[noobee]

Mini-itx are smaller boards with less slots/options so how will the m.2 tech. be handled/provided on these boards?

I'm just wondering what options will one have? Z97 mini-itx mobo and m.2 - which SSDs can you use with it? I guess we'll find out but maybe you know already?

I've googled but not sure yet. I like the idea of having really thin SSDs in a small case like the SG05 that are as fast or faster than current SATA SSDs. I don't quite understand that the m.2 will be either SATA or pci-e but with no pci-e slots in mini-itx mobo, how does that work?

I tried to look up and find info on these:
EVGA Z97 Stinger
ASUS Z97I-Pro
ASUS Z97I-Plus
Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac

Any comments on these?

I prefer Intel LAN and wifi with no worse than Realtek 1150 (better than 892?) and at least the standard 1 m.2 socket. That allows trying a m.2 SSD and if you can use the PCI-e mode, it is supposedly faster than SATA3? Anyway, would be nice to have it unless these boards are way over priced compared to Z87 boards - but even the Asrock Z87e-itx mobo doesn't have those features but I'm comparing to $165 (Asrock Z87).

 

[noobee]

No replies yet? Few are interested in mini-itx form or what?

Looks like there's a m.2 socket with most of these boards. I picked out these specific ones with specs already on the brand home pages.

What I'm not sure about is whether the cpu socket placement location is good, whether I should try to choose a particular audio chipset over another and the LAN differences (Intel vs. Qualcomm Killer E2205). Since, you can't use an internal discrete sound card with these boards, I was wondering about the Realtek ALC892 vs ALC1050 sound quality.

Other than that, the boards look competitive? I am most used to Asus (and Gigabyte) boards. I didn't include Gigabyte because they often have Realtek LAN and there were some other reasons.

'Hope someone can comment...

ASUS Z97I-PLUS
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97IPLUS/
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97IPLUS/specifications/

Everything is good but the inferior audio chip? (Realtek ALC892?!?)
8-channel audio

vs
ASRock. Z97E-ITX/ac
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z97E-ITXac/

Realtek ALC1150
7.1 channel audio

vs
MSI Z97I GAMING AC
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97I_GAMING_AC.html#specification

Realtek ALC1150 - good
7.1 Channel audio
wifi is Intel AC-7260
LAN Killer E2205 - ???

Intel vs Qualcomm Killer E2205
http://rog.asus.com/312772014/labels/guides/tried-and-tested-why-intel-ethernet-is-still-better-for-gaming/

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/intel-nic-network-interface-controller-vs-killer-e2200.200606/

 

[Dortheleus]

Well if you want opinions on the m.2 SSDs you can post a quary on the Asus ROG Maximus VI Impact owners club, there's a few that have bought one. I'm actually thinking of it for mine also.

 

[psypher5]

just a note theres no m2 port on the msi. I'm stuck which one to go with too, and as I've only just jumped on the ssd bandwagon i'm wondering if i'd bother with m2 at all.

The msi is taking my fancy over the available boards at the moment though.

 

[Noway77]

EVGA Z97 Stinger - A little bit overpriced for the features, most probably the best in component quality, premium support and no M.2 sata.
ASUS Z97I-Plus - solid design and feautures,

Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac - meh no comments
Msi Z97i Gaming - didn't like the placement of the CPU socket but they are rock solid

 

[noobee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noway77

EVGA Z97 Stinger - A little bit overpriced for the features, most probably the best in component quality, premium support and no M.2 sata.
ASUS Z97I-Plus - solid design and feautures,

Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac - meh no comments
Msi Z97i Gaming - didn't like the placement of the CPU socket but they are rock solid

ASUS Z97I-Plus - solid design and feautures -> based on what?

I'm just curious. Looks okay. It is lower than the -Pro which isn't released yet?

Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac - meh no comments -> Why?

 

[Noway77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by noobee

ASUS Z97I-Plus - solid design and feautures -> based on what?

I'm just curious. Looks okay. It is lower than the -Pro which isn't released yet?

Asrock Z97E-ITX/ac - meh no comments -> Why?

Had a couple of Asus before, deluxe and pro never let me down but still not a fan of ROG marketing mambo jumbo as for Asrock trashed 2 quite easily low cost usually comes with a price. Just my opinion you can take it or not.

 

[rezrez]

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Quote:

Originally Posted by noobee

No replies yet? Few are interested in mini-itx form or what?

Looks like there's a m.2 socket with most of these boards. I picked out these specific ones with specs already on the brand home pages.

What I'm not sure about is whether the cpu socket placement location is good, whether I should try to choose a particular audio chipset over another and the LAN differences (Intel vs. Qualcomm Killer E2205). Since, you can't use an internal discrete sound card with these boards, I was wondering about the Realtek ALC892 vs ALC1050 sound quality.

Other than that, the boards look competitive? I am most used to Asus (and Gigabyte) boards. I didn't include Gigabyte because they often have Realtek LAN and there were some other reasons.

'Hope someone can comment...

ASUS Z97I-PLUS
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97IPLUS/
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z97IPLUS/specifications/

Everything is good but the inferior audio chip? (Realtek ALC892?!?)
8-channel audio

vs
ASRock. Z97E-ITX/ac
http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z97E-ITXac/

Realtek ALC1150
7.1 channel audio

vs
MSI Z97I GAMING AC
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/Z97I_GAMING_AC.html#specification

Realtek ALC1150 - good
7.1 Channel audio
wifi is Intel AC-7260
LAN Killer E2205 - ???

Intel vs Qualcomm Killer E2205
http://rog.asus.com/312772014/labels/guides/tried-and-tested-why-intel-ethernet-is-still-better-for-gaming/

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/intel-nic-network-interface-controller-vs-killer-e2200.200606/

I'm also deciding between these three mobos.
Something to add:
ASRock. Z97E-ITX/ac and MSI Z97I GAMING AC
1 x case fan header

ASUS Z97I-PLUS
2 x case fan headers

If you have more than two PWM chassis fans you might consider ASUS.
I'm planning to get RVZ01 case so that doesn't matter.

I'm leaning towards ASrock for its HDMI passthrough. Not sure how bad the lagging is when I connect PS4 to.

ps. EVGA Stinger is overprice and should be compared with ASUS MAXIMUS VII IMPACT.