Best Z97 Motherboards for Intel’s Broadwell Processors 2020 – The Best Gaming Motherboards
Broadwell is the codename for Intel’s fifth-generation CPUs. They are the successor to Intel’s Haswell-based processors, and there are only two Broadwell CPUs that are designed for the desktop – the Core i7-5775C and the Core i5-5675C.
Broadwell processors are designed to work with socket 1150 motherboards that have Intel’s Z97 and H97 chipsets, and they are not compatible with eight-series chipsets, such as Z87 and H87.
Read the Latest Reviews for Broadwell Motherboards
The latest Intel Broadwell based CPUs feature the most advanced onboard graphics engine ever, Iris Pro Graphics 6200, and these chips are compatible with dual channel DDR3 RAM.
Read on to learn more about the top-rated, best-performing gaming motherboards that we believe these are some of the best Z97 motherboards for Intel Broadwell processors.
Read More: Best X99 Motherboards
Read More: Best Motherboards for Intel Core i7 CPUs
MSI Z97 Gaming 5
| Motherboard | MSI Z97 Gaming 5 |
|---|---|
| Socket Type | Intel LGA 1150 |
| Chipset | Z97 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| CPU Support | Broadwell, Haswell |
|---|---|
| Expansion Slots | 7 x PCI Express |
| RAM Slots | 4 x DDR3 |
| Maximum RAM | 32GB |
Read the Latest Reviews
If you are looking for a solid motherboard that doesn’t have an abundance of features that you will never use, the MSI Z97 Gaming 5 is the board for you. The M.2 connector, six SATA 6Gb/s connectors, and six USB 3.0 slots ensure that there are more than enough connections available for the average gamer.
Throw in the Audio Boost 2 sound system and the Killer E2200 networking port and this board has everything you need for extreme gaming, without all the unnecessary bells and whistles. It also looks stunning thanks to the striking red and black color scheme that we have grown to love from MSI, complete with the dragon emblem and logo.
A simple BIOS which features one-click overclocking for CPU and RAM makes it easy to adjust voltage and timings. The Extreme Tuning Utility makes all this very manageable.
Overall this is a stand-out motherboard, and the mid-range pricing means that it is one of the best value Z97 boards on the market.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| CrossFire and SLI support | No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth |
| Awesome sound quality with Sound Blaster Cinema 2 and Audio Boost 2 | If red isn’t in your color scheme, this board may not be for you |
| Killer E2200 network port that boosts gaming traffic ahead of other network traffic | |
1 X M. 2 slot3 PCIe x16 connections 6 X SATA 6Gb/s connections 6 X USB 3.0 and 8 X USB 2.0 slots |
Read the Latest Reviews
Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H
| Motherboard | Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H |
|---|---|
| Socket Type | Intel LGA 1150 |
| Chipset | Z97 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| CPU Support | Broadwell, Haswell |
|---|---|
| Expansion Slots | 5 x PCI Express 2 x PCI |
| RAM Slots | 4 x DDR3 |
| Maximum RAM | 32GB |
Read the Latest Reviews
The Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H motherboard is a mid-range model designed for the casual enthusiast who is not too concerned about overclocking, although there are good overclocking features, such as a DualBIOS switch and voltage read points. The board also features a power/reset button with a two-digit debug display to help troubleshoot any problems.
This ultra-durable motherboard is made with high-quality components such as 15-micron gold sockets and 10K black capacitors. GIGABYTE is trying to get the message across that this is a strong board that will last a lifetime. The design is also refreshing, with the mustard yellow color complimenting the metallic components and adding to finished clean, uncluttered look.
While most other boards in this price range have to choose between SATA Express or M.2 support, the Gigabyte Z97X-UD5H has both, increasing your storage options. With a lightning-fast start-up time and low power consumption, the UD5H is one of the best Z97 motherboards for your Broadwell or Haswell CPU.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3-way CrossFire and 2-way SLI support | No built in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth |
| Exceptional audio with a Realtek ALC1150 HD Audio Codec and rear audio amplifier | Slight issue with audio when at 100%, although this is fixed with a driver update |
| Atheros Killer networking port which features advanced interrupt handling | |
1 X M. 2 slot1 X SATA Express port 3 PCIe x16 connections 6 X SATA 6Gb/s connections 8 X USB 3.0 and 6 X USB 2.0 slots |
Read the Latest Reviews
ASRock 1150 Z97 Extreme6
| Motherboard | ASRock 1150 Z97 Extreme6 |
|---|---|
| Socket Type | Intel LGA 1150 |
| Chipset | Z97 |
| Form Factor | ATX |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| CPU Support | Broadwell, Haswell |
|---|---|
| Expansion Slots | 5 x PCI Express |
| RAM Slots | 4 x DDR3 |
| Maximum RAM | 32GB |
Read the Latest Reviews
The ASRock Z97 Extreme6 is in the high-end category of socket 1150 motherboards and caters for enthusiasts who are serious about overclocking. The two desktop Broadwell processors, the Core i7-5775C and the Core i5-5675C, are both unlocked so this means they are given access to a range of advanced overclocking features through the motherboard’s BIOS.
