Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE Motherboard Review

While Biostar may not be the first company that springs to mind when we ask you to name a motherboard vendor, the Taiwanese board maker does have a long history of providing well-priced Intel- and AMD-based components. We take a look at Biostar's competitively-priced Z97 flagship - the Hi-Fi Z97WE. As suggested by the name, Biostar puts a large emphasis on Hi-Fi level audio performance with its Z97WE. While we have seen many gaming-orientated audio systems come into fruition over recent generations from various motherboard vendors, a solution that is tailored towards music listeners is a little more unique. And it's not just the Puro Hi-Fi audio system's benefits that Biostar's Hi-Fi Z97WE offers; CrossFire support is present, dual LAN chips are provided, and the chipset's 10Gbps M.2 connector is used. While those features don't sound particularly interesting, they're a good foundation for a board intended to hit hard at an affordable price point. Features: On board HDMI supported 4K2K resolution enables high-definition image display 100% Solid Capacitors BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Technology inside Hi-Fi Cap for premium sound quality with lower distortion Dual GbE LAN PCIe M.2 Connector Biostar ships the Hi-Fi Z97WE in packaging that shows off the motherboard's main features. The background image is formed from a speaker which serves as amplification to the motherboard's point of targeting users interested in audio performance. A driver disk, manual, and a leaflet regarding an audio utility form the supplied documentation. Biostar includes a basic bundle that consists of four SATA cables and the rear IO shield. Money has been cut off the retail price by including the bare minimum in terms of accessories. Biostar outfits its Z97WE with a yellow, gold, and black colour scheme. Clearly the vibrant shades will not appeal to all, nor will they be easily matched with other components. And then there's the brown PCB which will look horrible under bright lights. With that said, there are many people who could not care less about how a motherboard looks and will instead welcome the resources being put into hardware rather than aesthetics. Four double-latched DIMM slots provide capacity for up to 32GB of DDR3 memory. Biostar claims support for frequencies of up to 2800MHz, although we wouldn't be surprised if higher speeds are possible with the correct CPU and memory combination. An outwards-facing USB 3.0 header is situated adjacent to the 24-pin power connector and receives its connections directly from the Z97 chipset. Biostar uses a 10-phase power delivery system to feed an LGA 1150 CPU. Solid-core capacitors are used to enhance the motherboard's lifespan. Also used to enhance product lifespan, especially when used in humid environments, is the moisture-proof, low-permeability glass fabric PCB. Two independent heatsinks cool the MOSFETs. Both units are short enough to avoid causing interference issues with wide CPU coolers. With that said, spacing between the DIMM slots and CPU socket is noticeably smaller than on many other motherboards, hence CPU cooler interference was an issue for our be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 and G.Skill TridentX memory. Three 4-pin fan headers, two of which are controlled by the CPU PWM channel, are found along the board's upper edge. Also situated in a smart position, tucked away between the heatsinks, is the motherboard's 8-pin CPU power connector. Two full-length PCIe 3.0 expansion slots provide two-card CrossFire capability with x8/x8 bandwidth. Biostar chooses not to purchase the SLI license in an attempt to cut costs. As such, two Nvidia GeForce graphics cards cannot be teamed together in an SLI configuration. An ASMedia ASM1083 chipset provides two PCI slots for legacy support, while two PCIe 2.0 x1 connections complete the expansion package. The inclusion of PCI slots is smart; Biostar's budget-limited target audience are given the opportunity to recycle their old WiFi or video capture card. Slot spacing is smart; two dual-slot graphics cards are given a cooling gap between them, or a pair of three-slot boards can be installed. Also smart is the M.2 connector's positioning which allows an SSD's ugly PCB to be hidden. Biostar gives users extra compatibility by providing support for 110mm-long M.2 devices. The standard affair of USB 2.0, audio, and fan headers is found along the motherboard's bottom edge. Thoughtful additions for a budget motherboard are the power and reset buttons and diagnostic LED which make on-the-table troubleshooting a much simpler task. When the system is powered, CPU temperature is displayed on the two-digit LED panel. All six of the right-angled SATA 6Gbps ports operate directly from the Z97 chipset. Biostar keeps costs under control by choosing to bypass add-on storage controllers. A socketed Winbond chip is in charge of UEFI BIOS duties. Biostar's Puro Hi-Fi audio system is based around Realtek's ALC892 codec and features metal-oxide film resistors and NP-branded electrolytic audio capacitors. An independent amplifier is used to feed headphones with loads over 100 dB. Two separate impedance modes can also be set for high or low gain headphones. Audio protection is taken care of by an EMI shielding cover and a discrete PCB pathway that is illuminated with blue LEDs. Many may be quick to question the