Best Z97 Motherboards of 2023 – Complete Review

Austin
| Last Updated: January 14, 2023

Digital Advisor is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Living in an age where everything moves at the speed of light, why should your computer be slow?

The speed and performance of your PC mainly depend upon its processor. A good motherboard can ensure an amazing functioning of your computer, allowing you to accomplish all your tasks with great ease.

One such processor is the Z97, which not only adds a higher degree of functionality to your PC but also boosts its performance capabilities.

Comparison of the Best Z97 Motherboards

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Best for the money
  • LGA 1150 socket and Intel Z97 Express chipset included in the product
  • Gives users the liberty to choose between two great LAN options
View Latest Price →
  • Best Asus Z97 Motherboard
  • M.2 onboard which allows data transfer speed of up to 10GB
  • With ASUS 5X protection, you can ensure the durability of the product
View Latest Price →
  • Best Asrock Z97 Motherboard
  • Features a premium alloy choke that is designed to reduce 70% of the core loss
  • Equipped with Nichicon 12K Platinum Cap made in Japan with high-quality materials
View Latest Price →

Are All Z97 Motherboards The Same?

Those who are not very familiar with these processors may not know much about them. If you are wondering whether all Z97 motherboards are the same or not, the answer is yes, and no. Confused? Let us explain.

Z97 motherboards are not of different types. This implies that the basic structure, functioning, and design of all these units are the same. They are all designed to perform the same basic functions, the efficiency of which may, however, vary with the quality of the chosen product.

Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H

However, different manufacturers optimize their units in different ways. Based on their purpose of use and to some degree, their price, the units may come with different additional features. Manufacturers add a number of features to the basic motherboard in order to not only maximize the efficiency of functionality but also to attract consumers.

In the end, the superiority of one unit over the other depends on the user. For any consumer, the best unit is one that fulfills all their requirements. Therefore, declaring that one is better than another because of a certain feature just isn’t right.

What Makes a Great Z97 Motherboard?

Whatever we pick, we want the best and the same goes for this motherboard. While buying a Z97 motherboard, if you want the best for yourself, all you need to do is carefully examine certain aspects and specifications of the unit. The following are some of the features one would find in a good Z97 motherboard:

Consistency of Performance

Just high-end performance isn’t enough when it comes to motherboards. The performance provided by the motherboard needs to be consistent. Even though these units cost a considerable amount of money, their performance often deteriorates with time, leaving users with nothing but disappointment. While considering a unit, remember to check the reviews to see if the unit maintains its performance over time.

Speed and Boosting Power

Yet another feature users need to expect from a good Z97 motherboard is a good speed along with boosting power. The main reason people upgrade their chipset is to obtain a faster and better working of their systems. It is, therefore, important that the chosen unit provides greater speed and boosting power compared to the previous unit.

Review of the Best Z97 Motherboards

Now that you know how exactly to pick a unit for yourself, it's time to finally pick one. Below we have listed and reviewed some of the best Z97 motherboards that the market has to offer. So you can skip the standard devices and take your pick from the absolute best.

Best Overall:
Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD5H

PROS

  • With the LGA 1150 socket, users can find a greater range of functionality
  • The Dual BIOS system proves to be safer while flashing and provides greater reliability
  • Provides users with a choice between Killer (™) E2200 and Intel Gigabit network chips
  • Comes with a sound card that offers 115 dB SNR along with a built-in headphone amp
  • Features SATA express port along with an M.2 connected that is ideal for an operating system

CONS

  • May turn on and off repeatedly and requires fixing
  • Only one of the M.2 and SATA ports can be used at once
  • Point and click BIOS mode may not be suitable for all users

What Recent Buyers Report

Most of the users that invested in this unit expected nothing but basic features and standard functionality, given the low budget it came in at. Upon use, however, they were greatly surprised at how well it performed and how smoothly the device functioned, with little to no effort.

