Flagship motherboard models are able to surprise and arouse genuine interest among users planning to build a desktop platform. But when it comes time to spend your money, often the choice is made in favor of more affordable devices that comply with the principle of reasonable sufficiency. MicroATX form factor model on a top chipset Intel Z77, allowing easy tuning of the system, with a full set of video outputs, USB 3.0 ports, SATA 6 Gb / s, and two BIOS chips. And all this for a price $100 . This is the amount estimated Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H, which has the listed set of characteristics. Let's see if there's a catch here, shall we?
Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H has a MicroATX form factor and is made on a blue textolite. Slots and connectors are blue and white. The dimensions of the device allow you to place the board in a fairly compact case.
The power subsystem is built according to a five-phase scheme. There are no additional coolers on MOSFET chips, however, we note that in this case microcircuits with low on-state resistance LowRDS (on) are used, therefore, under moderate loads, problems with heating should not arise. However, this is one of the conditions of the concept Ultra Durable 4 Classic, which corresponds to the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H. According to the manufacturer, the board's textolite is more resistant to high humidity conditions, and Japanese solid-state capacitors are used in the circuits.
The board has four slots for connecting expansion cards. One full-speed PCI Express x16, another full-format, but with a bandwidth of x4, compact PCI Express x1 and classic PCI. Since the latter interface is not supported by the chipset, it is implemented using an additional controller. It is curious that the microcircuit itself is located in a niche under the second PCI Express x16 slot, which is three-quarters empty.
The board allows you to create a configuration with two video cards. If necessary, you can use a pair of adapters with AMD chips in CrossFireX mode, while Californians consider PCI-E x4 an insufficiently fast interface for creating SLI assemblies.
The distance from the processor socket to the first PCI-Express x16 slot is not very large. During the tests, the “big” Thermalright Archon Rev.A was installed almost tightly with the video card (in the case, such a trick would rather fail). However, this cooler model is one of the widest on the market, so there shouldn't be any difficulties with mounting other coolers.
The very sequence of slots in this case is optimal. A video card with a two-slot CO installed in the first slot (most of them) will block access to PCI-E x1, however, in this case, heterogeneous PCI and PCI-E x4 will remain available, which can also be used for cards that require less bandwidth.
There are three connectors for connecting fans on the board - one for the CPU cooler and a couple more for case fans. Moreover, all three connectors are four-pin with the possibility of monitoring and separate speed control using PWM.
Despite the compact dimensions of the board, the manufacturer placed some connectors on the PCB, which, although not very popular, can still be useful for specific tasks in rare cases. It's about COM and LPT. There is also a connector for connecting a TPM module. The board also has three internal USB 2.0 connectors, allowing you to get up to six corresponding ports when using additional interface "pigtails".
Traditionally, Gigabyte uses two chips for firmware redundancy, because the presence UEFI DualBIOS on a board of this level is quite expected. To clear the CMOS memory, a two-pin connector is used, which will need to be shorted to reset the system settings.
The Intel Z77 supports six SATA channels. This is the number of interface ports available on the Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H. Two high-speed ones (SATA 6 Gb / s) are located exactly opposite PCI Express x1, and so that the overall video card with a two-slot cooling system does not block access to SATA connectors, they have a case with a horizontal positioning of the plug relative to the PCB plane.
Four SATA 3 Gb / s connectors are located opposite the PCI slot, so there will be no problems with access to them in any case. Recall that Intel Z77 makes it possible to organize arrays of RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10. In addition, the chipset that supports the technology Intel Smart Response, allows you to deploy a hybrid disk subsystem using a hard drive and an SSD for this purpose. In the case of Gigabyte boards, you can use the proprietary utility EZ Smart Response, which simplifies the process of setting up such a configuration.
The interface panel is not overloaded with ports, but all the most popular external connectors are present. PS/2 combo, four USB 2.0 ports, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, and three audio jacks. The board is equipped with three video outputs: DVI, HDMI and D-Sub. The platform allows you to connect two display devices at the same time. Note that the digital outputs in this case support resolutions up to 1920×1200.
Equipment
The kit does not differ in any frills. The package includes a manual, a quick installation brochure, a driver disk, a blank for the back of the case, and two SATA cables.
UEFI
Graphical shell 3D BIOS has already become a hallmark of Gigabyte devices. The isometric projection of the board with active functional areas and the ability to control parameters with the mouse make it easier for novice users who need to “enter the BIOS” for the first time.
In Advanced mode, the number of parameters available for configuration is incomparably greater, but this version of UEFI still does not indulge in diversity, especially with regard to overclocking functions.
The Advanced Voltage Settings section is spartan modest. There is only one option here, which allows you to change the supply voltage of memory modules in the range of 1.2–2.0 V in 0.02 V increments.
At the same time, UEFI allows you to monitor and adjust the speed of all three fans.
For basic system configuration from the operating system, you can use the proprietary utility Easy Tune 6. In particular, the Tuner section allows you to set the required BCLK and memory frequency, as well as the processor multiplier.
The Smart tab provides access to setting fan operation algorithms, which, at the request of the user, can depend on the temperature of the CPU / board or provide stable set speeds.
HW Monitor allows you to monitor voltages, temperatures and fan speeds, and, if necessary, report situations when the parameters go beyond the specified limits.
CPU overclocking
Taking into account the fact that the board does not allow adjusting the processor supply voltage, the overclocking limit will depend on the ability of a particular CPU to operate at higher frequencies with its standard voltage. In the case of a test instance Core i7-3770K, initial ~1.1 V was enough to increase the processor clock speed from the base 3.5 GHz to 4.4 GHz.
On the one hand, this value is lower than what we manage to achieve on expensive motherboards (~4.8 GHz), on the other hand, for the processor to operate at 4.5+ GHz, it is imperative to increase the supply voltage, after which the power consumption also increases significantly. systems. The CPU heat also increases, requiring an efficient cooling system. Therefore, as a rule, more benign conditions are used on an ongoing basis.
Recall that the Intel Z77 chipset, which provides the ability to arbitrarily adjust the processor multiplier, can be useful not only for CPUs with the “K” index. Chips that support Turbo Boost technology, and these are all Core i5 and Core i7 models, have a certain operating range of multipliers that are used when dynamically accelerating the processor under load. It is this loophole that can be used to increase the clock frequency of the CPU. However, the upper limit here will depend on the starting processor multiplier and the Turbo Boost algorithm allowed for it.
For owners of processors without Turbo Boost, who still want to slightly increase CPU performance, information about increasing the system bus frequency will be more useful. In this case, the board remained stable when it was raised to 108.5 MHz. Note that this indicator is partly related to the capabilities of a particular CPU instance.
The DDR3-2133 memory test kit ran at 2200 MHz without much difficulty - a typical result for the kit used.
Heat
During the tests, the temperature of the power elements of the power regulator under load increased to 57 C, while the heatsink on the chipset chip warmed up to 52 C. After overclocking the processor, the temperature of the MOSFETs increased to 62 degrees - quite an acceptable result, especially considering the use of a processor cooler tower type, which does not blow around the space around the processor socket.
Results
Gigabyte GA-Z77M-D3H- one of the most affordable motherboards on the market, based on the Intel Z77. In this case, there is no feeling that the main device is strongly offered to you in the load what you definitely will not use, but you must pay for it upon purchase. A set of interfaces sufficient for most situations, a good layout, basic overclocking capabilities. In aggregate - a normal "workhorse" at a reasonable price. The board will be a suitable option for those who are not ready for serious overclocking experiments, but at the same time, they are not averse to getting a little extra performance from Intel Core i5 / i7 processors without overpaying too much for this opportunity.