use of Realtek's previous-generation ALC892 audio codec, rather than the latest ALC1150. With its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 110 dB (according to Biostar), the ALC892 looks to be a solid alternative to the 115 dB ALC1150, on paper at least. Three video connections, including the HDMI port that supports 4K resolutions, are found on the rear IO panel. The four USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports operate from the Z97 chipset. PS/2 support is provided for gamers with keyboard supporting the connection. The pair of GbE LAN ports are provided by Realtek's RTL8111G chipset and support Teaming for increased network bandwidth. Biostar's fan header distribution is smart. Of the six 4-pin fan headers, four are found within reaching distance of the CPU socket, while the remaining two are situated along the board's bottom edge. This layout ensures good coverage to users with front and side panel case fans. Five of the fan headers are operated by the ITE IT8728F chipset while the remaining one is powered by a Fintek F75308 controller. Our NZXT Avatar S mouse worked fine in the Biostar Z97 UEFI BIOS. Biostar's interface uses a dated layout and overall design. The pages look like they were designed many years ago and the graphics lack creativity. With that said, Biostar does provide a fair range of options for tweaking fan control and monitoring system performance. Biostar splits up the OC sections to avoid navigation complexities. While this does make the interface easier to use, it also slows down overclocking operations for more experienced users. The basic CPU OC section is sufficient to users looking for a quick and easy overclock. More advanced users may miss the fancy voltage and power tweaking settings they are treated to on competing motherboards. Biostar uses a 100.50MHz base clock by default. This positively skews all of the related clock speeds and could have stability issues with memory kits. Biostar provides enough voltage tweaking options for the majority of users, especially those sat in its target audience. Users are largely free to select from adaptive and static voltage modes. Manual memory tweaking is simple and effective. When XMP is not applied, users are given the freedom to switch between DRAM base clock links and frequency multipliers, as well as a number of timings. Biostar's Z97 UEFI implementation is far from the most attractive or easiest to use, and it's not the most feature-heavy either, but it functions correctly and provides entry level and mid-range users with enough options for tweaking. Software Biostar's Smart Ear software can be used to tweak the audio performance of a connected device. Smart Speed LAN controls network priority much like Killer's lucrative Network Manager software. T Overclocker displays information relating to the CPU, memory, and general motherboard operating frequencies and voltages. A built-in section is used to monitor real-time voltage, temperature, and fan speed levels. The Haswell micro-architecture in Devil's Canyon processors is just the latest Intel CPU architecture to see many of the critical system operations handled by the processor. As such, benchmarking a motherboard becomes more of a test to certify that the part operates correctly and meets the anticipated performance levels. We will be outlining the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard's performance with the Core i7 4790K CPU at its stock frequency (and default Intel turbo clocks). Overclocked performance will be outlined later in the review. The Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard does not apply multi-core turbo when XMP is enabled, nor is there an option to manually apply the clock-boosting setting. As such, Intel's default turbo options are used. When idling or with one active core, the CPU frequency is set at 4.4GHz. 4-core loads drop that speed to 4.2GHz and increase voltage to between 1.156 and 1.176 volts. For some unknown reason our 2400MHz Corsair Vengeance Pro memory kit would not function at its XMP speed in the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE. We were forced to switch to a similar 16GB 2400MHz CL10 memory kit from G.Skill. Z97 Motherboard Test System: Processor: Intel Core i7 4790K ES (default turbo). Memory: 16GB (2x 8GB) G.Skill TridentX F3-2400C10D-16GTX 2400MHz CL10. Graphics Card: Asus R9 280X Matrix Platinum 3GB. System Drive: 240GB SanDisk Extreme II SSD. CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i. Case: NZXT Phantom 630. Power Supply: Seasonic Platinum 1000W. Operating System: Windows 7 Professional with SP1 64-bit. Compared Z97 Motherboards: ASRock Z97 Extreme6. Asus Maximus VII Hero. Asus Maximus VII Ranger. Gigabyte Z97X-SOC Force. MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC. Software: Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE BIOS v4.6.5 (latest). Catalyst 14.4 VGA drivers. Intel 10.0 chipset drivers. Tests: 3DMark 1.3.708 - Fire Strike (System) SiSoft Sandra 2014 SP2 - Processor arithmetic, memory bandwidth (System) Cinebench R15 - All-core CPU benchmark (CPU) WinRAR 5.10 - Built-in benchmark (CPU) HandBrake 0.9.9 - Convert 4.36GB 720P MKV to MP4 (CPU) ATTO - SATA 6Gbps, USB 3.0, M.2 transfer rates (Motherboard) RightMark Audio Analyzer - General audio performance test (Motherboard) Bioshock Infinite - 1920 x 1080, ultra quality (Gaming) Metro: Last Light - 1920 x 1080, high quality (Gaming) Tomb Raider - 1920 x 1080, ultimate quality (Gaming) 3DMark We used 3DMark‘s ‘Fire Strike’ benchmark which is designed to be used on gaming PCs. We opted for the Normal setting, NOT the Extreme mode. Sandra Processor Arithmetic Sandra Memory Bandwidth Biostar's Hi-Fi Z97WE struggles to make a positive impression in system benchmarks that leverage CPU power. With a 4-core clock speed 200MHz lower than the competing boards which all use a 4.4GHz MCT setting by default, Biostar's board is left sitting in last place in our 3DMark and Sandra processor arithmetic benchmarks. Memory bandwidth does paint a more pleasing picture, although the ranking of Biostar's board should be read with caution due to the system being based around G.Skill 2400MHz TridentX memory, rather than the 2.4GHz Corsair Vengeance Pro used on all competing boards. Cinebench We used the ‘CPU’ test built into Cinebench R15 . WinRAR WinRAR’s built in benchmark and hardware test can help us outline the performance differentials between each motherboard. We record the amount of data processed after a 30-second run. Handbrake Conversion We measured the average frame rate achieved for a task of converting a 4.36GB 720P MKV movie to 720P MP4 format. Biostar's CPU speed deficit again hampers its performance in our array of CPU-related benchmarks. Cinebench registers fewer points due to the 200MHz speed deficit, while real-world performance is impacted in WinRAR and Handbrake. While it may be somewhat unfair to compare a stock-clocked motherboard with others using MCT profiles, the competing boards apply the 4.4GHz all-core turbo profile by default. An 'apples for apples' comparison of stock performance with XMP enabled is exactly what we are showing from each motherboard. Bioshock Infinite We used the Bioshock Infinite demanding ‘Ultra’ setting and a 1920 x 1080 resolution to push today’s gaming hardware. Our data was recorded using a section of the game, not the built-in benchmark. Metro: Last Light We used a 1920 x 1080 resolution and the Metro: Last Light built-in benchmark set to ‘High’ quality to offer an intense challenge for the gaming hardware while also making playable frame rates a possibility. Tomb Raider We used a 1920 x 1080 resolution and the Tomb Raider built-in benchmark set to ‘Ultimate’ quality. We have seen in the past that many games are not sensitive to small adjustments in the CPU frequency, and this is once again proven by the Biostar motherboard's respectable performance in our gaming benchmarks. SATA For SATA 6Gb/s testing we use a Kingston HyperX 3K (SandForce SF-2281) SSD. Performance of the Z97-fed SATA 6Gbps is roughly where we expect it to be, minus some age-induced speed degradation on our Kingston SSD. M.2 connector We use Plextor's ultra-fast M6e 256GB M.2 SSD to test the speed of a motherboard's M.2 connector. We reviewed the 512GB Plextor M6e (and its PCIe x2 adapter card) HERE. We also use a Kingston M.2 SATA device to confirm the motherboard's operation with M.2 SATA connections. Plextor's PCIe-fed M.2 SSD performed to its usual standard through Biostar's chipset-fed connector. SATA-based M.2 devices also function correctly, as proven by our testing with such a device from Kingston. USB 3.0 We tested USB 3.0 performance using the Kingston HyperX 3K SSD connected to a SATA 6Gb/s to USB 3.0 adapter powered by an ASMedia ASM1053 controller. USB 3.0 performance is also typical for a Z97-powered set of ports that are not accompanied by UASP-activating software. Audio We use RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMAA) to analyse the performance of the motherboard’s onboard audio solution. A sampling mode of 24-bit, 192 kHz was tested. Biostar's Puro Hi-Fi audio system is based around Realtek's ALC892 codec and features metal-oxide film resistors and NP-branded electrolytic audio capacitors. An independent amplifier is used to feed headphones with loads over 100 dB. Audio protection is taken care of by an EMI shielding cover and a discrete PCB pathway. RMAA rates the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard's audio performance as Very Good. This is a strong positive for the part and proves that Biostar's board does what the company intended it to do in delivering high quality audio performance. Being a basic, value-orientated motherboard, Biostar chooses not to outfit its Hi-Fi Z97WE with automated overclocking profiles. Novice users may miss the speed-boosting functionality, although we have found many automated profiles to be worthless with the already-fast Devil's Canyon chip. Manual CPU Overclocking: To test the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard’s CPU overclocking potential, we first increased the CPU VCore to 1.30V, Cache voltage to 1.275V, CPU Input Voltage to 1.900V, and PCH voltage to 1.1V. We also applied enabled PLL overvoltage and set the cache ratio was maintained at its default 44x multiplier. Biostar's default overshoot was removed by manually setting the base clock to 100.00MHz. The initial overclocked settings were not fully stable so we were forced to adjust further parameters for stability at 4.7GHz. Then voltage parameters that we tweaked further were: System Agent offset to +0.30V, +0.15V on the CPU I/O Analog voltage, and +0.20V on the CPU Digital I/O voltage level. Despite its disorganised UEFI, overclocking with the Biostar Z97 interface is straightforward. The lack of complex parameters makes a quick and easy overclock relatively