Intel’s Z68 Express chipset represents the pinnacle of mainstream performance, with Quick Sync video transcoding times unmatched by any general-purpose graphics processor at the high-end.
Unfortunately, the contradiction of a mainstream platform capable of the fastest available performance divides some motherboard designers over how this market should really be divided up. In fact, there's one popular board vendor that doesn't even have a mid-ranged Z68-based offering; everything is intended for more enthusiast-oriented environments.
Z68's issue centers on value. The benefit of Quick Sync means you either have to use Intel's anemic integrated graphics core or Lucidlogix's Virtu software. And obviously, if there's a drop of power user blood running through your veins, you'd build a Z68-based machine using integrated graphics and Virtu. Otherwise, you'd simply go the H67 Express route. One of our engineering friends even gave us a specific price of $20, off the record of course, to upgrade the chipset from P67 to Z68 and add the Virtu license. That same $20 could be put towards a couple of extra controllers (USB 3.0 or SATA 6Gb/s) and a beefier voltage regulator on a P67-based model, undercutting a manufacturer’s ability to present Z68 as a more attractive implementation
On the other hand, Z68 Express sports a second unique feature that targets buyers who can’t justify the expense of a large solid-state drive. SSD caching allows small flash-based devices to act as nonvolatile cache for a larger hard disk, giving buyers on a budget a performance tease, as reads get accelerated over time, while writes aren't helped much at all.