Liked
One of the most affordable models on the Intel Z77
Rational layout
Ability to change the processor multiplier
Fan speed control
Did not like
- Modest overclocking possibilities
Testing device provided by MTI, www.distri.mti.ua
Test bench configuration
| CPU | Intel Core i7-3770K | Intel, www.intel.ua | |
| RAM | Team Xtreem TXD38192M2133HC9KDC-L (2x4GB DDR3-2133) | DC Link, www.dclink.com.ua | |
| Storage device | Intel SSD 520 (SSDSC2CW240A3, 240 GB) | intel, | Motherboard |
| CPU socket | socket 1155 | ||
| Chipset | Intel Z77 | ||
| Chipset cooling | Radiator | ||
| VRM Cooling | — | ||
| Embedded video | Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000/4000 (integrated into processor) | ||
| PCI | 1 | ||
| PCI Express x4 | — | ||
| PCI Express x1 | 1 | ||
| Graphic interface | 1xPCI-E x16 3.0 (x16) + 1xPCI-E x16 2.0 (x4) | ||
| DIMM | 4xDDR3 | ||
| IDE (Parallel ATA) (chipset/additional controller) | — | ||
| Serial ATA (chipset/additional controller) | 4/- | ||
| SATA Revision 3.0 (chipset/additional controller) | 2/- | ||
| Main power connectors | 24+4 | ||
| Extra food | — | ||
| FAN | 3 | ||
| S/PDIF | +(output) | ||
| Audio codec | VIA VT2021 (7.1) | ||
| ethernet | Atheros (GBE) | ||
| SATA | — | ||
| SATA Revision 3.0 | — | ||
| PATA | — | ||
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | — | ||
| USB 3.0 | — | ||
| LAN | 1 | ||
| eSATA Rev. 2.0 | — | ||
| eSATA Rev. 3.0 | — | ||
| Audio | 3 | ||
| S/PDIF Out (Coaxial/Optical) | — | ||
| Thunderbolt | — | ||
| Monitor outputs | 1xDVI-D, 1xD-Sub and 1xHDMI | ||
| USB 1.1/2.0 | 4/3(6 ports)/- | ||
| USB 3.0 | 2/1(2 ports)/- | ||
| IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | — | ||
| COM | -/1/- | ||
| Game/MIDI | — | ||
| LPT | -/1/- | ||
| IDE | no data | ||
| SATA interface/power, devices | no data | ||
| Form factor | microATX, 244x220 mm | ||
| Support for two or more video cards | AMD CrossFireX | ||
| RAID support | 0, 1, 5, and 10 | ||
| WiFi adapter | — | ||
| UEFI Support | Yes | ||
| Miscellaneous | one PS/2 port for keyboard or mouse; TPM module connector; high quality polymer capacitors |
During the development of the IT industry, the purpose of motherboards of the Micro-ATX form factor has practically not changed. They are mainly used to build inexpensive computers with basic functionality. It was the cost reduction that caused the size reduction relative to full-sized ATX boards. Then, in the middle of the 2000s, the situation changed somewhat - there was a fashion for compact systems (barebones), which made Micro-ATX motherboards more popular. But soon this fashion passed - manufacturers switched to the production of even more compact Mini-ITX systems. As a result, Micro-ATX boards are perceived as before: these products are mainly intended for budget-conscious corporate users. However, there are exceptions: say, one major manufacturer released an exclusive and rather expensive series of compact motherboards for computer enthusiasts, characterized by a combination of powerful overclocking features, adequate expansion options and support for multi-core SLI and CrossFire graphics arrays. Gigabyte also did not forget about Micro-ATX boards and presented its vision of a compact base for a gaming computer in the face of the Z77MX-D3H based on the Intel Z77 chipset.
⇡ Specification Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H
| Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Socket LGA1155 (Ivy Bridge support) Support for Intel Turbo Boost Technology |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 (PCH) Processor Communication: DMI 20 Gb/s |
| System memory | Four 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM DIMM slots Maximum memory 32 GB DDR3 1066/1333/1600+ memory supported Dual-channel memory access possible Support for Intel XMP technology |
| Graphics | Three PCI Express x16 slots Support for AMD CrossFireX technology, NVIDIA SLI Support for Intel HD Graphics |
| Expandability | One PCI Express x1 slot Ten USB 2.0 ports (six built-in, four optional) Four USB 3.0 ports (two built-in, two optional) Sound High Definition Audio 7.1 Gigabit Ethernet Network Controller |
| Overclocking options | Frequency change Bclk from 80 to 133.33 MHz in 0.01 MHz steps; multiplier change Changing the GPU frequency from 400 to 3200 MHz Changing the voltage on the processor, memory, IGD Utilities Gigabyte EasyTune 6, 3D Power |
| Disk subsystem | Support for SerialATA 6 Gb/s protocol (two channels - Z77, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 0+1 and JBOD) Support for SerialATA 3 Gb/s protocol (four channels - Z77, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, 0+1 and JBOD) |
| Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) | 2 x 64 Mbit Flash ROM AMI BIOS with Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features Gigabyte Xpress Install Utility Gigabyte Q-Flash Technology Gigabyte @BIOS support Support UEFI DualBIOS BIOS profile support |
| Miscellaneous | One port for PS/2 keyboard or mouse Support On/Off Charge Support for Intel Rapid Start Technology Support for Intel Smart Connect Technology STR (Suspend to RAM) S/P-DIF Out |
| Power management | Wake on modem, mouse, keyboard, network, timer and USB Main 24-pin ATX power connector Additional 4-pin power connector Gigabyte Auto Green support |
| Monitoring | Monitors CPU, chipset and system temperatures, voltages, all fan speeds (3) SmartFan Technology |
| Size | Form factor Micro-ATX, 245x245mm (9.6x9.6 inches) |
⇡ Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H board
Gone are the days when Micro-ATX boards had a single PCI Express x16 slot. Constant competition has forced manufacturers to increase this number, first to two, and now, as you can see, to three!
From a technical point of view, such a solution does not require significant engineering efforts. In particular, it is necessary to add a bridge for symmetrical separation of 16 base lines of the PCI Express v3.0 bus between two main slots, and connect the third PEG slot to the chipset. As a result, only four PCI Express v2.0 lanes are allocated to the last slot. Thus, the following configurations are available to the user: 16+0+4 and 8+8+4. Note that the board has one more PCI Express x1 slot, which is also connected to the chipset.
As for the power connectors, the main 24-pin connector is located on the bottom edge of the board, and the additional 4-pin connector is on the right:
Next to the processor socket is a 4-pin CPU_FAN connector for a processor cooler. In addition to it, the board has two 4-pin connectors (SYS_FAN1 and SYS_FAN2). The number of 240-pin DIMM slots for DDR3 memory modules is standard for the Z77 chipset: there are four of them. They are divided into two groups of two slots with alternating colors. To enable dual-channel mode, you need to install modules in slots of the same color.
The board supports DDR3-1066/1333/1600 memory, and the maximum memory capacity is 32 GB. We should also note that the DDR3-1600 frequency is standard only when using the Ivy Bridge processor, and for Sandy Bridge it is achieved when overclocked.
