X79 vs Z97 vs X99 Confusion

EdBakersfield

Distinguished
Aug 24, 2008
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X99 PCIe slots support: x16 + x16 + x8
Z97 PCIe slots support: x16 or x8 + x8 or x8 + x4 + x4
X79 PCIe slots support: x16 + x8 + x8
So why is Z97 "better" than X79?
 
Solution
It's newer. That's all. Even so it's technically not better (lane-wise), it just has another operating mode. You'd never run anything in x8 + x4 + x4 when you could run in x16 + x8 + x8.

Plus, what TechyInAZ said ;)
Because PCIE isn't the only difference between z97 and x79. Z97 has more features than x79, like haswell cpu support, M.2, Sata Express, and has lots of newer stuff. While the x79 is good in raw horsepower, but lacks most of the features Z97 has.

But, in a way your comparing apples to oranges because x79 is older and aimed at the enthusiast level while Z97 is aimed at the mainstream level.