Intel Z87 Motherboard Review with Haswell: Gigabyte, MSI, ASRock and ASUS
by Ian Cutress on June 27, 2013 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
- Intel
- MSI
- Gigabyte
- ASRock
- Asus
- Haswell
- Z87
- Shark Bay
- Lynx Point
MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming Conclusion
On the back of the Z77A-GD65 Gaming that we reviewed late into the Z77 lifespan, the Z87 take at the GD65 level is clearly an evolution on the concept. The features that MSI could not introduce due to time constraints / platform limitations are all put into place for Haswell CPUs.
A motherboard manufacturer at every price point has a linear scale with which to play – on the one hand they can offer the base chipset features and then increase the number of ports in each area, or they can add in a ‘knock-out’ feature (or two) that they can advertise over other motherboards in a similar price segment. The Z87-GD65 Gaming is pretty much in the latter segment, with the dragon styling and Qualcomm Atheros Killer network port (rather than a Realtek or an Intel).
Aside from the Killer NIC, we get Audio Boost which is MSI’s interpretation of the Realtek ALC1150 specifications, using headphone amplifiers for high impedance headsets and filter caps to improve signals. OC Genie gets an upgrade, now featuring two levels of overclock, and both the BIOS and software get an overhaul. The BIOS offers explanations for the options it now shows as well as Hardware Monitor and BIOS Explorer to improve fan controls and hardware detection respectively.
On the performance side of the spectrum, the MSI enables MultiCore Turbo as per standard and actually seems rather efficient from our testing. Unfortunately the DPC is a little higher than I would have liked by default (it seems Haswell DPC > Ivy Bridge DPC on the whole so far), and our dynamic range audio tests are a few dBA away from some of the other ALC1150 implementations. In the early BIOSes we have had trouble adjusting VRIN voltage for overclocks (this may be updated in a public BIOS), and users might be confused that the mouse and keyboard do not wake the machine up from sleep by default – you have to press the power button.
Overclock wise all seemed well from the MSI, with both OC Genie settings giving mid-range overclocks at reasonable temperatures, though the system still lacks an extreme overclock setting. Manually we were able to push our CPU to 4.6 GHz easily enough, and 4.7 GHz at a push as we hit 92C at load.
The sticking point will be whether users will want a motherboard with more of everything (SATA, USB 3.0), or that one ‘Killer’ feature. For a gamer, features like OC Genie and a Killer NIC on the MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming will be worth strong consideration.
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HexiumVII - Sunday, June 30, 2013 - link
Hey Ian! Maybe run the Asrock Z87 in water and let us know how waterproof it is!Hrel - Monday, July 8, 2013 - link
You guys DO talk about how motherboard manufacturers have less and less to do now; with Intel moving more and more things onto the CPU die. Yet for some reason you still fail to ask WHY motherboards are getting MORE expensive. Not less. I got an AMAZING motherboard with SLI and massive overclocking ability that's rock solid back in 2007 for 125 dollars. Yet now that the northbridge isn't even ON the motherboard anymore I have to pay 175 for the SAME level of performance... WTF is that!adridu59 - Monday, July 8, 2013 - link
It looks like you are playing the marketing game, because ALC1150 (nominally ALC900) is just a tweaked ALC898 (same as ALC889 and ALC892).More info: http://www.overclock.net/t/1398739/is-realteks-alc...
Rafalus - Sunday, July 28, 2013 - link
Hi, Is it possible to stop TPU tuning eg when it reach 4.5GHz as I did not want to raise it higher?SilentRyder - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
Honestly i believe this integrated Voltage Regulator will cause many problems. If we check the previous Ivy Bridge main boards, They do have a huge power regulator designed on the top side of processor socket. Now the whole idea of power supplied from the mainboard is gone off. May be this technology will benefit laptops or any other mobile devices. but this is certainly a bad idea for desktop users.We would certainly have HEAT problems, which i am truly afraid of. I do not think haswell will support enough for overclocking. i never over clock my self but i am sure INTEL will change this concept on its new generations.
Even laptops running in high temperature can be a issue.
How many of us are satisfied with the intel built in Graphics processor?
clyman - Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - link
So far, it meets my needs just fine. I am sure it would meet the needs of all my customers. I did put a fluid filled cooler on the processor, but that was only needed while running OCCT. I will add a video card should i ever need one.clyman - Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - link
I have the ASUS Z87-PRO mobo and was hoping someone had a few answers here for me, haven't seen anything related though. My problem is that no matter what I do, the multiplier will not go above 39 and I cannot find out why. Is that due to having 1600 MHZ memory?Another issue is that when I update AI Suite 3 from the original on the supplied CD, it will not recognize my WIFI Engine adapter, however it finds it with the original. ASUS techs have been useless on both of these points as they say have no information regarding overclocking and no one has a clue about the WIFI Engine. I have been given all kinds of advice, all fruitless. I can't get them to understand it simply will not recognize the device on the updated version. I think it is a bad update, they want to RMA it.
Any help on these issues would be appreciated.
LoCk3d - Friday, December 20, 2013 - link
A problem encountered someone USB Charger + function? I do not detect the device, I enabled ERP in bios but still does not work. Help me please !