OVERALL
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
ALTERNATIVES

ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional Review | 107 Data compared

double-arrow
  • Avg. price in UK: ~£180
  • Avg. price in US: ~$130
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z87
  • Form factor: ATX

ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.0

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.8

Technical Score

10.0%

7.2

User score

Good
4.8

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

3.8

Memory

16.0%

6.8

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

4.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.5

Expansion

8.0%

5.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.5

Audio

Poor
7.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.6

User reviews

30.0%

1.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(4)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.8
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 3.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    6.5

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

  • asrock-fatal1ty-z87-professional
asrock-fatal1ty-z87-professional

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional is a high-end ATX motherboard designed for 4th Generation Intel Core processors (LGA 1150) using the Intel Z87 chipset. Key features include a robust 12-power phase design with Premium Gold Capacitors, support for up to 32GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory overclocked to 2933+ MHz, and versatile expansion with three PCIe 3.0 x16 slots supporting NVIDIA Quad SLI and AMD 3-Way CrossFireX. It distinguishes itself with the A-Style 'Gaming Armor' suite, which includes a quad-core Creative Sound Core3D audio processor, dual Intel Gigabit LAN with teaming support, ten SATA3 6.0 Gb/s ports, and a dedicated Fatal1ty Mouse Port for custom polling rates. Main pros include its exceptional onboard audio solution, high storage capacity, and stable overclocking performance facilitated by the dual BIOS and high-density power connectors. However, notable cons include its high initial premium price compared to similar models like the Z87 Extreme6 and the shared bandwidth of its eSATA port, which disables one internal SATA connector when in use.

Technical Specifications of ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

3.8

Memory

16.0%

6.8

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

5.5

Network

13.0%

4.2

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.5

Expansion

8.0%

5.1

Power & Cooling

5.0%

7.5

Audio

4.8
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a technical score of 4.79 points, which is lower than that of 83.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.6

User reviews

30.0%

1.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
(4)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.8
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.2
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a user score of 7.2 points, which is lower than that of 72.5% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
1.6
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a popularity of 1.6 points, which is lower than 73.6% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.0

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

6.4
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.4 points, which is lower than 81.8% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Asrock
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1150
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional uses the LGA 1150 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 90.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z87
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional uses the Intel Z87 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 80% of motherboards and equal to that of 3% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

ATX
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has the ATX form factor, which is more versatile than that of 47.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 52.2% of motherboards.
Show more
DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

32 GB
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 87% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

1,600 MT/s
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports memory speeds up to 1600 MT/s, which is lower than that of 93.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.4% of motherboards.
Show more
N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

10
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 10 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 96.7% of motherboards and equal to 3.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

3
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 3 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 82.8% of motherboards and equal to 11.1% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x8/x4/x4, x8/x8
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional uses x8/x4/x4, x8/x8 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is less flexible than that of 95.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8, x8/x4/x4.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

16
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 16 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 61.8% of motherboards and equal to 10.2% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

N/A
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
dual 1GbE ports
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

?
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

2
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support Wi-Fi connectivity. 49.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

N/A
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Creative Sound Core3D
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional uses the Creative Sound Core3D audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 51.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.6% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

100 dB
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has an audio SNR of 100 dB, which is lower than that of 64.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

6
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

12
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 12 VRM phases, which is more than 53.6% of motherboards and equal to 4.3% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

1
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 1 CPU power connectors, which is equal to 54.5% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

6
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has 6 fan headers, which is more than 50.3% of motherboards and equal to 22.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not have a pump header. 77% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
Show more

ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.2 vs 1
  • Includes POST code display
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
    two internal headers
    What it is: The number of internal USB 3.2 Gen1 headers for front-panel Type-A ports.
    When it matters: When your case has front USB-A ports to connect.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.2 vs 1
  • 6 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
    What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.10 vs 4
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
    What it is: A rear I/O button used to clear BIOS or CMOS settings quickly.
    When it matters: When you overclock or troubleshoot and want an easier reset method.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • More BIOS update options
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS, internet flash vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
    What it is: The available ways to update the motherboard BIOS.
    When it matters: When you want easier BIOS maintenance and recovery.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS, internet flash vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS, internet flash vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app
  • Supports mSATA
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports mSATA, while the average motherboard does not. 1.9% of motherboards support mSATA.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes an mSATA slot for older compact SATA-based storage devices.
    When it matters: When you use older mSATA storage devices.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports mSATA, while the average motherboard does not. 1.9% of motherboards support mSATA.
  • Includes POST code display
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • More BIOS update options
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS, internet flash vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 6 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • Supports mSATA
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional supports mSATA, while the average motherboard does not. 1.9% of motherboards support mSATA.
  • 2 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 1 more eSATA ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.
  • 1 more total USB connections
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (16 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • More VRM phases
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (12 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,150 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • No debug LED indicators
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 8 years older release date
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional is older than the average motherboard (2,013 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
  • No TPM connector
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 65.2% lower maximum RAM speed
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,600 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 40.5% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (2,933 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Less flexible PCIe lane configuration
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has less flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x8/x4/x4, x8/x8 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • Older HDMI version
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    dual 1GbE ports
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 15 dB lower audio SNR
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (100 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • 61 mm wider
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z87 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    dual 1GbE ports
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.32 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • No BIOS flashback support
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional and

Attribute category
Attribute
No results found

Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
5.0
4 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.8
5 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional?

  • Excellent onboard audio featuring the Creative Sound Core3D quad-core processor
  • High storage capacity with 10 SATA3 6.0 Gb/s ports
  • Rich feature set including HDMI-In for connecting secondary devices like consoles
  • Robust power delivery with a 12-phase design and high-quality gold capacitors
  • User-friendly UEFI BIOS with strong overclocking capabilities
  • Dual Intel Gigabit LAN with teaming support for stable networking
  • Aesthetic appeal with a premium red-and-black gaming theme

What customers dislike about ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional?

  • Premium price point compared to very similar models like the Z87 Extreme6
  • Included XSplit premium license is only a 3-month trial
  • Lacks built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth modules which are common at this price tier
  • The use of older legacy PCI slots may be unnecessary for modern builds
  • Limited software value-adds compared to competitors (e.g., many trial-only utilities)
  • Higher power consumption than average due to the many extra integrated chips

Video reviews

Compare ASRock Fatal1ty Z87 Professional with

VS
VS

Compare