Features -
In the current market motherboard (and indeed almost all component) performance is very close. The days of a large performance advantage between boards using the same chipset are long gone. That is unless someone makes a HUGE mistake (like runs traces completely wrong). Now, the thing that differentiates different products is the features. These are things like power management, extra slots, better audio CODECs etc. It is these items that R&D teams work so hard to drop into what are really identical pieces of hardware at their most basic level.

Excellent –
Audio amplifier and Filter caps
Full Z97 chipset
Audio Channel separation
M.2 SATA Connector
802.11ac wireless

We cannot say this enough, Asus’ attention to the audio on this board is something that puts it well ahead of other Mini-ITX boards on the market. Even looking at just the layout and design it is an impressive feature. The addition of an M.2 connector and 802.11ac wireless is just icing on an already nice cake.

In the middle (sort of good) -
Intel Gigabit LAN
Full 8-Pin Aux power connector

These two options add more to the appeal of the board. Dropping in a full 8-piin power connector gives you more options for overclocking while the Intel LAN should give you consistent and industry standard performance for your network, if you go wired over wireless.

Floor Mats -
USB 3.0
USB 2.0

Well… yeah at this stage of the game if you do not have these two… you should not even bother.