MSI, world leading in motherboard technology, is pleased to announce its new line of Intel Z97 and H97 based motherboards are now available. With a choice of no less than 26 new models including Mini-ITX, microATX and ATX models, MSI motherboards are the best choice of millions of gamers, overclockers, pc enthusiasts and businesses world-wide and this number grows every day. Signifying its capabilities and design the MSI Z97 XPOWER AC is the culmination of overclocking know-how and technology and the flagship of MSI's OC motherboards. This year the MSI Z97 XPOWER AC already broke the 7GHz mark and is awarded the COMPUTEX 2014 d&i award. MSI's Z97 GAMING lineup features completely new models with the breath-taking Z97 GAMING 9 AC at the gamers' choice, featuring the best on-board gaming audio ever with Xtreme Audio DAC and Audio Boost 2. Supporters of MSI's classic black and blue colors can look forward to new models like Z97S SLI PLUS that combines good looks with plenty of features at a competitive price point. People looking to upgrade now can rest assured that future 4th and 5th Intel socket 1150 based processors will be supported on MSI Z97 and H97 motherboards.

Earlier this week, the latest ASRock Intel 9 Series Super Alloy motherboards have made their debuts and received a lot of favorable reviews immediately.

With ASRock Super Alloy Technology, the 9 Series products are equipped with numerous high class components to ensure their stabilities and reliabilities. As if that wasn't enough, there are more unique features applied on these new products, including Purity Sound 2 with Nichicon Fine Gold Series Audio Caps, ELNA Audio Caps on mainstream motherboards, ASRock HDD Saver Technology, APP Shop, and ASRock Cloud.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards launched earlier this month their new 9 series motherboards based on the Intel Z97/H97 chipsets with support for 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors. Out of this new series, GIGABYTE is now proud to present the Super Overclocking (SOC) models with the Z97X-SOC Force and Z97X-SOC motherboards.

"With the 9 series overclocking boards, we tried to innovate in ways that let the users intuitively get the maximum performance out of their hardware," commented Hicookie, Chief Overclocking Evangelist, GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. "I can't wait for the overclocking community to start benching these boards and see what other records can be broken."

ASUS today announced the Z97-WS motherboard for workstations. Based on the Intel Z97 chipset, the Z97-WS is tailored for extreme graphics processing to cater to the requirements of design industry professionals and gaming enthusiasts. It features PCIe Gen3 4-Way Graphics Power with NVIDIA GeForce SLI Technology and AMD CrossFireX on demand; as well as advanced and efficient power solutions with integrated Dr MOS MOSFET, ultra-durable 12K solid capacitors, along with exclusive ASUS ProCool power connectors and Beat Thermal Chokes.

Ideal for graphics-intensive tasks
The Z97-WS motherboard boasts PCIe Gen3 4-Way Graphics Power with NVIDIA GeForce SLI Technology and AMD CrossFireX on demand to give users flexible multi-GPU solutions for more powerful graphics processing.

The all-new ECS L337 Gaming Z97-MACHINE brings together numerous features and advantages demanded by hardcore PC gamers. It uses the new Intel Z97 Express Chipset, enabling support for some of the fastest processors available, including Intel's new 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors CPU i7, i5, i3, Z97-MACHINE also ships with Pro Gaming Performance features, thanks to Extreme Audio combo with ESS SABRE Premier DAC and Sound Blaster Cinema 2, Hybrid Power module design, dual graphic and native 4K support, latest M.2 Expansion for SSD, Intel Ethernet gigabit LAN optimization for gaming, and a high quality, extreme tested all components platform and design that is unmatched in the industry.

As a member of the L337 Gaming motherboard family, the Z97-MACHINE benefits from a legacy of ECS's gamer-friendly design. From start to finish, this motherboard aims to enable better, more enjoyable gaming on PC at a great starting price for players looking for great performance at an even better value.

MSI, world leader in motherboard technology, is proud to announce its next generation of award-winning Classic motherboards. With 16 new models available in Mini-ITX, microATX and ATX size, the new MSI Z97 Classic motherboards present an arsenal of new features and improvements as well as technical ingenuity.