What this means for Tom’s Hardware is that a market accustomed to sub-$140 P67-based motherboards must be asked to consider spending up to $20 more in order to retain the same on-board components, upgrade to the Z68 chipset, and gain access to a Virtu license. With that set as our target limit, all but one of the boards submitted for today’s comparison was completely qualified.
| Z68 Motherboard Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Z68 Pro3 | Biostar TZ68A+ | Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 | Intel DZ68DB | MSI Z68A-GD55 | |
| PCB Revision | 1.03 | 6.0 | 1.0 | Initial | 4.0 |
| Chipset | Intel Z68 Express | Intel Z68 Express | Intel Z68 Express | Intel Z68 Express | Intel Z68 Express |
| Voltage Regulator | Five Phases | Five Phases | Seven Phases | Five Phases | Eight Phases |
| BIOS | P1.30 (05/19/2011) | F510 (05/10/2011) | F1 (05/19/2011) | 0014 (04/13/2011) | M3 (06/10/2011) |
| 100.0 MHz BCLK | 99.8 (-0.2%) | 99.8 (-0.2%) | 99.8 (-0.2%) | 99.8 (-0.2%) | 99.8 (-0.2%) |
| Clock Generator | Z68 Integrated | Z68 Integrated | Z68 Integrated | Z68 Integrated | Z68 Integrated |
| Internal Interfaces | |||||
| PCIe x16 | 1 | 2 (x16/x4) | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) | 1 | 2 (x16/x0 or x8/x8) |
| PCIe x1/x4 | 3/0 | 1/0 | 3/0 | 2/0 | 3/0 |
| Legacy PCI | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 2 (4-ports) | 3 (6-ports) | 3 (6-ports) | 4 (8-ports) | 3 (6-ports) |
| USB 3.0 | None | None | 1 (2-ports) | None | 1 (2-ports) |
| IEEE-1394 | None | None | 1 | 1 | None |
| Serial Port | 1 | 1 | 1 | None | 1 |
| Parallel Port | None | 1 | None | None | None |
| Floppy | None | None | None | None | None |
| Ultra-ATA 133 | None | None | None | None | None |
| SATA 3.0 Gb/s | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| SATA 6.0 Gb/s | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 4-Pin Fan | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 3-Pin Fan | 4 | 2 | 2 | None | 3 |
| FP-Audio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CD-Audio | None | None | None | None | None |
| S/PDIF I/O | Output Only | Output Only | Output Only | None | Output Only |
| Power Button | None | Yes | None | None | Yes |
| Reset Button | None | Yes | None | None | Yes |
| CLR_CMOS Button | Jumper Only | Jumper Only | Jumper Only | None | Jumper Only |
| Diagnostics Panel | None | Pass/Fail LEDs | Pass/Fail LEDs | None | None |
| I/O Panel Connectors | |||||
| P/S 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | None | 1 |
| USB 2.0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| USB 3.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| IEEE-1394 | None | None | 1 | 1 | None |
| Network | Single | Single | Single | Single | Single |
| eSATA | None | None | None | 1 | None |
| CLR_CMOS Button | None | None | None | None | Yes |
| Digital Audio Out | Optical Only | None | Optical Only | Optical Only | Optical + Coaxial |
| Digital Audio In | None | None | None | None | None |
| Analog Audio | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Video Out | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA | DVI-I, HDMI, VGA | HDMI | DVI-I, HDMI, DisplayPort | DVI-D, HDMI, VGA |
| Other Devices | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mass Storage Controllers | |||||
| Chipset SATA | 2 x SATA 6Gb/s 4 x SATA 3Gb/s | 2 x SATA 6Gb/s 4 x SATA 3Gb/s | 2 x SATA 6Gb/s 4 x SATA 3Gb/s | 2 x SATA 6Gb/s 3 x SATA 3Gb/s 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s | 2 x SATA 6Gb/s 4 x SATA 3Gb/s |
| Chipset RAID Modes | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 | 0, 1, 5, 10 |
| Add-In SATA | None | None | 88SE9172 PCIe 2 x SATA 6Gb/s | None | None |
| Add-In Ultra ATA | None | None | None | None | None |
| USB 3.0 | Etron EJ168A PCIe | ASM1042 PCIe | 2 x Etron EJ168A PCIe | D720200F1 PCIe | 2 x D720200F1 PCIe 2 x VLI VL810 Hub |
| IEEE-1394 | None | None | VT6308P PCI 2 x 400 Mb/s | VT6315N PCIe 2 x 400 Mb/s | None |
| Gigabit Ethernet | |||||
| Primary LAN | RTL8111E PCIe | RTL8111E PCIe | RTL8111E PCIe | WG82579V PHY | RTL8111E PCIe |
| Secondary LAN | None | None | None | None | None |
| Audio | |||||
| HD Audio Codec | ALC892 | ALC892 | ALC889 | ALC892 | ALC892 |
| DDL/DTS Connect | None | None | None | None | None |
With production only beginning to ramp up, MSI had to do a little finagling with rebates in order to qualify its Z68A-GD55 for a $160 roundup. Currently listed at the same $170 upfront cost as the discounted Z68A-GD65, both motherboards are now available with an additional $20 rebate. The full price for the higher-model board is $190, so we expect to see a $20 price delta between these two models after Newegg's temporary discount expires.
This is the least-expensive of today’s competing boards. The only frills included with ASRock’s Z68 Pro3 are two USB 3.0 ports connected to a single controller. VGA is still supported for buyers who can’t afford a modern monitor, yet ASRock still manages to slip a license for Lucid’s Virtu software into this $120 package.
While most performance-oriented users will only be interested in the Quick Sync capability of Intel’s on-board graphics controller, anyone using discrete graphics and looking to add a third display should find the choice of integrated DVI and HDMI outputs satisfactory. We only question why the space above the HDMI port was left empty when only eight of the chipset’s 14 USB 2.0 ports have corresponding connectors.
A single-port network controller, dual-port USB 3.0 controller, and two-slot PCI controller consume only three of the Z68 Express’ eight single-lane PCIe links. Three more pathways are presented as PCIe x1 slots, with simplicity preventing any of the lane-sharing issues often found on more elaborate products.
Simplicity also left ASRock with less potential for layout mistakes. Our only complaint is that the rear-corner front-panel audio cable is a difficult location that results in messy (and occasionally noisy) cable routing, though the mid-placed front-panel USB 2.0 ports are only slightly better.

While we’d normally rage about any full-sized motherboard including only two SATA cables, the Z68 Pro3’s price is low enough to offset those concerns.
The Z68 Pro3’s UEFI resembles that of ASRock’s higher-end parts by providing access to a wide variety of overclocking controls.

Full control of CPU power limits exemplify this expanded control capability, which also includes a voltage booster for Intel Turbo Boost mode, frequency, and multiplier controls. ASRock’s Advanced Turbo 50, which purportedly offers an easy 50% overclock, appears absurd in light of the selection of LGA 1155 processors that suffer from locked multipliers, limiting enthusiast-oriented tweaking significantly. The only chips that really qualify there are the Core i7-2600K and Core i5-2500K.

