ASUS Maximus VII Hero Review
Category : Z97
Published by Hiwa Pouri on 11.05.14
ASUS has decided to equip their Hero motherboard with the new Z97 Express chipset from Intel. Other than that ASUS also decided to reposition the Maximus VII Hero on the market and today the Hero doesn't mark the entry into ASUS' ROG class. The Hero comes with a bunch of interesting features and it could be one of these products that perfectly match a sweet spot in case of price/performance.


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Today we are checking out the new motherboard from ASUS, the Maximus VII Hero, which is targeting the sweet-spot when it comes to Intel's new Z97 Express chipset. With an appealing feature mix as well as an attractive price, ASUS is trying to conquer the hearts of both gamers and overclockers.

Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Specs and Delivery

Chipset Intel Z97
Memory Dual Channel DDR3, 4 x DIMM, Max. 32 GB DDR3, 3200(O.C.) / 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Multi-GPU
  • Supports NVIDIA SLI Technology
  • Supports AMD CrossFireX Technology
Slots
  • 2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 (x16 or dual x8)
  • 1 x PCIe 2.0 x4
  • 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 Slots
  • 1 x M.2 Slots
Sound ROG SupremeFX Audio 8-Channel High Definition Audio
  • SupremeFX Shielding Technology
  • ELNA Premium Audio Capacitors
  • Content Protection for Full Rate lossless DVD Audio, Blu-ray DVD, and HD-DVD audio content playback
  • Jack-detection, Multi-streaming, Front Panel Jack-retasking
  • Optical S/PDIF out port at back panel
  • Sonic Radar
  • DTS Connect
 
Storage Intel Z97 chipset
  • 6 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
  • Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
  • Intel Rapid Storage Torechnology 12 support
  • Supports Intel Dynamic Storage Accelerator, Intel Smart Response Technology, Intel Rapid Start Technology, Intel Smart Connect Technology
  • 1 x M.2 (NGFF) Socket 3 with M M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support
ASMedia ASM1061 controller
  • 2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), red
Network
  • Intel I218-V Gigabit LAN
  • Anti-surge Ethernet port
  • ROG GameFirst III
Internal Connectors
  • 1 x USB 3.0 connector supports additional 2 USB 3.0 ports
  • 3 x USB 2.0 connectors support additional 5 USB 2.0 ports, one connector shares with ROG_EXT header
  • 1 x ROG Extension (ROG_EXT) header
  • 8 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  • 1 x 4-pin CPU Fan connector
  • 1 x 4-pin CPU OPT Fan connector
  • 4 x 4-pin Chassis Fan connectors
  • 1 x S/PDIF out header
  • 1 x 24-pin EATX Power connector
  • 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V Power connector
  • 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
  • 1 x power-on button
  • 1 x Reset button
  • 1 x MemOK! button
  • 1 x Front panel audio connector (AAFP)
  • 1 x System panel connector
  • 1 x TPM connector
  • 1 x Sonic SoundStage Button
  • 1 x KeyBot Button
Extrenal Connectors
  • 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port
  • 1 x HDMI
  • 1 x VGA
  • 1 x DVI-D
  • 1 x LAN (RJ45) port
  • 4 x USB 3.0 (blue)
  • 2 x USB 2.0 (one port can be switched to ROG Connect)
  • 1 x Optical S/PDIF out
  • 6 x Audio jacks (glod plated)
  • 1 x USB BIOS Flashback Button
Forfactor ATX (30.5cm x 24.4cm)
BIOS Bios (64 Mb flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS)


   


 





Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Features

Extreme Engine Digi+ III

 Since quite some time ASUS has been equipping its boards with digital power designs. Using the right software it is not only possible to adjust voltages while being in Windows but one can now also control impedances. Furthermore, this motherboard features high quality 10K black metallic capacitors which guarantee a longer lifespan.
 

ASUS Fan Xpert 2

 ASUS' Fan Xpert 2 provides customizable settings for fans that have been attached directly to the onboard fan headers. With the Fan Auto Tuning feature, ASUS' Fan Xpert 2 automatically detects and tweaks all fan speeds and in the end reduces unwanted noise.
 

M.2 Support

 Featuring an M.2 slot this board can be equipped with SSDs in M.2 format. The M.2 is wired directly to the Z97 PCH via two PCI Express lanes, therefore offering x2 bandwidth. In other words up to 10 Gbps can be pushed over the bus through this slot, almost doubling performance of the SATA 6Gbps interface.
   

SupremeFX

 In case of SupremeFX you get ASUS' interpretation of onboard sound for gamers. Supporting up to eight channelsm, the SupremeFX solution recieved shielding from other onboard components. It also features high quality ELNA capacitors offering as clear as possible audio. Furthermore, ASUS provided the solution with the ROG color scheme.
     
ROG RAM Disk The RAMDisk reserves a part of system memory and turns it into actual storage space, so you can place favorite app and game cache files in it in order to enjoy high-speed RAM performance while accessing them.
     

GameFirst III

 The GameFirst is a network management software that lets you choose from four pre-defined traffic shaping methods: Optimization, Game, Media Streaming and File Sharing. The software has been designed to make network optimizations as simple as possible.
     

KeyBot

 The KeyBot allows you to assign macro to specific keys without the need of a special keyboard and comes with its own proprietary software. With the KeyBot you can, for example, wake up your PC from sleep mode or you can overclock your machine with a simple press of a key or you can load the XMP profiles via keyboard.