⇡ Expansion options
The Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H board, thanks to the Z77 chipset, supports four SerialATA 3 Gb/s channels and two SerialATA 6 Gb/s channels. All ports are located near the chipset, oriented parallel to the board plane and differently colored: 3 Gb/s ports are blue, and 6 Gb/s ports are white.
The Z77MX-D3H also has ten USB 2.0 ports, of which six are located on the rear panel, and four more are connected via brackets. Thanks to the Z77 chipset, the board supports four USB 3.0 ports: half of the ports are located on the rear panel, and the other half are implemented through external brackets.
The Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H board supports eight-channel audio, and the VIA VT2021 chip is used as a codec. During testing, we did not find any shortcomings in the sound subsystem, however, some users complain on the Internet about this particular VIA controller.
The board has an Atheros AR8151-B gigabit network controller. It is connected to a separate PCI Express (x1) bus line, and the corresponding RJ-45 connector is routed to the rear panel,
which as a result looks like this:
The developers placed on the panel three of the four possible video outputs: VGA, DVI, HDMI - only DisplayPort is missing. Also on the panel you can find a large number of USB ports, one PS / 2 port and an optical S / P-DIF output.
Traditional component diagram:
Of the additional functions, we note support for DualBIOS technology, which consists in installing two BIOS chips on the board: the main and the backup.
Switching between microcircuits is software only
⇡ UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)
The Z77MX-D3H motherboard supports the UEFI interface with Gigabyte's own graphical environment called 3D BIOS. The name was not chosen by chance, since the user interface is stylized as a three-dimensional desktop.
The BIOS code is based on the AMI (American Megatrends Inc.) version, so the user has the option to switch to the legacy BIOS. The main partitions and settings of the Z77MX-D3H are located exactly the same as in other Gigabyte motherboards. This greatly simplifies parameter management and saves the user time.
All memory settings are located in the M.I.T. overclocking functions section:
The choice of memory frequency is organized somewhat inconveniently: there is no menu, so the user is forced to enter multiplier value from the keyboard.
In another subsection, all the functions for managing Intel processors are concentrated:
Consider the section on system monitoring.
The board monitors the current temperature of the processor and system, the voltages on the main components and the speed of all three fans. In addition, the user can control the speed of coolers using the Smart Fan function.
Please note that Russian is present in the list of supported languages:
For a novice user, Russian-language parameters are a suboptimal solution, since a detailed description in Russian neither in the user manual nor on the official Gigabyte website.
Finally, we note the ability to save and load a BIOS settings profile (a total of eight profiles are available),
as well as the built-in Q-Flash utility for updating the firmware.
As for Windows utilities, the following programs should be noted: On / Off Charge for controlling the charging of USB gadgets, @BIOS for updating the BIOS firmware from Windows,
FaceWizard to update the POST image (deprecated a few years ago) and EasyTune6. The latter is intended for overclocking the system, for its diagnostics and system monitoring. In particular, this program displays the readings of all available sensors.
and allows the user to control the speed of the fans:
⇡ Overclocking and stability
Before moving on to overclocking, consider the power converter. It has a 6-phase circuit, which has four 270uF capacitors and 10 560uF capacitors.
There are few overclocking functions, so they could be collected in one section. However, Gigabyte programmers used ready-made code (the main sign of a "real" programmer) of older boards, and the result is inconvenient for the user.
Overclocking Feature List:
| Pay | Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H |
|---|---|
| Changing the CPU multiplier | + |
| Bclk change | 80 to 133.33 MHz (0.01 MHz) |
| Change GPUclk | 400 to 3200 MHz (50) |
| Vcore change | 0.8 V to 1.9 V (0.005 V) |
| Vigd change | +0.0 V to +0.2 V (0.005 V) |
| Change Vmem | 1.2 V to 2.0 V (0.02 V) |
Practical tests of overclocking showed the following results: stable operation at a frequency of 4.4 GHz, which is quite good.
You can also overclock the system using the EasyTune6 utility, in which only all the main functions are available, and changing the multiplier requires a system reboot. This program is intended for a wider range of users and is more friendly to the latter.
However, the friendliest is the 3D Power utility, in which you can change only a few minor parameters. However, all the special effects used and the low speed of their playback get boring after a couple of minutes.
⇡ Performance
The slight speed advantage of our board over the more expensive Z77X-UD5H can be explained by a more elaborate firmware version.
⇡ Conclusions
Gigabyte managed to combine two completely opposite concepts in the Z77MX-D3H board. So, the board is compact, and its expansion options correspond to the minimum level: the ports from the chipset plus the network and sound controller are separated. And that's it. The board does not have additional functions (buttons, indicators, light and music) or any exclusive technologies. If we add here the budget package (and we suspect that it will be exactly like this), then the result is an inexpensive product (in July 2012, the average price was 4,000 rubles).
On the other hand, the board has three PEG slots and supports multi-core NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX graphics arrays. This means that based on the Z77MX-D3H, you can assemble a powerful and compact gaming computer. Moreover, in order for a pair of graphics cards to work at full capacity, you can overclock the CPU. Of course, the set of overclocking functions is not rich, but it is quite enough to overclock the CPU almost to the limit of its potential.
So, we get a somewhat controversial, but very interesting fee. Of course, the desire to save two or three thousand rubles is in no way combined with the purchase of two top-end video cards. But in any case, the technical performance of the Z77MX-D3H board is at a high level, the product does not have any noticeable shortcomings, and the very fact of the existence of this board with a rather unique set of characteristics is a plus for everyone who is interested in the IT industry.
For the first time in years, low-cost motherboards have become less designed for overclocking Intel processors. If earlier, with a budget of 150-200 dollars, you could save by purchasing a cheap Celeron or Pentium, now this amount is not enough even for a CPU with an unlocked multiplier. For this reason, the available products have the minimum equipment for forcing a PC, which has been confirmed more than once in our materials.
Despite the above, it is solutions up to $150 that are still popular among domestic users. And this time we will consider another relatively inexpensive motherboard, but already in the mATX form factor, the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H.
Characteristics
Our tester is based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, which implies support for all LGA1155 processors based on Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge cores. With the latter, it will be possible to use the PCI Express 3.0 bus and install memory modules with a frequency of up to 3200 MHz (naturally, in overclocking mode). The rest of the functionality fully corresponds to the basic characteristics of the logic used, no additional controllers were involved in the development of the board. Support for SLI, in addition to CrossFireX, will allow you to build tandems not only from a pair of Radeon video cards, but also from GeForce, which is very good for such a little one. Other characteristics of the product in question are listed in the following table:
| Model | Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H |
| Chipset | Intel Z77 Express |
| Processor socket | Socket LGA1155 |
| Processors | Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium, Celeron (Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge) |
| Memory | 4 DIMM DDR3 SDRAM 1066/1333/1600/2800* (*—OC), 32 GB maximum |
| PCI slots | 2 PCI Express 3.0 x16 (x16+x0, x8+x8) 1 PCI Express 2.0 [email protected] 1 PCI Express x1 |
| PCI slots | - |
| Integrated video core | Intel HD Graphics |
| Video connectors | HDMI, DVI-D, D-Sub |
| Number of connected fans | 3 (4pin) |
| PS/2 ports | 1 (combined) |
| USB ports | 4 x 3.0 (2 connectors on the rear panel, Intel Z77) 10 x 2.0 (6 connectors on the rear panel, Intel Z77) |
| ATA-133 | - |
| Serial ATA | 2 lanes SATA 6 Gb/s (Intel Z77) 4 lanes SATA 3Gb/s (Intel Z77) |
| eSATA | - |
| RAID | 0, 1, 5, 10 (Intel Z77) |
| Built-in sound | 7.1 HDA (VIA VT2021) |
| S/PDIF | Optic |
| Built-in network | Gigabit Ethernet (Atheros AR8151) |
| Thunderbolt | - |
| firewire | - |
| COM | - |
| LPT | - |
| BIOS/UEFI | AMI UEFI |
| Form factor | MicroATX |
| Dimensions, mm | 244x225 |
| Additional features | Support for CrossFireX and SLI, the ability to install a TPM module |
Contents of delivery
The board comes in a small light box. On the front side, the logos of the branded 3D Power and 3D BIOS, the internal production standard Ultra Durable 4 Classic, Lucid Virtu MVP technologies and many others flaunt unobtrusively.