ASRock goes beyond the full set of voltage controls we might use to push our CPU by also providing iGPU voltage settings for integrated graphics overclocking. We did not find an iGPU ratio adjustment to go with that potential voltage increase, however.


Primary and secondary memory timings are also configurable, though doing so is an unnecessarily long two-step process. Each timing must first be set to “Manual” mode before an option box appears to set a non-standard latency.
Continuing in its efforts to conquer the budget overclocking and value-oriented gaming markets, Biostar’s TZ68A+ presents the least-eleborate I/O panel in today’s review. We seriously question why the firm would present only two USB 2.0 ports on the rear panel and six internally when the chipset supports a total of 14. We'd hate to run out of accessible connectivity and sour this board's value by being forced to buy a USB 2.0 hub.
Biostar does exploit other free features however, such as the Multi-I/O controller’s parallel port output. Though we’re sure a few customers will pick the TZ68A+ over its competitors exclusively for this more legacy feature, we’re almost as certain that more customers will pick a competing solution for its extra USB ports. A USB 3.0 controller boosts the total I/O panel port count to four, but doesn’t add a front-panel interface.
Biostar’s goal is low-cost performance rather than connectivity, so it’s the cheapest board in today’s review to support AMD CrossFire graphics across two cards. The second slot’s four-lane connection through the Z68 Express PCH (rather than splitting the processor's 16 available lanes) introduces latency and compromises the value of this added feature, however.
Biostar moves its front-panel audio connector two slots up from the bottom-rear corner, making it easier to reach from above the board, while also making it more difficult those who prefer to run their cable behind the motherboard tray to reach from below.
The remaining layout is clean, with the CPU power connector oriented for easier access to its latch. The four SATA 3Gb/s ports could potentially be blocked by a triple-slot secondary graphics card in the four-lane slot or a full-length PCI card, but those are unlikely combinations for a four-lane slot or a consumer-level build.

Biostar’s inclusion of only three SATA cables is likely adequate for most mid-budget builders, though any higher-priced competing products should have at least four.
The TZ68A+ translates Biostar’s familiar O.N.E. menu to UEFI, with little more than a shift from tabbed menus to icons and an updated background image separating the two styles.

The top of this menu features CPU ratio and current override controls. One must scroll down a little to get to the base clock setting, passing along the way a GPU multiplier for overclocking internal graphics.

The acronym O.N.E. starts to make sense as we scroll further to find primary memory timings on the same menu.

Voltage settings are placed near the bottom of O.N.E., just below the secondary memory timings. Biostar adds a full set of integrated graphics voltage controls, in addition to the expected core voltage settings.

As we reach the end of O.N.E., we finally find chipset and memory voltage controls. Note that “CPU VCore LoadLine” means “allow droop voltage,” so that choosing disabled actually enables the feature most of Biostar’s competitors refer to as “Load Line Compensation”.
The Z68XP-UD3 firmly targets performance fanatics with a layout that eschews the use of integrated graphics as a primary output, instead favoring SLI and CrossFire. This begins with an I/O panel that addresses most of the USB 2.0 ports missing from competing products, but lacks even a single DVI interface.
We’ve been told that at least one physical graphics connection must be present for a Z68-based motherboard to support Quick Sync hardware accelerated video transcoding through the CPU’s integrated graphics engine, and Gigabyte addresses this need by adding a single HDMI connection. The firm also adds a legacy FireWire port, separating the -UD3 from previous upper-range parts only in its lack of secondary network and outdated digital coaxial audio outputs.
Four internal two-lane switches allow the Z68XP-UD3 to automatically change from x16/x0 to x8/x8 transfers whenever a second graphics card is installed, while three PCIe x1 slots connect slower devices. The Z68XP-UD3 uses all eight of the Z68’s PCIe pathways, with a PCIe to PCI bridge, a two-port SATA 6Gb/s controller, network, and dual USB 3.0 controllers consuming the remainder.
Up against the limits of our intended budget, the Z68XP-UD3 is one of only two motherboards in today’s roundup to include a front-panel USB 3.0 header. The entirety of features would have made this a $160 board even if it had used the P67 chipset, so we’re not entirely clear how Gigabyte managed to retain this price with a Z68 product that includes Lucidlogix's Virtu license.
And yet Gigabyte wouldn’t let us get away without mentioning its mSATA socket, a feature used in its more expensive Z68XP-UD3-iSSD to add a bundled 20 GB SLC-based SSD for caching. Buyers of the model viewed today are also able to add their own mSATA drive; just bear in mind that doing so with either board disables one of its SATA 3Gb/s ports.
Other limitations include the 5 Gb/s PCIe interface for the motherboard-down two-port SATA 6Gb/s controller. Dual-drive data rates exceeding 5 Gb/s are limited to the controller's interface performance.
After many years of placing its front-panel audio jack in a more-convenient location, Gigabyte decided to regress to the more traditional bottom-rear-corner. This makes sense for builders whose extra-long cables have been diverted around the back of the motherboard tray, but leaves those with shorter cables stranded. The front-panel FireWire port’s similar location is similarly-inconvenient for owners of conventional cases. Fortunately, most new cases lose this legacy interface.

