ASRock X99M Extreme4 And Fatal1ty X99M Killer Review

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Does ASRock Have Better Value?

When we compare added features between ASRock’s $231 X99M Extreme4 and EVGA’s $249 X99 Micro, we come up with a virtual wash. ASRock adds a second network controller while EVGA adds USB 3.0, and the X99M Extreme4 is cheaper.

We can only recommend EVGA's X99 Micro to those who really want to run DDR4-3000, because everyone else will find better value in ASRock's X99M Extreme4. But what about the company's sibling product, the Fatal1ty X99M Killer?

At $250, the Fatal1ty X99M Killer outperforms the X99 Micro barely enough to overcome its $1 price penalty. That’s insignificant. It also adds a Killer E2200 PCIe network controller in the secondary position, beating the specs of other products in the above comparison (though this is probably significant to only a small portion of buyers). It also includes three months of premium XSplit service, which itself only matters to gamers already interested in the service. At a minimum, the features and services that some buyers want are worth more than its price difference.

Either of ASRock’s X99M series is capable of standing up to, and even dethroning EVGA’s X99 Micro in value. Because the X99M Extreme4 has the most value for most users, I’m even giving it our value award!

Because the Fatal1ty X99M Killer’s enhanced network controller and temporary software license will appeal only to a select few builders, I’m labeling it with our stamp of approval.

ASRock X99M Extreme4

ASRock Fatal1ty X99M Killer

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
  • Mac266
    Just a quick error,
    Chipset for all X99 boards is listed as Z97
    Reply
  • Crashman
    14730663 said:
    Just a quick error,
    Chipset for all X99 boards is listed as Z97

    Fixed, thanks. In case you're wondering, that type of error occurs from continuously recycling tables.
    Reply
  • Calculatron
    Go ASRock!
    Reply
  • ocer9999
    Whoa, both are really tempting! Need to start saving!
    Reply
  • HideOut
    To bad the killer model seems to suffer a high markup at amazon according to the green link.
    Reply
  • Lutfij
    Nice work Thomas! Guess you were sitting on this board in your lab for some time now huh ? :D :)

    Anyways, good writeup and keep em coming. Now to find someone crazy enough to shell out on a X99 platform inside an N200 ... hmmm.
    Reply
  • Crashman
    14733470 said:
    Nice work Thomas! Guess you were sitting on this board in your lab for some time now huh ? :D :)

    Anyways, good writeup and keep em coming. Now to find someone crazy enough to shell out on a X99 platform inside an N200 ... hmmm.

    It takes a couple weeks to get stuff published, unless there's an NDA and everyone puts everything else to the side. These would be among the stuff put to the side though :(
    At least you knew it was coming :)
    Reply
  • Mac266
    14730952 said:

    Fixed, thanks. In case you're wondering, that type of error occurs from continuously recycling tables.

    Onya Crash. Nice review as well.
    Reply
  • m32
    The ASRock Fatal1ty X99M Killer LGA 2011-v3 is selling for $250 ($230 AMIR) on Newegg. Amazon currently isn't selling it on Amazon, and 3rd parties are known to over mark products.
    Reply
  • RedJaron
    Tom, what would it take to get ASRock to start putting more 4-pin fan headers on their boards? I love their products, been using a Z68 Ex4 Gen3 for three years and just built a friend's machine on an H97M Pro4. But I love quiet PCs. Having PWM signalling for all the chassis fans, and not just the CPU coolers, means it runs as quiet as possible during web surfing and other downtime.
    Reply