Shopping for the latest motherboard can be a confusing process especially to new users. With a lot of great looking boards, it’s not hard to base ones final decision on looks and a little on price, rather than the overall value. The value can include things often ignored like extra integrated components that increase performance and compatibility, plus design improvements and feature enhancements. Software support and reliability are also keys to defining the end user experience.
Today, we have a selection of leading Z77 motherboards that support the new Ivy Bridge CPU. We’ve assembled a wide range of boards for price conscious users, gamers and professionals and will take a detailed look at the ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional, ASUS Sabertooth Z77, ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe, ECS Z77H2-A2 Gold Edition Extreme, GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H, Intel DZ77GA-70K Extreme and MSI Z77A-GD65 Military Class III motherboards. They all promise a lot but can they deliver on features, performance, value and a positive user experience? Let’s find out!
Features and Specifications
With so many boards in this round up, it’s hard to digest all the similarities and differences that set them all apart. To give you a quick snapshot, here is a handy comparison table to show you the major differences between this field of competitors.
Intel Smart Response (SSD Caching), Fast Boot and Lucid MVP are present on all Z77 boards. SSD Caching turns your system into a responsive, agile computer simply by adding an affordable 20-64GB capacity SSD without having to maintain a separate drive for programs only. This is a feature that really set the Z68 apart from the P67 when it came to a real tangible benefit.
You can see that different integrated components are used in audio, networking, storage, connectivity, video out and other areas. For example, the ASMedia USB 3.0 controller is currently a better solution than the NEC (RENESAS) due to price and UASP support. The Realtek network controllers, unfortunately, use up some PCIE Gen1 bandwidth. GIGABYTE implemented a VIA VL800 USB controller which is used in USB Hubs meaning the ports require a loaded driver to be active unlike the native Z77 USB 3.0 ports. There is an unnecessary IDE port on the ASRock which isn’t listed.
This field of boards all have extra PLX controllers that move the PCIE bus along. If you want PCIE 3.0 performance, you’ll also need an Ivy Bridge processor as Sandy Bridge is only PCIE 2.0. Some boards like the ECS Z77H2-AX or ASUS ROG series have a bridge chip that allows the board to support PCIE 3.0 no matter what processor you have installed. Expect standard PCIE 2.0 performance from the bottom PCIE x4 slot as well.
Lucid Virtu MVP Improves Graphics Card Performance
Lucid MVP does more than just enable Intel Quick Sync. HyperFormance pairs Ivy Bridge’s DX11 integrated graphics processor with a single GPU to improve frame rates in games. Gains depend on the resolution and graphics settings. High resolution screens (1920 x 1200/1080p) with high graphics settings will see about a 20% gain. As you drop game settings, frame rates increase. Lower resolutions will experience much higher percentage gain which is where Virtual VSync comes in to play.
Virtual VSync controls video tearing that occurs when the graphics render more than 60 frames per second (fps). V-Vysnc takes those unneeded duplicate frames out that cause tearing. While regular VSync limits the frames to 60fps, Virtual Vysnc lets you flaunt those higher frame rates too (see our story and video).
Keep in mind that any current Lucid Virtu MVP software is compatible with a single GPU (one graphics card) and not NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFireX (see this post for details). You won’t be able to utilize any of the integrated CPU features. As it stands, it isn’t on the motherboard manufacturer’s list of things to license and therefore not in any immediate plans to update.
Let’s introduce the players shall we?
ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional
The Fatil1ty series comes in three different models at different prices points; Z77 Professional, Z77 Professional-M (micro-ATX) and Z77 Performance. While there are a few differences in audio and game ports, NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX is standard on all. The Professional offers all the Intel Z77 features including 3-Way CrossFireX.
The board has 16+8 Power Phase which means there should be some overclocking muscle. High end audio is often associated with pro gamer boards but this time around users only get a Realtek ALC898 audio processor. Good implementation will make or break the THX TruStudio audio quality. A Fatal1ty Mouse Port (USB) offers 125 Hz to 1000 Hz polling rates using the F-Stream utility.
There’s a total of 11 native Z77 SATA ports including the I/O eSATA on the back. The board includes a CLR CMOS button for resetting your BIOS as well. A power and reset button can be found near the SATA which may be tricky getting to if your cables are chaotic. The board features gold capacitors which are touted as better quality but appear to just be recapped to support of the Golden Extreme theme. ASRock chose to support two Gbt LAN ports with a Broadcom BCM57781 network controller.