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Layout

At a first glance the ASUS Maximus VII Hero looks very good with its harmonic design. Once again the ROG-colors - red, black and white - suite nicely and together with the black PCB, it becomes a beautiful product. The layout itself is well thought and there is, for example, plenty of space around the CPU socket to install even largest CPU coolers available today. The fact that there are SATA connector which have been angled by 90 degrees allow an easy installation of oversized graphics cards.



The ASUS Maximus VII Hero comes with a digital 8+2 phase power design. The CPU gets eight phases and the memory gets a stable current supply from two individual phases. Furthermore, ASUS equipped this motherboard with their so called "Black Metallic Chokes", which can cope with up to 60A per phase and can resist temperatures ranging from -70°C to +125°C. This makes the power desing even better for extreme overclocking where extremely low temperatures around the CPU socket can be reached.



In total, you will find four DIMM-slots on the Maximus VII Hero. Officially supported are DDR3 3200(O.C.) / 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz. There is enough space between the DIMM-slots and the CPU socket which means that you will not encounter any compatibility problems with big coolers even when you choose to install RAM modules with big heatspreaders. Also supported are version 1.3 Xtreme Memory Profiles (XMP).



On the Maximus VII Hero the southbridge is being cooled by a passive cooling block. A closer look at the area where the power VRMs are shows that there are two additional heatsinks, which have been connected via heatpipe. If you are familiar with more expensive overclocking motherboards from ASUS, you know that it often features PLX bridge chip. In order to achieve a lower price point ASUS did not equip this board with such a chip.

  


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Connectors and I/O

ASUS equipped the Maximus VII Hero with eight angled SATA ports. All ports offer 6Gbps bandwidth and six out of eight SATA III ports are natively wired to the Z97 PCH. The two additional SATA 6Gbps ports are wired to an ASMedia ASM1061 chip. You can also find practical onboard power- and reset-buttons in the top right corner of the board. There is also a debug display. What you do not get with this overclocking board are voltage read-out points. This was another measure to further push the price of this board down.

 


The Maximus VII Hero features a total of six fan headers, which are enough to provide a well equipped high-end or overclocking-system with fresh air. The fan headers are located around the CPU socket and spread over the rest of the motherboard.

  



Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel, ASUS equipped the Maximus VII Hero with one PS2 mouse/keyboard connector, four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, two USB 2.0/1.1 ports, one gigabit ethernet port, an HDMI connector, a VGA out, a DVI port and an optical out as well as an analogue audio panel. Furtheremore, you will also find a clear CMOS button.



Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

BIOS

The most recent version of ASUS’s UEFI BIOS presents itself with an attractive design, and especially the new interface which called EzMode, where we can not only monitor system information, CPU and motherboard temperature, CPU voltage and DRAM status but also set system and CPU fans as well as directly change the boot priority and tune the system to different profiles, is leaving a good impression.

If you wish to go back to the good old times, where you were racing through the menus hammering up and down arrows as well as the enter key ridiculously fast, you just have to press F7 and there you go. Since this motherboard features a very solid power design it is suitable for gaming and high overclocking. The BIOS features all the usual ASUS options, which allow for altering virtually anything when it comes to overclocking. Overall, there is certainly no lack of options in this BIOS.

   


   


   


   


   


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Hardware
Motherboard
  • ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional
  • ASRock Z87 OC Formula
  • ASRock Z87M Extreme4
  • ASRock Z87M OC Formula
  • ASUS Gryphon Z87
  • ASUS Maximus VI Extreme
  • ASUS Maximus VI Formula
  • ASUS Maximus VI Gene
  • ASUS Maximus VI Hero
  • ASUS Maximus VII Hero
  • ASUS Maximus VI Impact
  • ASUS Sabertooth Z87
  • ASUS Z87-A
  • ASUS Z87-Deluxe
  • ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual
  • ASUS Z87-Expert
  • ASUS Z87-Plus
  • ASUS Z87I-Pro
  • Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
  • Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
  • Gigabyte Z87X-OC
  • Intel DZ87KLT-75K
  • MSI Z87 MPower Max
  • MSI Z87 XPower
Processor Intel Core i7-4770K, 3.5 GHz
Memory 8 GB (2x4) G.Skill Ares DDR3-2133 @ 1'066 MHz CL10-11-10-27-Auto
Graphic card ASUS GeForce GTX 680
Driver ForceWare 320.18
Hard disk Intel 335 Series SSD 120 GB
Power supply Seasonic Platinum Fanless 520W


Test setup



Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1
[pagebreak]

Preview / Gallery



Product Picture Link to Gallery
   

ASUS Maximus VII Hero
   

ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional
   

ASRock Z87 OC Formula
   

ASRock Z87M Extreme4
   

ASRock Z87M OC Formula
   

ASUS Gryphon Z87
   

ASUS Maximus VI Extreme
   

ASUS Maximus VI Formula
   

ASUS Maximus VI Gene
   

ASUS Maximus VI Hero
   

ASUS Maximus VI Impact
   

ASUS Sabertooth Z87
   

ASUS Z87-A
   

ASUS Z87-Deluxe
   

ASUS Deluxe Dual
   

ASUS Z87-Expert
   

ASUS Z87-Plus
   

ASUS Z87I-Pro
   

Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
   

Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
   

Gigabyte Z87X-OC
   

Intel DZ87KLT-75K
   

MSI Z87 MPower Max
   

MSI Z87 XPower


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

3D Mark

Ice Storm

3D Mark Ice Storm Score
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 153'524 107.04 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 152'141 106.07 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 151'761 105.81 %
ASUS Z87-A 151'740 105.80 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
151'732 105.79 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 150'951 105.25 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 150'751 105.11 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 149'601 104.30 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
149'207 104.03 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
148.750 103.71 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 148'647 103.64 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 148'605 103.61 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 148'201 103.33 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 147'814 103.06 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 147'546 102.87 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 147'490 102.83 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 147'120 102.57 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 146'682 102.27 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 146'081 101.85 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 146'066 101.84 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 146'005 101.80 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 145'788 101.65 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 144'854 100.99 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 143'428 100.00 %
more is better

