Z77 mITX Round-Up: Five of the Best – MSI, Zotac, ASRock, EVGA and ASUS
by Ian Cutress on December 31, 2012 7:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
- MSI
- ASRock
- EVGA
- ZOTAC
- Asus
- Ivy Bridge
- Z77
- mITX
EVGA Z77 Stinger Overview
For the fourth motherboard of this review, the design philosophy of the Z77 mITX board takes a turn on its head – almost literally. We find the socket moved to the top, and the chipset placed underneath. This ultimately gives more freedom when it comes to placing CPU coolers, albeit the EVGA Z77 Stinger is still limited in one dimension due to the close proximity of the memory slots. Users can happily place a longer cooler in the other direction though.
As a price of $200, it certainly raises the asking cost for a mITX board to new heights. A good number of great ATX sized motherboards are already at this price, including a few we have awarded. This instantly makes the EVGA a tougher sell, but in order for a little compensation, EVGA get heavy handed with some of the features.
We get an Intel NIC on board unlike the other mITX so far, but on the downside it is coupled with the Realtek ALC889 which failed our 192 kHz testing. We get a mini-PCIe slot, though with no WiFi module like with some of the other boards. EVGA have decided to up the total USB 3.0 count to six with an ASMedia controller powering the onboard header as well as upping the SATA 6 Gbps count with a Marvell controller powering the two eSATA 6 Gbps on the rear IO. The EVGA is also one of few boards to have the power/reset button combination with a debug LED that changes to a CPU temperature monitor after POST. If anything the rear IO looks a little sparse, with HDMI and mini-DisplayPort being the only options for video output. It looks like some of the connectivity had to be lost in order to fit a couple of the controllers on board.
EVGA are still not completely on the bandwagon with a graphical and interactive BIOS, showcasing a white text on black scenario. To make matters worse, XMP is not properly implemented in the first BIOS release, and returning to optimized defaults changes everything back to normal except the BCLK. On the software side, the driver install is a one-by-one affair which requires user interaction despite the fact that these driver installs when sent to EVGA offer silent install modes. The only software we get is EVGA E-LEET which allows the user to adjust the overclocks and priority of programs on the fly – it is for all intents and purposes an advanced version of CPU-Z. Fan control is not in the software – that is solely for the BIOS.
Performance of the EVGA is on par with the other motherboards tested – nothing comes out as overly great or bad. This makes a $200 mITX a tough sell – it has the socket position I prefer and an Intel NIC, but the support behind the motherboard in terms of the BIOS or Software pale in comparison to the cheaper models. One upside of purchasing an EVGA board is that all RMA requests are direct with EVGA rather than the supplier, which may add to that additional cost as well.
Visual Inspection
As noted in the overview, the main comparison with the previous motherboards and the EVGA is the location of the socket area. Here the socket is above the chipset, which changes a lot to do with port location. Our 8-pin CPU power connector is now at the top edge of the board with a pair of four-pin fan headers. As the chipset is underneath the socket, so are the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 headers and the SATA ports. The result is a mixed bag, with USB cables having to stretch over components in order to fit into the board.
Unlike most of the other mITX boards, we get three fan headers – two located to the top right of the socket (both 4-pin) and another on the rear IO side of the power delivery heatsink (also 4-pin). The socket area still caters in the left-right direction to the Intel minimum specifications, meaning that coolers that conform to at least one of the dimensions should be placed such that any full sized memory does not interfere.
With the chipset below the socket, our SATA ports are in the bottom right area between the memory slots and the PCIe device. The orientation of the SATA ports is going to give issues if any need to be taken out, requiring most of them to be removed each time. To the left of the chipset is a mini-PCIe (not mSATA) port for a WiFi/WiDi module, which is not included in the package – this is in contrast to the other mITX motherboards tested which do have one.
