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ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£290
  • Avg. price in US: ~$360
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z87
  • Form factor: ATX

ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.2

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%

5.2

Technical Score

10.0%

5.5

User score

Good
5.2

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%

6.8

Network

13.0%

4.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.0

Expansion

8.0%

6.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.7

Audio

Good
5.5

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%

7.2

User reviews

30.0%

1.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(5)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

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

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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 Z87 Extreme9/ac is a high-end ATX motherboard designed for Intel 4th Gen Core processors (LGA1150), featuring a 12-phase Digi Power design and a PLX PEX 8747 bridge to support 4-Way SLI and CrossFireX. Key characteristics include dual Thunderbolt ports with 10Gbps transfer rates, integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi (867Mbps) with Bluetooth 4.0, and Purity Sound 115dB SNR audio. Its main pros are the extensive connectivity options (10 SATA3 ports, 12 USB 3.0 ports), excellent overclocking potential with support for DDR3-2933+(OC) memory, and the inclusion of a Wi-SD front bay adapter for extra ports and an SD slot. However, potential cons include its high premium price point compared to similar Z87 boards and a somewhat dated or less visually appealing UEFI BIOS interface compared to some modern competitors.

Technical Specifications of ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC

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%

6.8

Network

13.0%

4.9

Ports & USB

8.0%

3.0

Expansion

8.0%

6.4

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.7

Audio

5.2
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has a technical score of 5.2 points, which is lower than that of 74.7% 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%

7.2

User reviews

30.0%

1.6

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
(5)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(5)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

5.5
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has a user score of 5.52 points, which is lower than that of 97.3% 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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%

5.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.0

Price

6.4
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
JBOD excluded from RAID-level set
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

5
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has 5 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 97.4% of motherboards and equal to 2.1% 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

?
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

no
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support PCIe bifurcation. 61% of motherboards support this feature.
PLX switching only.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

21
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has 21 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 95% of motherboards and equal to 2.7% 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

2
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has 2 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is more than 84.3% of motherboards and equal to 12.3% of motherboards.
Thunderbolt / USB4 Type-C ports counted.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

0
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

Intel I217-V + Intel I211-AT
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC uses the Intel I217-V + Intel I211-AT LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 63.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 0.1% of motherboards.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

yes
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% 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)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is newer than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 10.7% of motherboards.
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

Realtek ALC1150
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC uses the Realtek ALC1150 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 52.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 9.3% 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

115 dB
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has an audio SNR of 115 dB, which is higher than that of 46.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 8.2% of motherboards.
via ESS DAC.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
supports up to 600Ω.
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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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

2
ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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.
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ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.2 vs 1
  • 6 more total USB connections
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (21 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
    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

    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (21 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.21 vs 15
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    Thunderbolt / USB4 Type-C ports counted.
    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 Z87 Extreme9 AC has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.2 vs 1
  • Includes POST code display
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    Dr. Debug 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 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

    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support 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

    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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
  • Includes POST code display
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • More BIOS update options
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app, internet flash vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • Rear-panel CMOS reset button
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has a rear-panel CMOS reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 26.5% of motherboards include a rear-panel CMOS reset button.
  • Includes onboard power button
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 4 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 6 more total USB connections
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (21 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more rear USB-C ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 USB 2.0 headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more USB 2.0 headers than the average motherboard (3 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 header/s.
  • 1 more eSATA ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more eSATA ports than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 eSATA port/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • Includes coaxial S/PDIF out
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has coaxial S/PDIF out, while the average motherboard does not. 2.6% of motherboards include coaxial S/PDIF out.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • More VRM phases
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (12 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
  • Older CPU socket
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not have debug LED indicators, while the average motherboard does. 78.8% of motherboards include debug LED indicators.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows Vista vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 8 years older release date
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC is older than the average motherboard (2,013 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    June 2013
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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.
    top speed depends on CPU and memory setup
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    PLX switching only.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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.
  • 1 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 DisplayPort outputs.
  • Older HDMI version
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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
  • Older Bluetooth version
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC 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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    requires CPU/RAM
    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 Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • No PCIe bifurcation support
    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
    PLX switching only.
    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

    ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC does not support PCIe bifurcation, while the average motherboard does. 61% of motherboards support PCIe bifurcation.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
3.6
5 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
5 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC?

  • Excellent overclocking potential for both CPU and high-speed memory (up to 2933MHz+).
  • Extensive connectivity including dual Thunderbolt ports and 12 USB 3.0 ports.
  • Native support for 4-way SLI and CrossFire configurations via PLX bridge.
  • Integrated high-speed 802.11ac dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
  • High-quality onboard audio (Purity Sound) featuring a 115dB SNR DAC.
  • Generous storage options with 10 SATA 6Gb/s ports and dual Intel Gigabit LAN.
  • Premium build quality using gold capacitors and a 12-phase power design.

What customers dislike about ASRock Z87 Extreme9 AC?

  • Higher price point compared to many other Z87 mainstream options.
  • UEFI BIOS interface is functional but lacks the visual polish of some competitors.
  • Limited to only three savable overclocking profiles in the BIOS.
  • Potential for manual voltage 'overshoot' in BIOS that can lead to high temperatures if not watched closely.
  • Rear I/O panel lacks integrated Wi-Fi antenna connectors, requiring the use of the included front-bay adapter for optimal signal.
  • Front-panel audio header placement can be difficult for cases with short cables.

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