Ice Storm Physics

3D Mark Ice Storm Physics Score
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 53'077 106.19 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
52'920 105.87 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 52'001 104.03 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 51'963 103.96 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 51'870 103.77 %
ASUS Z87-A 51'770 103.57 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 51'324 102.68 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 51'303 102.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 50'729 101.49 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 50'586 101.20 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
50'537 101.10 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
50'205 102.87 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 50'117 100.26 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 49'985 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 49'819 99.67 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 49'615 99.26 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 49'582 99.19 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 49'477 98.98 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 49'393 98.82 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 49'313 98.66 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 48'635 97.29 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 48'881 97.79 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 48'802 97.63 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 48'800 97.63 %
more is better


Fire Strike

3D Mark Fire Strike Score
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 6'340 100.03 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 6'338 100.00 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 6'338 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 6'327 99.83 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 6'327 99.83 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 6'326 99.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 6'325 99.79 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 6'322 99.75 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 6'320 99.72 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 6'319 99.70 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 6'318 99.68 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
6'318 99.68 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
6'317 99.67 %
ASUS Z87-A 6'317 99.67 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
6'315 99.64 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 6'315 99.64 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 6'315 99.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 6'314 99.62 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 6'312 99.59 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 6'312 99.59 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 6'309 99.54 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 6'307 99.51 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 6'304 99.46 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 6'272 98.95 %
more is better


Fire Strike Physics

3D Mark Fire Strike Physics Score
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 10'180 101.13 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 10'152 100.85 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 10'148 100.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 10'146 100.79 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 10'145 100.78 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 10'144 100.77 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 10'140 100.74 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 10'135 100.69 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 10'122 100.56 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
10.120 100.54 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
10'120 100.54 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 10'119 100.53 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 10'117 100.51 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 10'112 100.46 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 10'109 100.43 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 10'107 100.41 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 10'103 100.37 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 10'103 100.36 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
10'103 100.37 %
ASUS Z87-A 10'097 100.31 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 10'092 100.26 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 10'089 100.23 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 10'066 100.00 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 10'053 99.87 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

3D Mark 11

3D Mark 11 Total
Review Rating
 Percent
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 9'700 101.38 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 9'698 101.35 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 9'696 101.34 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 9'694 101.32 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 9'691 101.29 %
ASUS Z87-A 9'691 101.29 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
9'691 101.29 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 9'690 101.28 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 9'689 101.26 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 9'684 101.21 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 9'684 101.21 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
9'683 101.20 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 9'683 101.20 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 9'678 101.15 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 9'677 101.14 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 9'676 101.13 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 9'674 101.11 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 9'670 101.07 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 9'668 101.05 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 9'664 101.00 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 9'651 100.86 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
9'651 100.87 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 9'613 100.47 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 9'568 100.00 %
more is better


CPU

3D Mark 11 Physics
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Z87-Expert 10'130 108.88 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 10'120 108.77 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 10'120 108.77 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 10'118 108.75 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 10'113 108.70 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 10'109 108.65 %
ASUS Z87-A 10'106 108.62 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 10'106 108.62 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 10'095 108.50 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 10'091 108.46 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
10.080 108.34 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 10'068 108.21 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 10'058 108.10 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
10'036 107.87 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 10'019 107.68 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
10'018 107.67 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 10'013 107.62 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 10'007 107.56 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 9'983 107.30 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 9'977 107.23 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 9'916 106.58 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 9'885 106.24 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 9'882 106.21 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 9'304 100.00 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

3D Mark Vantage

3D Mark Vantage Total
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 33'057 102.49 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 33'006 102.33 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 32'925 102.08 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 32'916 102.05 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 32'880 101.94 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 32'877 101.93 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 32'872 101.91 %
ASUS Z87-A 32'869 101.90 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 32'860 101.88 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 32'847 101.84 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
32'831 101.79 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 32'830 101.78 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 32'825 101.77 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 32'818 101.75 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 32'799 101.69 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 32'788 101.65 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 32'741 101.51 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 32'740 101.50 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 32'702 101.39 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
32'696 101.37 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 32'657 101.25 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
32'312 100.17 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 32'306 100.15 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 32'255 100.00 %
more is better


3D Mark Vantage CPU
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 26'874 103.32 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 26'870 103.30 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 26'783 102.97 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 26'777 102.94 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 26'764 102.89 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 26'757 102.87 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 26'752 102.85 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 26'725 102.74 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 26'719 102.72 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 26'701 102.65 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 26'672 102.54 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
26'670 102.53 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
26'670 102.53 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 26'640 102.42 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 26'620 102.34 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 26'639 102.41 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 26'592 102.23 %
ASUS Z87-A 26'563 102.12 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 26'536 102.02 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
26'525 101.98 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 26'510 101.92 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 26'436 101.63 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 26'333 101.24 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 26'011 100.00 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

