- Dec 16, 2010
- 15
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- 18,510
Straight up, which one of these two boards is the best z68 mATX mobo and why? While I’m sure that some will argue that I should have included the Z68MA-ED55 (B3), I just can’t consider it to be the “top” mATX z68 mobo without having symmetric bandwidth (x8, x8) on its pci-e x16 slots.
Personally, these are my pro’s and con’s for each of the two boards as compared to the other:
GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3
Pro’s:
-Multitude of video output options and dual monitor support w/o a dGPU
-Gigabyte Apps (Autogreen, On/Off Charge, etc.)
-price
Con’s:
-Realtek 8111E Ethernet controller supposedly inferior to Intel controller
-Realtek ALC899 lacks Creative X-Fi software
-TouchBIOS supposedly inferior to Asus EFI Bios
-symmetric x8, x8 pci-e x16 slots require a 5 expansion slot case
M4GZ
Pro’s:
-Asus EFI Bios supposedly better for OCing (Hartware.de)
-Intel Ethernet controller
-Creative X-Fi audio
-symmetric x8, x8 pci-e x16 slots can be used with a 4 expansion slot case
Con’s:
-SOLE video out is HDMI, and therefore, only a single monitor is supported w/o a dGPU (HDMI is not a “Con” but display port would have been nice)
-power hog (Hartware.de)
-price
For reference, the manufacturers' product pages for each mobo,
- GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3
- M4GZ
So, let’s hear it, everyone. What do ya’ll think about these two mATX power houses? What other differentiators makes one better than the other? Is Asus’ Digi+ VRM better than Gigabyte’s Intersil VRD12? Does one manufacturer’s PCB have higher impedance or higher copper content than the other? Do you just think one manufacturer makes a more reliable, stable, or physically more study product? If so, feel free to chime in. While I would prefer to become more educated with sound reasoning based on facts, I’m still interested in reading personal opinions based on your own experiences. TIA, Nick
Personally, these are my pro’s and con’s for each of the two boards as compared to the other:
GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3
Pro’s:
-Multitude of video output options and dual monitor support w/o a dGPU
-Gigabyte Apps (Autogreen, On/Off Charge, etc.)
-price
Con’s:
-Realtek 8111E Ethernet controller supposedly inferior to Intel controller
-Realtek ALC899 lacks Creative X-Fi software
-TouchBIOS supposedly inferior to Asus EFI Bios
-symmetric x8, x8 pci-e x16 slots require a 5 expansion slot case
M4GZ
Pro’s:
-Asus EFI Bios supposedly better for OCing (Hartware.de)
-Intel Ethernet controller
-Creative X-Fi audio
-symmetric x8, x8 pci-e x16 slots can be used with a 4 expansion slot case
Con’s:
-SOLE video out is HDMI, and therefore, only a single monitor is supported w/o a dGPU (HDMI is not a “Con” but display port would have been nice)
-power hog (Hartware.de)
-price
For reference, the manufacturers' product pages for each mobo,
- GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3
- M4GZ
So, let’s hear it, everyone. What do ya’ll think about these two mATX power houses? What other differentiators makes one better than the other? Is Asus’ Digi+ VRM better than Gigabyte’s Intersil VRD12? Does one manufacturer’s PCB have higher impedance or higher copper content than the other? Do you just think one manufacturer makes a more reliable, stable, or physically more study product? If so, feel free to chime in. While I would prefer to become more educated with sound reasoning based on facts, I’m still interested in reading personal opinions based on your own experiences. TIA, Nick
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