Old motherboards from gigabyte. GIGABYTE motherboards based on Intel X79 Express chipset. Chipset and socket

Gigabyte motherboards are a leading Taiwanese manufacturer of desktop basic components. With each generation, motherboards are improved and adjusted to the needs of modern users. The new line, presented by the manufacturer in 2017, is designed to integrate with 6th and 7th generation processors Intel Core which are mainly used by gamers, desktop developers and graphic designers. Gigabyte has relied on personalizing computers with powerful and efficient motherboards. They allow the user to easily adjust the cooling modes, RGB LED lighting and other individual parameters in the operation of the PC.

With the new motherboards from Gigabyte, users have the opportunity to flexibly configure and expand the functionality of their PCs. The system motherboards include modern internal components for installing liquid cooling systems - G-Chill and G-Frost from Bitspower and EK Waterblocks. Thanks to them, advanced gamers were able to expand the horizons of the productivity of their computers, in particular, during the "overclocking" of the processor at the start of modern games that require the maximum possible processor performance.

Another advantage of using Gigabit motherboards is the ability to individually install and configure intelligent cooling systems instead of factory coolers, which cannot cope with their task under conditions intensive work processor. Gigabit motherboards allow to make the work of high-tech thermal sensors as efficient and accurate as possible, ensuring optimal power distribution of the processor and other system components during operation.

The choice of a motherboard can lead any user to a dead end. The thing is not easy, a lot depends on its characteristics. It is also not easy to understand the models of one segment, even if you have a rough idea of ​​what it is about. One way or another, at the beginning of a difficult path of choice, you need to decide on the manufacturer. For example, the Gigabyte motherboard performed well at the end of last year. The models are competitive, of high quality, diverse, and most importantly, affordable.

Variability

Motherboards can be categorized into various categories. Most often there are groups that include models with the most popular processor sockets... You can divide motherboards by chipset model or by options for certain platforms.

Considering the latest updated variations, the Gigabyte motherboard based on the Intel Z170 chipset performed the best. In this category, you can find the largest number of good options that are suitable as ordinary user and a lover of computer games.

We will look at the three most popular models, which also differ in price. The most powerful of all is the Gigabyte Z170X-Gaming G1 motherboard. There are also Gigabyte Z170X-Ultra Gaming and Gigabyte Z170-HD3. What is the difference between them, we will consider further.

A budget option

It's worth starting with the cheapest and most affordable option. We are talking about Gigabyte Z170-HD3. The model is presented on the flagship chipset from Intel, therefore it is quite popular among buyers. In addition, it features support for a new type of DDR3L RAM, which has a voltage of 1.35 V, as well as the ability to connect DDR3 with a voltage of 1.5 V. The cost of this option fluctuates around $ 120-130.

Equipment

The review of the Gigabyte motherboard should start with the package bundle and delivery. The fact is that each model has its own presentation option. The box looks presentable. On the front there is a large Ultra Durable logo, below is the model, memory support and brief information about the chipset.

There is a lot of necessary and not so much information behind the box. Here are given different schemes connections, as well as brief technical characteristics, system requirements, key features and, of course, supported technologies.

The board itself is inside the box. It comes with instructions with step by step guide... There is a warranty brochure. Disc with "wood" and software. Provided 2 SATA cables, a set for connecting the "motherboard" to the front panel of the computer case. Also inside you can find a proprietary plug for the interface panel.

Appearance and features

The characteristics of the Gigabyte Z170-HD3 motherboard are very decent at the present time. The textolite of the board is made in brown, ATX board format. The width has become slightly smaller in relation to previous versions- only 20 cm. It's hard to say anything about design. But the board looks neat, restrained and strict. The layout of all the elements is successful, so even with self-assembly, there should be no problems.

The bottom margin takes up a huge number of connectors. There is also the possibility of connecting audio connectors, as well as a block for the front panel, a jumper for resetting CMOS. There are generally two pads for USB 2.0 ports. It is possible to use six ports, four of which are inside, and two are located on the interface panel.

The disk system is also widely represented. It is possible to use one M.2 Socket 3 port, three SATA Express connectors. There are four slots for RAM on the board. As mentioned earlier, you can install not only DDR3, but also DDR3L. The RAM mode is dual-channel here. For it to work correctly, you must insert the plates into either the odd or even ports. You can also occupy four slots at once.

Cooling

Naturally, any Gigabyte motherboard has its own cooling system. This model has two heatsinks, one of which removes heat from the chipset, and the other protects the batteries. Testing the system showed good results: the chipset only warmed up to 33 degrees, the power chokes - up to 42, and the power heatsink - up to 37.

