Choice of z97 motherboard

EDIT:

I am thinking of upgrading my motherboard. I'm looking at z97 ones. Form factor: ATX.

I have some preferences:

• plenty of fan headers
• best sound for music/games
• no wifi
• nothing unnecessary: simple
• overclock support
• durable components
• simple nice bios.

Also it must be strong/sturdy, because it needs to be able to hold a heavy cpu fan (Phanteks ph-tc14pe).


Can anyone suggest any motherboards?

Motherboards | SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 1 | ASUS USA

Motherboards | SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK S | ASUS USA

ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK S LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Motherboard - Newegg.com

Could you post an Asus link, so I can compare the 2 boards :)

If I needed a board and had the money, I`d be all over the Mark S, it`s sweet looking.

Couple more links, more expensive boards.

ASUS MAXIMUS VII FORMULA/WATCH DOGS LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

MSI Z97A GAMING 9 ACK LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK 1/USB 3.1 LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

If you need more than 6 SATA ports I wouldn't look at the Mk 1 Sabertooth. My recommendation would be to pick up a Sabertooth Z87 and flash the BIOS to accept the Z97 chipset (only because that's what Ive done!).

Why not it has 8 ports, and he already has a Z87, he wants a Z97 :)

But let`s not derail the thread.

I must be getting my boards mixed up then, I could have sworn the Mk1 only had six SATA ports. And the part about getting a Z87 was a joke really, hence my comment in brackets at the end.

It does only have six SATA 6Gbs ports. ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK1 LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - Newegg.com

You are correct, that other port below it is what I was looking at, I guess that`s the sata express port, whatever that is.

1 x SATA Express port, black compatible with 2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s ports (whatever this means)

Strange they went from 8 internal sata plus 2 external on the Z77 to just 6 on the Z97, that`s just stupid.

Intel® Z77 chipset :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), brown
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s), black
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *4
ASMedia® ASM1061 controller : *5
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), gray
2 x eSATA 6Gb/s port(s), red


Intel® Z97 chipset :
1 x SATA Express port, black*1
4 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s),
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Supports Intel® Smart Response Technology, Intel® Rapid Start Technology, Intel® Smart Connect Technology *2
ASMedia® PCIe SATA controller : *3
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s), beige