In terms of layout, most headers are oriented to the outside of the board with the exception of one near the top PCIEx1 slot and a long-since-dead IDE connector near the24-pin power which just needs dropped. Overall, you can tell this is a gamers motherboard.
ASRock bundles quite a bit of everything with the board. Aside from the documentation and software, there are four SATA cables, SLI/CFX VGA bridge, 3.5″ USB 3.0 expansion dock with PCI adapter, IO shield and two 4-pin MOLEX to SATA power adapters. The MSRP on this is $229 US.
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe
If you recall our highly detailed ASUS Z77 Preview, there are many new user experience and component innovations inside. The P8Z77-V Deluxe was the flag ship solution but a Premium model was recently announced. That brings the “channel series” count to eleven offering varying levels of connective features. Like all the channel boards, the Deluxe offers all of the best ASUS only features (MemOK!, TPU overclocking, EPU efficiency, Q-Design, AI Suite II and Solid State Caps) as well as new SMART DIGI+ which includes multiple digital voltage controllers that tune the CPU, iGPU and DRAM. A total of 20 Phases (16 CPU + 4 iGPU) power the processor along with 2 Phase DRAM since ASUS designed their own unique individual traces and controllers for the memory.
Some innovative user features include Fan Xpert 2 which includes a graphical user interface for controlling system fans in the OS and USB 3.0 Boost with full UASP multi-queue transmission to boost IO transfer speeds (make sure your USB 3.0 has proper UASP support like the Thermaltake 5G). A pile of updates are added to all the tools inside ASUS AI Suite II such as USB BIOS Flashback which allows you to update the BIOS without being powered on, USB Charger+ offers the most power for recharging portable devices all the way up to laptops and an online ASUS enthusiast eco system similar to ROG that allows users to share their overclocking profiles. Finally!
The Deluxe also offers a full range of network connectivity not available anywhere else. Users get dual Gigabit LAN ports, BlueTooth and dual band Wi-Fi. The bonus to the Wi-Fi is that it can allow the system to act like an access point, or router. A new Network iControl utility gives the system user more control over the programs that use the network.
In terms of design, the Deluxe is logically laid out with ports and headers mounted along the edges except for a single fan port near the top PCIEx1 slot. The Wi-Fi module doesn’t come attached but users can easily install it in about 60 seconds.
Accessories include users manuals, driver/software disc, white Wi-Fi antennae, six black SATA cables, flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge, Quick Connectors, Wi-Fi module with screw and black IO shield. It’s also the most expensive board in our line up at $274.99 US.
ASUS Sabertooth Z77
The Sabertooth Z77 motherboard presents an orderly, highly reliable and somewhat militant design due to its Thermal Armor and choice of unusually highly resilient, military-spec components. The TUF Mil-Spec standard components are meant to operate in any environment. Vents have been added to the Thermal Armor as well as two small cooling fans to keep air moving.
The array of features include the entire ASUS AI Suite II software bundle including DIGI+ Power Control, UEFI BIOS, USB Charge+, Network iControl, USB BIOS Flashback, Fan Xpert 2, and USB 3.0 BoostThermal Radar software accesses over 12 different sensors around the board which monitor power and thermal performance. Like all the ASUS Z77 series, the PCB implements individual DIMM tracing and controllers for better memory efficiency.
The Sabertooth Z77 has an extremely logical layout. The Thermal Armor doesn’t cover any headers which are all visible around the outer perimeter including the horizontal USB 3.0 header. The board also includes protective TUF Dust Defender caps for all the onboard headers, PCIE and RAM slots. Aside from keeping dust out, it stream lines the board’s look. The RAM slot Defender also doubles as a PCIE slot unlocker. Given the average system upgrade schedule, the Sabertooth should still be running programs and games relatively well assuming you upgraded your video cards at some point. The Sabertooth is just plain cool!
The accessories bundle includes lots of detailed documentation, six black SATA cables, flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge, two 30mm optional fans, TUF Dust Defender Caps, Quick Connector headers and black IO shield. The board retails for $239.99 US but is the only board in this round up to include a five year warranty.
ECS Z77H2-AX2 Golden Edition Extreme
The ECS Z77H2-A2X Gold Extreme board has a theme that has garnered the most attention from the five models in ECS’ Z77 arsenal. The best comment that I’ve heard, thus far, is that it’s a cross between the movie Stargate and Jersey Shore. It’s definitely a product that has inspired some reactions in the social media sphere.