During the board overclocking, the temperature rose slightly. In the case of the chipset, only by one unit, on the other elements - by 5-10 degrees.

Overclocking

Few people know that the company provides automatic overclocking in BIOS. Gigabyte Z170-HD3 managed to overclock quite well. The processor frequency increased to 4600 MHz, and the memory began to work at 2133 MHz.

In general, this model has shown itself as the most successful option when switching from Socket type LGA1150 to LGA1151. Also, many will appreciate the presence of support not only for DDR3, but also for DDR3L. The availability of this board also plays a huge role. The "motherboard" has practically no drawbacks. She has improved the element base, also added support for some technologies. In the presence of many ports, advanced audio subsystem.

Game option

Another good model is GA-Z170X-Ultra Gaming. This board is slightly more expensive than the previous one, at $ 30-40. But it is already positioned as a gaming component for the PC. It supports all kinds of processors and also LGA1151.

The box turned out to be really attractive, bright and catchy. The main technologies and characteristics are indicated on the front. There is a description at the back key features, interfaces, ports, specifications, etc.

There is nothing unusual inside. Since the model is on average price segment, there is no need to expect any special excesses in the package bundle. Inside there is required cables, CD with drivers and software, manual, SLI bridge and a branded label on the player's door.

Specification

Outwardly, this model differs from the previous one. But the board is in ATX form. The textolite received a black color and a laconic arrangement of elements. I was surprised by the rear panel, which is not overgrown with a huge number of ports. It has everything you need for two types of USB 3.1 cables, also HDMI connections, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 / 2.0 and other useful ports.

For RAM, there are four slots and support for DDR4. The maximum amount of RAM has increased to 64 GB. In general, it is possible to connect two video cards at once. On the one hand, this option seems rather limited, but on the other, it is quite a common solution for the average gamer. After all, if a player needs something more, then he is more likely to choose a motherboard an order of magnitude higher.

In terms of overclocking potential, this Gigabyte motherboard received good reviews. This is not to say that the improvement has shown unprecedented results, but they are quite satisfactory, especially regarding the automatic overclocking.

In general, the GA-Z170X-Ultra Gaming model, which doesn’t have any special characteristics, has nevertheless become an excellent option for those who would like to purchase a motherboard with the most advantageous combination of quality and performance. Basically, this model has it all to build a gaming PC.

Supports SLI and CrossFireX configurations. It is possible to simultaneously support four slots for RAM with operating frequency up to 3866 MHz. The contacts of the processor are gold-plated for extended service life. There are also a sufficient number of different ports and slots. A nice addition was the presence of a cool red backlight.

Expensive option

But the best motherboard on the Z170 chipset at the present time it is possible to consider the Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming G1. The option is perfect for those who are going to create a gaming machine for themselves and upgrade the motherboard. Gigabyte, as usual, devoted a lot of time to the exterior, but also did not forget about the good stuffing and high-quality materials. The only reason that can stop the buyer is the high enough price.

Peculiarities

This motherboard has received the E-ATX format, which fully satisfies all the latest technologies and consumer desires. Since the model is the flagship not only among the cheaper models, but also in its price segment, it received all kinds of ports, connectors and slots. It also supports a huge number of technologies useful for the gamer.

It runs on the LGA1151 socket, the chipset is Intel Z170 Express, which additionally works with the PLX PEX8747. RAM here the DDR4 type is used. Four slots and support for two channels are allocated for it. As a result, you can equip your PC with 64 GB of RAM.

In general, all the elements are in their usual places, they are easy to find, connecting a Gigabyte motherboard will not cause any difficulties. Besides, in addition to a huge number of different cables and adapters, the box also contains an accessible user manual.

The overclocking potential did not show particularly surprising results. Nevertheless, the model has it. In general, the model turned out to be too luxurious. The buyer will really have to fork out a lot. The Skylake platform often requires large investments, but they are aimed at excellent results.

Motherboards based on NVIDIA nForce 2 system logic can be found today by almost every manufacturer of PC platforms. This list could be enumerated, starting with the most elite and famous companies, to almost unnamed. Yes, for a poor overclocker, a computer based on an nForce 2 motherboard coupled with low-end AMD processors, as a rule, well-overclocked (a vivid example is Athlon XP 1700+ or ​​Athlon XP 2500+) is a good choice. Of course, the Socket A platform is moving more and more into the category of inexpensive office machines every day and in the near future will be completely squeezed out by the new, much more productive Socket 754 platform (and then Socket 939), but so far this has not happened, and Athlon 64-bit processors still very expensive for mass use, it is too early to write off Athlon XP.