Offering reliable and fast Gigabit LAN from Intel and official Nvidia SLI support for enthusiasts looking to pair up multiple graphics cards. On-board M.2 and SATA Express provides the fastest storage performance through unprecedented transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s with flexible solutions for using preferred devices. Guard-Pro and Military Class 4 provide all the stability you need through carefully selected and thoroughly tested components and materials. MSI's new Z97 Classic motherboards for Intel 4th Generation core processors delivers an unprecedented choice of technical features no matter which model you choose.

ASRock Inc., the global leading motherboard manufacturer, unveils the brand new Intel 9 series motherboards with ASRock Super Alloy technology! Packing the Intel Z97 / H97 chipsets, ASRock 9 series Super Alloy motherboards provide great compatibility and fully support the 5th, New 4th and 4th Generation Intel Core Processors in Socket 1150. The product lines include the Extreme series for high-end PC, the Fatal1ty Killer Gaming series for elite gamers, and the OC Formula series for OC enthusiasts.

Derived from the "built for stable and reliable" designing concept, ASRock does not compromise on any details. The 9 series motherboard are specially designed with ASRock Super Alloy technology, including 12K Platinum Capacitors with the longest lifespan in the industry, the next-gen NexFET MOSFET, Dual-Stack MOSFETs (DSM), Premium Alloy Chokes, and XXL Aluminum Alloy Heatsinks. Clearly, ASRock has shown its ambition to redefine the horizon of motherboard craftsmanship.

ASRock rolled out the Q1900DC-ITX, a low-power computing motherboard based on Intel Celeron J1900 "Bay Trail" SoC. The chip embeds a quad-core x86-64 CPU clocked at 2.00 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds of up to 2.42 GHz. The board is designed to draw power from an external power brick, over 2-pin DC-in. It uses a chunky fan-less heatsink to cool the SoC, which is wired to two DDR3L SO-DIMM slots. Expansion includes one PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and an mPCIe. Storage connectivity doesn't let down, and includes two each of SATA 6 Gb/s and SATA 3 Gb/s. The board offers legacy connectivity such as LPT and COM over headers. Display outputs include DVI, HDMI, and D-Sub. 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, two each of USB 3.0 and USB 2.0/1.1, and PS/2 mouse/keyboard connectors make for the rest of it.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards today launched their new 9 series motherboards based on the Intel Z97/H97 chipsets with support for 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors.

"GIGABYTE is excited to launch 4 new series of motherboards for the Intel 9 series chipset, each offering a host of new and unique GIGABYTE features matched with GIGABYTE signature quality and durability," commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. "Our 9 series motherboards also offer a future proof platform to our customers by supporting the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors including the soon to launch refresh and unlocked CPUs, as well as future 5th generation Intel Core processors, ensuring they will be able to take advantage of current and upcoming Intel technologies."

In addition to its overclocker-centric OC Series of motherboards based on the Z97 Express chipset, MSI launched several motherboard models in the Gaming Series. It starts off with the Z97I Gaming for mini-ITX builds, Z97M Gaming for micro-ATX ones, the Z97 Gaming 3, Z97 Gaming 5, and Z97 Gaming 7, built in the standard ATX form-factor. Interestingly, these are not the only Gaming Series boards. There's also the Z97-G43 Gaming, Z97-G45 Gaming, and Z97-GD65 Gaming. A characteristic feature of these boards is a design focus on better audio and wired networking. On the audio front, most models feature AudioBoost audio with ground-layer isolation and headphones amp; while on the wired networking front, the higher-end models feature Broadcom Killer E2200 gaming-optimized NICs. On the ones that lack it, MSI dropped in at least an Intel-made NIC.

MSI's motherboard lineup based on the Z97 Express chipset is branched primarily into two lines, Gaming Series, and OC Series. The Gaming Series covers price points all the way from $100 to $220, offering a feature-set that's tuned for gaming PC builds with moderate CPU/memory overclocks. The OC Series, on the other hand, is ranged between $200 and $400, offering products tuned toward serious to professional (competitive) overclockers. The OC Series consists of three models, beginning with the Z97 MPower, the Z97 MPower MAX AC, and the Z97 XPower AC.