ECS markets this platform with their new Nonstop Super Marathon 3X (72 Hour) Stability, Sahara Severe 50C Test, Apache Long-Life 100% Solid State Capacitors and Thor Ultra ESD (electro-static discharge) Protection. We consider 72 hours testing the basic requirement to validate a board. Intel tests their own boards while in ovens of sorts upwards of 60C so 50C should be the minimum by military standards.
The Z77H2-AX2 offers all the basic Intel Z77 chipset features which includes 2-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX support, eZ Charger for USB port device charging, mini-PCI Express slot (for m-Wireless, m-Tuner or m-SATA devices), Intel SSD Caching, Intel USB 3.0 Turbo and Smart Connect Technology. The board uses both Intel and ASMedia SATA3 support. This is one of the few boards with both Atheros AR3011 Bluetooth and Atheros AR9271Wi-Fi LAN.
Looking over the design and layout, all of the headers and onboard ports are positioned on the outer edges. The integrated Atheros Bluetooth/Wi-Fi share the controller which means with both features connected the bandwidth has to be shared. Also, the Wi-Fi will have limited range which could limit bandwidth and signal depending on the distance of the access point.
The Gold Extreme comes with documentation, software disc, blue port/header cover caps, black SATA cables, 3.5″ bay USB 3.0 expansion dock with PCI adapter, flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge, IR antenna and matching gold IO shield. All this “bling” will set you back about $249.99 US. It also has the weirdest warranty: 2 years parts and labor and 3 years parts. So who’s soldering in the third year?
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H
The GA-Z77X-UD3H is one of eleven models in GIGABYTE’s Z77 series which include the G1.Killer Sniper 3 and it’s little brother, the Sniper M3. It’s considered one of the more cost effective solutions for Ivy Bridge users while a more feature rich GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WIFI tops off the series.
Given that it’s an entry level board, you’ll find the basic Z77 features as well as their software which includes the USB On/Off Charge driver for phone sized device charging, EZ Smart Response SSD caching setup and myriad of software utilities (check out this article for more detail). The UD3H also has a mini-PCIE slot for mini WiFi, Tuner or m-SATA storage cards. LN2 overclockers will find onboard Voltage Read Points, OC-PEG external SATA power connectors for stable PCIE, onboard BIOS Switcher to switch between the dual UEFI BIOS ROMs, and of course the usual power, reset and clear CMOS buttons.
CPU stability rides on GIGABYTE’s new 3D Digital VRM with a similar GUI also used on their X79 boards. Users have the 3D Power Utility that controls voltages, PWM frequencies and Phase control for improving system efficiency. EasyTune 6 is GIGABYTE’s answer up to 4.6GHz preset and manual overclocking. If OS based utilities don’t do it for you, the UEFI DualBIOS is your final option. The design of the UD3H is quite clean. The buttons, data ports, fan headers, power connectors, USB and other panel headers are all situated on the outside edge.
The Z77X-UD3H accessories include documentation, drivers/software disc, some GIGABYTE case stickers, two black SATA cables, two blue SATA cables, flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge and color coded black IO shield. At $159.99 US, it is the least expensive board in our round up with a very competitive 3 year parts and labour warranty. Keep in mind though, GIGABYTE’s warranty is currently from “Date of Manufacture” not from “Date of Purchase”. We certainly hope this changes in the future.
Intel DX77GA-70K Extreme
Here, we have Intel’s DZ77GA-70K Extreme series motherboard. All the Extreme boards sport the alien like skull. There are a total of six Z77 friendly platforms for enthusiasts, media users and office professionals. The 70K is the only board to support overclocking K SKU processors. There isn’t much information that indicates Intel’s own VRM/PWM implementation but 8 Phase is common on the Z77 designs.
The features on the 70K include all the Z77 chipset basics. One feature not visible is the new Intel UEFI BIOS which engineers put in lot of time and thought to make sure it was something different. The new drivers/software disc gets a revised installation program to speed things along. Intel increases the retail bundle with a much needed dual band Wi-Fi PCIEx1 card for better signal connectivity. The antennae use ring-nuts to secure to the card which ensures the best connection and range.
Keeping its tradition with design and layout, the 70K has a pretty simple theme with any connectable data, USB, fan and power connectors are pretty much situated to the outside edge of the board. A red fan header can be found above the top PCIE x1 slot and yellow front panel audio header next to the second PCIEx8 slot which isn’t the end of the world but could get a little tight. I wish the alien skull was still back lit or at least had red LED eyes to make it stand out more.
