It's a trade off i think with most motherboards. My Gigabyte boards allow for using the M.2, but you lose 2 SATA drive ports for using it. If you can get a large capacity smoking fast M.2 to load your OS and other important apps onto, then I think it might be worth it. In most cases you would still have 4 SATA drive connections to use for other drives.

You can't go wrong with either board in terms of reliability. I thought about getting an M.2 also as I like the "direct drive" aspect of building it right onto the motherboard and eliminating a cable. But there wasn't a lot of info on the things back when I built a system with the option.
 

I got an ASUS as well. I use my system for work and play, but EVGA's focus tends to be overclockers. My ASUS Z97-WS has not been a walk in the park though. The new tek gave me some fits at first but I got it ironed out. Tends to run a little hot but I installed a Cooler Master h2o system and it keeps the temps in the mid to upper 30's c with a mild overclock. Keep an eye on your PCH temps. Place a fan right close to your VRM heat sinks. I had to put a small heat sink with a fan on my VRM heat spreader to keep the temps below 40c.
 
As far as the M.2 socket is concerned, ASUS cuts some corners. They didn't lie to me, and it is a true PCI-e socket, but as far as future expansion they have only 2 PCI-e lanes designed into their M.2 socket. So from that standpoint it's OK for now but really not much better that a plain SATA III port, and in fact you might have a bit more flexibility with a 2.5 SATA III drive. I discussed it with a ASUS rep and he basically said ASUS made some very short term (my interpretation of his words) design decisions. When I pressed him on the issue of paying top dollar for a cutting edge (future proof) mb, he basically said "blah, blah, blah., etc." and I got tired of going back and forth.
 
Long and short - PCI-e (cards) NFGG SSD's are the future of really fast data transfer/storage. SATA III is basically dead or will be within a year. The next generation of mb's will likely have a socket that fully supports it, but I finally took a different route which I discussed here:
 
http://forums.evga.com/FindPost/2180854
 
and
 
http://forums.evga.com/FindPost/2181378
 
All in all I have to say I happy with my mb choice but we're sort of victims of this emerging technology.
 
For what it's worth.
 
Cheers

Crucial and PNY have crap for customer server, I'll never again have Crucial or a PNY products again...

PlaceYourBettsThere are two types of M.2 Interfaces using the same form factor. SATA and PCIE. If it has a B & M key then it will be SATA. Asus Z97-A motherboard only supports PCIE.

Hey Buddy, thank you for the critical info regarding "types of M.2 Interfaces"
 
I was looking at the Specs Sheet of ASUS Z97-A (USD 199) Motherboard, and it said something like this below:
 
1 x M.2 Socket 3, with M Key, type 2260/2280 storage devices support (PCIE mode)
 
Does this nomenclature (naming convention) Means:
1.) The Asus Board has M.2 Socket which is a Gen.3type and can be used in the PCI-E Slot?
2.) And what does a "M Key" mean (in layman terms) I am a total noob at this so please be less-harsh on me.
3.) Also, which of these so called 'key-ing' is best (if at all there is any preference rather than a compatibility factor to it).
4.) I am guessing that an "M-key type" M.2 SSD will go/fit only in its corresponding identical socket i.e. "M.2 SSD Socket with an M-Key" . ??
 
 
Cheers n e-peace...