simple to achieve. We did notice that the motherboard report large overshoots compared to our defined settings. For example, DRAM voltage was overshooting by 0.018V and the CPU VCore went 10-20 mV higher. CPU-Z reports the static voltage level applied via the UEFI. Biostar's T Overclocker software displayed accurate voltage levels and reported a maximum VCore of 1.344V, which is fair for a high-speed 1.31V setting. We will outline the performance increases that can be obtained from using the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard to overclock our system. Our overclocked processor frequency was 4.7GHz and memory speed was 2400MHz. As a performance comparison, we have included the overclocked results from competing Z97 motherboards. The maximum overclocked configuration achieved with each board was a 4700MHz (47 x 100MHz) processor frequency and 2400MHz CL10 memory speed. Manually tweaking the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard's settings can reap substantial rewards. With little effort we managed to take a motherboard that was clearly trailing its competitors to one that is able to compete confidently with similarly-priced parts. With some basic overclocking knowledge and an enhanced cooling solution, even users who are only slightly familiar with overclocking should be able to restore the Z97WE board's performance deficit. We measured the power consumption with the system resting at the Windows 7 desktop, representing idle values. The power consumption of our entire test system (at the wall) is measured while loading only the CPU using Prime95′s in-place large FFTs setting. The rest of the system’s components were operating in their idle states, hence the increased power consumption values (in comparison to the idle figures) are largely related to the load on the CPU and motherboard power delivery components. Stock power consumption levels for Biostar's board are the best we have seen by virtue of the low CPU VCore setting used due to the slower processor operating speed. Intel's 4790K runs at around 1.176V with its default turbo settings enabled on the Biostar board, compared to roughly 1.23V on parts with MCT enabled. When the voltages are set to overclocked levels, the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE motherboard's power consumption numbers are more in line with the competition. Idle power consumption levels are considerably higher than those shown by ASRock, implying that the voltage switching is slower and reductions are less aggressive in Biostar's motherboard. As far as value-orientated motherboards go, the Biostar Hi-Fi Z97WE is a likeable product that delivers above average audio performance. The board's general layout is smart and its overclocking ability is deceivingly competitive with other parts. While the board's stock performance is limited due to the lack of an MCT profile, even when XMP is enabled, it doesn't take much tweaking to close the gap between competing parts. And when overclocking is put on the table, Biostar's current flagship has no problem trading blows with competing boards from the likes of MSI and ASRock. There are some performance issues though. Biostar sets a default base clock of 100.50MHz which skews all of the link clock speeds for components such as the memory. And then there's the anomalous dysfunctional behaviour when our 2400MHz Corsair memory kit was installed, despite the modules working perfectly on every other board we have tested. Board layout is generally very good, especially for users with many fans or two graphics cards. Spacing between the CPU socket and DIMM slots is tight, so we would recommend caution when using a large CPU cooler and tall memory modules. Likeability of the board's colour scheme is heavily tied to individual preference - it's not as straightforward as saying 'that board looks great' as we can do with many competing parts, especially those from MSI's Gaming series. While the lack of SLI compatibility is disappointing, Biostar is targeting budget-constricted users who are likely to opt for a single graphics card. With that said, it does limit upgrade potential for Nvidia users. I think SLI certification would have been more valuable than an additional LAN chipset. The UEFI is perfectly functional but its overall breadth and design are mediocre at best. Appearance of the interface is dated, even if the layout is inherently simplistic. Bundled software is a positive, with Biostar including its own basic network and audio control apps. Priced at £94.34 from Ebuyer, Biostar's Hi-Fi Z97WE is a likeable option at less than a hundred pounds. But there's plenty of competition at just below the century mark, especially from the likes of MSI's Z97S SLI PLUS and Gigabyte's Z97X-SLI. While Biostar's motherboard does do a number of things correctly, it also has its fair share of shortfalls - a number of which seems to point to quality and design issues. Discuss on our Facebook page, over HERE. Pros: Strong overclocking performance. Good audio system. Wise layout. Decent software package. CrossFire support. Cons: Didn't work with our Corsair 2400MHz memory. UEFI functionality is limited and appearance is dated. No SLI support. 0.5MHz overshoot on default base clock skews linked speeds. KitGuru says: If you're looking for a low-cost, overclocking-capable motherboard with a strong audio configuration, Biostar's Hi-Fi Z97WE is worth putting on your list of considerations.