Intel’s bundle includes black Bluetooth receiver with gray USB cable, Azurewave Wi-Fi PCI (m-PCIE) module with two white antennae, four blue UV SATA cables, 3.5″ bay USB 3.0 unit, blue flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge, users manuals and software/drivers disc. The asking price is $229.99 US with a 3 year parts and labour warranty.
MSI Z77A-GD65 Military Class III
Here is another board we already had the privilege of using to test Sandy Bridge. The board is more efficient than P67 and showed similar performance to the Z68A-GD65. However, overclocking was a lot easier thanks to new DrMOS II and UEFI BIOS. While not specified, the board most likely has very similar VRM to the Z68A-GD65 which had basically 8 Phase.
Since we already covered the Z77A-GD65 in detail here, let’s do a quick-quick recap. It has all the Z77 features (SSD caching, Lucid Virtu MVP, Intel USB 3.0 Turbo and 2-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX) including a clean Click BIOS II Windows based utility, Gaming Optimized ports which support high polling gaming peripherals, Super Charger for charging mobile devices through the USB port, Winki 3 when you want a quick no-fuss boot to check email, M-Flash that acts as a BIOS backup on a USB flash drive, Live Update 5 for automated BIOS/program/driver updates and MSI Control Center for overclocking. Or, users use the OC Genie II button for an automated overclock without touching the BIOS.
This time around, the Z77A-GD65 has a really nice blue on black theme with a really clean, conservative appearance which is normal for MSI product developers. Following reference designs, all board’s connections are implemented around the edges. The buttons are also logically located up top.
Inside your MSI Z77A-GD65 retail box you should find an overclocking manual, user manual, certificate of stability (which was validated), four black SATA cables, header leads for voltage measuring, front panel connectors, flexible SLI/CFX VGA bridge and black IO shield. At $169.99 US, it’s the second least expensive board in our round up and has a 3 year parts and labour warranty.
So that’s the last of the players. Let’s get on with the testing shall we?
Test Systems Setup
I used the same components from the Ivy Bridge launch article to keep things consistent. It would be great to have two GTX 680s for which to test PCIE 3.0 bus performance more thoroughly but everyone is still struggling to get a hold of these things. Here’s what we’re working with this round.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge
- Motherboard 1: ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional
- Motherboard 2: ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe
- Motherboard 3: ASUS Sabertooth Z77
- Motherboard 4: ECS Z77H2-AX2 Gold Edition Extreme
- Motherboard 5: Intel DZ77GA-70K Extreme
- Motherboard 6: MSI Z77A-GD65 Military Class III
- Memory: Kingston HyperX Genesis 2x4GB 1600MHz DDR3
- Memory OC: Kingston HyperX Genesis 2x4GB 2800MHz DDR3
- Graphics: Two MSI GTX 560 Ti TwinFrozr II (SLI)
- Power: Antec High Current Pro 1000 Watt (HPC-1000)
- OS: Windows 7 Pro 64-bit (SP1)
- CPU Cooling: NZXT. HAVIK 140
- CPU OC Cooling: Dangerden MC-TDX Block and triple 120mm Koolance 1050 Radiator
- NVIDIA 296.10 Video Drivers
The HyperX Genesis 2800MHz memory was used to see which boards were able to hit their maximum DDR3 frequency support. Some are spec’d to 2800MHz and others to 2666MHz. We’ll check that in the coming sections.
Who Has the Best Software Support?
As part of the value, manufacturers often include a program, or several programs, that automatically install all the necessary motherboard drivers and tools which makes set up very easy. It also includes some useful utilities, some optional and some gimmicky software. Each manufacturers bundle was evaluated. The more integrated, organized and pertinent, the better.
Let’s start with the not so good. The ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional and ECS Z77H2-AX2 Gold Extreme both provide the necessary software to get set up. However, both experienced lock ups randomly when installing the USB 3.0 and network drivers from the disc and their respective websites. Additionally, the Gold did the same thing when installing the Atheros Bluetooth and Wi-Fi drivers. This is a serious issue that requires better quality control and this is reflected in the score card.
With something so obviously broken, we are amazed that it got to into retail. Even if we were able to somehow “figure it out” using our body of experience, the damage is already done when it gets to the user that spends their hard earned money on the product. In this day and age, this is definitely not acceptable.
Where there is a dark side, there is the light. ASUS, GIGABYTE, Intel and MSI all offer smooth automated driver installation as well as useful utilities in each bundle. While each offers varying software tools, the ASUS AI Suite II continues to be the most organized and comprehensive in that it installs only what you select. Every system tool or utility (listed on the features and specs comparison table) is integrated in to the program.
