EVGA Unveils Its Z97-Based Motherboards

[Cristian_25H]

EVGA has today officially announced its first creations powered by Intel's Z97 chipset, the Z97 Classified (E-ATX), Z97 FTW (ATX) and Z97 Stinger Core3D (Mini-ITX) LGA1150 motherboards.

Priced at $199.99, the compact Z97 Stinger Core3D features a 10-layer PCB, 6-phase PWM, two DDR3-2666 memory slots, four SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, one PCI-Express x16 slot, Intel Gigabit Ethernet, 5.1 channel audio (powered by a Creative Sound Core3D processor), four USB 3.0 connectors, one eSATA port, and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.





The Z97 FTW also costs $199.99 and boasts a 6-phase PWM but it comes with four PCI-Express x16 slots, eight SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, four DDR3 memory slots, 7.1-channel audio (no Creative chip on this one, you get a Realtek ALC889), and an M.2 connector. The board also packs Intel Gigabit Ethernet, four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, Dual BIOS, PCI-E disable switches, plus voltage read points.



As for the Z97 Classified, it costs $379.99 and has an 8-phase PWN, an 8-layer PCB, four memory slots, eight SATA 6.0 Gbps ports (SATA Express is a no-show on EVGA's first wave of boards), five PCI-Express x16 slots, dual Intel Gigabit NIC, one mSATA/mPCIe slot, 5.1-channel Creative Sound Core3D audio, four USB 3.0 ports, dual mini DisplayPort connectors, and Triple BIOS. All three boards include a debug LED, Power, Reset and Clear CMOS buttons, and support for LucidLogix's Virtu MVP 2.0.



The Z97 FTW and Z97 Classified are available for pre-order.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Suka]

Very nice looking boards you got right there.

 

[McSteel]

In b4 complaints of capacitor color

 

[ensabrenoir]

liking the stinger.....not liking what im hearing about evga boards lately...... hopefully these will get some solid reviews.....hopefully.

 

[ohyouknow]

Not liking the SATA and USB 3.0 connector location on the Stinger. Does not look very convenient in the slightest.

 

[btarunr]

In b4 complaints of capacitor color

I'd be more worried about complaints of lack of M.2 slots on the Classified, and lack of full-length M.2 on the FTW.

 

[lastcalaveras]

Did they miss the memo about sata express

 

[RejZoR]

Not liking the SATA and USB 3.0 connector location on the Stinger. Does not look very convenient in the slightest.

I have them in the same spots on my Rampage II Gene and it's perfectly fine. I have the USB port connected to the front so it's actually good there. You have the drives nearby as well so SATA ports there make sense. Especially with such rotation.

 

[LiveOrDie]

Whats with the socket cover saying 115X ?

 

[micropage7]

Whats with the socket cover saying 115X ?

basically the socket is the same so thats why marked 115x

 

[BorisDG]

They look "cheap" compared to ASUS ones. Not so many features and the color scheme /board, capacitors, cooling/ is meh.

 

[Ikaruga]

Isn't Creative's Core3D nothing but a brutally overpriced and rebranded old XtremeAudio(-ish) software-only technology without any kind of hardware accel? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[cadaveca]

Isn't Creative's Core3D nothing but a brutally overpriced and rebranded old XtremeAudio(-ish) software-only technology without any kind of hardware accel? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Core3D usually refers to Creative chipset, not realtek. Look at the pics..Classified has creative chip, FTW has Realtek.

 

[Animalpak]

My Maximus Impact ITX board has already the M.2 SSD socket and is z87 chipset.

 

[THE_EGG]

No clip thingy on the bottom PCIe slot on the classified. Why not have a different clip design for it if it gets in the way of the m2

 

[15th Warlock]

Nice boards, I've heard bad things about evga boards though, how do they compare to say, Asus or MSI?

I think my next build is going to be an ITX, to be honest I'm tired of building hulking dual or triple card rigs, and want something more... fun?

ITX boards are at a point where you can get the performance of a decent ATX board at one quarter of the size, what do you guys think?

Isn't Creative's Core3D nothing but a brutally overpriced and rebranded old XtremeAudio(-ish) software-only technology without any kind of hardware accel? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

You're probably referring to software solutions like Sound Blaster Cinema, or X-Fi MB2 that are included with some board that use realtek or other chips that offer minor audio enhancements.

