Gigabyte: G1.Sniper2 vs. GA-Z68XP-UD3 Why the price difference?????

[CaptainJack]

Hi:

Can anyone tell me if there are any difference between the Gigabyte G1.Sniper2 and the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3 that justify the price difference?

They have a $170 price difference on Newegg but the specification differences I can find don't seem to justify such a price gap. The ones I can find are...

G1. Sniper:
3Gb SATA 3
3Gb eSATA 1
mSATA 0
PCI 2.0 X1 2
SLI 2 way
Firewire No


GA-Z68XP-UD3:
3Gb SATA 4
3Gb eSATA 0
mSATA 1
PCI 2.0 X1 3
SLI 3 way (and 3 way?)
Firewire Yes



Audio
G1.Sniper

1 x Creative CA20K2 chip
Support for Dolby® Digital Live and DTS™ Connect
High Definition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
Support for X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD™ 5.0 technologies
Support for S/PDIF Out

GA-Z68XP-UD3:

Realtek ALC889 codec
Support for Dolby® Home Theater.
High Definition Audio
2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
Support for S/PDIF Out

Am I missing something or do I just not care as much about audio systems as some people?

 

[Dereck47]

Here's a more comprehensive comparison chart: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/comparison/list.aspx?ck=2&pids=3962,3912

The G1 has a Bigfoot Killer E2100 LAN chip. It also has a CPU Overclocking Button.
Also a new heatpipe design.

Whether that justifies $170, I don't know.

 

[uh oh]

We could get into SATA Raid, but let's forget about backups!

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper vs GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard, ya have to admit that the name is long winded, and does'nt sound good!

Onboard Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Digital Audio Processor (20K2) with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity and EAX AHD 5.0 Technologies, other board is "just basic norm"

Built-in Visuals- um, sounds good!

GIGABYTE EZ Smart Response, Not Intel's Smartness!

Onboard Bigfoot Networks Killer E2100 Game Networking Platform, other board is "just basic norm"


Now, lets price out a sound card that is compariable;
Creative 70SB088000004 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Express 1x Interface PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
$85.00 bucks

Bigfoot Networks B011-500-068 Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 1 x RJ45
$40 bucks

Gigabyte EZ Smart response, Built in visuals, and the word "SNIPER" & G1" together in the same breathe, PRICELESS

Now the math:

$120 difference between both......
minus
$85 and $40

Equals a savings of $5 Bucks!

So the bottom line is simple.....go wwith the G1 Sniper 2 Cause it sounds better!

 

[killkillkill]

That killer network card is tosh, i remember when they released it as pic or pci-e( cant remember) and it got slated for being too expensive and pointless.

Otherwise i'd say the gigabyte sniper is a nice board

 

[jsc]

Whether that justifies $170, I don't know.

I certainly do not think so.