The newest piece of software from ASUS is Fan Xpert2 which turns the board itself into a fan controller via the software. The GUI is very clean and easy to set up. Even the Z77 Sabertooth’s thermal software is integrated – very cool. The rest of the group offer varying utilities but few are linked and some like MSI’s OTP Service leave you scratching your head.
Overall, ASUS AI Suite II includes the most useful tools and adds value to the end user. They get extra points for a great integration of all utilities under one roof. Something that all the other manufacturers can learn from.
Who Has the Best Overclocking Options?
Each manufacturer offers a Windows based overclocking utility; ASRock Xtreme Tuning Utility, ASUS TurboV EVO, ECS Easy Overclock Utility, GIGABYTE Easy Tune 6, and MSI Control Center are all fairly mature. Intel, unfortunately, doesn’t have any OC software solution anymore which is unfortunate seeing as they have the most intimate knowledge of the supporting hardware. While most frequency presets worked, manual tuning makes TurboV EVO the most aggressive followed by GIGABYTE’s Easy Tune 6 and MSI Control Center takes third. TurboV EVO and MSI Control Center are the two most attractive utilities for enthusiasts.
ASUS and MSI offer the only onboard instant overclocking controls of the pack. ASUS offers a TPU selector and gets the Core i7-2600/2700K and i7-3770K processors up to 4.3GHz while the MSI OC Genie II sets to 4.2GHz with a press of the button and a restart. If you aren’t quite an OC-Samurai, these are the best hardware options outside the OC software presets.
BIOS overclocking requires a bit more patience. When the transistor smoke cleared, the P8Z77-V Deluxe reached just short of 5GHz followed by the Z77X-UD3H with a surprising 4.9GHz. Especially considering that it was the least expensive board in this round up. Ultimately, processor heat became a big issue and held these boards back.
As far as memory goes, overclocking to 2800MHz only worked on the P8Z77-V Deluxe while the rest of the pack topped out around 2700MHz with manual tuning. As with any overclocking endeavour, make sure you’re using the most up to date BIOS and good quality memory for best results.
Note: Current (5/2012) Ivy Bridge processors heat up beyond 90C at and above 4.8GHz under load requiring water cooling to look for maximum frequency. Thermal transference is limited due to the smaller die surface contact and a new Intel manufacturing process. Your CPU and board’s results will definitely vary. Keep this in mind if you’re going for a crazy overclock.
Who Has the Best Z77 UEFI BIOS?
The BIOS is an integral part of the system’s overall stability and functionality. It’s also a feature very important to the end user experience. Four main aspects were considered when evaluating each board’s UEFI BIOS – Layout which includes feature and setting page separation, Content which are the explanations and definitions for BIOS options, GUI as to how fluid the mouse and keyboard function throughout, and Design of the UEFI BIOS since we like pretty graphics.
The score card says it all and here’s why. While all the boards could use some more BIOS definitions and/or descriptions (some more than others) to help users along with their choice of settings, the ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe, Z77 Sabertooth and Intel DZ77GA-70K offer the most comprehensive BIOS. In fact, Intel put a great deal of effort in to their BIOS this time around. Each is particularly easy to manage and configure which really helps the end user speed things along. The ASUS BIOS is more informative and clearly explained which provides the best overall user experience.
The GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3H has a great intro into the full UEFI BIOS arena. It’s easy to learn, which helps new users immensely, but still needs a more fluid GUI as we noticed the mouse and key selection options lag a bit. The Z77A-GD65 has an attractive BIOS but lacks a lot of helpful user information both in the buttons and selections menus. In either case, it wouldn’t be hard to fix these up to improve the experience.
Unfortunately, the Fatal1ty Z77 PRO looks good from a distance but doesn’t have a fluid GUI. It still needs some more option definitions and organization as its just a little too spread out. The ECS Z77H2-A2X screams for visual attention, but the BIOS is lacking in many of the above attributes. More work is needed to polish it up as well as its gold heatsinks. Otherwise it continues to feel more like a disappointing OEM BIOS. Consumers honestly expect more from a $240 “Gold Royalty” motherboard.
Benchmark Notes
This section is important, mostly so that the we’re ensuring all the boards are of a certain performance quality. We’re running benchmarks for CPU, graphics and IO (USB/SATA) to compare performance and to ensure that everyone just works. Keep in mind that motherboard tuning in the BIOS and any component enhancements can improve system performance and user experience as you’ve observed in the previous sections.
