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The Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 takes points that made previous iterations of TUF motherboards appealing components and continues to offer them with its updated chipset. Features are supplied in bulk, electronic components have undergone military-standard certification, and hardware has been implemented to lessen the effect of thermal degradation.
Performance is where we would expect it to be for a Z97 motherboard. The same can said for chip-limited overclocking results.
Numbers output by the storage interfaces were positive; ASMedia's ASM1061 controller and the SATA Express port deliver strong results, as do the chipset-fed USB 3.0 ports with Asus' UASP-activating software. ASM1042AE-powered USB 3.0 ports aren't as fast as their chipset alternatives, although they still provide rapid transfer rates.
Thermal Armor is a tricky component to analyse. Many users value its aesthetic appeal, while others argue that it looks ugly and doesn't do its marketed job. We can safely say that Thermal Armor did not effect the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1's performance throughout testing, so justification of its purchase could well be made on aesthetic grounds.
Dust defenders seem a bit ‘gimmicky' unless you are a user who lives in a particularly dusty environment or somebody that only cleans their components after very lengthy time periods. TUF Fortifier and Thermal Radar 2 are useful aspects of the Sabertooth board's design.
A downside of the Thermal Armor design is its two fans. Although not critical to stable operation, the 35- and 40-mm fans are audible under idle operation and borderline irritating under high loads. I would be inclined to use just one unit, or none at all.
Layout decisions made by Asus are excellent. Features such as LAN chips from Intel and Realtek, SATA Express, and the ALC1150-based audio can help to boost the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1's appeal to all-round users.
Unfortunately, one of the key features of the Z97 chipset, its M.2 connector, is not present on the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1. The inclusion of SATA Express forces users into making a choice on their next SSD purchase, rather than allowing them to opt for the more prevalent interface, which is yet to be concluded.
Asus' UEFI continues to improve over time. The ease-of-use and depth of information provided by TUF UEFI interface is excellent. It is by far one of the best UEFI implementations on the market.
Aesthetics are always a subjective manner with PC components, but that is especially true for TUF boards. While the colour scheme may appeal to some, matching hardware with the brown and beige shades is an undoubtedly tricky task.
Priced at £184.99 and backed by a 5-year warranty, the Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 motherboard is an excellent choice for users who desire certified reliability (and the warranty to back it up) but do not want to sacrifice features. Gigabyte's Z97X-UD5H-BK Black Edition motherboard is a competitive option that tackles a similar task from a slightly different perspective, but the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has plenty of features which make it a compelling product and one that is undeniably deserving of our highest award.
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Pros:
- Unique design with many innovative features.
- Reliability-certified electronic components.
- Plenty of features – Dual LAN, two USB 3.0 headers, ALC1150-based audio, SATA Express.
- TUF Fortifier gives peace of mind with heavy CPU coolers.
- Thermal Radar 2 monitoring software is good.
- Excellent UEFI implementation.
Cons:
- 35 and 40 mm fans are loud at standard speeds.
- No M.2 connector.
KitGuru says: Impressive features, a unique appearance, and five years of warranty, the Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 is an excellent choice for enthusiasts who value reliability.