Along the top right of the motherboard are a pair of power/reset buttons which I always find useful in testing. To the right of these is a two-digit debug LED, also useful for diagnosing issues. This two-digit debug LED turns into a CPU temperature readout after POST, which is an awesome feature to have. Unlike some other mITX builds, the Front Panel connector is found at the bottom right of the motherboard in an ideal location for most orientations.
The rear IO panel is a little different to the previous motherboards tested. Normally the rear IO is fighting for space to fit in all the different connectors wanted on the product, but EVGA have decided to cut some of the fluff and stick to components they think most of their users will want to use. From left to right we have a BlueTooth module, two USB 2.0 ports, a Clear_CMOS button, a mini-DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB 3.0, two eSATA 6 Gbps, an Intel NIC, and audio jacks from the Realtek ALC889.
Board Features
| EVGA Z77 Stinger | |
| Price | Link |
| Size | Mini ITX |
| CPU Interface | LGA-1155 |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 |
| Memory Slots |
Two DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 16 GB Up to Dual Channel, 1066-2133 MHz |
| Video Outputs |
HDMI mDP |
| Onboard LAN | Intel 82574L |
| Onboard Audio | Realtek ALC889 |
| Expansion Slots |
1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 1 x mPCIe |
| Onboard SATA/RAID |
2 x SATA 6 Gbps (Chipset) RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 0+1 2 x eSATA 6 Gbps (Marvell) RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 0+1 2 x SATA 3 Gbps (Chipset) RAID 0, 1 |
| USB |
4 x USB 3.0 (Chipset) [4 back panel] 2 x USB 3.0 (ASMedia ASM1042) [2 onboard] 6 x USB 2.0 (Chipset) [2 back panel, 4 onboard] |
| Onboard |
2 x SATA 6 Gbps 2 x SATA 3 Gbps 1 x USB 3.0 Header 2 x USB 2.0 Headers 1 x Front Panel Header 3 x Fan Headers Power/Reset Buttons Debug LED |
| Power Connectors |
1 x 24-pin ATX Power Connector 1 x 8-pin CPU Power Connector |
| Fan Headers |
1 x CPU (4-pin) 2 x PWR (4-pin) |
| IO Panel |
1 x Bluetooth Module 2 x USB 2.0 1 x Clear_CMOS Button 1 x mDP 1 x HDMI 4 x USB 3.0 2 x eSATA 6 Gbps 1 x Intel NIC Optical SPDIF Output Audio Jacks |
| Warranty Period | 3 Years |
| Product Page | Link |
For the large $200 price tag for the Z77 Stinger, the lack of a WiFi module on board is a little disappointing, as well as the use of the Realtek ALC889 rather than anything higher up the Realtek order catalogue. On the plus side we do get an Intel NIC, an additional USB 3.0 controller, an additional SATA 6 Gbps controller (for eSATA ports) and, in my opinion, a better oriented mITX motherboard. Also that third fan header is one more than most mITX motherboards.
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Sabresiberian - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
Thanks for the great comparison review!It looks like there is a little mistake in the spec list for the Asus board, which shows it having a mini-PCIe connector. I would love it if it did, but I didn't see it on the board and it isn't mentioned in other spec lists.
It is important to me because I would ideally need connection for both a graphics card and a sound card (which I believe I could do through a mini-PCIe to PCIe x1 adapter if needed). This makes the EVGA Stinger the choice for me here, though the Asus board is the one I would prefer to buy.
I am truthfully a little disappointed in the EVGA board, which seems all too common with EVGA products in general these days. Great support is still there, but I'd rather they build bleeding edge components and not have to find out whether or not their support is as good as people say it is. The Stinger is a good board to be sure, and the Intel LAN alone puts it in the category of "will buy" for me, but I was hoping it would be something that would match or beat the Asus P877-I, and it just doesn't.