ASUS today announced a full range of ASUS-branded motherboards powered by the brand new Intel Z97 Express and H97 Express chipsets, and including support for 4th, New 4th, and 5th-generation Intel Core processors (Haswell, Haswell Refresh, Haswell Refresh K-series / Devil's Canyon). ASUS Z97 and H97 Series motherboards are fully-featured and perfect for any desktop PC build, whether it's a high-performance PC, a potent gaming rig or a multimedia entertainment center. With ASUS-exclusive technologies to enhance performance and reliability, plus support for the latest ultra-high-speed SATA Express and M.2 storage technologies, the ASUS Z97 and H97 Series take PCs to the next level.

A brand new premium look
ASUS Z97 and H97 Series motherboards feature a gleaming new design, with a unique and distinctive perfectly circular heat-sink on the next-generation Platform Controller Hub (PCH) chip. Anodized in a light gold color, this heat-sink is the signature visual feature of the new range. These design elements combine to project an understated, subtle and smooth image that exudes undeniable superiority, and which is perfectly suited to this comprehensive new range of ASUS motherboards. Z97 and H97 motherboards are suitable for any build, whether it's a productivity, gaming or entertainment PC.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Maximus VII Gene mATX, Maximus VII Hero ATX, and the new Maximus VII Ranger ATX gaming motherboards. These Intel Z97 chipset-based Maximus VII motherboards feature the LGA 1150 socket and support Intel 4th, new 4th and 5th-generation processors (Haswell, Haswell Refresh, Haswell Refresh K-series/ Devil's Canyon) to give enthusiasts unmatched gaming performance.

These three gaming motherboards build on the renowned and trusted ROG gaming legacy. All three motherboards sport the distinctive ROG black and red color scheme, with the Maximus VII Gene and Hero featuring the world's first dual-color PCB with a matte black and red finish. The Maximus VII series features premium components, black nickel processor socket covers and improved circuit layouts. The Maximus VII series also boasts advanced networking and audio for gaming, along with an upgraded UEFI BIOS and M.2 (PCIe x2) with up to 10 Gbit/s data transfer speeds.

ASUS has unveiled the TUF Z97 Series motherboards, which are built around the latest Intel Z97 Express chipset. The new TUF Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 and Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2, Gryphon Z97 and Gryphon Z97 Armor Edition motherboards support up to the latest 5th-generation Intel Core processors and - exclusively on the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 - the new 10 Gbit/s SATA Express interface for high-speed external storage. Available in both ATX and mATX form factors, there's a TUF Z97 motherboard suitable for any build.

Looks TUF, performs tougher
TUF motherboards are world-renowned for their toughness, long-term stability, durability and bold styling, and the new models continue this proud tradition with a powerful new military-inspired design and the use of premium components throughout. The robust TUF motherboards have upgraded thermal management with the brand new TUF ICe cooling for precise fan control and thermal monitoring. Other features include the comprehensive Thermal Radar 2 cooling control, including the innovative Dust Diverter reversible fan technology and VGA Fan Control, making TUF motherboards cooler, more stable and even more reliable.

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.

Ahead of their anticipated May 9th launch, various motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Z97 Express chipset began appearing on US retailer Newegg.com. The boards are up for order, and ready to ship. Notable mentions include MSI Z97 MPower MAX AC, the company's flagship motherboard based on this chipset, which is going for US $259.99; its slightly toned down variant, the Z97 MPower, priced at $199.99; ASUS TUF Sabertooth Z97, the company's tough-nut motherboard based on this chipset, priced at US $249.99; MSI Z97-Gaming 7, priced at $189.99; GIGABYTE Z97X-UD3H, the company's mid-range Z97 model, priced at $149.99; and the similarly priced ASUS Z97-A. Featuring out of the box support for Intel's upcoming Core "Haswell" refresh processors, including the new high-end Core i7-4790K, Z97 Express brings SATA-Express and M.2 support to the table.

