Conclusion
...the C7Z97-M's server-grade components and construction give the motherboard worthy credentials among mATX system builders with an eye for reliability.
With an expected street price of around £130 the Supermicro C7Z97-M is near the top end of the micro-ATX Z97 motherboard segment and faces stiff competition from the likes of the Asus Gryphon Z97 Armor, ASRock Z97M OC Formula and MSI Z97M Gaming.
Yet weighing up the performance and features of the Supermicro C7Z97-M makes it difficult to justify the price point, especially when set against the competition.
The decision to bring server-quality components and build quality down to a consumer motherboard is problematic, from a reviewer's perspective at least, since longevity and quality aren't measurable traits while features, performance and price are. The essence of the C7Z97-M is, potentially, slipping through the review framework.
Supermicro's C7Z97-M needs refinement in some areas to match equivalent offerings from established motherboard brands. The board falls behind when all things are considered, and most consumers will receive more features and hardware for their money by shopping elsewhere. Reassuringly, though, the C7Z97-M's server-grade components and construction give the motherboard worthy credentials among mATX system builders with an eye for reliability.
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The Good
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The Bad
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Server-grade components |
BIOS and software need polish
Various hardware omissions Faces stiff competition |
HEXUS.where2buy*
The Supermicro C7Z97-M motherboard is available to purchase from Scan Computers.
HEXUS.right2reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