CPU Benchmarks
Again, motherboard tuning can dramatically affect CPU performance. Here we’re taking a look at Cinebench R11.5 for CPU performance, PCMark7 which benchmarks the entire system and provides an overall score, 7ZIP data compression, Media Espresso 6.5 for comparing transcoding of a 1080p to a standard playable mobile format and Graysky 4.0 video rendering benchmark.
Cinebench is great for revealing BIOS CPU Turbo and memory tuning. Here, we see the ASUS boards scored the highest thanks to aggressive turbo frequencies with the rest of the pack falling in line.
All the subsystem performance numbers culminate to what you see here. The Deluxe and Sabertooth solidified their place on the food chain right away. With slower transient Turbo frequencies, the rest of the pack lagged behind a bit. The ECS actually didn’t reach 3.9GHz Turbo mode very often despite its overachieving motif. The rest of the boards seemed to bounce around 3.8GHz more often. The ASUS boards reached 3.9GHz more often than the rest of the field which results in the overall higher scores.
Media Espresso 6.5 is Intel Quick Sync friendly which means it utilizes the full power of the integrated graphics on the CPU die to accelerate video encoding. The systems had to be taken for a spin to make sure IQS is working with a single GPU installed. In this benchmark, 95% of the work is going on inside Ivy Bridge between the cores and the L-Cache. Little data is being stored or used on the RAM. Pretty impressive IQS performance from the pack overall.
Intel Turbo can sometimes help in this benchmark. But most of the performance is happening between the CPU and memory. For some pleasant reason, the Z77 Sabertooth was a bit more aggressive on the 2nd pass. Otherwise, the systems were separated by only a few frames which, in the real world, makes things a wash.
Compressing files favors Turbo Boost. Again, the Sabertooth just seems like it’s able to bite off a bigger piece than the rest. This means the higher performing systems will be just a little quicker when it’s required. A 10GB zipped file will be about 30 seconds quicker for example. But if you zip a LOT of files, that starts to add up over the course of a week, a month and a year.
Graphics Benchmarks
Only a few DirectX11 benchmarks were tossed in to test each board’s SLI graphics performance since it taxes the systems the most. If your system can run them fine, then it won’t have any problems running DX10 and DX9 games.
Like I mentioned, average frame rates are very close. This is why we aren’t going to bother you with 20 other random game benchmarks. The reasoning is that each board has the potential to provide any level gamer with an experience that they’ll love with any GPU setup in their budget.
3DMark11 is affected a bit by a system’s BIOS and resources just like Cinebench in that CPU turbo, specifically the frequencies and the length of the boost, can improve performance. The ASUS boards are naturally more aggressive. Even if engineers add a little extra tuning, it’s still part of the board that will benefit end users. We’ll take everything we can get.
I/O Benchmarks – USB 3.0 Turbo vs Boost, SATA3 and Network
Many of the boards have native and third party SATA3 and USB 3.0 controllers. All the boards offer USB 3.0 via the Z77 PCH. However, the P8Z77-V Deluxe and Z77 Sabertooth are the only boards to offer Intel USB 3.0 Turbo and an extra ASMedia USB 3.0 Boost feature. To measure the benefits, I started with CrystalDiskMark.
SATA3 performance is pretty similar. Standard Intel USB 3.0 bandwidth was also similar between the boards though the Z77X-UD3H was slower for some repeatable reason. ASUS’ USB 3.0 Turbo and Boost features (which are built in to ASUS AI Suite II) provided noticeable performance gains in sequential performance. Additionally, the ASMedia USB 3.0 controller allows for more than 1 queue depth which is a good thing for external storage devices which support the latest UASP standard. Have a look at ATTO Disk Benchmark comparing USB 3.0 Turbo and Boost.
While sequential performance is better on the Intel PCH (left), it’s the 4.0 data performance that favors the ASMedia. This performance will favor the ASMedia controller when connecting external storage like a multi-drive RAID array or docking stations with big drives. They need the bigger queue to respond to more requests.
Network performance is comparable across all the boards. The boards with Intel LAN controllers were a bit faster. Given the distance and two walls between the wireless access point, the Deluxe and 70K Wi-Fi did well. Unfortunately, the ECS board’s problematic network wouldn’t work. There was no performance gain using any of the bundled “network software” with any of the boards. Those utilities simply allow prioritized program control to manage any unnecessary network usage. If you want the best control, you have to bypass the Windows network stack. Currently, only Bigfoot Networks and their Killer NICs truly do this. Unfortunately, none of the boards in this particular round up were using that network controller.