BIOSTAR has announced the J1900NH2 motherboard with the on-board Intel Dual-Core Celeron J1900 processor in a mini ITX form factor for flexible use. The J1900NH2 boards come with the Intel Celeron J1900 Dual-Core processor already installed and it supports two DDR3L 1333/1066 MHz memory slots for a maximum of 16 GB of memory. It features an integrated graphics chip with enough performance for most home and office applications.

The J1900NH2 board is ready for building a universal multimedia system due to its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 5.1 Channel HD Audio chip. LAN networking is covered by the Realtek RTL8111G - 10/100/1000 controller and being a BIOSTAR board it has the Smart Speed LAN feature. For storage there are 2 SATA2 connectors and USB is well rounded with 1 USB 3.0 port and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

Here are some of the first pictures of the Z97 WS from ASUS, its first workstation motherboard based on Intel's new 9-series chipset. Built in the standard ATX form-factor, the board offers a boat-load of enterprise-relevant connectivity, and out of the box support for not just Core "Haswell" Refresh processors, but also Xeon processors based on the "Haswell" silicon. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS connectors, with an optional 6-pin PCIe power input to stabilize power supply to add-on cards. It features an 8-phase CPU VRM, with additional heatsinks to dissipate heat from the MOSFETs.

The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express gen 3.0 x48 bridge chip. This chip wires out four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, which auto-configure between x16/NC/x16/NC, x16/NC/x8/x8, and x8/x8/x8/x8, depending on how you populate the four slots. Other expansion slots include two PCIe 2.0 x1, and one PCIe 2.0 x4, wired to the PCH. Storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s, from which four convert to two SATA-Express ports, and one M.2 slot. Display outputs appear to include DisplayPort and HDMI. There are two gigabit Ethernet interfaces on offer, both driven by Intel-made controllers. 8-channel HD audio, several USB 3.0 ports, and legacy ports by headers, make for the rest of the connectivity. Its feature-set include Ai-Suite III, reinforced power connectors, and the ability to log system events onto USB flash drives.

With leading motherboard manufacturers ready with their socket LGA1150 motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Zx7 Express chipset, ASRock joined in to unveil its offerings. ASRock's lineup includes five models based on the chipset. The most affordable of the lot will be the Zx7-Extreme4. This board offers an impressive 12-phase CPU VRM, two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x8/x8 when both are populated), one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and three PCI-Express 2.0 x1. Its storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, from which two can mod into a SATA-Express connection with the conveniently placed SATA-E driver port; and one M.2 slot. Other features include Intel-made gigabit Ethernet, ASRock Purity sound with audio-grade capacitors and ground-layer isolation, and dual-UEFI BIOS. To not step on Gigabyte-held patents, ASRock's dual-BIOS implementation isn't automated, and you have to manually toggle between the two EEPROMs using a 2-way switch.

With less than three weeks to go until the official launch of the 9 Series chipsets, Gigabyte has decided to share a few pictures depicting three of its boards powered by the Z97. Seen below are the Z97X-UD5H BK (Black Edition), the Z97X-UD7 TH and the overclocking-ready Z97X-SOC Force which feature support for Haswell Refresh and older LGA1150 processors.

All three boards have an Ultra Durable design, they are SLI and CrossFire capable (the UD5 and UD7 provide three PCI-Express x16 slots while the SOC model offers four such slots), and include four DDR3 memory slots, one SATA Express connector, two (Z97X-SOC) or four (Z97X-UD5H, Z97X-UD7) SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, 7.1 channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet (the UD7 TH and SOC Force pack a Killer E2200 NIC).

GIGABYTE is giving final touches to its next G1.Killer series motherboard, the G1.Gaming Z97. Branded in an uncanny way to MSI's Gaming series, the G1.Gaming is a mid-range ($150 - $200) socket LGA1150 motherboard based on Intel's Z97 Express chipset, which can run Core "Haswell" Refresh processors out of the box. The board features most of the stuff you've come to expect from "gaming" grade motherboards. To begin with, its draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, and uses an 8-phase VRM to condition power to the CPU. The CPU is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory; and two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated). Three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and two legacy PCI make for the rest of its expansion area.