The Z68XP-UD3 includes four SATA cables and an SLI bridge, which are our minimum standards for a mid-priced SLI motherboard. Cheaper boards can get away with fewer cables, since the lower price often appeals to budget builders with fewer drives.
Gigabyte still uses a traditional BIOS for its motherboards, having implemented a workaround for drives larger than 2 TB that doesn't require a UEFI. Its M.I.T. menu still shows a few key statistics, along with several submenus.


The Advanced Frequency Settings menu is less than elaborate, instead relying on another submenu to access advanced CPU core features. CPU, DRAM, and integrated graphics ratios are adjustable at the menu level, along with the system’s base clock.

Digging deeper, we find CPU current protection, Turbo Boost mode, and power management settings.

Jumping back to the M.I.T. main menu allows one to access the Advanced Voltage Settings submenu. The Z68XP-UD3 adds DRAM reference and termination voltage settings to the core and bus voltage adjustments we normally use.
The Advanced Memory Settings menu includes a redundant DRAM ratio selection, along with another submenu choice. Setting “DRAM Timing Selectable” to Quick allows both channels to be adjusted simultaneously, with primary and secondary timings found in the activated submenu.
Intel’s full-sized ATX motherboards often prove our assertions that microATX boards can also have full feature sets, since those ATX-based designs often include little more than a couple of slots to the bottom of a microATX design. Readers who expect sacrifices in features, performance, and stability from the compact upper-section will be surprised to find that this board is designed for stability first, and has enough other functionality to overcome those perceptions.
The DZ68DB adds DisplayPort to the selection of video outputs and demands that anyone who needs VGA use a DVI to VGA adapter. The adapters are cheap, and the old interface is so rarely used that we’re glad to see it go.
A very small voltage regulator sits topside on the DZ68DB, its lower capacity a limitation of cost rather than layout. At $130, the DZ68DB is the second least-expensive product in today’s lineup.
The DZ68DB competes directly with the Biostar TZ68B+ in price, but while the competing board is designed specifically as a low-cost overclocking platform, the DZ68DB is designed for flexibility. The undersized voltage regulator gets added current protection, and Intel addresses all fourteen of the chipset’s USB 2.0 ports. Eight of those ports are found on four internal headers for front-panel devices.
Two of the chipset’s four SATA 3Gb/s ports are designated as eSATA, though one of these has an internal port. That port is intended to connect to front-panel eSATA jacks, though the extended heat sinks of some oversized graphics cards could block it.
Though the DZ68DB layout appears to be based on a smaller microATX design, it departs from that design by placing the front-panel audio connector in its bottom-rear corner. We didn’t find any alternative solder points for microATX versions.

The DZ68DB includes only two SATA cables in its installation kit, but Intel still adds an old-fashioned connector layout sticker for the inside of the case’s side panel. While commercial builders will appreciate the convenience of that sticker, we’re sure that most home builders would have preferred a third SATA cable.
Intel’s simplified UEFI would have resembled a traditional BIOS, if not for its higher native resolution.

The performance menu focuses mostly on integrated graphics overclocking, though it does display current settings for other devices. Base clock is also set through this menu.

The DZ68DB's Processor Overrides submenu controls CPU voltage, wattage limits, and ratios. Intel doesn’t hide the fact that all overclocking is done by manipulating its CPU’s Turbo Boost multipliers.

