps with booting if incompatible memory is installed - a rarer case nowadays). At the bottom-right corner, from left-to-right, we have a power button, EFI error code readout, BIOS Flashback button, DirectKey button, 4x USB 2.0 headers, the lone bottom fan header, the chassis connectors, and above that, TPU and EPU modifier switches. I mentioned a "DirectKey" button - but what is it? Pushing it will immediately reset your PC and boot straight into the EFI, saving a bit of time. The use here for overclockers is obvious, though it can also have use for the regular folk, too. Should you want your reset button to always result in a quick boot-to-EFI, you're able to apply a jumper to the "DRCT" header directly above the chassis connectors to take care of that. This is one of the more hidden - but neatest - new features to ASUS' Z87 lineup. Moving along to the bottom-left, we find 3x PCIe x16 slots (usable as x8+x8 in dual-GPU or x8+x4+x4 in tri-GPU), and four PCIe x1 slots. I do wish the CMOS battery was located a bit lower on the board so that you wouldn't have to remove a GPU in order to get at it, but nowadays, chances of you needing to remove that is rather rare. And if you do have to, another option is to apply a jumper to the CLRTC header towards the bottom-right of the board. There's not too much to see in this corner of the board except for the socket - and we're all quite aware of what those look like. Whether or not you like the gold...

Establishing a Golden Standard? ASUS Z87-EXPERT Motherboard Review

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Rob Williams