PC Mark 07

Total

PC Mark 07 Total
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 6'175 102.02 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 6'162 101.80 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 6'156 101.70 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 6'155 101.69 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 6'153 101.65 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 6'152 101.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 6'152 101.64 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 6'150 101.60 %
ASUS Z87-A 6'149 101.59 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 6'145 101.52 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 6'142 101.47 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 6'135 101.35 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 6'133 101.32 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 6'129 101.26 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 6'129 101.26 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
6'128 101.24 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
6'125 101.19 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 6'124 101.17 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
6'119 101.09 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 6'116 101.04 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 6'098 100.74 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 6'077 100.40 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 6'055 100.03 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 6'053 100.00 %
more is better


Video playback and transcoding / Video playback
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 23.98 100.08 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 23.98 100.08 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 23.98 100.08 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
23.98 100.08 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
23.98 100.08 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 23.97 100.04 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 23.97 100.04 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
23.97 100.04 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 23.97 100.04 %
ASUS Z87-A 23.97 100.04 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 23.97 100.04 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 23.97 100.04 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 23.97 100.04 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 23.97 100.04 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 23.96 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 23.96 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 23.96 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 23.96 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 23'96 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 23.96 100.00 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 23.96 100.00 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 23.95 99.96 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 23.95 99.96 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 23.95 99.96 %
more is better


Graphics - DirectX 9 / Graphics - DirectX 9
Review Rating
 fps Percent
MSI Z87 MPower Max 113.78 103.92 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 113.69 103.84 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 113.62 103.77 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 113.57 103.73 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 113.49 103.65 %
ASUS Z87-A 113.48 103.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 113.30 103.48 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 113.23 103.42 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 113.11 103.31 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
113.11 103.31 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 113.05 103.25 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 112.99 103.20 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 112.84 103.06 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 112.80 103.02 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
112.68 102.91 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 112.58 102.82 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
112.38 102.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 112.34 102.60 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 111.48 101.82 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 110.52 100.94 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 109.49 100.00 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 108.57 99.16 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 107.88 98.53 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 107.79 98.45 %
more is better


Image manipulation / Image manipulation
Review Rating
 Mpx/s Percent
MSI Z87 MPower Max 25.22 104.82 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 25.16 104.57 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 25.15 104.53 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 25.14 104.49 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 25.14 104.49 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 25.12 104.41 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 25.12 104.41 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 25.10 104.32 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 25.05 104.11 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 25.05 104.11 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 25.04 104.07 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
25.03 104.03 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 25.03 104.03 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 25.02 103.99 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 25.02 103.99 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 25.00 103.91 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 25.00 103.91 %
ASUS Z87-A 24.98 103.82 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
24.97 103.78 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 24.90 103.49 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 24.86 103.33 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
24.79 103.03 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 24.85 103.28 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 24.06 100.00 %
more is better


Web browsing and decrypting / Web browsing
Review Rating
 Pages/s Percent
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 25.92 110.16 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 25.89 110.03 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 25.67 109.09 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 25.66 109.05 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 25.55 108.58 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 25.42 108.03 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 25.41 107.99 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 25.40 107.95 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 25.38 107.86 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
25.38 107.86 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 25.38 107.86 %
ASUS Z87-A 25.33 107.65 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 25.31 107.56 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 25.26 107.35 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 25.25 107.31 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 25.14 106.84 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 25.13 106.80 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
25.07 106.54 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 25.02 106.33 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 24.70 104.97 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 24.19 102.80 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
23.88 101.48 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 23.53 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 21.15 89.89 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Arithmetic Benchmark

SiSoft Sandra - Arithmetic Benchmark - Dhrystone
Review Rating
 GIPS Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 118.39 100.14 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 118.30 100.06%
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 118.31 100.08 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 118.22 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 118.21 99.99 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
118.20 99.98 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 118.15 99.94 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 118.14 99.93 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
118.14 99.93 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 118.14 99.93 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 118.13 99.92 %
ASUS Z87-A 118.13 99.92 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 118.07 99.87 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 118.00 99.81 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 118.00 99.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 117.90 99.73 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 117.85 99.69 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 117.73 99.59 %
more is better


SiSoft Sandra - Arithmetic Benchmark - Whetstone
Review Rating
 GFLOPS Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 90.82 101.33 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 90.70 101.19 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 90.60 101.08 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 90.48 100.95 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 90.47 100.94 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 90.39 100.86 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 90.36 100.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
90.36 100.81 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
90.32 100.76 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 90.30 100.75 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
90.29 100.74 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 90.20 100.64 %
ASUS Z87-A 90.10 100.52 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 90.08 100.50 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 90.00 100.41 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 90.00 100.41 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 90.00 100.41 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 90.00 100.41 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 90.00 100.41 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 90.00 100.41 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 89.91 100.31 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 89.63 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 89.62 99.99 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 89.32 99.65 %
more is better


Multimedia

SiSoft Sandra - Multimedia - Integer
Review Rating
 MPixels/sec Percent
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 382.26 100.11 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
382.22 100.10 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 382.20 100.28 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 382.17 100.08 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 382'00 100.04 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 382.00 100.04 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 382.00 100.04 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 382.00 100.04 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
381.92 100.02 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 381.91 100.02 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 381.85 100.00 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 381.85 100.00 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 381.69 99.96 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 381.69 99.96 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 381.63 99.94 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 381.46 99.90 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
381.38 99.88 %
ASUS Z87-A 381.32 99.86 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 381.15 99.82 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 381.08 99.80 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 381.00 99.78 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 381.00 99.78 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 380.89 99.75 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 380.51 99.65 %
more is better