The Memory Overrides submenu includes ratios, primary, and secondary memory timings. The DZ68DB does not display XMP values even though this is an Intel technology, and overclocking to our memory’s rated XMP settings required us to do a little research from another PC.
MSI’s Z68A-GD55 is designed to compete directly against Gigabyte’s Z68XP-UD3, but it ended up priced $10 higher (before a mail-in rebate) at the time this story went live. The current MIR returns $20 to the buyer's pocket.
VGA and DVI ports consume more space than USB. MSI’s attempt to satisfy integrated, discrete, and integrated plus discrete markets force it to give up four USB 2.0 ports compared to Gigabyte. But the firm still manages to fit a legacy digital/coaxial audio jack into some of the space given up by its rival. The Z68A-GD55 is also the only motherboard in today’s roundup to include a CLR_CMOS button on the rear panel, which assists overzealous overclockers in their recovery efforts.
MSI supports the same x16/x0 and x8/x8 automatic pathway switching for single and dual graphics cards found on its competitor’s product, though the Z68A-GD55 adds a slightly more elaborate CPU voltage regulator. Tantalum capacitors and super ferrite chokes keep CPU cooler clearance in check.
A combination of front-panel and rear-panel USB 3.0 controllers also matches the competing product, though MSI ditches the FireWire and third-party SATA controller.
MSI does, however, add two features that some overclockers will surely find handy: a row of pins along the motherboard’s front edge allows experts to more easily monitor voltage levels, while amateur overclockers might also be tempted to push the “OC Genie” automatic overclocking utility button.
The Z68A-GD55 layout is nearly perfect, lacking any noticeable conflicts between cards and ports. Still, the front-panel audio jack is in the love-it or hate-it bottom-rear corner, where love or hate is dictated by case design and cable length.

MSI includes the same selection of cables as its competitor, but in different colors. Also included is a set of front-panel quick connectors, of which only the LED/power connector is really useful for most builders. This one-piece connector joins the individual cable ends supplied with most retail cases.
MSI's ClickBIOS UEFI saves space to reduce the need for scolling by not placing separators between each group of settings. It does take a few seconds longer to find a specific setting, but owners of the Z68A-GD55 should quickly become accustomed to the design.

Frequency and ratio settings are found in the first half of the menu, with on-board graphics overclocking also encouraged.

MSI provides integrated GPU and DRAM reference voltage levels, in addition to the core and bus voltage settings most overclockers use.

Primary and secondary memory timings are grouped within the Advanced DRAM Configuration submenu.

Tertiary memory timings are found one submenu further into the menu structure.
| Test System Configuration | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-2600K: 3.40 GHz, 8 MB Shared L3 Cache, LGA 1155 |
| CPU Cooler | Thermalright MUX-120 w/Zalman ZM-STG1 Paste |
| RAM | G.Skill F3-17600CL9Q-16GBXLD (16 GB) DDR3-2200 at DDR3-1600 CAS 9, 1.60 V |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 580 1.5 GB 772 MHz GPU, GDDR5-4008 |
| Hard Drive | Samsung 470 Series MZ5PA256HMDR, 256 GB SSD |
| Sound | Integrated HD Audio |
| Network | Integrated Gigabit Networking |
| Power | Seasonic X760 SS-760KM ATX12V v2.3, EPS12V, 80 PLUS Gold |
| Software | |
| OS | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 270.61 WHQL |
| Chipset | Intel INF 9.2.0.1030 |
Samsung’s 470-series 256 GB drive continues to provide the performance we need to negate any deficits in our benchmarks.
Seasonic’s X760 provides the consistent efficiency required to assess motherboard power differences.

G.Skill’s Ripjaws X DDR3-2200 16 GB kit allows us to test the overclocking limits of a fully-loaded memory controller, though only two modules (8 GB) were needed for other benchmarks. Defaulting to DDR3-1600 CAS 9, its XMP-2200 register was used for overclocking.