Why it Stands Out to Us

If you ask us what really amazes us about this unit, other than its low price point, it is its CPU support. This outstanding product provides ideal support for Intel Core i7, i5, and i3 processors along with Pentium and Intel Celeron processors too. Such a wide range of support is offered by very few other units.

Who Will Use This Most

Not everyone can find the budget to splurge on a motherboard, but who doesn’t want to experience the best of these units? In order to satisfy all those users who are looking for a Z97 motherboard, Gigabyte has put forth this one that will provide them with an ideal functionality without costing a fortune.

Bottom Line

Why spend a hefty amount when you can get more for less? With this product, you will not only save a considerable amount of money but will also get to experience the uncompromising functionality that a Z97 motherboard has to offer. Isn’t that what we call a win-win?

Runner-up:
ASUS Z97-K/CSM

PROS

  • Turbo LAN allows a smoother gaming experience
  • Autotune and control the tuning of the fans according to your own needs
  • Features the ASUS Fan Xpert3, which is designed for optimal heat dissipation
  • Experience flawless audio for an enhanced gaming experience with the Crystal Sound 2
  • Comes with ASUS 5X protection that features DIGI+, VRM, Enhanced DRAM, and much more

CONS

  • A little more expensive than other units
  • A few of the connectors may break easily if not handled well
  • Customizing the device may take a while longer than expected

What Recent Buyers Report

If you tend to read the reviews of a product before investing in it, then you will find this to be the perfect one for you. Coming from a known brand, users trusted this product before they invested in it. And its quality and performance did not fail them, at all, which is why they trust ASUS in the long run.

Why it Stands Out to Us

Given the outstanding performance this unit provides its users, there is no other feature needed for it to be included on this list. But one thing that definitely stands out about this unit is the flawless audio that enhances the overall experience for users, and gamers, specifically.

Who Will Use This Most

This unit is one that provides absolutely everything a user could expect from a Z97 motherboard. It may have a long list of features but also comes with a heavy price tag. If you are looking for a high-end product, with no concerns about budget, then this is the perfect unit for you.

Bottom Line

ASUS has been known for its competitive and high-end products for a number of years. It has built a relationship of trust with its consumers that it fulfills by putting forth quality products, such as this one. It is one of the products that will simply fail to disappoint you.

Best for the Money:
ASRock Z97 EXTREME6

PROS

  • Provides great stability that a number of units lack
  • Dual BIOS provides a great enhancement of performance of the device
  • Features ample amount of heat sinks, allowing sufficient heat dissipation
  • High-quality connections ensure efficient flow of data and a fast functioning
  • Provides a number of advanced features that any professional would love to experiment with

CONS

  • Performance may decline over the years
  • The additional Molex connector is tricky to access
  • Configuration and installation require keen efforts

What Recent Buyers Report

Users who invested in this unit found that everything about this product is right up to the mark. From its sleek design to the ideal performance, there isn’t a single thing about this unit that would disappoint its users. And that is consistent with what they expect from ASRock.

Why it Stands Out to Us

When it comes to this product, what is there not to like? However, one particular feature that really stands out from the rest is its Nichicon 12K Platinum Caps. These are designed and made in Japan with a high-quality conductive polymer capacitor that ensures the efficient functioning of the device.

Who Will Use This Most

This unit is one that is mostly known amongst those who have invested in other products from ASUS. It provides a benchmark of quality and performance the brand has ensured for its users. This unit is, therefore, the perfect pick for anyone that is looking for a Z97 motherboard from ASUS.

Bottom Line

ASRock is known to have dissociated from ASUS, since they had sufficient customers and budget on their own. This they gained from their high-quality sales. This unit is a perfect example of the great quality ASRock provides for its users. Just like other products, this motherboard, too, is designed to impress its users.