Display connectivity on the G1.Gaming Z97 includes DisplayPort and HDMI. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s, and likely one M.2 slot. A total of six USB 3.0 ports are on offer, four on the rear panel, two by header. The board features 7.1-channel Creative Sound Core3D audio with user-replaceable OPAMPs, a 115 dBA DAC, audiophile-grade electrolytic capacitors, and ground-layer isolation. The wired networking on this board is equally special, a Broadcom-Killer E2100 PCIe NIC with packet prioritization that's optimized for multiplayer gaming. For those with USB headsets that come with their own DACs, GIGABYTE is offering a special USB 2.0 port with extra power output, and electrical noise filter. GIGABYTE's dual-UEFI BIOS is at the helm of this board.

BIOSTAR, manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, industrial computing systems and peripherals, has officially launched the latest edition to the CPU On-Board motherboard lineup, the "A68N-5000." The A68N-5000 uses the AMD A4-5000 which is a 4 core CPU with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz with an integrated Radeon HD 8330 GPU that supports DX11.1 and HDMI, a single channel DDR3(L)-1600 memory controller as well as the Southbridge with various I/O- ports. The system runs cool and quiet with heat sinks instead of fans, this reduces noise and also dust buildup as well as cuts down on power costs.

The upcoming entries to MSI's more overclocker-oriented line of motherboards, the M-Power and X-Power OC Series, will feature an interesting new feature that could appeal to overclockers that like to de-lid (remove the IHS of) their processors, for more direct heat-transfer between the chip and cooler. Called the "Delid Die Guard," the accessory is a replacement LGA socket brace that runs its way around the die, and not the edges of the package. The thickness of the brace puts it at the exact level of the surface of the chip (much like the support braces GPUs come with), and so it prevents heavy coolers (think chunky LN2 pots) from pressing too hard against the die, potentially breaking it. The feature could debut on MSI's upcoming M-Power motherboard based on the Z97 Express chipset.

MSI is ready with its Gaming series socket LGA1150 motherboards based on Intel's next-gen 9-series chipset, which are ready for Core "Haswell" refresh processors. The series includes three boards in the ATX form-factor, the 9-series Gaming 9 AC, 9-series Gaming 7, and 9-series Gaming 3; and one in the mini-ITX form-factor, the 9-series Gaming. The 9-series Gaming 9 AC is loaded with features, including a 12-phase CPU VRM, four DDR3 DIMM slots, three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x16/NC/NC or x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4), eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, a PCI-Express x2 M.2 slot, Killer E2200 NIC, 802.11 ac WLAN, and more.

Next up, is the 9-series Gaming 7, which offers the same 12-phase CPU VRM as the 9-series Gaming 9 AC, same three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, four PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and an identical storage connectivity. The 9-series Gaming 3 is the most affordable of the lot, with a 6-phase CPU VRM, one PCI-Express 3.0 x16, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and three PCI; six SATA 6 Gb/s, one M.2, and Killer E2200 NIC. Lastly, there's the 9-series Gaming ITX, which offers a decent 6-phase VRM, single PCI-Express 3.0 x16, 802.11 ac networking, Killer E2200 NIC, and AudioBoost audio. The three should launch in the run up to the mid-May release of Intel's new processors.More pictures follow.

BIOSTAR is releasing three boards with dual Gigabit LAN on-board that are going to make networking and gaming even better with the 6+ Experience. To achieve this, the "Hi-Fi B85S2G", "Hi-Fi A88S2G", and "Hi-Fi B85N 3D" have Gigabit LAN connections on the board that allow simultaneous LAN connections.

The primary advantage is the doubling bandwidth which allows the network bandwidth, it also allows for Full-duplex transmission. Two networks can be simultaneously transmitted to upload and download at the same time. In addition, there is zero packet delay with two high-speed gigabit networks, giving super high data transmission efficiency.