SiSoft Sandra - Multimedia - Floating Point
Review Rating
 MPixels/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 376.35 100.44 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 376.10 100.37 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 375.68 100.26 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 375.68 100.26 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 375.36 100.18 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 375.23 100.16 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
375.20 100.15 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 375.21 100.14 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 375.16 100.12 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 375.00 100.08 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
374.92 100.06 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 374.85 100.04 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 374.81 100.03 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
374.77 100.02 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 374.70 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 374.64 99.98 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 374.58 99.97 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 374.49 99.94 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 374.16 99.86 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 374.01 99.82 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 374.00 99.81 %
ASUS Z87-A 373.83 99.77 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 369.00 99.48 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 367.77 98.15 %
more is better


Crytography

SiSoft Sandra - Crytography - AES 256
Review Rating
 GB/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 8.93 102.41 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 8.92 102.29 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 8.90 102.06 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
8.90 102.06 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 8.89 101.95 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 8.89 101.95 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 8.88 101.83 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
8.88 101.83 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 8.88 101.83 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 8.86 101.61 %
ASUS Z87-A 8.85 101.49 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 8.84 101.38 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 8.74 100.23 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 8.73 100.11 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 8.72 100.00 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 8.71 99.89 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 8.70 99.77 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 8.68 99.54 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
8.67 99.43 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 8.65 99.20 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 7.26 83.26 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 7.26 83.26 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 7.15 82.00 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 7.13 81.77 %
more is better


SiSoft Sandra - Crytography - SHA 256
Review Rating
 GB/sec Percent
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 1.13 100.00 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 1.13 100.00 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 1.13 100.00 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-A 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 1.13 100.00 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
1.13 100.00 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
1.13 100.00 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 1.13 100.00 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 1.13 100.00 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

SiSoft Sandra 2

Memory bandwidth

SiSoft Sandra - Memory bandwidth - Integer
Review Rating
 GB/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
28.03 103.36 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 28.01 103.28 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 28.00 103.24 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 28.00 103.24 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 27.90 102.88 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 27.88 102.80 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
27.86 102.72 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 27.85 102.69 %
ASUS Z87-A 27.84 102.65 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 27.83 102.62 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 27.83 102.62 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 27.76 102.36 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 27.42 101.11 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 27.44 101.17 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
27.35 100.85 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 27.31 100.70 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 27.12 100.00 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 26.84 98.97 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 26.83 98.93 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 23.49 86.61 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 23.00 84.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 22.90 84.44 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 22.40 82.60 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 22.37 82.49 %
more is better


SiSoft Sandra - Memory bandwidth - floating point
Review Rating
 GB/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
28.21 102.92 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 28.19 102.85 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 28.12 102.59 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 28.09 102.48 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 28.00 102.15 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 28.00 102.15 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 28.00 102.15 %
ASUS Z87-A 28.00 102.15 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 28.00 102.15 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 28.00 102.15 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
27.90 101.79 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 27.90 101.79 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 27.48 100.25 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
27.46 100.18 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 27.41 100.00 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 27.40 99.96 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 27.36 99.82 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 26.72 97.48 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 26.69 97.37 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 23.46 85.59 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 23.00 83.91 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 23.00 83.91 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 22.46 81.94 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 22.32 81.43 %
more is better


Memory latency

SiSoft Sandra - Memory latency
Review Rating
 ns Percent
ASUS Z87I-Pro 21.2 119.81 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 21.3 119.25 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 21.3 119.25 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 21.3 119.25 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Z87-A 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 21.3 119.25 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
21.3 119.25 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 21.3 119.25 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 21.3 119.25 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
21.3 119.25 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 21.3 119.25 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 21.4 118.69 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 25.4 100.00 %
less is better more is better


Memory and cache access

SiSoft Sandra - Memory and cache access
Review Rating
 GB/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 169.28 106.49 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 169.24 106.46 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 169.00 106.31 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
168.90 106.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 168.74 106.15 %
ASUS Z87-A 168.71 106.13 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 168.62 106.07 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 168.36 105.91 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 168.34 105.89 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 168.33 105.89 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
168.22 105.82 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 168.15 105.77 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 168.08 105.73 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
168.07 105.72 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 167.95 105.65 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 167.86 105.59 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 167.00 105.05 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 162.33 102.11 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 159.87 100.57 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 158.97 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 154.40 97.13 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 153.87 96.79 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 153.64 96.65 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 152.51 95.64 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

UC Bench

UC Bench
Review Rating
 PW/sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 889.8 100.27 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 889.7 100.24 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 889.5 100.21 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
889.4 100.20 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 889.1 100.17 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 889.1 100.17 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 889.1 100.17 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 889.0 100.16 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 889.0 100.16 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 888.9 100.15 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
888.9 100.15 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
888.8 100.14 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 888.7 100.12 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 888.7 100.12 %
ASUS Z87-A 888.3 100.08 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 887.6 100.00 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 887.4 102.11 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Super Pi 1M - 32M