A small description of all supported "chips" can be seen on the back of the package. Naturally, they are of little interest to the domestic user and do not have the magical power that the manufacturer invested. The most useful is only in a small plate in the lower left corner.
The delivery set is small, but contains everything you need to assemble the system, even above the average level:
- motherboard manual;
- brief assembly instructions;
- disk with drivers and additional software;
- plug for the rear panel of the I/O Shield;
- three SATA 3Gb/s cables;
- three SATA 6Gb/s cables;
- SLI bridge.
Design and functionality
Despite the total transition of manufacturers to a dark textolite, Gigabyte has remained true to its traditions and still produces inexpensive boards in a branded blue color.
The engineers approached the location of some of the components responsibly, spacing the PCI-E x16 slots for installing video cards at a sufficient distance from each other, while the connectors for connecting peripherals on the bottom edge of the board can be blocked by a second accelerator. Also, the DIMM slots are placed too close to the graphical interface, but this is already the cost of the form factor used. The SATA connectors, on the contrary, are well made - they are installed parallel to the PCB and will not interfere with expansion cards.
Even if the layout is considered more or less normal, fans of rarities with a PCI interface can hardly be recommended Z77MX-D3H, while the progressive part of users will be able to expand the functionality of the system with another pair of modern connectors. The board has a PCI-E x16 slot with four high-speed bus lines from the chipset and one PCI-E x1.
Of the features of the product under consideration, we note the VIA VT2021 audio codec and the Atheros AR8151 network chip - except for two Gigabyte boards, we have not seen these controllers anywhere else. As for the rear panel, the number of connectors is as follows:
- one combined PS/2;
- six USB 2.0;
- two USB 3.0;
- HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub;
- RJ45;
- optical S/PDIF;
- six audio jacks.
The basic functionality is complemented by a six-phase VRM module, powered by a 4-pin ATX12V connector.
The converter is based on a five-channel PWM controller IR3564 manufactured by International Rectifier and a single-channel Richtek RT8120. The VRM circuit uses low on-resistance field-effect transistors, ferrite core chokes and high-quality polymer capacitors, as well as in other power circuits.
Cooling of power transistors is partial - a small radiator covers the elements of only four phases, the rest are content with natural convection. But even when overclocking the processor, their heating is small.
Another very small heatsink is provided to maintain an acceptable temperature regime for the chipset, and three fan headers will allow you to organize active cooling of the CPU and the system as a whole.
In the end, the Z77MX-D3H turned out to be compact and at the same time still requiring some attention during assembly - the right edge of the PCB does not rest on anything and there is a risk of damaging the board. In addition, to assemble a miniature gaming machine with two video cards, you will need a taller case than the standard Mini-Towers. And the cards themselves, most likely, will be needed with non-reference cooling systems, in any case, the second one for sure. UEFI Setup
The board's firmware is based on AMI microcode and complies with the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) concept, offering at least the ability to boot from high-capacity drives, mouse support, and a user-friendly graphical interface. The first on the list is the M.I.T. section, which contains the parameters responsible for fine-tuning the system and information about the current settings.
All settings are divided into different subsections and the uninitiated user needs time to get used to such a menu structure. Changing Bclk, integrated GPU frequency, CPU and memory multiplier are in Advanced Frequency Setting. In the same place, in Advanced CPU Core Features, you can configure the operation of supported processor technologies, the multiplication factor of each core individually, current limits and power consumption.
Memory management, namely the multiplier and timings are located in the Advanced Memory Setting.
The number of delays is sufficient for fine tuning, and you can select parameters for both channels at once, and for each separately.
The next subsection is Advanced Voltage Setting, which is responsible for adjusting the voltage and setting up the processor power converter.
The number of parameters in 3D Power Control is small, but Load Line Calibration, which is responsible for reducing voltage drops during system overclocking, is present.
But there is little sense in it, given the possibility of changing the voltage only on the processor (including the ability to choose an increase to the nominal value), GPU and memory. The CPU PLL, CPU VTT and IMC parameters familiar from older Gigabyte products are missing, which can affect overclocking.
The entire modest list of changeable parameters is presented in the following table:
| Parameter | Voltage range, V | Step, B |
| CPU Vcore | 0,8—1,9 | 0,005 |
| Dynamic Vcore(DVID) | -0,64…+0,635 | 0,005 |
| Dynamic GFX Core(VAXG DVID) | 0,005—0,2 | 0,005 |
| DRAM Voltage | 1,2—2,0 | 0,02 |
You can check the readings of the main voltages and temperatures, the rotation speed of the three fans, or configure them, in PC Health Status. Unfortunately, a fan with a three-pin connection can only be controlled through one connector.
The following sections are already intended for obtaining information about the board and its firmware, setting up the system logic, the integrated graphics core, various controllers, buses, selecting boot options, power modes and power saving.
Using the Q-Flash utility, you can update the firmware of the board, and in the Save & Exit section there are items for saving and loading profiles with user settings. To be honest, this option deserves more attention from the developer than its inconspicuous location in the wilds of the menu.
For the smallest ones, a proprietary 3D BIOS graphics mode is provided, offering the user a minimum of basic settings and system monitoring. Management occurs by simply selecting the appropriate node on the schematic diagram of the motherboard.
Each of the settings has the right to life. The familiar one with a large number of sections is more suitable for experienced users, and the simplified one is more suitable for beginners.
Complete software
From the list of bundled software, only EasyTune 6 and 3D Power are of particular interest. The first allows you to get information about installed components and overclock the system directly from under the Windows operating system.
The second controls the parameters of the VRM module, repeating the settings from UEFI.
Overclocking by raising the base frequency is nothing complicated, and motherboards, as a rule, have a limit of 105-108 MHz. Our test participant maintained complete stability just at a frequency of 108 MHz, which is quite good.
The next step was to check the auto-overclocking function of the EasyTune 6 program. After pressing the corresponding button, a separate window appears in the utility with an even larger button. If they didn’t miss, then the process of forcing the system and checking it for stability begins.
To cheer up users during the overclocking process, various kinds of information will be shown like this:
If everything goes smoothly, we can feel like a real overclocker - the Core i5-3570K processor will accelerate to 4.3 GHz at a supply voltage of 1.4 V. We don’t think it starts to overheat in the first 20 seconds of the LinX test. costs.
Things are no less deplorable with the usual EasyTune 6 overclocking profiles - only the first one with a resulting frequency of 4080 MHz and a rather high voltage of 1.33 V turned out to be efficient.
