Z68 early variants: Gigabyte UD4 vs. D2H (or the "awaiting Z68 release" thread)

[equazcion]

I've never been an early adopter before but would like to give it a try. Problem is, I can't find anything but very basic one-line specs for the Z68 variants released today.

Does anyone who knows Gigabyte's line have an idea of what the various differences are generally between their UD4 and D2H models?

 

[BlueKnight1]

According to excaliburpc.com (which I found via google) here are the specs of the GA-Z68X-UD4-B3

CPU Socket Type - LGA 1155
North Bridge - Intel Z68
Number of Memory Slots - 4 x 240-Pin
Memory Standard - DDR3 1333/ 1066/ 800
Channel Supported - Dual Channel
Expansion Slots - 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (dual mode at x8/x8), 2 x PCIe x1, 2 x PCI
Storage - 4 SATA2+6 SATA3, (Z68 4 SATA2+2 SATA3 + 2 SE9172 2 SATA3)
Audio Channels - 8-Channel High
Form Factor - ATX

From what I can gather the X after the Z68 means it has eXtra ports versus the A varieties of the P67 (6 SATA 3 vs 2 on the P67A).

Unfortunately for the GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3, I could only find that it is a MATX board. No other info on excaliburpc.com.

However on Gigabyte's site they have an announcement regarding Virtu (so you can use QuickSync with discrete graphics) and they only list the following motherboards as including it: Z68X-UD3H-B3, Z68A-D3H-B3, Z68MX-UD2H-B3, and Z68MA-D2H-B3.

This leads me to think that those models have the processor graphics with ports on the motherboard. Whereas the GA-Z68X-UD7-B3 does not have the graphics ports, and no mention of Virtu that I could find. This leads me to believe that the Z68X-UD4 also lacks them.

I find this sad as I was hoping for a Gigabyte board of at least the UD4 level with QuickSync support. Maybe I'll end up getting a UD3H if it overclocks well. I have all the parts for my build, just waiting on these Z68 boards and reviews.

Edit: Some of the above information is wrong. See my post below where we get the specs right from the manual.

 

[MoxJr]

Z68 mobos supposed to come out today right? Where they at

 

[equazcion]

Z68 mobos supposed to come out today right? Where they at

A few started appearing Sunday but the official release has actually been pushed to Wednesday 5/11.

 

[Fallen Kell]

........ Need reviews

 

[aphelion02]

A few started appearing Sunday but the official release has actually been pushed to Wednesday 5/11.

Really? Do you have links to motherboards that have already appeared in the US?

 

[aphelion02]

double post

 

[BlueKnight1]

Really? Do you have links to motherboards that have already appeared in the US?

The boards I linked in my 1st post are on sale at the vendor. Found them via a google shopping search for Z68 motherboard.

 

[aphelion02]

From the pictures it seems like the the Gigabyte Z68 boards don't have a video output. Not so happy as it ruins the ability to use the integrated video for a separate monitor (for non-virtu quicksync) and also removes an option for backup graphics. Still might get the UD4 though....we really need reviews. Wasn't the NDA supposed to expire yesterday?

 

[BlueKnight1]

In my earlier thread I postulated that because the UD4 didn't have video ports, it probably couldn't use Virtu, but according to this story the new ASUS Z68 boards, one of which doesn't have video ports, all support Virtu.

So maybe the Gigabyte boards do too. And yes, need reviews please.

 

[equazcion]

In my earlier thread I postulated that because the UD4 didn't have video ports, it probably couldn't use Virtu, but according to this story the new ASUS Z68 boards, one of which doesn't have video ports, all support Virtu.

So maybe the Gigabyte boards do too. And yes, need reviews please.

That makes sense since I'm pretty sure one of the benefits to the Z68 over P67 is Virtu runs through your installed graphics card rather than through an integrated port.

See http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888-5.html

 

[BlueKnight1]

Another search today found a forum where someone posted a few links to the manuals of the new Gigabyte motherboards. From those you can extrapolate the other motherboards' manuals that they didn't link.

