14 DAY TRIAL // One thing that can never be missing from an overclocking session, especially ambitious ones, is coolant, whether it be a special fluid part of a closed-loop liquid cooler, liquid nitrogen, or water.
Unfortunately, sometimes things get out of hand. The cooling barrels might not have been isolated well, a water block could start leaking, pumps could get worn and do the same, etc.
It's not something that is likely to happen while the coolers are still under warranty, but it can happen still, especially when enthusiasts take liberties.
That is why ASRock decided to give the latest ATX-sized OC Formula Series motherboards a special protection against such hazards.
It won't be perfect. Electronics are naturally predisposed towards short-circuits and the like when splashed with water or anything else that conducts electricity.
Still, the Conformal Coating will help protect against them somewhat, as well as against dust, corrosion, and extreme temperatures.
The ASRock Z87 OC Formula/ac and Z87 OC Formula were actually designed by world famous overclocker Nick Shih. They are fully loaded with a “set of lifestyle based features named A-Style.”
The Conformal Coating comes with a warranty plan of 5 years (longer than the normal 2-3-year plans).
Buyers should keep in mind, however, that defects and malfunctions have to occur under normal use conditions, not through abnormal operations or misuse.
Which is to say, overclocking attempts will probably not get you a refund or replacement if you go too far.
Then again, CPUs are the ones most likely to die during those episodes, so worries shouldn't be too high.
The Z87 OC Formula/ac is called that because of 802.11ac Wi-Fi support. It is fully detailed on the product page, located here, and the same goes for the Z87 OC Formula. Prices, sadly, continue to elude us even now.