Power Consumption
Both Unigine Heaven 2.5 demo and OCCT Linpack with high memory were run at the same time to represent a maximum system load situation. The numbers below are actually the maximum amount of wattage recorded on the meter. Chances are you’ll rarely push your system this hard but you at least get the consumption picture.
In perspective, there wasn’t a big difference in power consumption between the systems. It was close at idle and when just the CPU was loaded down. The Z77X-UD3H spiked to 464 just a few times. But on the average, all the systems pulled about 430 watts over a 30 minute period. If you were wondering if that 650 Watt PSU was enough, now you know.
How is the Integrated Audio Performance?
Integrated audio will satisfy most users as long as it doesn’t cut out, crackle, hiss or has channels leaking. Proper implementation will prevent that from happening. RightMark Audio Analyzer was used to find the best 24-bit, 192Hz score since these are all HD audio processors. Let’s take a look and see who has done their homework.
The best audio experience is going to be heard from the ASUS and GIGABYTE boards. The ASUS Z77 pair get down right deep when running game benchmarks. However, the audio channel separation on the GIGABYTE Z77X-UD3 is quite nice and extremely clear when listening through a high quality 150 ohm headset. Let’s just say, I got my beats on while writing with that board. It’s something that GIGABYTE has learned from their G1.Killer experience and it seems that board’s from the UD3H up alos benefit from better audio performance.
How We Evaluated the Z77 Round Up
Installation, performance, presentation and price are characteristics that are very important if component (motherboard, video cards, etc.) companies are to attract DIY consumers and system integrators. In order for the market to grow, new users must also be guaranteed a pleasant experience. These add up to the overall end user experience which is the most important impression of all. However, system integrators are more demanding and hold motherboards to a higher standard than the average user. Mainly because they are on the hook for the poor user experience at the end of the day, and that can sacrifice happy customers and destroy an end user experience. Keep all this in mind as you read through our final comments.
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (9.5 / 10) and Z77 Sabertooth (9.0 / 10)
The ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe and Sabertooth motherboards provided the best overall end user experience as they were the easiest to set up from hardware to software. The AI Suite II software is the most comprehensive all-in-one tool in controlling, maintaining, updating and tweaking the entire system from Fan Xpert2 control to TurboV EVO overclocking. This is something we’ve asked GIGABYTE to do because with all the little utilities they keep launching, it’s starting to get cluttered on the desktop, even though the utilities are useful.
ASUS also adds an extra USB 3.0 Turbo and Boost performance for better external storage support. It helps that ASMedia is actually an ASUS owned company, so that close relationship has paid off. The ASUS UEFI BIOS on both boards is the most polished which further compliments the user experience. Speaking of BIOS, the hardware BIOS flashback feature makes it so easy to upgrade a BIOS without having to actually boot into the system, or have a CPU or memory in the board. Very convenient for brand new system builds where a component may not be totally supported, like a new CPU. Or if there is a potential critical issue that cannot be resolved with a LIVE BIOS upgrade.
The ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe offers the most connectivity and overclocking. It also was the only board to meet its 2800MHz DDR3 potential. On the other hand, the Z77 Sabertooth is a solid mission critical computing weapon perfect for a high performance work station and is backed with the only 5 year warranty in the round up. The quality continues to be impeccable. With so many sensors and software managing so many functions, I’m surprised it doesn’t email you when it needs something (patent pending).
Thanks to all the attention to end user detail, these two motherboards offered the best overall performance and features. At $274.99 and $234.99 respectively, these boards offer a premium experience worth their price.
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H Motherboard (8.5 / 10)
The GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H was a pleasant experience as well. Installation was simple and efficient as we’ve come to expect. While the extra system utilities aren’t included in a neat little bundle, they are accessible on the software disc. Users will find that Easy Tune 6 does its best overclocking on a fresh, new OS installation, but there are many utilities in the bundle that are valuable, but not as polished as the unified ASUS Suite.
The four blue VIA USB 3.0 ports can be an inconvenience as they remain inactive till Windows loads, making it hard to recover from hibernation. Make sure you use at least one of the native Z77 ports for mouse/keyboard to avoid frustration. The onboard power button will recover the system as well. The updated 3D UEFI BIOS intro is really nice but could use a bit more GUI polishing, few more details and a smoother mouse interface.