When overclocking the processor by simply raising its multiplier, the board behaves more adequately up to 4.3 GHz, after which it starts to increase the voltage to 1.3 V or more.
With fully manual settings at 1.26V, our Core i5-3570K overclocked to 4.5GHz.
At the same time, I had to adjust the power consumption limits and set the Load Line Calibration to Turbo. A further increase in voltage did not affect the potential of the CPU - even the "children's" 4600 MHz could not be reached.
The overclocking of the Kingston KHX1866C11D3P1K2/8G memory was not particularly impressive - only 2000 MHz, but there are not so many changeable parameters in UEFI to achieve more.
Once again, a motherboard based on a new chipset, the Intel Z77 Express, is under consideration. The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard, with its full-size PCB, next-generation chipset, NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX support, is sure to appeal to the user who wants to build a high-performance computer, but does not want to spend an impressive amount on components.
It is worth noting that in the line of ATX solutions from GIGABYTE based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, the board under consideration today has an “older” sister, which is one step higher in the model range - GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H.The main advantages of this board compared to its "younger" sister reviewed today are: a reinforced processor power connector, the presence of power and reset buttons, a DisplayPort video output and two eSATA ports. These advantages affected the price, GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H will cost 30 dollars more than the "younger" solution.
And now we propose to go directly to the review of the motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard specifications:
|
Manufacturer |
|
|
GA-Z77X-D3H (rev 1.0) |
|
|
Intel Z77 Express |
|
|
Processor socket |
|
|
Supported processors |
Intel Core i7/ Core i5 / Core i3 2nd and 3rd generation |
|
Used memory |
2400(OC)*/1600/1333/1066 MHz |
|
Memory support |
4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of memory |
|
Expansion slots |
1 x PCI Express 16 3.0/2.0 (x16) |
|
Disk subsystem |
The Intel Z77 Express chipset supports: |
|
1 x Atheros AR8151 Gigabit Network Controller (10/100/1000Mbps) |
|
|
Sound subsystem |
Codec VIA VT2021 |
|
24-pin ATX power connector |
|
|
Fans |
1 x CPU fan header (4-pin) |
|
Cooling |
Aluminum heatsink on MOSFET |
|
External I/O ports |
1 x HDMI |
|
Internal I/O ports |
1 x USB 3.0 with support for connecting two USB 3.0 (19-pin) |
|
2 x 64 Mbit ROM |
|
|
Equipment |
user guide; |
|
Form Factor |
ATX |
|
Products webpage |
The motherboard comes in a compact white glossy cardboard box. On the front of the box, the manufacturer listed some of the key features and proprietary technologies it supports. Particular attention is paid to the board's support for GIGABYTE 3D BIOS functions based on GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS and 3D POWER proprietary technologies. The manufacturer also noted that the board supports the Ultra Durable 4 Classic proprietary concept, which implies the use of high-quality element base in the production process and additional protection of the board from high humidity, voltage drops during the firmware update, as well as static voltage and high temperatures. Separately, the board's readiness to work with new Intel Ivy Bridge family processors made using a 22-nanometer process, support for NVIDIA SLI, PCI-Express 3.0, the presence of an mSATA port and the ability to overclock processors with an unlocked multiplier were noted.
By the name of the board, you can understand in advance what kind of distinctive features it has.
Let's look at the labeling of the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H board:
Z77 - the name of the chipset used in the motherboard;
X - support for NVIDIA SLI, Driver MOSFET and Hybrid EFI BIOS technologies, SATA 6 Gb / s and USB 3.0 ports are installed on the board;
D - support for the proprietary Ultra Durable concept by the board;
3 - segment (from 2 to 9), in this case, the budget one;
H - enhanced capabilities for video signal output by means of a graphics controller integrated into the CPU core (several different video ports, including HDMI).
On the back of the package, everything is standard, the manufacturer described in detail the main technologies used in the motherboard, as well as its key features. In the center, in addition to the image of the board itself, there is a detailed description of the Ultra Durable 4 proprietary concept.
At the bottom, there are logos of the technologies used, namely:
BIOS support for drives larger than 3 TB;
Support USB 3.0, SATA 3.0, 3x USB Power Boost (333 concept);
Availability of DVI and HDMI outputs;
Support for AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies;
GIGABYTE On/Off Charge - Charge portable devices even when the computer is turned off;
Lucid Virtu Universal MVP - optimizes the rendering and display process, providing increased performance and improved image quality;
Intel Smart Response Technology - This technology allows users to create their own hybrid hard drive. Solid State Drive (SSD) space can be used as a cache for a traditional hard drive (or RAID array), thereby combining the speed of an SSD when working with frequently used files and the advantage of a hard drive - its large size.
The lower left corner of the box is given over to the description of the board specification.
The scope of delivery is standard, but in addition to the usual things, the box with the board contains an SLI bridge.
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H comes with:
Interface panel cover.
Documentation;
CD with drivers and utilities;
Four SATA cables (two of them with an L-shaped connector);
Design and features of the board
The design of the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard is typical for the company's ATX models. The board is based on a black textolite with an atypical matte finish, which looks much more interesting than the standard gloss. Bright blue radiators are somewhat out of the general design. The layout of the board is very well done, no critical flaws were found during testing. Of the minor negative features, one can note the not very convenient location of one of the connectors for connecting a system fan, which was placed close to the 4-pin processor power connector. In fact, all ports and connectors are located along the edge of the board, which will be convenient when placing wires and cables in the system unit.
All components fit on the front side of the board without problems, so its reverse side attracts attention only with the reinforcing plate of the Socket LGA1155 socket manufactured by Foxconn, which provides the ability to install powerful enough cooling systems, which may be needed when overclocking the processor.
At the bottom of the motherboard there are two headers for connecting internal USB 2.0 ports (each with the ability to connect two devices), a front panel, a Clr_CMOS jumper, a header for connecting front panel audio connectors, one of three connectors for connecting system fans, a connector for the Trusted Platform Module ( TPM) and an obsolete but still used COM port.
In total, the board supports six USB 2.0 ports (four internal and two on the interface panel) and eight USB 3.0 ports (two internal and six on the interface panel).
On the right side of the motherboard, parallel to its surface, there are eight SATA ports. Four black ports comply with the SATA 3 Gb/s specification, two white ports comply with the SATA 6 Gb/s specification. All of them are implemented by the Intel Z77 Express chipset. There is support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 arrays. Two gray ports corresponding to the SATA 6 Gb / s specification are provided by the Marvell 88SE9172 controller.
It is worth noting that the operation of the mSATA port located above the PCI Express slots is also implemented using the chipset, however, due to the fact that only six SATA devices can work simultaneously, one of the SATA 3 Gb / s ports (in diagram No. 5) works simultaneously with mSATA will not.
Next to the SATA ports is a remote panel connection block with two USB 3.0 ports (not supplied). You can note its very convenient location, when connected, you do not have to stretch wires throughout the system unit.
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard is equipped with four DIMM slots for installing DDR3 memory modules, which are equipped with latches on both sides. The RAM can work in dual-channel mode, for its implementation, memory modules must be installed either in the first and third, or in the second and fourth slots. Modules operating at frequencies of 1600/1333/1066 MHz in nominal mode and up to 2400 MHz in overclocking are supported. The maximum memory can be 32 GB, which should be sufficient in most cases.
The cooling system of the board in question consists of two aluminum radiators, one of which removes heat from the Intel Z77 Express chipset, the other covers the MOSFET chips, which will definitely not be superfluous when experimenting with overclocking. The first radiator is attached to the board with screws, the second - with plastic clips on springs.