So back to the original question! The GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 vs the GA-Z68X-UD4-B3:

• Both support 4 x 1.5v DDR3 DIMMs up to 4 x 8 for 32 GB total at 2133/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz speeds.
• The D2H has onboard graphics support (D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI), the UD4 does not.
• They both feature a Realtek ALC889 codec for 2/4/5.1/7.1 Audio and SPDIF out. The UD4 also has "Support for Dolby Home Theater".
• They both feature 2x PCIe x16 slots that do x8 when both are used (SLI/Crossfire)
• The UD4 has 2x PCIe x1 slots, and 2x PCI slots. The D2H has a third X16 slot that is electrically x4 and 1x PCIe x1 slot.
• The UD4 has 4x SATA 6 Gb/s internal connectors, 2 eSATA 6 Gb/s connectors on the rear panel, and 4x SATA 3 Gb/s internal connectors with varying RAID levels depending on the chip assigned to the port. The D2H has 2x SATA 6 Gb/s and 4x SATA 3 Gb/s with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10.
• The UD4 has 8x back panel and 6x internal (3 headers) USB 2.0 ports, 2x back panel and 2x internal (1 header) USB 3.0 ports. The D2H has 4x back panel and 8x internal (4 headers) USB 2.0 ports, 2x back panel USB 3.0 ports.
• They both have 1x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port.
• They both have 1x coaxial S/PDIF Out. The UD4 also has 1x Optical S/PDIF Out.
• The UD4 has 1x back panel IEEE 1394 (firewire) port and 1x internal 1394 header.
• They both have 1x Ethernet port.
• The UD4 has 6x audio jacks, the D2H has 3.
• They both still use a licensed AWARD BIOS. (Their new TouchBIOS feature seems to be a Windows app that lets you configure BIOS settings via Windows. No mention that I could find in either manual of TouchBIOS. All of the example screens of the BIOS look like the same old same old.)
• Last but not least, the UD4 is ATX Form Factor (30.5 cm x 24.4 cm). The D2H is Micro ATX (24.4 cm x 24.4 cm).

Neither of these model's manuals mention Virtu, but they don't mention TouchBIOS or how many power phases they have either.

Well there are a lot of other models that offer varying features. This list is already ugly enough. But, I wanted to get the info out rather than spend my time formatting a table.

The more I see of these Gigabyte boards, the more I am wanting to know about the ASUS P8Z68-V Pro and the ASRock Z68 Extreme4. I have liked the Gigabyte boards that I have owned but these new ones seem to lack features I am interested in.

 

[equazcion]

Interesting. Hard to make out which is better but the UD4 is more expensive so lets go with that

According to the picture, the D2H looks like it has 2x ethernet tho: http://www.excaliberpc.com/images/606859_1/original.jpg

PS It also looks bigger than the UD4 despite the UD4 being the ATX and D2H being micro.... maybe these pictures aren't all that accurate.

 

[BlueKnight1]

According to the picture, the D2H looks like it has 2x ethernet tho: http://www.excaliberpc.com/images/606859_1/original.jpg

If you zoom in on that image, you can just make out that it reads GA-P67A-UD7. Also there is this lovely blurb on the store page for that motherboard that reads:

Pictures and description of Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 Intel Z68 LGA 1155 MATX Intel Motherboard are for your convenience only and may not be accurate.

The picture on the store for the UD4 seems accurate as it shows the GA-Z68X-UD4 box sitting next to the motherboard.

 

[equazcion]

If you zoom in on that image, you can just make out that it reads GA-P67A-UD7.

Ah nice catch! That does clear things up somewhat.

 

[equazcion]

PS. I seem to gravitate towards Gigabyte boards because they're the only ones I know of with dual-bios (I sincerely hope these also feature that), as I tend to mod my bios's for SLIC2.1 (but don't tell anyone) and want the added protection. They've served me well so far and I have no need for integrated graphics anyway... Are there any other features you see lacking on the UD4 aside from that?

 

[BlueKnight1]

Well, I wanted to both over clock and use Quick Sync as I occasionally do video projects and encode stuff for my portable devices. The SSD caching looks mildly interesting but I plan on managing its contents on my own.

So basically Quick Sync and over clocking are why I want Z68.

If neither of those interest you, perhaps you would get a better deal on a P67.

 

[equazcion]

Well, I wanted to both over clock and use Quick Sync as I occasionally do video projects and encode stuff for my portable devices. The SSD caching looks mildly interesting but I plan on managing its contents on my own.

So basically Quick Sync and over clocking are why I want Z68.

If neither of those interest you, perhaps you would get a better deal on a P67.

I want to use QuickSync too, but through a discrete graphics card without the "whitelist" problems. Again see the Toms Hardware link I provided. SSD caching also interests me although I may end up with a dedicated boot SSD -- haven't decided yet but I want the option.