4. MSI Intel Z97

PROS

  • Features military class-4 components for higher durability
  • Designed for optimal performance with multiple graphics cards
  • Provides users with an unlimited Ramdisk that allows 20x speeds
  • An intuitive and user-friendly command center for easy and convenient use
  • With Live Update 6, users can receive the live status of the system and control accordingly

CONS

  • Pins may bend easily if not used with care
  • Could use more heat sinks than it comes with
  • Provided manual may not provide sufficient guidance

What Recent Buyers Report

This unit is one that has absolutely blown users away with its performance. Everyone that has installed and used it has agreed that no other performs as efficiently as this one. They all claim that its speed and efficiency are unmatched by any other chipset out there.

Why it Stands Out to Us

If you ask us why this unit deserves to be on the top of this list, the answer is simple,  it’s because of its functionality. Even though the unit features a number of advantages over the others, what really allows it to be the best of all is the great proficiency and smoothness with which it allows your system to work.

Who Will Use This Most

This unit is not only available at an affordable price, but also offers a wide range of features, along with absolute functionality. All these features, coupled with its ease and convenience of use, makes this Z97 motherboard suitable for one and all, whether a beginner or professional.

Bottom Line

This motherboard comes with a long list of features and functionality that allows no complaints. It is designed to provide the users with the absolute best and nothing else. If that is what you want for your system, then this is the perfect one for you to go with.

5. MSI Z97-G45 GAMING

PROS

  • Dedicated gaming port for an ideal gaming experience
  • Provides a wide range of RAM support that beats any other unit
  • LAN and sound card provided are better than those featured by most others
  • Features an excellent BIOS that enables the user to tune it according to their needs
  • Not only provides an outstanding performance but also features a bold and stylish look

CONS

  • Mouse and keyboard ports are peripheral specific
  • Does not feature sufficient fan slots for cooling
  • There are chances of the sound card being shot if it’s too tight

What Recent Buyers Report

Users have found nothing but good things to say about this unit. Everything from its bold design and construction to its dedicated and efficiently performing ports have managed to impress the users. These features have convinced them to make this the go-to motherboard they would recommend to all.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This unit has a number of features that amazed us, but one that really caught our eye was the dedicated gaming device port that is featured. This MSI gaming device port is designed to optimize the performance of the rig and deliver the best of connectivity and gaming experience for the user.

Who Will Use This Most

Here is a device that is designed not only for a better performance of your PC but also a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. With its unique features, like the gaming device port and enhanced audio, gamers will find this to be the perfect motherboard upgrade for their systems.

Bottom Line

If the top product on the unit did not suit you well, but you want the best for yourself, then do not worry. This item will serve as the perfect alternative with a functioning that is just as good as the best. It will highly impress you and you will not regret your decision.

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Z97 Motherboard?

Now that you know the features to look at and have considered the best options, making your final pick may seem like an easy decision. But before you do, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to ensure that the one you choose provides the best of functionality.

Heat Sinks

If you are one of those users that overclock their units every other day, then you may be aware of the heating up that takes place in your CPU. This heating up greatly influences the performance of your device, and not in a positive way. It is, therefore, important that the unit you choose has an efficiently functioning heat sink to keep the unit sufficiently cooled.

Budget

While looking at various products, you may notice that even the cheapest of the products may cost a considerable amount. While making your final choice, you need to ensure that the unit you pick has only the features you need. You can pick a unit with all the features if you can spare a hefty amount for your motherboard, but if you want to stick to a budget, it’s better to buy only what you need.

Conclusion

A Z97 motherboard could be exactly what your computer needs to perform better. It will not only maximize its performance but also will allow you to enjoy a better experience. All you need to do is make the right considerations and pick a unit for yourself, and you’ll be good to go.

More Z97 Motherboards Buyer Guides

Below are some more reviews related to Z motherboards:

Share to Pinterest



Austin

When the tech company I worked for restructured and I ended up jobless, I decided to put the wealth of knowledge and management skills to use somewhere new. I’d checked out a few buyer’s guides on the site in the past and reached out to the previous owner. A few months later, here we are. Now, I get to be behind the scenes, helping people find the best tech.