In the process of testing the board, the temperature of the radiators did not exceed 41°C, which is quite a good result for a motherboard with such a compact heatsink.
Location of Socket LGA1155 and base plate is standard. The processor is powered by a 9-phase scheme for computing cores and additional nodes.
The converter itself is based on the IR3567 PWM controller, which supports active switching of the power phases to increase the level of efficiency.
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H is powered by the main 24-pin and additional 4-pin connectors. On a board that has the ability to overclock the processor, I would like to see a reinforced 8-pin connector, but it did not work out.
The possibilities for expanding the functionality of the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard are quite wide. There are three slots for installing graphics adapters - PCI-Express (the first and second ones correspond to the 3.0 specification.) The manufacturer claims support for NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX technologies in the x8+x8 configuration. The third slot complies with specification 2.0 and operates in x4 mode. Since it shares lanes with PCI-Express x1 slots, all three PCI-Express x1 slots will not function when it is used.
If you have one graphics adapter, then it must be installed in the first slot, which will operate in x16 mode. Since the capabilities of the Intel Z77 Express chipset allow you to display an image from the video core built into the processor, the PCI-Express slots can also be used to install other expansion cards. Also, expanding the functionality of the motherboard is possible due to three PCI-Express x1 slots and one PCI.
Since modern Intel chipsets, including the Intel Z77 Express, do not support the outdated PCI bus, the operation of the slot located on the motherboard is implemented using a PCIE-PCI bridge based on the ITE IT8892E controller.
Separately, it is worth noting that the operation of PCI-Express slots according to the 3.0 specification will be possible only if there is an Intel Ivy Bridge family processor.
If you plan to use integrated graphics, there will be no problems connecting modern display devices, since all the necessary connectors are present. The operation of the video outputs and switching between the VGA, DVI and HDMI ports of the integrated video is carried out by two ASMedia ASM1442 chips.
Multi I/O capabilities are provided by the ITE IT8728F chip, which controls the PS/2 port, system fans, and provides monitoring.
To support network connections, an Atheros AR8151 gigabit LAN controller is used.
The sound subsystem of this motherboard is based on the VIA VT2021 8-channel HDA codec, which supports 2/4/5.1/7.1 audio systems.
The operation of four USB 3.0 ports on the interface panel is implemented by the VIA VL800 controller.
The operation of two SATA 6 Gb / s ports is implemented by the Marvell 88SE9172 controller.
The following ports are displayed on the interface panel of the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard:
- 1 x HDMI;
- 1 x DVI-D;
- 1 x VGA;
- 1 x LAN (RJ45);
- 6 x USB 3.0;
- 2 x USB 2.0;
- 1x Optical S/PDIF out;
- 5 x Audio ports;
- 1 x PS/2 (keyboard or mouse).
We can note a very good layout of the interface panel, almost all the most popular video outputs are available, more than a sufficient number of USB 3.0 ports, convenient connection of audio systems, only the absence of eSATA and DisplayPort upsets, but this cannot be called a critical shortcoming of the board.
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard is equipped with four fan headers, one of which is used to power the CPU cooling fan, the other three are for connecting system fans. All connectors are made in a four-pin version.
UEFI BIOS
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard is equipped with state-of-the-art UEFI firmware based on AMI microcode with a nice GUI, mouse control and support for drives larger than 3TB. In addition, we note that the board is equipped with two BIOS chips (DualBIOS technology), which will keep the system working in case of damage to the main chip with the firmware.
The menu itself is divided into two separate modes of operation, the first of which is 3D BIOS. When you hover the mouse pointer over one of the components of the motherboard, a list of parameters available for editing related to this component of the motherboard opens.
The main part of the settings related to changing the frequency of the clock generator (BCLK), CPU, integrated graphics core, RAM are grouped in the MB Intelligent Tweaker (M.I.T.) section, where, in turn, they are conveniently divided into subsections, depending on the type.
Naturally, here you can adjust the value of the processor multiplier for overclocking processors in which it is unlocked.
There are also ample opportunities for setting timings and sub-timings of RAM.
The settings required for overclocking are summarized in the table:
|
Parameter |
Menu name |
Range |
|
|
System bus frequency, MHz |
CPU/PCIe Base Clock |
||
|
Integrated graphics core frequency, MHz |
Internal Graphics Clock |
||
|
Processor technologies |
C1E, C3/C6 State, EIST, CPU Thermal Monitor |
||
|
Processor multiplier |
|||
|
Memory divider |
System Memory Multiplier |
8, 10.66, 13.33, 16, 21.33 |
|
|
RAM delays |
CAS Latency, tRCD, tRP, tRAS, tRRD, tWTR, tWR, tWTP, tRFC, tRTP, tFAW, tCMD |
||
|
Processor core supply voltage, V |
|||
|
Clock generator supply voltage, V |
|||
|
Voltage on memory modules, V |
DRAM Voltage (CH A/B) |
||
|
Data Tx Reference |
|||
|
DRAM Termination |
|||
|
DATA Reference CH A |
|||
|
Address Reference CH A |
|||
|
DATA Reference CH B |
|||
|
Address Reference CH B |
The PC Health Status section provides access to monitoring the temperature of the processor and chipset, as well as the speed of rotation of installed fans. Here you can manually set the desired fan speed.
Also, there was a separate monitoring section in which you can monitor:
voltage on the processor core;
voltage on the graphics core;
voltage on memory modules;
voltage on the power lines + 12V, + 5V and + 3.3V.
Separately, it is worth noting the possibility of taking "screenshots" directly in the BIOS and support for the Russian language.
Overclocking options
Above are the results of overclocking using the supplied utility. EasyTune6. As you can see, the user has the right to choose one of three possible levels of system overclocking, depending on current tasks. Unfortunately, on this board, it was not possible to overclock the system at level 3; when it was selected, the system was unstable.
However, by increasing the multiplier and slightly raising the voltage, we managed to overclock the Intel Core i5-2500K processor to a frequency of 4.4 GHz. It follows from this that the problem with non-working overclocking of the 3rd level through EasyTune6 not at all in the board itself, but in poor software optimization.
Testing
To test the capabilities of the motherboard, the following equipment was used:
|
CPU |
Intel Core i5-2500K (LGA1155, 3.3GHz, L3 6MB) |
|
Scythe Kama Angle Rev.B |
|
|
RAM |
2x DDR3-2000 1024MB Kingston HyperX KHX16000D3T1K3/3GX |
|
video card |
MSI R4850-2D1G-OC (Radeon HD 4850, 1 GB GDDR3, PCIe 2.0) |
|
HDD |
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS, 500 GB, SATA-300, NCQ |
|
optical drive |
ASUS DRW-1814BLT SATA |
|
Power Supply |
Seasonic SS-650JT Active PFC (650W, 120mm fan) |
|
CODEGEN M603 MidiTower (2x 120mm fans for intake / exhaust) |
Test results:
During testing, GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H showed performance on par with competitors. In general, based on the test results, we can conclude that the board is of high quality and has a good BIOS optimization.