 

[equazcion]

UD4 unboxing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-k9gzxuIV8

Dual-BIOS (woohoo!) w/Touch Bios
One PCIe 16x (8x SLI/xFire)
One PCIe 8x
Two PCIe 1x
Two PCI
Four DIMM slots, 32GB 2133MHz max RAM
Four SATA II 3GB/s
Four SATA III 6GB/s
Two eSata 6GB/s
Eight back-panel + six via three headers USB 2.0
Two back-panel + one header USB 3.0
One back-panel + one header firewire
One combined PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
SPDIF optical
SPDIF coax
One gigabit ethernet
Six-channel integrated Dolby audio

So basically as BlueKnight described above, only note the second PCIe 'graphics slot' will only do 8x even in single-card mode (as usual), and two old-school PCI slots that could come in handy. And no integrated graphics port.

 

[equazcion]

UD3H appears to have everything UD4 has except: (http://news.softpedia.com/newsImage...l-Z68-Motherboard-Gets-Picture-Preview-2.jpg/)

+D-Sub, DVI, HDMI, AND DisplayPort (!)
+1 USB 2.0 header
+1 PCIe 1x
+1 SATA III 6GB/s
-2 SATA II 3GB/s
-1 eSata
-1 SPDIF coax (still has optical)
-4 USB 2.0 back-panel

Also looks like it has a significantly shorter heat sink next to the CPU.

 

[equazcion]

UD7 differences from UD4: (http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/4...z68x_ud7_intel_z68_taiwan_preview/index1.html)

+2 PCIe x16 = SLI/xFire: [2-way: x16/x16], [3-way: x16/x16/x8]
+1 header USB 3.0
+1 FireWire mini
+1 Gigabit ethernet
+ Onboard power button
+ CMOS reset button
+ POST debug LEDs
-1 PCIe 1x
-2 back-panel USB 2.0

...and more substantial heat sinks all-around, all connected together by heat pipes to the south bridge heat sink (nice - and just like the P67 UD7).

No support for 4-way SLI/xFire. The fourth PCIe x16 slot is presumably for PCIe SSD or some other future implementation.

Still no integrated graphics ports, which is a disappointment as UD7 generally designates Gigabyte's top-of-the-line board. I guess there's only so much back-panel space, but you'd think they could at least squeeze in an all-purpose convertible DisplayPort, or provide a header and back plate for it. Would be more useful than that mini-FireWire...

 

[brotj7]

Do either of the UD4, UD7, or both electrically loose internal SATA III 6GB/s if the external SATA III headers are used? Total of 6x or 4x SATA III?

 

[Fallen Kell]

That makes sense since I'm pretty sure one of the benefits to the Z68 over P67 is Virtu runs through your installed graphics card rather than through an integrated port.

See http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888-5.html

Virtu can run through either the integrated port or the 3rd party card. They changed the software to allow that, so it isn't just the Z68 that can do that now. The recommended way is still through the integrated port, but I think there are more problems with that method for game compatibility vs the other way around. That said, you do not get the benefit of the low power savings if you run through the 3rd party graphics card, which is why they recommend using the integrated.

 

[Fallen Kell]

I want to use QuickSync too, but through a discrete graphics card without the "whitelist" problems. Again see the Toms Hardware link I provided. SSD caching also interests me although I may end up with a dedicated boot SSD -- haven't decided yet but I want the option.

See my post above. The whitelist is only for running from the integrated graphics port. If you connect to the 3rd party port, you don't have that problem (at least from my understanding).

 

[BlueKnight1]

Do either of the UD4, UD7, or both electrically loose internal SATA III 6GB/s if the external SATA III headers are used? Total of 6x or 4x SATA III?

According to the manuals the UD4 and UD7 both include 2 x Marvell chips (88SE9172 on UD4, 88SE9128 on the UD7). They both show 2 internal SATA 6 Gb/s and 2 eSATA 6 Gb/s under the 2 x Marvell chip section and make no mention of internal ports being disabled when the eSATA ports are used.

Interestingly, however, 1 of these eSATA ports on the UD4 and both on the UD7 are eSATA/USB combo ports that take either eSATA 6 Gb/s or USB 2.0/1.1. From the diagrams of the back panel, they do indeed look like both connector styles would fit in the combo ports. This is something I have never heard of.

These combo USB ports are included in the spec counts for the boards. So the UD4 says it has 8 USB 2 ports on the back and one of these 8 is the combo eSATA/USB port. The UD7 claims 4 back panel USB 2.0 ports and 2 of these are the combo eSATA/USB ports.