There is an abundance of storage options with ten SATA 6Gb/s ports, two M.2 ports, and two SATA Express ports. There are also seven fan headers, which is adequate. The BIOS is a joy to use, and the quick boot-up time is an added bonus.
The ASRock Z97 Extreme6 motherboard is not recommended for beginners, and if you don’t plan on overclocking, then there are much more suitable and affordable options on the market. However, it is perfectly suitable for those who like pushing their machine to the limits. If you want extreme overclocking, then this Z97 board is for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quad CrossFire and Quad SLI support | No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth |
| Realtek ALC1150 HD Audio Codec with Purity Sound 2 sound system for amazing sound | USB ports may stop working, but a BIOS update fixed the problem |
| Thunderbolt ready with support for up to 6 Thunderbolt devices | |
2 X M. 2 slots (1 X Ultra M.2)1 X SATA Express port 3 PCIe x16 connections 10 X SATA 6Gb/s connections 10 X USB 3.0 and 5 X USB 2.0 slots |
Read the Latest Reviews
Read More: Best Skylake Motherboards
Read More: Best Motherboards for Intel Core i7 CPUs
Asus 9 Series Motherboards Now Supports 5th-Generation Intel Core Processors through BIOS Update
ThePCEnthusiast is supported by its readers. Some posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase products via our link(s),
we may earn an affiliate commission. See our site disclosure here.
Home » PC Components » Motherboard » Asus 9 Series Motherboards Now Supports 5th-Generation Intel Core Processors through BIOS Update
by Peter Paul
Asus recently announced support for 5th-generation Intel Core processors.
UEFI BIOS updates are now available for the Asus 9 series motherboards making the motherboards compatible with the latest 5th Gen Intel Core Broadwell processors. The update will only require one-touch operation with a USB flash drive or via Windows-based app. A full list of Asus motherboard compatible with the latest 5th Gen processors can be read from the official press release below.
ASUS announced that all 9 Series motherboards offer support for 5th-generation Intel® Core™ processors, assuring a quick, safe, and smooth upgrade — immediately. The easy-to-use ASUS USB BIOS Flashback or BIOS Updater tools enable users to update the UEFI BIOS quickly, unleashing the great performance of the latest high-performance CPUs.
Easy update for instant compatibility with new 5th-generation Intel Core processors
ASUS 9 Series motherboards that include the renowned ASUS USB BIOS Flashback feature enable users to apply UEFI BIOS updates with incredible ease.
This innovative tool downloads the latest BIOS to a USB flash drive, enabling users to update the award-winning ASUS UEFI BIOS quickly and easily. The motherboard does not even need to have a CPU or DRAM modules in place: users can simply connect the power supply, plug in their USB drive, press the USB BIOS Flashback or Reset button and then sit back and wait — there’s nothing else to do.
For other ASUS 9 Series motherboards the necessary UEFI BIOS update takes just one click in an easy-to-use Windows-based BIOS updater application , which can be downloaded free of charge from the ASUS website.