Testing the audio path based on the VIA VT2021 codec
Test report in RightMark Audio Analyzer
16-bit, 44.1 kHz
|
Very good |
||
|
Noise level, dB (A) |
||
|
Dynamic range, dB (A) |
||
|
Harmonic distortion, % |
Very good |
|
|
Very good |
||
|
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % |
||
|
Overall score |
Good |
Operating mode 24-bit, 192 kHz
|
Frequency response unevenness (in the range of 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB |
||
|
Noise level, dB (A) |
||
|
Dynamic range, dB (A) |
||
|
Harmonic distortion, % |
Very good |
|
|
Harmonic distortion + noise, dB(A) |
||
|
Intermodulation distortion + noise, % |
Very good |
|
|
Interpenetration of channels, dB |
Very good |
|
|
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % |
Very good |
|
|
Overall score |
Very good |
The pre-installed VIA VT2021 audio codec provides enough sound quality for everyday use.
conclusions
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H motherboard is a balanced solution made in ATX format, which is distinguished by a competent layout of on-board elements and good workmanship (Ultra Durable 4 Classic). This board can be recommended to users who want to get an up-to-date full-format motherboard, which is equipped with all the connectors a modern user needs and thanks to a reliable power supply and high-quality element base it will “just work”. In addition to the above, an indisputable advantage is the possibility of overclocking the processor, which will have a positive effect on system performance.
Unpleasant features include the inconvenient location of one of the system fan connectors, the inability to work simultaneously with all SATA and mSATA ports, as well as the fact that the simultaneous use of the PCI Express x4 slot and PCI Express x1 slots is impossible.
Of the advantages of the board, it is worth noting the presence of all the most relevant video outputs, a large number of USB 3.0 and SATA ports, as well as a high-quality power supply unit and the overall reliability of the components.
No pronounced critical shortcomings were found during the testing process.
Advantages:
acceptable cost.
, Kingston , MSI And SeaSonic for the equipment provided for the test bench.Article read 43264 times
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high-quality element base (Ultra Durable 4 Classic);
a large number of USB 3.0 ports and the presence of an mSATA port;
eight SATA ports;
availability of actual video outputs;
support for AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI technologies;
DualBIOS and 3D BIOS functions;
The idea of creating a home server made me pay attention to mini-ITX boards. The dimensions of 17 x 17 cm make it possible to create a sufficiently miniature system commensurate with HiFi components. Probably, the embodiment of the idea was somewhat different, if it had not been decided to create a system that would have the miniature size of a multimedia computer and the power of a desktop one. The heroine of the review, the GIGABYTE Z77N-WiFi motherboard, helped in the implementation.
The compactness of the board can be estimated against the background of 3.5″ and 2.5″ drives.
The board boasts the oldest Intel Z77 system logic in the Panther Point family, with the following:
- 2x slots for installing DDR3 memory modules up to 16GB in total and Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) support
- 1x PCIe x16 slot (PCIe 3.0 with Ivy Bridge processors, PCIe 2.0 with Sandy Bridge processors)
- 1x mini-PCIe slot (used by WiFi module)
- 3x independent graphics ports (1x DVI and 2x HDMI up to 1920x1200 supported)
- 2x SATA 6Gb/s ports and 2x SATA 3Gb/s ports supporting RAID 0/1/5/10 arrays
- 2x rear USB 3.0 ports and 1x internal USB 3.0 header
- 4x rear USB 2.0 ports and 2x internal USB 2.0 headers
- 2x LAN 1Gb ports based on Realtek RTL8111F network controller
- WiFi b/g/n and Bluethooth 4.0+HS module
- Integrated 7+1 audio based on Realtek ALC892
Attractive support for Intel Wireless Display (WiDi), which allows the use of network monitors. Having a computer at one end of the house, and a TV at the other, I have long wanted something similar.
The presence of a morally outdated PS / 2 connector on the rear panel and an internal COM port seemed somewhat strange. They do not interfere with us, but they may be useful to someone.
The characteristics of the board fit almost perfectly into the requirements of a modern system. Advanced networking capabilities allow you to organize a rather chic home server.
You can not ignore the elementary base. Here the board also has something to brag about:
- Textolite of a new generation, characterized by a denser weave and improved moisture resistance
- Cold MOSFET Power Circuits Low RDS(on)
- Long life solid capacitors
- Microcircuits with increased antistatic protection
- Surge Protection
- Short circuit protection for USB ports
- 2x BIOS chips protect against the consequences of incorrect board firmware
The declared characteristics look quite attractive. It remains to look at all this more closely.
The packaging is full of descriptions of the possibilities and technologies used.
The package bundle turned out to be quite modest: 2x SATA cables, 2x WiFi antennas without a magnetic mount, a rear panel frame, 2x disks with related software, and 2x instructions with comprehensive information for connecting the board (no Russian). Please note that connecting more than two SATA devices will require additional cables. In our version, SSD, HDD and DVD were used.
A blued socket, an almost black board with a silky-matt sheen of textolite - all this left only pleasant impressions on the appearance of both me and my colleagues in hardware who held the board in their hands.
Supply system
24-pin ATX and 4-pin EATX connectors are used for power connection. To justify the presence of only a 4-pin CPU power connector, we can say that the size of the board does not imply overclocking records. This can also justify catering according to the 4 + 1 scheme.
The advantage is the use of low RDS (on) cold mosfets in all power circuits, which makes it possible to abandon radiators.
Cooling system
On the one hand, the dimensions of the processor cooling system limit the memory module slots. The distance from the center of the processor socket to the nearest socket is 47mm. On the other hand - 50mm to the PCIe slot. Specialized cooling systems will fit into the allotted space without any problems. The idea of creating a system with passive cooling based on a large cooler will force you to abandon the installation of a single memory module and a discrete video card, as well as a compact mini-ITX case that has height restrictions.
Two 4-pin connectors with PWM control are provided for connecting fans. One for the processor cooling system, the second for connecting the case fan.
You cannot control the speed of fans without PWM support, but you can set your own settings for fans with PWM. This is done either in the BIOS, or using the EasyTune proprietary utility, you can organize your own control algorithm in a couple of clicks.
Memory
The two memory slots are quite compact to each other. The distance between the centers of the slots is 9mm. The use of modules with heatsinks left almost no gap between them. The declared specification lists support for 16GB of DDR3 1600/1333/1066/800 MHz memory. Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) greatly simplifies configuration, which will only be a clear plus.
Expansion slots
The speed of the PCIe x16 slot is determined by the controller integrated into the processor. For Ivi Bridge processors, this is PCIe 3.0. For their predecessors, Sandy Bridge, the speed will be limited by the PCIe 2.0 specification.
You can find another expansion slot on the board - mini-PCIe, but it is used by the WiFi module. Most likely, any other device with the appropriate connection interface can work in place of the module, but it was not possible to check.
Connecting drives
Based on the Z77, there are 2x SATA 6Gb/s ports (highlighted in white) and 2x SATA 3Gb/s ports. SATA ports are endowed with native support for RAID 0/1/5/10 arrays. The latest Intel innovations can serve as an added bonus.
Intel Smart Response Technology is designed to speed up traditional hard drives by caching content on a dedicated SSD partition. Acceleration works pretty well, but its use is justified only when using a hard drive as the main and low cost SSD required for caching.
Intel Rapid Start Technology speeds up the shutdown / on of the computer by using a dedicated volume on the SSD for hibernation mode, where the contents of memory or, in other words, the state of applications, are recorded. Again, the usefulness of this technology can only be appreciated when using a traditional hard drive as a system disk.