We reviewed a lot of nForce2 motherboards on the website, leaders and losers were revealed, but still some motherboards were left aside and today a product from GigaByte, specifically GigaByte GA-7N400, is waiting for its review in our test lab.

advertising

The GA-7N400 series is represented by three models:

As you can see from the table, GA-7N400 is the simplest and, as a result, the cheapest motherboard in the entire series. Of course, it should be noted that GigaByte also has two more boards - GA-7N400E and GA-7N400E-L, assembled from the very chipsets for which the second memory channel refused to work at the factory. We do not claim that Dual Channel DDR is a huge plus for nForce 2, but still the chipset is not so expensive to look at its "cut-offs" and, moreover, it is mainly the lot of office machines.

The Taiwanese company Gigabyte is a large manufacturer of motherboards, video cards and other computer components. These are reliable products manufactured using modern technologies... Motherboards "Gigabyte" are installed both in system units intended for everyday use at home or in the office, and in game system units.

What to look for when choosing?

The first thing to consider for those planning to buy a Gigabyte motherboard is the form factor. The company offers the most common options:

• Micro-ATX
• Mini-ITX.

The next thing that matters is the socket type. It must match the processor to be installed.

Then you need to pay attention to the slots that are on the motherboard - their type and number. Another important parameter- the number and type of USB ports.

The catalog of the M.Video online store also contains motherboards from MSI, AsRock and other manufacturers.

• GIGABYTE motherboards are presented in a wide range of 8 models in the M.Video online store;
• Prices range from 2790.0 to 13690.0 rubles;
• Compare prices for GIGABYTE Motherboards, read specifications and customer reviews;
• Buy GIGABYTE Motherboards with a guarantee on favorable terms of purchase (including on credit or by installments);
• Order Motherboards GIGABYTE in the cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Kazan online on the website or by phone 8 800 200 777 5, arrange delivery to the specified address or pick up from the store.

It is unlikely that today you can meet a person who has not heard of the leader in the production of computer components - the company Gigabyte. This Taiwanese manufacturer was one of the first to enter the Russian computer market and still does not give up its leading positions. Under the Gigabyte brand, you can find video adapters, power supplies, cases, laptops, smartphones, tablets and peripherals on the market. However, the largest share of sales belongs to motherboards. Having taken all positions in different price classes, this is practically the only brand that is able to satisfy user needs. According to statistics, in every fifth personal computer Gigabyte motherboard installed. I would like to understand why the motherboards of this manufacturer are so valuable. To do this, you need to study the characteristics of the devices, ease of setup and connection, as well as research reviews about the manufacturer.

Collecting information before buying

All professionals in the field of IT technologies recommend to go to the official website of the manufacturer before buying any product in order to make sure that not only hardware is purchased, but also the whole range of services, from drivers and full-fledged instructions to utilities and timely technical updates BIOS. After making sure that the drivers for the Gigabyte motherboard on the official website are present for all models released for different markets over the past ten years and finding fresh ones, we can conclude that the manufacturer is constantly monitoring the update of its resource and first of all thinks about the users. Judging by the numerous reviews on specialized forums, Gigabyte has attracted attention from the very first day of its appearance on the market. After all, as you know, at first, computer components were purchased second-hand, and there were always problems with finding drivers for old Windows. Without software from the official site or installation disk the system refused to work.

Keeping up with the times

Gigabyte is involved in the development the latest systems IT industry. She has contracts with many computer parts manufacturers around the world. Therefore, any presentation of the latest chipset at exhibitions and in the media is accompanied by a ready-made Gigabyte product. An example is the motherboard Gigabyte GA-Z170X Gaming G1, the existence of which was discovered on the opening day of the Computex 2015 exhibition, dedicated to the transmission of images in 4K Ultra HD format to the screen in games. Oddly enough, but the presented product from Gigabyte copes with the task without any problems. All this suggests that the manufacturer keeps up with the times and does not allow himself to use old technologies in production, providing the end consumer with maximum opportunities.

First meeting

The first thing that catches the eye of a happy buyer is the instruction manual for the Gigabyte motherboard. This tutorial is aimed at the non-IT user. Everything is painted so conveniently and clearly that the owner will not find it difficult to assemble the board into the case and fully connect all devices, including control buttons, front panel connection and indication, which is sometimes very difficult to do even for a specialist in the absence of instructions.

