Five Z97 Express Motherboards, $160 To $220, Reviewed

Z97 MPower Software

MSI Command Center shows minor updates nearly every time we install it, and usually needs to be updated after a board launches in order to support its newest features. Fortunately, Z97 is mature enough that Command Center updates have caught up.

CPU ratio and BCLK adjustments work, but altering them can take a while (these values cannot be keyed in). CPU fan controls, including both fixed mode and custom slopes, are also found on Command Center’s opening page.

CPU voltage adjustments are available on the second page of MSI Command Center’s opening menu. Adjusted values can be confirmed through both software and hardware, since the Z97 MPower has voltage detection points. DRAM settings in the adjacent box can’t even be selected, let alone changed.

The Command Center suite includes MSI RAMDisk, which we also confirmed working.

Command Center’s “Advanced” tab provides access to a voltage menu that’s roughly equal to the settings available from the Z97 MPower’s firmware. We were able to confirm the functionality of several settings via voltage detection points, including input, core, and DRAM voltage.

Another “Advanced” submenu provides system fan controls in both temperature-based and fixed modes.

An advanced DRAM timings menu makes firmware adjustments from software, requiring a reboot.

MSI Command Center also has a logging utility for several of its monitoring functions.

Mobile Control allows users to access several Command Center features, including monitoring and some overclocking controls, using a smartphone. I was able to get the associated app running on my ZTE Android phone and take control of my PC in minutes.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
  • Memnarchon
    At this price Asus could send a ROG product (Maximus VII Hero). I wonder why they choose to send the Z97-Pro instead...
    Reply
  • bigshootr8
    At this price Asus could send a ROG product (Maximus VII Hero). I wonder why they choose to send the Z97-Pro instead...

    My thoughts you can find the hero board within that price range quite easy. http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-maximusviihero
    Reply
  • bigshootr8
    -snip- duplicate post silly tomshardware.
    Reply
  • Drejeck
    I'd like some ITX Z97 and H97 with M.2 reviewed.
    I'm buying the Asus Z97i-plus because it just mount a 2x M.2 2280 and 2260, and all other connectivity goodness, uninterested in overclocking unless the broadwell i5 K consume less than 90W :D
    Reply
  • mapesdhs
    I recently bought a Z97I-Plus. Being so used to EATX boards as of late, I was a tad
    stunned at how tiny even the packing box is. :D Just pairing it up with a G3258
    initially to see how it behaves. Pondering a GTX 750 Ti, but kinda hoping NVIDIA
    will release a newer version in Sept.

    Ian.

    Reply
  • Crashman
    13953852 said:
    At this price Asus could send a ROG product (Maximus VII Hero). I wonder why they choose to send the Z97-Pro instead...
    They probably wanted to win based on features for the money? We know that the Wi-Fi ac has A $50 WI-FI CONTROLLER, what does the Hero add that's worth $50?

    Reply
  • lp231
    The Asus ROG boards have a red line that lights up showing the audio path through it's build in LEDs, but the mainstream Z97 don't. I had a chance to take a look at one of the Asus Z97 board and took my phone's flash to shine in on it. The color was somewhat yellowish green and it looks really nice.
    Reply
  • g-unit1111
    I have a Z97 Extreme 6, it's a very nice board and it's definitely worthy of the approval award.
    Reply
  • TechyInAZ
    Nice boards!! I love the gigabyte model but I like asus more because yellow heatsinks just don't fit in my opinion.
    Reply
  • Memnarchon
    13956156 said:
    13953852 said:
    At this price Asus could send a ROG product (Maximus VII Hero). I wonder why they choose to send the Z97-Pro instead...
    They probably wanted to win based on features for the money? We know that the Wi-Fi ac has A $50 WI-FI CONTROLLER, what does the Hero add that's worth $50?
    Hello. I think there are more reasons to buy a ROG product, instead of a Wi-Fi controller...
    Better audio quality.
    Better MOF-SETs.
    Better inductors.
    ROG BIOS.
    Generally ROG boards have better quality parts.
    But in the end we need the reviewers (like you) to review as many products as they can, so we can see the performance difference between them.
    Reply