Foeketijn - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
When you take overclocking out of the equation, B75 has it all, for the price just a tiny bit north of the old H61 chipset. Support for IB features (1600Mhz DDR3, PCI-e 3.0), Native Sata III, USB 3.0.It wasn't intended for the DIY market but fits the bill perfectly in my opinion. Only the very very few who need to OC, +16Gb ram or multiple SSD's @ full 6 Gb/s need the Z77 chipset.
The only thing is, that us mere mortals can't predict is, if a much cheaper chipset is used, did the OEM also cheapskate on the critical parts to? I would love to see some in-depth component analysis which I see for example, when a PSU is taken apart.
Which components are used? how well is the soldering done, does it still work at a sauna lanparty, etc.
I might be alone in this, but I would find that much more valuable information than all the performance benchmarks together (race to the bottom, be dammed!).
Including the northbridge in the CPU made motherboard and CPU reviews so predictible (or borring).Since then, I'm only interested in stability, ease of installation (nicely covered) and practical use (fan controll, MEM compatibility ect).
<offtopic> Oh I loved the XP-m 2500+ siverpainting 2001 era where you actually could get a noticeable improvement of performance and not necessarily have to sacrifice stability or risk bankruptcy</offtopic>
vanwazltoff - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
i picked up an asus p8z77-i deluxe/wd before christmas and made a beast gaming computer out of it with an i5-3750k OCed to 4.5ghz and a gtx670 =]vanwazltoff - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
*3570kBeaver M. - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
Loved the POST screen measurements and the DPC latency testing. Something you dont see every day. Actually Ive never seen it, and yet I always wanted to know those.However I am not really interested in the Z77s, since they have a horrible layout for my needs. Only the Asus one comes close to what I need, but I just dont buy Asus anymore because of several very bas experiences.
So, I wish you would also test the B75 and H77s.
paksoy - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
I love the features of this Asus mobo, but i want to use it in a really small form factor case like the Antec ISK 110 VESA Case.http://www.anandtech.com/show/6192/antec-isk-110-v...
I'm just worried that the height of the VRAM board would prevent it from using it with this case.
mi1stormilst - Tuesday, January 1, 2013 - link
I still opted for the Gigabyte Z77N and love it...Sivar - Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - link
Does this refer to the ALC889 playing an audio file encoded at 192KHz?If so, does it really matter? Failing a test is never a good thing, but I know of no widely available 192KHz audio source, and such a source would have no benefit, nor would a 96KHz source.
cjs150 - Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - link
I am a happy user of the AS Rock board in a silent HTPC. It works exceptionally well. However it is clear that some work still needs to be done on motherboard design.MSata on back is excellent - now can we have it as SATA 3 because the better MSata SSDs are all Sata 3.
Placement of Sata connectors is often awkward on these boards. On edge and at right angles please.
Similarly I would love it if someone either did the 24 pin ATX power connector at right angles or someone manufactured a right angled converter that did not require de soldering the motherboard connector. Cable management in Mini-OTX is very hard and that would really help.
Finally, careful choice of RAM can eliminate issues Ian had about the closeness of the CPU socket preventing the use of many after market coolers. I use the Samsung green low profie memory, which is so low that any after market cooler can be used (and runs at 1.35v, is an unbelievably good overclocker and reasonably priced!)
romrunning - Wednesday, January 2, 2013 - link
As has been mentioned previously, the H77 chipset is great for those who do not need overclocking. I've used the Intel DH77DF, and I heartily recommend it. Since the DH77DF has an eSATA port (not too common), I've even been able to keep an eSATA dock that I used before USB 3.0 was more readily available. If you install this board into a Fractal Design Node 304 case, you can use all of the SATA ports as well. I've used it with a Silverstone SG05 case, and the loudest part of my setup is the fan on the graphics card (Radeon 7850).One thing I've noticed, though, is the relatively low mic input from the front audio. Not sure if this is common to the Realtek ALC8xx chip series, but even after boosting the gain in Win7 to +30db, it still isn't quite as loud as an older AMD board I previously had (which didn't need a boost at all).