New Gigabyte Z68XP Motherboards available - but why?

[enderzero]

Newegg has 2 new Gigabyte motherboards that are $10 below and $20 above their GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 board that's been available since Z68 launch.

GA-Z68XP-UD3 $159 link

GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 (already been available) $169 link

GA-Z68XP-UD3P $189 link

Check out Gigabyte's comparison here.

Only differences I can see are the UD3's for mSATA and then a host of different back panel option - more display options on the UD3H while there are more USB options on the UD3P. There is also only eSATA on the UD3H. Anyone else see any differences? Any thoughts on Gigabyte's plan here on crowding this part of the market so heavily? Whats the P in Z68XP?

 

[RazberyBandit]

Looks like they also dumped VGA and DVI output support.

 

[jaquith]

Welcome to Tom's Forum!

The initial Gigabyte Z68 MOBO's lacked ALL iGPU features e.g. GA-Z68X-UD7, so Quick Sync would never work on those MOBOs, byt all Z68's have SSD Caching regardless of iGPU. The ones you linked above all have various iGPU connectivity e.g. 1 x HDMI or 1 x HDMI/D-Sub + DVI/1 x DisplayPort. My recommendation is to read VERY carefully The 'P' only have 1 x HDMI iGPU connections.

Here's an easy to read side-by-side comparisons -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007627%2050001314%20600093976%20600158412&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&CompareItemList=280|13-128-499^13-128-499-TS%2C13-128-498^13-128-498-TS%2C13-128-512^13-128-512-TS%2C13-128-506^13-128-506-TS