This comparison is all about the speed and range.
As a little side comparison I have the USB 3.0 performance of devices connected to the router Seagate Backup Plus 2TB slim compared because playing and uploading of MKVs is important for me. Caution: The Asus router can innately no spindown, here Merlin has to serve. Fritz has onboard the function.
The conditions are a 3Play100 Unitymedia connection (down 100 / up 5), a Sony S5200 Blu-ray player via the I stream the video and a 100 square meters apartment, which must cover it.
The measurements I have made with a Acer 573 Notebook with NWLAN300, InSSIDer and Ookla. Furthermore, we have 2 IPhone5S and Ipad4 household.
The 7490 is very well equipped, but that is irrelevant because the setup for me.
The installation went smoothly in 7490, the AC87U of chaotic. I managed a stable 2.4 GHz connection, no connection to the Internet. About factory settings and refurnishing I somehow come to their destination but I fear instability for the future.
At close range (5m without obstacles) in the 5GHz band, both router show any weaknesses, the signal strength of the Asus is even better (5 measurements averaged):
Asus / Fritz
Signal strength -37 / -47
Channel 136 + 140/132 + 136
Overlaps 0/0
Ping 16/14
Download 104.96 / 105.3375
Upload 4.96 / 4.7275
In the 2.4 GHz band, the power often comes off, but is still very satisfactory:
Signal strength -37 / -42
Channel 1/1
Overlaps 0/0
Ping 14.25 / 14.5
Download 65.605 / 68.91
Upload 4.995 / 4.7025
In the far range (12m, 3 sandstone walls 11cm) I had with two routers in the 5 GHz band no longer receive.
Unfortunately, the Fritz! Box gave no signal in the 2.4 GHz band.
The Asus AC87U however, yielded a very stable signal even with acceptable values:
Ping 14
Download 23
Upload 4.8
All in all, based on the values for the distance a smooth victory for AC87U. Who does not need the coverage, is equally well served by the 7490.
The USB 3.0 comparison (copying 2GB MKV):
Unfortunately, Fritz-tragedy. Only 10MB / s, both via Wi-Fi as well! via Gigabit LAN.
The Asus comes here to a respectable 25MB / s via WLAN and 46MB / s on LAN.
Clear points victory for the Asus.
Furthermore, the Fritz can not navigate in MKVs, no break, no coils, no tracking (at least in conjunction with the Sony). The trick: rename file to MP4, then it works. But still not as good as in the picture, including coils with Asus, the videos need to start about 15 seconds, the Asus sets off immediately and navigates liquid.
With single Blu-ray tracks both do not come along well, no navigation possible.
In summary, I can say that both routers are great. The Fritz is reliable, at close range quickly, offering a fabulous amenities.
The Asus AC87U gets in my comparison with my conditions but the clear victory. We can only hope that the stability will remain
Update 02/23/2015: Today I caught up with the stability problem. Without special event of the router has crashed.
It seems to have the wireless settings are reset, suddenly had both the 2.4 and 5GHz power on default settings.
After I played back my saved settings to follow problems began. No matter what website I called up, it always opened the Asus web interface. Ultimately, only helped the factory settings, including installation.
Let's see how the developed ...