USB
Just like SATA, 10x USB ports are implemented using the Intel Z77 system hub. The rear panel has 2x USB 3.0 ports and 4x USB 2.0 ports. Two internal connectors allow you to connect 4x USB 2.0 ports on the case. One internal USB 3.0 connector allows you to connect an additional 2x ports.
The manufacturer has added a couple of proprietary technologies to the USB ports. GIGABYTE 3x USB PowerBoost delivers up to 3x more power to seamlessly connect high power USB devices and dramatically reduce mobile device charging time. For the latter, the GIGABYTE On/Off Charge function will also serve, allowing you to use the USB ports to charge mobile devices while the PC is in sleep mode.
A few words should be said about the proprietary USB-Blocker utility. A utility with a simple and intuitive interface allows you to disable USB ports in a couple of clicks. Access to settings is password protected.
Working with networks
Two LAN ports with aggregation on the rear panel are implemented using a pair of Realtek RTL8111F network controllers. Theoretically, aggregation allows you to sum up the channels, increasing the bandwidth up to 2GB. Another advantage of the technology is the fault tolerance of the connection.
To connect home network clients to game servers, the LAN Party mode will help.
A useful addition can be a proprietary LAN Optimizer utility that manages traffic priorities.
The WiFi module is installed in the mini-PCIe slot. You can easily recognize a fairly fresh Centrino Wireless-N 2230 in it with the advantages of Intel wireless solutions:
- WiFi b/g/n (2.4GHz)
- Bluetooth 2.1, 2.1+EDR, 3.0, 3.0+HS, 4.0 (BLE)
- Multistreaming 2×2, speed up to 300Mb/s
- WiFi Direct (WPA2+AES)
- Intel Smart Connect Technology
- Intel Wireless Display
- Intel My WiFi Dashboard
Despite some minor hiccups between the Intel software and the recently announced Windows 8 operating system, networking is solid. Together with the NetGear N900 router, the adapter maintains a stable connection of 144-150Mb/s.
To support the work of applications with the network in sleep mode, Intel Smart Connect technology will serve. Email clients, social networking clients, update services, or a specified program can receive updates at a specified interval while the computer itself is in sleep mode. You can take advantage of technology to get updates while you're away from home. The night schedule can only be estimated if the computer is not nearby or there are no fans in the system.
Not every full-sized board boasts such a range of networking solutions. The extended network capabilities of the board deserve a definite plus.
Audio codec
The sound controller is represented by an 8-channel Realtek ALC892 codec. To connect the front panel of the case, an internal HDA connector and a digital optical SPDIF output are provided. The rear panel has 5x analog audio jacks and one more SPDIF output. HDMI audio is supported.
The audio codec does a good job of playing modern formats such as Dolby Digital, THX and DTS. Playback quality is pretty good. One can only find fault with the background characteristic of most integrated solutions.
Bios
The board has two 64 Mbit chips with AMI EFI BIOS. To switch between them, a mechanical switch on the board is used. If the BIOS fails to boot from the first chip, DualBios technology is activated, flashing a copy of the BIOS from the second chip. Updating the BIOS is possible either directly from the BIOS (to do this, you need to prepare an update file on the media), or use the proprietary @BIOS automatic update utility.
Between the WiFi module and the south bridge, there is a pad for resetting the BIOS settings. This section of the board turned out to be practically the only available place in the tightness of the mini-ITX case.
To boot the Windows 8 installer in EFI mode, all you had to do was copy the installer files to a USB flash drive formatted in FAT32. By pressing F12 at system startup, the boot menu offered a choice between booting in traditional mode or EFI mode.
The BIOS supports Russian, which is a definite plus for our region. Below is a brief overview of the possibilities.
In the MIT tab, you can find information about the current state of the system and change the overclocking of the processor.
Details of the current state of the system are displayed in the BIOS item of the same name.
The corresponding paragraph contains overclocking settings.
Advanced settings for overclocking the processor. There is no VID voltage control, and for CPU_PLL voltage control there are only three states - auto / on / off.
The memory settings are quite worthy - support for X.M.P. profiles, DDR and VTT_DDR voltage control, channel and rank interleaving control. You can set timings manually in the corresponding tab:
Plenty of memory settings. Very good for a mini-ITX board.
It makes no sense to list other BIOS features - everything is quite standard. I note that work with settings profiles is supported - you can save up to 8 configurations.
Working in OS
To access monitoring and overclocking settings, you can use the EasyTune proprietary utility. The capabilities of the program repeat the capabilities of monitoring and overclocking the BIOS.
If you look at the board in general, it almost corresponds to the Intel reference design, which allows you to try using the monitoring and overclocking utilities from Intel. The calculation justified itself - Extreme Tuning Utitlity took "mother for dear". Here, monitoring and fine-tuning options are much wider, although fan control is possible only from EasyTune.
The overclocking of the Core i5-3570 processor used was in a rather difficult position due to the desire to keep it compact and quiet. Increasing the clock speed inevitably led to annoying fan noise, which I would like to avoid. A compromise was found in changing the turbo multipliers for two cores to 42, which easily allows you to achieve speed at frequencies of 4200 MHz in most real applications, while avoiding unnecessary heat generation.
Remote control
In the arsenal of the board, there was the ability to control work from a smartphone using the EasyTuneTouch program. Connection is possible either via a USB cable, or BlueTooth, or WiFi. It was not possible to connect a program on a smartphone running iOS6 with a computer based on Windows 8 via Bluetooth, but establishing a WiFi connection turned out to be quite simple. The features of EasyTuneTouch duplicate those of EasyTune for PC, so it's more of a nice bonus.
Using a computer as a multimedia center ideally requires a remote control. In light of the lack of an IR port, I would like to see a fully functional control program via wireless networks. Let me take the LG Magic as an example. Advantages in shortcut buttons, the ability to use the display as a touchpad, a keyboard for text fields. Although you can use third-party solutions without problems, for example, TeamViewer.
Conclusion
Despite the compact size, we cannot say that the board is overloaded. The assembly of the system was quite simple and convenient. The placement of ports and slots has retained the ease of connection.
The Ivy Bridge i5-3570K test processor was overclocked to 4200 MHz, further overclocking was limited by the cooling system used. For everyday use, the frequency of 4000 MHz was left. With these settings, the noise of the cooling system remained within the psychologically perceived limits. Overclocking and size limitations of cooling systems, only one free expansion slot - first of all, the "price" for the compact mini-ITX format, and not the features of the board. In this light, the view on the number of power phases and overclocking capabilities is transformed - there is rationality, which makes it possible to reduce the final cost of the product.
Support for X.M.P profiles for memory modules made it possible to set memory settings in a couple of clicks. Someone will be useful and support for up to 16GB of memory.
GIGABYTE engineers paid special attention to networking capabilities. Here the board has to brag. These are two gigabit LAN ports with link aggregation. WiFi module with high data transfer rate, support for WiFi Direct and WiDi 2.0 technologies, Bluetooth 4.0. Two outdoor WiFi antennas secure connection stability.
Impressions from the GIGABYTE Z77N-WiFi motherboard are quite obvious. Everything you need to create a home multimedia server has been implemented - a reliable elementary base with cold power circuits, modern input / output ports, advanced networking capabilities. In light of the compact mini-ITX format, overclocking looks more like a nice bonus. The use of the GIGABYTE Z77N-WiFi board at the heart of the system made it possible to obtain a system of a new level - a productive computer became compact. Together with the test processor, we received a miniature system that embodied a gaming PC, a workstation, and a home network multimedia server.