Super Pi 1M

Super Pi 1.5 XS - 1M
Review Rating
 sec Percent
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 10.187 101.69 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 10.187 101.69 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 10.202 101.54 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 10.202 101.54 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
10.202 101.54 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 10.202 101.54 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 10.203 101.53 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 10.203 101.53 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 10.203 101.53 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 10.218 101.38 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 10.218 101.38 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 10.218 101.38 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 10.218 101.38 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 10.218 101.38 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 10.233 101.23 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 10.233 101.23 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 10.234 101.22 %
ASUS Z87-A 10.234 101.22 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 10.249 101.07 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 10.249 101.07 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
10.265 100.92 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 10.265 100.92 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
10.265 100.92 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 10.359 100.00 %
less is better more is better

Super Pi 32M

Super Pi 1.5 XS - 32M
Review Rating
 sec Percent
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 527.499 103.18 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 527.700 103.14 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 527.764 103.13 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 528.139 103.05 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 528.373 103.01 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 528.513 102.98 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 528.607 102.96 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 528.654 102.95 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 528.685 102.95 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 528.857 102.91 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 529.090 102.87 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 529.387 102.81 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 529.403 102.81 %
ASUS Z87-A 529.418 102.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 529.449 102.80 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
529.777 102.74 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 529.808 102.73 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 529.871 102.72 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 530.338 102.63 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
531.257 102.45 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 531.337 102.43 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
532.148 102.28 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 537.671 101.23 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 544.270 100.00 %
less is better more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

wPrime 1024M Multicore

wPrime - 1024M Multi Core
Review Rating
 sec Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 206.545 100.14 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
206.576 100.13 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 206.577 100.12 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 206.591 100.12 %
ASUS Z87-A 206.622 100.11 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 206.655 100.09 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 206.668 100.08 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 206.669 100.08 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 206.682 100.08 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 206.700 100.07 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 206.700 100.07 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
206.726 100.06 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 206.732 100.05 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
206.732 100.05 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 206.744 100.05 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 206.762 100.04 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 206.775 100.03 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 206.807 100.02 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 206.809 100.02 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 206.827 100.01 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 206.827 100.01 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 206.841 100.00 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 206.919 99.96 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 207.123 99.86 %
more is better more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Cinebench R11.5

Cinebench R11.5 - Multi Core
Review Rating
 pts Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
7.80 102.36 %
ASUS Z87-A 7.80 102.36 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 7.79 102.33 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 7.79 102.23 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 7.79 102.23 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 7.78 102.10 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 7.77 101.97 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 7.77 101.97 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 7.77 101.97 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 7.77 101.97 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 7.77 101.97 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 7.77 101.97 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
7.77 101.97 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 7.76 101.84 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 7.76 101.84 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 7.75 101.71 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 7.75 101.71 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 7.74 101.57 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 7.74 101.57 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 7.70 101.05 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
7.68 100.78 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 7.67 100.66 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 7.64 100.26 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 7.62 100.00 %
less is better more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Bioshock: Infinite

Bioshock: Infinite (low resolution, low details)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 381.27 111.05 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 379.88 110.64 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 379.68 110.58 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 376.54 109.67 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 375.71 109.43 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 374.96 109.21 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 372.85 108.59 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 371.01 108.06 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 370.03 107.77 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 368.42 107.30 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
367.26 106.97 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 366.76 106.82 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 365.75 106.53 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 364.53 106.13 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 364.46 106.15 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
360.68 105.05 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 356.76 103.91 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 354.00 103.10 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 343.34 100.00 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 339.67 98.93 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 338.74 98.66 %
ASUS Z87-A 337.56 98.32 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
336.77 98.09 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 326.77 95.17 %
more is better


High resolution, high details

Bioshock: Infinite (high resolution, high details)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 75.11 101.42 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 75.02 101.30 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
74.92 101.16 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 74.91 101.15 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 74.90 101.13 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 74.89 101.12 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 74.86 101.08 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 74.85 101.07 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 74.84 101.05 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 74.83 101.04 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 74.80 101.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 74.78 100.97 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 74.77 100.96 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 74.76 100.95 %
ASUS Z87-A 74.74 100.92 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 74.72 100.89 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 74.48 100.57 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 74.48 100.57 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
74.46 100.54 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 74.43 100.50 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 74.29 100.31 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 74.18 100.16 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 74.06 100.00 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
74.04 99.97 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Metro Last Light

Low resolution, low details

Metro Last Light (low details, low resolution)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
149.88 108.83 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 149.41 108.49 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 149.18 108.32 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 148.84 108.07 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 148.77 108.02 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
148.53 107.84 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 148.74 108.00 %
ASUS Z87-A 147.74 108.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
148.73 107.99 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 148.48 107.81 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 148.47 107.81 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 147.32 106.97 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 147.32 106.97 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 147.02 106.75 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 146.78 106.58 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 146.47 106.35 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 145.76 105.84 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 145.15 105.40 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 144.81 105.15 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 144.40 104.85 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 143.99 104.55 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 142.28 103.31 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 137.72 100.00 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 126.98 92.20 %
more is better


High resolution, high details

Metro Last Light (high details, high resolution)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASUS Z87I-Pro 31.37 101.46 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 31.32 101.29 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 31.08 100.52 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 31.07 100.49 %
ASUS Z87-A 31.02 100.32 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
31.00 100.26 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 30.99 100.23 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
30.98 100.19 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 30.98 100.19 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 30.96 100.13 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 30.92 100.13 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 30.92 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 30.89 99.90 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 30.86 99.81 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 30.81 99.64 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 30.80 99.61 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 30.80 99.61 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 30.79 99.58 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
30.75 99.45 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 30.78 99.55 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 30.78 99.55 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 30.76 99.48 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 30.71 99.32 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 30.04 97.15 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Sleeping Dogs