The Core3D is actually a tiny quad core processor that actually has hardware acceleration for some special effects like voice alteration, reverb and virtual audio positioning.

 

[buildzoid]

Nice boards, I've heard bad things about evga boards though, how do they compare to say, Asus or MSI?

I think my next build is going to be an ITX, to be honest I'm tired of building hulking dual or triple card rigs, and want something more... fun?

ITX boards are at a point where you can get the performance of a decent ATX board at one quarter of the size, what do you guys think?



You're probably referring to software solutions like Sound Blaster Cinema, or X-Fi MB2 that are included with some board that use realtek or other chips that offer minor audio enhancements.

The Core3D is actually a tiny quad core processor that actually has hardware acceleration for some special effects like voice alteration, reverb and virtual audio positioning.

Their boards had really bad BIOSes after Shamino left but they've been improving. Hardware wise their boards are excellent but the BIOS has always let them down on the Z68, X79(excluding the Dark) and Z77 lines. I don't know about Z87 line but the X79 Dark was ok apparently so I guess all the new boards should be too.

 

[MartinNixon0422]

nothing new...
i think their Ghaphics card doing better though

 

[Ikaruga]

Core3D usually refers to Creative chipset, not realtek. Look at the pics..Classified has creative chip, FTW has Realtek.

I know it's from Creative, my question was

Nice boards, I've heard bad things about evga boards though, how do they compare to say, Asus or MSI?

I think my next build is going to be an ITX, to be honest I'm tired of building hulking dual or triple card rigs, and want something more... fun?

ITX boards are at a point where you can get the performance of a decent ATX board at one quarter of the size, what do you guys think?



You're probably referring to software solutions like Sound Blaster Cinema, or X-Fi MB2 that are included with some board that use realtek or other chips that offer minor audio enhancements.

The Core3D is actually a tiny quad core processor that actually has hardware acceleration for some special effects like voice alteration, reverb and virtual audio positioning.

Yea, I knew it's from Creative, but somehow I had bad memories about the chip and its features based on the little time I spent with Recon3D once. I will read up on it, thanks for the info.

 

[Vlada011]

EVGA Z97 Classified is best looking motherboard on market. I can bet when someone unbox such motherboard have feeling of finest build mobo ever had.

http://www.overclockers.com/evga-z97-classified-motherboard-review

BOOMB!

 

[BorisDG]

Ugly "red" capacitors. Also the other elements are not cool. I know waaay better looking motherboards. This is so so.

 

[THE_EGG]

EVGA Z97 Classified is best looking motherboard on market. I can bet when someone unbox such motherboard have feeling of finest build mobo ever had.

http://www.overclockers.com/evga-z97-classified-motherboard-review

BOOMB!

Looks are very subjective. To me it doesn't have enough colour. To someone else, they might like having an all black design. Just sayin'. While I haven't had the opportunity to unbox the Z97 Classified, I have owned a G1 Sniper 3 and that had damn amazing packaging. Each accessory had its own little box and the mobo was in a foam clad box of its own too with a viewing window. I don't know how you could surpass that packaging. IMO a Gigabyte Z97x-soc is nicer looking same goes for the Asus Rampage VII Hero.

 

[BorisDG]

RIVBE all the way

 

[Vlada011]

What ugly red capacitors, they are best Japan aluminium solid caps... Why need to be black special designed for ASUS.
Performance in real life is absolutely same as any other. That's highest class of such type available on market, proven hundred times as reliable and excellent performing.
Yes, Yes some people complain why always black/red, I love black/red motherboards but this little different approach, can look fantastic with watercooling parts, strong White LED everything will shine in back and EVGA motherboard will be immediately recognizable... I love because EVGA don't use simple color from 5-6 colors pallet. Always have some different tone and in combination with PCB color give nicest look for me.
You should close look ASUS Hero and Z97 Classified in highest possible resolution, if you are good in details everything will be clear.
ASUS Hero is only shadow of ROG motherboards, I mean all ASUS motherboards are excellent but that's ASUS move to take customers who usually buy MSI/ASRock and pay max 150-160$ for motherboards. Now ASUS impoverish Formula/Extreme to offer and something for such people.
ASUS have own fantastic motherboard Z97-WS is for me excellent to, much nicer than Rampage and Maximus, not because color, because heatsink and nicer look.

EVGA Z97 Classified connected in case look as wireless motherboard. Same is on bench table, you see only connectors, wires can fit behind motherboard because angled connectors.