Greetings people of tek syndicate I am in dire need of your help in choosing between the two.
I've decided that I'm going to build a Z87 rig to replace my X58 stuff(because we need another desktop in my household). I've narrowed it down to the two because I am loyal to the ROG boards. I didn't consider the Extreme because I honestly think that the OC Panel is nothing but a gimmick/ a gimmick that I wont use in the foreseeable future.
I know what features each of the board has and as for the Hero I know what it is lacking. I also know that the Hero would be enough for my needs but I have a feeling that every time that I open my case I will just be sad that I did not purchase the Formula board. The thing is I wouldn't even use its main selling point, which is its on-board audio because I already have a Xonar STX and I intend to use that no matter which board I choose. Basically, I like the Formula just because of the way it looks, the built in AC adapter and the extra USB and Sata ports. Logic tells me to go for the Hero, but I can't convince myself to settle for it.
So has anyone here been on a slightly similar boat? What did you end up choosing?
By the way, the board I'm currently using is a Rampage III Extreme with a 930.
*Mods please move this post if I posted it in the wrong section.
The formula is 100 dollars more than the hero. If you want a motherboard that is really amazingly beautiful, then by all means waste 100 dollars on a motherboard that is really awesome to look at. But I would highly recommend buying the hero over the formula because YOU ARE WASTING YOUR MONEY!
If you were going to use the features on the motherboard then yes, that's all well and good. But all that 100 dollars is going to get you is a slightly better look.
It's not worth it dude. Buy a better graphics card instead.
Personally, at the cost of the Hero, I would get the Mpower or Mpower Max. Just as good of a board for gaming, but much better for overclocking, and, in my eyes, aesthetics.
+1 for the Msi Z87 Mpower max
I'd say the Hero or even go for a Gene unless you really need all that space. The Gene is cheaper, gives you same audio and comes with a Wifi/Bluetooth/M2 thingy I forgot the name of. I wish I got a Gene instead of a Hero
You could even look into the Sabertooth Z87 board, it looks pretty darn cool too if you are looking for something strictly ASUS.
For the price, the Hero is your best bet. The Formula won't give you anything more than little extra garnishments like the armor and some liquid cooling(this might be a problem because its aluminum block which may cause corrosion on your loop if you have copper like most ppl have). $100 for a flawed liquid cooling block and a shroud that you can make yourself for $10. The extra Sata ports are using a marvell one which aren't that great, the intel sata destroys them by like 40% faster read/write and less missed packets. The hero has everything you need.
the Msi Z87 Mpower is much nicer feutured and better overclockable board then the Hero, for the same price.