Low resolution, low details

Sleeping Dog (low details, low resolution)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASUS Z87I-Pro 226.2 110.89 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
222.3 108.97 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 218.6 107.15 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 218.2 106.96 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 215.0 105.39 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 209.3 102.60 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 209.2 102.55 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 208.4 102.16 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 208.4 102.16 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
207.6 101.76 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 207.4 101.67 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
205.8 100.88 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 204.0 100.00 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 198.8 97.45 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 196.6 96.37 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 192.7 94.46 %
ASUS Z87-A 191.7 93.97 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 190.3 93.28 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 190.2 93.24 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 183.4 89.90 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 177.3 86.91 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 176.8 86.67 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 175.2 85.90 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 174.8 85.69 %
more is better


High resolution, high details

Sleeping Dogs (high details, high resolution)
Review Rating
 fps Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 45.4 101.79 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 45.3 101.57 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 45.2 101.35 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 45.2 101.35 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
45.2 101.35 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 45.1 101.12 %
ASUS Z87-A 45.0 100.90 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 45.0 100.90 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 45.0 100.90 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 44.8 100.45 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 44.7 100.22 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 44.6 100.00 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
44.5 99.78 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 43.8 98.21 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 43.6 97.76 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 43.5 97.53 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 43.5 97.53 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 43.4 97.31 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 43.4 97.31 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 43.2 92.31 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
43.2 92.31 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 43.1 96.64 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 42.9 96.19 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 40.0 89.68 %
more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Power Consumption

Idle

Idle
Review Rating
 Watt Percent
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 56 107.14 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 56 107.14 %
ASUS Z87-A 57 105.26 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 58 103.45 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 59 101.69 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 59 101.69 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
59 101.69 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 59 101.69 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 59 101.69 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
59 101.69 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
60 93.75 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 60 100.00 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 60 100.00 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 61 98.36 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 61 98.36 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 61 98.36 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 61 98.36 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 63 95.24 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 64 93.75 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 64 93.75 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 65 92.31 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 65 92.31 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 69 86.96 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 86 69.77 %
less is better more is better


Load

Load
Review Rating
 Watt Percent
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 102 103.92 %
ASUS Z87-A 104 101.92 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 105 100.95 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 105 100.95 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 105 100.95 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
105 100.95 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 105 100.95 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 106 100.00 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 106 100.00 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 106 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 108 98.15 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 108 98.15 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
109 97.25 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 111 95.50 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 112 94.64 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 112 94.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 112 94.64 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
112 94.64 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 112 94.64 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 114 92.98 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 116 91.38 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 117 90.60 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 119 89.08 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 131 80.92 %
less is better more is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Performance Rating

3D and Gaming Benchmarks
Review Rating
 Percent
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
103.17 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 103.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 102.80 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 102.79 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 102.39 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
102.36 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 102.35 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 102.23 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 102.13 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 102.19 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 102.07 %  
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 101.92 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
101.81 %
ASUS Z87-A 101.79 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 101.71 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 101.68 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 101.68 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 101.55 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 101.46 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 101.38 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 101.29 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 100.87 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 100.00 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 99.52 %
more is better


2D Benchmarks
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 102.95 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 102.93 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
102.91 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
102.90 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 102.89 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 102.79 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 102.75 %
ASUS Z87-A 102.75 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 102.54 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 102.43 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 102.38 %
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 102.38 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 102.35 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
102.28 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 102.25 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 102.20 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 102.19 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 101.92 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 100.69 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 100.06 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 100.00 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 99.52 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 99.27 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 98.91 %
more is better


Performance per Watt
Review Rating
 Percent
ASUS Gryphon Z87
No Review
 96.80 %
ASRock Z87M Extreme4 96.81 %
ASUS Z87-A 98.73 %
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
No Review
 100.00 %
ASUS Z87-Plus
No Review
 100.75 %
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
100.99 %
ASUS Maximus VI Hero 101.40 %
ASUS Sabertooth Z87 102.10 %
ASUS Z87I-Pro 102.15 %
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H
No Review
 102.37 %
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional 102.40 %
ASRock Z87 OC Formula 102.70 %
ASUS Maximus VI Impact
102.90 %
ASUS Z87-Expert 104.26 %
ASUS Maximus VI Gene 104.64 %
ASRock Z87M OC Formula
No Review
 106.71 %
ASUS Maximus VII Hero 107.62 %
ASUS Maximus VI Formula 107.34 %
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87
109.40 %
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme 107.77 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe 111.72 %
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual 111.72 %
MSI Z87 MPower Max 112.15 %
MSI Z87 XPower
No Review
 133.87 %
less is better