Users keen to take advantage of the power of the latest 5th-generation Intel Core processors can visit the ASUS website, at www.asus.com, and download the relevant UEFI BIOS version today. The following ASUS 9 Series motherboards can be updated for compatibility with the latest Intel CPUs:
| Series | Model name | BIOS version |
| Z97 | Z97-Deluxe(NFC & WLC) | 2205 |
Z97-Deluxe/USB 3. 1 |
0401 | |
| Z97-Deluxe | 2205 | |
| Z97-Pro(Wi-Fi ac)/USB 3.1 | 2302 | |
| Z97-Pro(Wi-Fi ac) | 2205 | |
| Z97-Pro | 2205 | |
| Z97-A/USB 3.1 | 0501 | |
| Z97-A | 2205 | |
| Z97-AR | 2205 | |
| Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1/USB 3.1 | 0401 | |
| Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 | 2205 | |
| Sabertooth Z97 Mark 2 | 2205 | |
| Sabertooth Z97 Mark S | 2205 | |
| Gryphon Z97 Armor Edition | 2205 | |
| Gryphon Z97 | 2205 | |
| Maximus VII Formula | 2304 | |
| Maximus VII Hero | 2304 | |
| Maximus VII Ranger | 2304 | |
| Maximus VII Gene | 2304 | |
| Maximus VII Impact | 2304 | |
| Z97-Pro Gamer | 2002 | |
| Z97I-PLUS | 2502 | |
| Z97M-PLUS | 2604 | |
| Z97-K | 2502 | |
| Z97-C | 2401 | |
| Z97-E | 0602 | |
| Z97-P | 2702 | |
Z97-K R2. 0 |
0702 | |
| H97 | H97-Pro Gamer | 2402 |
| H97I-Plus | 2502 | |
| H97M-Plus | 2402 | |
| H97-Plus | 2402 | |
| H97-Pro | 2703 | |
| H97M-E | 2302 |
Advertisements
Preparing ASUS LGA1150 Motherboards for Broadwell Processors: Hardwareluxx Manual
Page 1: Preparing ASUS LGA1150 Motherboards for Broadwell Processors: Hardwareluxx Manual
Typically, the introduction of processors with a new process technology (in this case 14 nm) from Intel occurs with great fanfare . However, Intel today is preparing to introduce a new Skylake platform with an Intel 100 chipset, for which, among other things, the Core i5-6600K and Core i7-6700K processors for the LGA1151 socket will be released. Therefore, two Broadwell-H processors were introduced almost silently. It’s a shame, since the processors turned out to be very interesting.
The new processors will require a modern LGA1150 motherboard, but you will need to update the BIOS to the latest version that adds CPU microcode to support Broadwell processors. In this guide, we will consider the BIOS update situation using the example of ASUS motherboards. Which models from the Taiwanese manufacturer will be able to work correctly with fifth-generation processors? nine0006
Before the announcement of Skylake processors, Intel decided to release two processors for Socket LGA1150. Namely, the Core i5-5675C and Core i7-5775C, which have an unlocked multiplier and an Iris Pro-6200 graphics core. Unlike the IGP Intel HD 4600, the Iris Pro-6200 graphics core already relies on 48 computing units, that is, 28 more, which gives a decent performance boost. 14nm processors work normally with a 65W thermal package, but it is a configurable CTDP (Configurable Thermal Design Power) — it can be reduced to 37W. So there are a number of benefits to installing a new Broadwell-H processor in an old Socket 1150 motherboard.
0007
The following table shows the differences from Devil’s Canyon models:
| i7-5775C | i5-5675C | i7-4790K | i5-4690K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code name | Broadwell | Broadwell | Devils Canyon | Devils Canyon |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm | 22 nm | 22 nm |
| Cores/Threads | 4/8 | 4/4 | 4/8 | 4/4 |
| GPU | Iris Pro 6200 | Iris Pro 6200 | HD Graphics 4600 | |
| EUs | 48 | 48 | 20 | 20 |
| Base frequency | 3.3 GHz | 3.1 GHz | 4.0 GHz | 3.5 GHz |
| Turbo frequency | 3. 7 GHz |
3.6 GHz | 4.4 GHz | |
| L3 cache | 6 MB | 4 MB | 8 MB | 6 MB |
| TDP | 65 W | 65 W | 88W | 88W |
| Price | $350 | $250 | $350 | $250 |
After updating the BIOS, the new processors can work on most Socket 1150 motherboards, even if they require a slightly different voltage. The ability to use Broadwell-H processors depends on the power subsystem of the motherboard. Today, motherboard manufacturers are adding support for new CPUs to their products, including ASUS — the Taiwanese manufacturer has prepared several of its Socket LGA1150 motherboards for two Broadwell processors. However, support has only been added to motherboards based on Intel H9 chipsets.7 and Z97, which were introduced to the market along with Haswell Refresh processors.
Users of motherboards based on the Z87, H87, H81 and B85 chipsets will have to do without support for the Core i5-5675C and Core i7-5775C processors. The reason actually lies in Intel itself, which limited support for two Broadwell processors to only the Z97 and H97 PCH chipsets.
If you are planning to purchase a Broadwell-H processor, you should first check the manufacturer’s website to see if the motherboard will be compatible with it. As a rule, for support, you need to download and flash a new BIOS version. Below, using the ASUS example, we will consider the compatibility of motherboards with Broadwell processors, and also indicate from which BIOS version support is provided. We will also talk about the BIOS update procedure for new processors, since in this case the firmware via EZ Flash does not work. nine0177
Published: 14 July 2021
We figure out how to choose a motherboard based on a 500-series chipset from a variety of offers
Processor manufacturers release new products mainly in tandem with chipsets for them.