Studying the reviews about the manufacturer Gigabyte, especially about its motherboards, you can find many questions about the purpose of the existing fields for notes in the manual. The answer is simple: the manufacturer prompts the user to keep an independent record of the sequence of installation of the device in memory. However, there is no need for this, since the instructions do not need any additions.

First start

Before connecting the Gigabyte motherboard to the power supply, before the first start, it is imperative to check the correct connection of hard drives, if there are several of them in the system. BIOS-integrated intelligent detection and tuning system optimizes not only system startup time, but also power and cooling management for the performance of hard drives. In case one of hard drives was incorrectly connected, the next time you turn it on, the user will take a lot of time to reset the settings and re-optimize, which can increase the performance of the entire system. Automatic tuning when connected, judging by the reviews on many IT forums, it will be of interest only to novice users, and professionals prefer to customize the system for themselves, starting with increasing the frequency of the central processor and ending with disabling the temperature monitoring system, the sensors of which are stuffed with the entire Gigabyte motherboard.

Decent work with any operating system

Connecting a Gigabyte motherboard with a smart system is not the only positive point from the manufacturer. A valuable factor is the full compatibility of the hardware with any existing operating system, which will be able to have full access to all the technologies on the motherboard without installing drivers. It is clear that the manufacturer's recommendations should be taken into account and in order to improve all sorts of characteristics in the operation of the system, it is necessary to install system drivers that come with the device. In addition to drivers that are intended only for operating systems of the Windows family, the disk contains a digital version of the instructions and all kinds of proprietary utilities. Judging by the reviews of the owners of motherboards of the Gigabyte family, they would like to see proprietary utilities for others such as MacOS and Linux, because from year to year these platforms attract more and more attention of users.

Game on two fronts

This is not to say that the basic characteristic of a Gigabyte motherboard is the chipset. In one hundred percent of cases, this is the sum of all the latest technologies in one device providing end user a full range of options for work and play. Gigabyte, as they say in IT circles, works on two fronts. More precisely, it creates platforms for both Intel and AMD. V Lately"Playing on two fronts" is practiced by all motherboard manufacturers, with the exception of Intel itself. In terms of the compatibility of motherboards and video adapters on different chipsets, Gigabyte has never had any problems. You can easily install a video card from nVidia on the board intended for installation AMD processors and vice versa. Such interchangeability is only welcomed by users, judging by their numerous reviews.

Frequent user mistakes

Judging by the statistics, every third user, trying to improve the characteristics of their equipment, downloads drivers for all their devices from open file exchangers, completely ignoring the official websites of the manufacturers. Because of this, infection is widespread. operating system all kinds of viruses and programs remote access to personal information. All owners are strongly recommended to download utilities and drivers for the Gigabyte motherboard only from the manufacturer's official website. The problem is that most utilities and drivers work directly with the electronics of the board, and malicious interference with the hardware can cause physical harm to the hardware of the device. For example, a banal shutdown and an increase in voltage on all buses can literally burn all installed devices.

New device capabilities

It's no secret that they are constantly looking for opportunities for improvement. technical characteristics already sold devices. A version update may fix compatibility issues with some devices, add support for new processors, or change the control menu. Before updating a Gigabyte motherboard, you need to visit the developer's official website, find your device using the search system and make sure you have a new one. BIOS updates... If we turn to the numerous reviews of the owners, we can conclude that in the absence of any problems in the operation of the motherboard, it is highly discouraged to update the device. There is no sense in improving what already works perfectly.

The world's best cooling system

Every motherboard manufacturer can boast of proprietary technologies, all kinds of connectors and interfaces. But any Gigabyte motherboard, unlike its competitors, has an effective cooling system for components and chips. All microcircuits, connectors and capacitors are placed so as not to impede air circulation inside system unit... This is a truly unique architecture that actually works, not just described in the manual. Good cooling is known to improve the performance characteristics of the entire system.

Finally

Let appearance most motherboards from Gigabyte do not bother the potential owner. The absence of colorful stickers and aggressive coloring will never help to quickly connect and configure the device. Accordingly, beauty has nothing to do with cooling the system. Gigabyte motherboard is focused on user-friendliness during assembly. The absence of unnecessary components only facilitates the installation of components and provides conditions for maximum cooling of all devices. The manufacturer's warranty period of 36 months is a pretty serious indicator that Gigabyte is supplying decent devices to the market.