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Price comparison

Model

Geizhals.eu

Toppreise
ASUS Maximus VII Hero
n/A
n/A
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional

n/A
ASRock Z87 OC Formula

n/A
ASRock Z87M OC Formula

n/A
ASRock Z87M Extreme4
n/A
ASUS Gryphon Z87
n/A
ASUS Maximus VI Extreme
n/A
ASUS Maximus VI Formula

n/A
ASUS Maximus VI Gene
n/A
ASUS Maximus VI Hero
n/A
ASUS Maximus VI Impact

n/A
ASUS Sabertooth Z87
n/A
ASUS Z87-A
n/A
ASUS Z87-Deluxe
n/A
ASUS Z87-Deluxe Dual
n/A
ASUS Z87-Expert
n/A
ASUS Z87-Plus
n/A
ASUS Z87I-Pro

n/A
Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87

n/A
Gigabyte Z87X-OC
n/A
Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H

n/A
Intel DZ87KLT-75K
n/A
n/A
MSI Z87 MPower Max
n/A
MSI Z87 XPower

n/A


Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Conclusion

General   + -
The first impression that the ASUS Maximus VII Hero leaves is definitely a good one. Once again we liked the ROG design, which meanwhile belongs to the evergreens in the industry. It is always remarkable to see that with every single generation ASUS manage to improve the looks of their ROG series motherboards. Basically, this board offers everything to set up a decent overclocking rig since there is a capable power design featuring only the high-quality components, such as for instance black-metallic caps. In addition to that, there is the ROG BIOS with a plethora of settings related to overclocking, but still, being well organized for you to find the settings needed reasonably fast.   - Design
- Layout
- Features		  
       
Layout   + -
The ASUS Maximus VII Hero's layout has been very well thought. You get practical angled SATA connectors as well as the power- and reset-buttons. There is also a debug display which is very useful in case you run into any issues with a component in your system or the board itself. Even the placement of the PCI-Express x16 is very well chosen. Between the first and the second PCI Express x16 slot there are two free slots which means that the first card in a SLI/CrossFire setup gets plenty of fresh air. Apart from that, there is generally a lot of space on this board since, it has not been squeezed to the rim with features. Basically, this is yet another advantage of a "not so pricey" motherboard. Should you use this motherboard for extreme overclocking, then you will find it easy to isolate. If you are, on the other hand, a gamer, and you want to install a big CPU cooler then there is plenty of space to even install the biggest air coolers on the market. Regarding the onboard audio, we like the fact that it has been shielded from the other onboard components. Furthermore there are high-quality ELNA capacitors and we have to say, the result is overall pleasing.   - Angled SATA connectors - Power/Reset-Button onboard
- Debug display
- Space around the CPU socket - Audio Solution 		 
       
Performance   + -
Calculating the average of all 3D benchmarks we ran, we see that this board ranks in the middle of our 3D benchmarks performance test which includes the Z87 motherboards. To be precise, the ASUS Maximus VII Hero ranked eleventh. When taking the average of all 2D results, the board ranks very close to the end of our chart. You might have noticed that the SuperPi 32m is rather slow, which is a good indicator for loose tCKE and tWCLtimings as well as RTL timings. Unfortunately, we are still not sure if this will be the performance of the new Intel Z97 Express chipset or is it only an early BIOS which needs to be tweaked by the ROG BIOS team. On another note, we had a look at power consumption and noticed something rather interesting. In idle the new Z97 Maximus VII Hero shows 7 Watts higher than the Maximus VI Hero with Z87 chipset while under load the difference between two boards are 4 Watts.   - PC Mark Web browsing
- UC Bench
- Fire Strike and 3Dmark 11
- Metro Last Night		 - Super Pi 32M
- SisSoft Sandra
       
Overclocking / BIOS   + -
ASUS has a beautiful looking BIOS when it comes to their ROG series motherboard. The UEFI BIOS gets a black background instead of red background which was used on earlier ROG series, as well as a new interface called EzMode, where we can monitor different temperatures, see the system information and also set XMP profiles on system memory. We tested the latest BIOS sent by ASUS which is still not a retail one. Overclocking the Intel Haswell CPU to 5.0GHz was not difficult and we also tested different memory ICs, including MFR and CFR from Hynix as well as Samsung ones, the motherboard managed to be stable and easily reach over 3.0GHz with MFR ICs. Trying PowerChip and BBSE we could not reach anything higher than 2600MHz, while we could do over 2700MHz with Z87 ROG boards. Powerchip and BBSE are used only for Extreme Overclocking which means that we will have to wait a little bit longer until the new BIOS fixes are out.   - Sheer amount of options
- Design		 -BIOS need to be improved
       
Recommendation   + -
When ASUS first introduced the Maximus VI Hero, which is the predecessor of the Maximus VII Hero, that we tested here, the Hero marked the entrance into ASUS's premium ROG line. Meanwhile ASUS decided to change their strategy a little bit and add the ranger to the bottom end of the ROG Maximus motherboard series and therefore the Hero is not the cheapest ROG motherboard anymore. In the end we expect the price of this piece of hardware to be around 165 Euro, which would be rather reasonable. After all the Hero is an interesting board and if the price is going to be attractive it will also be successful.   - Price - Gaming
- Enthusiast
- Overclocking		  
       
Rating
We give the ASUS Maximus VII Hero very good 4 out of 5 stars.





Page 1 - Introduction Page 14 - SiSoft Sandra 2
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 15 - UC Bench
Page 3 - Features Page 16 - Super Pi 1M / 32M
Page 4 - Layout Page 17 - wPrime 1024M Multi Core
Page 5 - Connectors and I/O Page 18 - Cinebench
Page 6 - BIOS Page 19 - Bioshock: Infinite
Page 7 - Test setup Page 20 - Metro Last Light
Page 8 - Preview / Gallery Page 21 - Sleeping Dogs
Page 9 - 3D Mark Page 22 - Power Consumption
Page 10 - 3D Mark 11 Page 23 - Performance Rating
Page 11 - 3D Mark Vantage  Page 24 - Price Comparison
Page 12 - PC Mark 7 Page 25 - Conclusion
Page 13 - SiSoft Sandra 1  
[pagebreak]

Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch