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ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£150
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z97
  • Form factor: ATX

ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

7.7

User score

Good
4.7

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%

3.9

Memory

16.0%

6.4

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.2

Network

13.0%

3.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.7

Expansion

8.0%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.4

Audio

Poor
7.7

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%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

5.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(75)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(86)
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(21)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Very good
  • 2.9
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    5.2

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    1.4

    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 Asus Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 is an ATX motherboard featuring the Intel Z97 chipset and LGA 1150 socket, supporting 4th and 5th generation Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of DDR3-1866 memory. It is distinguished by its 'Thermal Armor' and 'TUF Fortifier' backplate, which provide structural rigidity and military-grade durability with 10K titanium capacitors. Key technical features include dual Gigabit LAN (Intel and Realtek), 10Gbps SATA Express, 8-channel Realtek ALC1150 audio, and support for Quad-GPU SLI and CrossFireX. Its primary pros are exceptional stability, comprehensive dust protection through 'Dust Defenders,' a 5-year warranty, and advanced cooling control via the TUF ICe microchip. However, it lacks a native M.2 slot for high-speed SSDs, and its unique camo-inspired brown and beige aesthetic can be difficult to match with other PC components.

Technical Specifications of ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1

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%

3.9

Memory

16.0%

6.4

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.3

Storage

15.0%

5.2

Network

13.0%

3.5

Ports & USB

8.0%

4.7

Expansion

8.0%

4.6

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.4

Audio

4.7
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a technical score of 4.71 points, which is lower than that of 85.3% 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%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

5.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(75)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(86)
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(21)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

7.7
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a user score of 7.68 points, which is lower than that of 59.4% 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.
5.4
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a popularity of 5.4 points, which is higher than 58.7% 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%

9.7

Price

6.4
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

Asus
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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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 Z97
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 uses the Intel Z97 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 78% of motherboards and equal to that of 2% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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.
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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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

1,866 MT/s
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 supports memory speeds up to 1866 MT/s, which is lower than that of 91.5% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.5% of motherboards.
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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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

6
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has 6 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 52.6% of motherboards and equal to 32.1% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
SATA only
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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

2
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has 2 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 67.4% of motherboards and equal to 15.4% 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

yes
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
x8/x8.
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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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

14
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has 14 USB ports (including headers), which is fewer than 51.8% of motherboards and equal to 12.9% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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 I218-V
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 uses the Intel I218-V LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 60.1% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.7% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

Realtek ALC1150
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

112 dB
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has an audio SNR of 112 dB, which is lower than that of 53.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 2.1% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

5
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has 5 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 49.8% of motherboards and equal to 36.8% 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

8
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has 8 VRM phases, which is fewer than 71.9% of motherboards and equal to 6.3% 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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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ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 vs the average motherboard

  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.2 vs 1
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
  • 3 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe 2.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you compare older full-length expansion options.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.3 vs 0
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x1 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want space for smaller add-in cards.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=2

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.3 vs 1
  • 1 more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
    What it is: The number of internal USB4 or Thunderbolt headers on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you plan to add high-speed front USB-C or Thunderbolt connections.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.1 vs 0
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.6 vs 4
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
    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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.6 vs 5
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.
    What it is: The number of rear USB 2.0 ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you use many basic USB peripherals.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more USB 2.0 ports than the average motherboard (4 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 USB 2.0 port/s.4 vs 2
  • 2 more SATA 3 connectors
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 3 more PCIe 2.0x16 slots
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe 2.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe 2.0x16 slot/s.
  • 2 more PCIe x1 slots
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (3 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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 USB4 or Thunderbolt headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more USB4 or Thunderbolt headers than the average motherboard (1 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 USB4 or Thunderbolt header/s.
  • 2 more USB 2.0 ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • 1 more fan headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more fan headers than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.

Total
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • Older CPU socket
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Narrower Windows support
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
    64-bit only.
  • 7 years older release date
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 is older than the average motherboard (2,014 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    May 2014
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 59.4% lower maximum RAM speed
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (1,866 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 35.1% lower overclocked RAM speed
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,200 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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 total USB connections
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has fewer total USB connections than the average motherboard (14 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • Older HDMI version
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer PS/2 ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has fewer PS/2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PS/2 port/s.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
  • 3 dB lower audio SNR
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (112 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No pump header
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not have a pump header, while the average motherboard does. 77% of motherboards include a pump header.
  • Fewer VRM phases
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has fewer VRM phases than the average motherboard (8 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z97 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z97 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 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
  • No Wi-Fi antenna included
    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
    What it is: Shows whether the external Wi-Fi antenna is included with the motherboard package.
    When it matters: When the board has Wi-Fi and you want it ready to use right away.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1 does not include a Wi-Fi antenna, while the average motherboard does. 51.1% of motherboards include a Wi-Fi antenna.
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
75 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
86 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
21 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1?

  • Exceptional durability and longevity with a 5-year warranty
  • Thermal Armor and Fortifier backplate provide high structural rigidity and dust protection
  • Comprehensive connectivity including Dual LAN, SATA Express, and multiple USB 3.0 headers
  • Excellent UEFI BIOS implementation and Thermal Radar 2 monitoring software
  • Robust 8-phase digital power delivery for stable overclocking
  • Unique 'military' camo aesthetic that stands out from standard gaming boards

What customers dislike about ASUS Sabertooth Z97 Mark 1?

  • Premium pricing compared to other Z97 motherboards
  • Lack of onboard features like a POST code LED display or physical power/reset buttons
  • Thermal Armor can be bulky and may interfere with certain large CPU coolers
  • No integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which some users expect at this price point
  • Small fans included for the armor can be noisy or seen as a potential failure point
  • Difficult to access some components or clean dust without removing the entire armor shroud

Video reviews

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