Overall and Final Verdict
t trOnce again after taking a good look at what Asus has to offer I am lefying to figure out if it is the software or the hardware that makes what Asus puts out the top in their class? After much thought it is actually both and nether at the same time.. Let me explain. What actually makes Asus boards so great is their unwillingness to compromise on quality or features they feel are important. But because of that, both the software and the hardware is top notch.
Asus made changes to both their UEFI and to their AiSuite but I found all of the changes to be improvements overall. They continue to allow enthusiasts the ability to tweak and tune, even on mainstream boards like these, while making it easier and easier for “normal” people to get the most out of their PC. They do this with things like the EPU and TPU switches as well as easy to select options in the UEFI and AiSuite III for over and underclocking.
As far as the hardware goes, Asus managed to make it hard for me to decide what board I would go with if I were buying one right now. On one hand, the enthusiast in me would jump all over the Z87-Pro simply because of its more robust cooling. But frankly the Z87-Plus does almost everything the Pro does short of having wireless. Because of that it is also a great pick. Lucky for me all I have to do is tell you guys about the boards, it is you who will have to decide what model to pick up. I do know that whatever you end up going with you will be happy with it, assuming you like the gold coloring that is. ;)