In spite of its mainstream design, regular and overclocking enthusiasts will be surprised as long as your Ivy Bridge K series CPU has very good cooling. In fact, it was the second highest overclocking board in our round up, which is astounding considering the price.
At $159.99 US, the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H is a good value, backed by a 3 year “date of manufacture” warranty. Definitely an easy to recommend board in this bunch, especially if price is an issue and you want the better audio and the better overclocking to squeeze all the performance you can get out of the system for your dollar.
Intel DZ77GA-70K Extreme Motherboard (8.0 / 10)
The Intel DZ77GA-70K Extreme board appeared conservative, but was far more aggressive in terms of performance. Especially when compared to Intel’s previously more pedestrian efforts. With the new software disc in hand, set up was naturally simple and made configuration easy. Intel engineers have also given the new UEFI BIOS some overclocking muscle and a very handy 4.5GHz slider that works easily and still manages a respectable overclock given Ivy’s hot temper. Of all the BIOS featured, Intel’s is the newest, most improved, looks good, is logically designed. It’s also an “informative” BIOS giving new users some help along the way. It’s kind of sad there isn’t any Intel overclocking software any more because who better to overclock than Intel and their intimate knowledge of how things work.
Users will be happy the board now includes a good quality dual band performance Wi-Fi card and Bluetooth to add to its connectivity. Thanks to the new BIOS and drivers, the 70K Extreme feels more like an enthusiast board than ever.
Considering all the extras, the $229.99 retail price is very easy to stomach along with a 3 year parts and labour warranty to back it up. It too comes highly recommended, especially when you consider all that is in its price point. If they could JUST bring themselves to put out an exceptional overclocking utility, this board might be unstoppable.
MSI Z77A-GD65 Motherboard (8.0 / 10)
The user experience with the MSI Z77A-GD65 did not disappoint. Basically, the Z77A-GD65 brings a new look and UEFI BIOS to the table. MSI Control Center requires the Intel Management Engine software to properly overclock the CPU. Too bad it’s not all easily integrated like the ASUS.
While the new ClickBIOSII utility was useable, it could use some more polishing as it was a bit sluggish with a glitch GUI. OC Genie II scales Ivy to 4.2GHz easily but we’d like to see higher next time around since Intel Turbo 2.0 comes . It’s nice to see USB 3.0 boost performance working on the board especially for media users.
While the MSI UEFI BIOS looks good and works pretty smoothly, some more definitions or descriptions would make it much easier for end users. At $169.99 US, the price is actually very easy to stomach for those on a budget. With the give and take with the GIGABYTE for that extra $10, it definitely comes down to which brand you prefer. While the MSI does currently have a better warranty, the GIGABYTE does have better audio and better ultimate overclocking capability.
ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional Motherboard (6.5 / 10)
While, the ASRock Fatal1ty Z77 Professional looks good, the set up process was less than smooth. The USB 3.0 and network controllers were problematic when installing drivers from the disc or ASRock website. Two different boards would freeze in the process indicating the board may need a BIOS and/or driver software update.
The UEFI BIOS is actually legacy looking when you look past the nice red Fatal1ty graphics. While pretty basic and easy to figure out, it could use more information. For a flagship gamer board, there aren’t any gaming features, extra connectivity or components to add to the “Fatal1ty” experience. However, gaming and overclocking performance was comparable to the competition.
Given the glitches and lack of extra features, the board just doesn’t feel ready which is very surprising given ASRock’s impressive Z68 history. Till things are fixed, I just can’t recommend spending $229.99 US for the logo. Once they do, we’ll re-evaluate the board.
ECS Z77H2-A2X Gold Extreme Motherboard (5.5 / 10)
Finally, the ECS Z77H2-A2X Gold Extreme started out great but then some issues arose when installing and working with the component software drivers. Obviously, ECS knows connectivity is important and provides almost as many as the ASUS counterpart. However, their integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi components refused to properly work whether using drivers from the disc or website. The board also has a limited number of active USB ports that respond properly to keyboards and mice, especially when in hibernation. Fortunately, the power button brought it out without losing the data.
Intel Turbo Monitor revealed that the board doesn’t seem to reach 3.9GHz very often and is reflected in the benchmarks. The issues encountered point to a lack luster UEFI BIOS which really needs work given this is considered a premium board. Ironically, overclocking was quite good suggesting the board is on the right track. But until you can wear the gold, you really do have to put in the work and this board definitely needs to put in the work still.
Till the component issues are addressed, I can’t recommend this $249.99 US product without disappointing the end user. Again, once they fix the issues, we can revisit the board at a later time.
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