And the release of the latest processors from the Rocket Lake family is no exception. The 500 series system logic from Intel was developed for it.
At the same time, vendors based on the chipsets provided by Intel have developed and put into production numerous models of motherboards. It is quite difficult for an ordinary user to track differences in configurations and functionality. Also, the range of prices creates certain difficulties in choosing: models based on the same chipset can differ by two or more times.
nine0007
Therefore, today we want to provide you with a selection of motherboards based on the 500 series chipset by performance levels and manufacturers.
Advantages of the 500 series chipsets.
You can also install new 11th generation Intel processors on motherboards with a 400-series chipset. However, the 500-series chipset will help you get maximum performance and fully experience the increase in frequencies. Its advantages:
- PCI-Express Gen 4.
0 processor lanes with data rates up to 7.86 GB/s. nine0169
- The number of processor lines has been increased from 16 to 20 for motherboards of the middle and high segments.
- USB 3.2 generation 2×2 interface with data transfer rate up to 20 Gb/s.
- Increased the number of USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 ports with speeds up to 10 Gb/s.
- The official RAM overclocking technology has been implemented for the system logic of medium and high performance levels.
We examined in detail the characteristics of the 500 series chipsets in this article.
nine0007
For the convenience of choice, based on consumer ratings and the reputation of manufacturing companies, we provide a selection of system logic. We hope it will help you quickly and without unnecessary confusion to make the right choice.
Chipset Intel H510
The system logic lines based on the H510 chipset are a necessary minimum of functionality that allows you to integrate junior 11th generation Intel processors into a home or office PC.
ASRock H510M-HVS is the most budget-friendly 500 series motherboard available. It comes in a compact mATX form factor and measures 197 x 188 mm. The board is equipped with two RAM slots supporting up to 64 GB and 4 SATA ports.
Asus PRO H510M-C/CSM — although the most expensive option among similar ones, it is still quite budgetary. The board is also available in the mATX form factor, but has dimensions of 226 x 216 mm. Compared to the previous version, it has a reduced number of USB 3 ports — only two.
Chipset Intel B560
Motherboards based on the B560 chipset are the golden mean of performance with the possibility of software overclocking of RAM frequencies.
nine0007
The B560M from Gigabyte is a powerful no-frills platform at a reasonable price. Of the advantages, 6 USB ports should be mentioned, 4 of which are third generation, and a metal radiator on the M.2 connector.
Asus TUF GAMING B560-PLUS WIFI is the golden mean, which has absorbed the maximum functionality at an affordable price.
The motherboard in the ATX form factor is equipped with 4 slots with support for up to 128 GB of RAM, built-in Wi-Fi and 8 USB ports, 5 of which belong to the third generation.
nine0007
Asus ROG STRIX B560-E GAMING WIFI is one of the most functional models with support for 4 sticks of RAM up to 128 GB, 9 USB ports and an integrated Wi-Fi module. Available in ATX form factor.
Chipset Intel H570
H570 chipset motherboards represent above-average performance class and are designed for enthusiastic gamers and those who appreciate fast and efficient performance of special applications.
The budget segment is traditionally represented by ASRock with the H570M PRO4 motherboard. The compact mATX format contained 4 slots for 128 GB of RAM, 6 third-generation USB ports and an integrated sound card.
ASRock H570 STEEL LEGEND is the golden mean of the segment, designed for building gaming and work PCs. The platform supports 128 GB of RAM through 4 ports and is equipped with 6 SATA interfaces.
Asus TUF GAMING H570-PRO WIFI is one of the most popular boards in the line with two physical PCI-E x16 slots and three x 1. We should also note the presence of Wi-Fi 6 modules, Bluetooth and a sound card. It is produced in the ATX form factor with dimensions of 305 x 244 mm.
nine0007
Chipset Intel Z590
The Z590 system logic is the pinnacle of performance. All motherboards of this series are produced on a reliable textolite with a thickness of at least six layers. And Asus Rog motherboards are assembled on impact boards with an 8-9-layer structure. Most motherboards are equipped with a powerful 14+2 dual-phase power supply system. However, there are exceptions: Gigabyte Z590M has an 8+1 phase power supply configuration. Boards with the Z590 chipset can support any 11th generation Intel processor, including the i9 performance pinnacle-11900K.
Gigabyte Z590M is the most budget model in the line, which provides the necessary minimum of functionality.