BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D

CONCLUSION

Before we sum up the board’s scores, allow me a few words with the audio quality. The BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D doesn’t feature a high-performance audio chip like GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 5 nor a modern Realtek ALC1150. To keep the board costs to a minimum whilst maintaining the top-shelf features of a Z87 board, BIOSTAR has chosen a relatively mature ALC989 Realtek audio chip and enhance the supporting components of this chip to deliver a more refined audio experience. We used a Sennheiser PC360 headphones to test out the audio on the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D and these cans aren’t easy to drive as normal ALC898 and ALC892 chips end up being weak on the PC360. With the modifications on the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D, the board managed to drive the headset and deliver a much more engaging listening experience than its vanilla counterpart. Whilst it may not be top-quality audio it is plenty enough for gaming. That said, let’s move on to final scoring.

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Performance. The board manages to leverage the 4th gen Core processor nicely and ends up delivering solid numbers all throughout the charts even topping some of the tests. Gaming performance though solid still makes it to the bottom of our charts. Whilst the audio may not be anywhere near what they claim to be audiophile-level, the oomph is enough for it to make a statement. Above average score.

Build Quality. Let’s face it, BIOSTAR is synonymous to low-end builds but the company is working to change that. The BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D is a stepping stone into that direction. With a matte black PCB, coated heatsink, and a spiced-up audio chip, the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D is a premium piece of kit.

Functionality. It may not clock as high as the other boards in our round-up but the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D manages to deliver well-balanced performance in multiple scenarios. Although gaming may suffer a bit, this doesn’t put the board below acceptable limits but gamers may want to look elsewhere. Audio manages to salvage the board and bring it up to entertainment-center material though.

Bundle. Nothing really special here except for the addition of the mic sensor.

Value. And this is where it all boils down. The board is not available locally but retails online for $149.99. This puts it along the entry level Z87 pricing but packs some mainstream-segment features.

All in all the board packs full-ATX features of a mainstream Z87 motherboard but comes in at B85 or mATX Z87 pricing. People who just want an entry-level Haswell gaming system will find the $149.99 asking price of the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D a decent starting point for their build. With the Puro Hi-Fi adding a bit of incentive for multimedia and music fanatics, the board doesn’t come up short as a feature-board.

BIOSTAR seems intent in pursuing this Hi-Fi line of motherboards and the Hi-Fi Z87X 3D is a nice addition to an already established product line. We hope to see more from BIOSTAR as they push into the mainstream market more. As for the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D, it is a decent Z87 motherboard with a very attractive price tag. If you’re in the market for a Haswell build and want some mainstream features on your board but don’t want to spend a few dollars on brand-name-baggage, the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D is a good choice.

We give the BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D our Recommended and Value Awards. The BIOSTAR Hi-Fi Z87X 3D comes with a 3-year warranty.

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