Motherboard comparisons are all about motherboard performance. Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 580 graphics card minimizes GPU bottlenecks.

| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| 3D Games | |
| Crysis | Patch 1.2.1, DirectX 10, 64-bit executable, benchmark tool Test Set 1: High Quality, No AA Test Set 2: Very High Quality, 8x AA |
| F1 2010 | V1.01, Run with -benchmark example_benchmark.xml Test Set 1: High Quality Preset, No AA Test Set 2: Ultra Quality Preset, 8x AA |
| Just Cause 2 | Version 1.0.0.2, Built-In Benchmark "Concrete Jungle" Test Set 1: Medium Details, No AA, 8x AF Test Set 2: Highest Details, 8x AA, 16x AF |
| Metro 2033 | Full Game, Built-In Benchmark, "Frontline" Scene Test Set 1: DX11, High, AAA, 4x AF, No PhysX, No DoF Test Set 2: DX11, Very High, 4x AA, 16x AF, No PhysX, DoF On |
| Audio/Video Encoding | |
| iTunes | Version 9.0.3.15 x64: Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minutes, default AAC format |
| Lame MP3 | Version 3.98.3: Audio CD "Terminator II SE", 53 min, convert WAV to MP3 audio format, Command: -b 160 --nores (160 Kb/s) |
| MediaEspresso 6.5 | Version 6.5.1210_33281: 1080i HDTV (449 MB) to iPad H.264, 1024x768 |
| MediaConverter 7 | Version7.1.0.68: 1080i HDTV (449 MB) to iPad, SmartFit profile |
| Handbrake CLI | Version 0.94: "Big Buck Bunny" (720x480, 23.972 FPS) 5 Minutes, Audio: Dolby Digital, 48 000 Hz, Six-Channel, English, to Video: AVC Audio: AC3 Audio2: AAC (High Profile) |
| MainConcept Reference | Version: 2.0.0.1555: MPEG-2 to H.264, MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec, 28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG-2), Audio: MPEG-2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16-Bit, 224 kb/s), Codec: H.264 Pro, Mode: PAL 50i (25 FPS), Profile: H.264 BD HDMV |
| Productivity | |
| Adobe Photoshop CS5 | Version 12.0 x64: Filter 15.7 MB TIF Image: Radial Blur, Shape Blur, Median, Polar Coordinates |
| Autodesk 3ds Max 2010 | Version 12.0 x64: Space Flyby Mentalray, 248 Frames, 1440x1080 |
| WinZip | Version 14.0 Pro: THG-Workload (464 MB) to ZIP, command line switches "-a -ez -p -r" |
| WinRAR | Version 4.0 Beta 4: THG-Workload (464 MB) to RAR, command line switches "winrar a -r -m3" |
| 7-Zip | Version 9.2: THG-Workload (464 MB) to .7z, command line switches "a -t7z -r -m0=LZMA2 -mx=5" |
| ABBYY FineReader | Version 10.0.102.82: Read PDF save to Doc, Source: Political Economy (J. Broadhurst 1842) 111 Pages |
While many synthetic benchmark designers set out to become thestandard by which PC hardware is judged, Crysis got there by accident. This real-world game reflects what happens when software developers push the limit of visual reality without also pushing the limits of code optimization.




We didn’t expect to see any noticeable performance differences between similar platforms, and we didn’t, with exception to a few hiccups in F1 2010.
Though that game isn’t the perfect choice for consistency, the small differences seen in it make an even smaller contribution to this article’s performance averages.
We remember when Just Cause 2 was tough on hardware, but our GeForce GTX 580 makes light work of its Medium detail settings. AA still drags frame rates into unplayable territory, but only at 2560x1600.




Some readers call Metro 2033 “the new Crysis,” and it does indeed push our graphics card to the limit. Fortunately, neither it nor Just Cause 2 were able to show a performance difference large or consistent enough to fault a particular motherboard.
ASRock beats the pack marginally in iTunes encoding, while MSI has a similarly small victory in Lame MP3. We retested to confirm consistency.


MediaConverter 7 is far less consistent than MediaEspresso.


We don’t like inconsistency, but HandBrake and MainConcept help to balance out what could have been a rough looking total performance chart.
If every motherboard performed perfectly, a perfectly consistent benchmark would prove performance parity. Adobe Photoshop is such a benchmark, at least on this occasion.


Note that 3ds Max completed five seconds quicker compared to our previous review. That’s because we decided to use the encoding time from consecutive runs, since this more accurately represents real-world use.


Differences in file compression and optical character recognition should be small enough to balance out in our total performance charts. We’re looking for overall performance differences after all, and individual benchmarks would merely highlight a problem that, so far, does not exist.
| BIOS Frequency and Voltage settings (for overclocking) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock Z68 Pro3 | Biostar TZ68A+ | Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 | Intel DZ68DB | MSI Z68A-GD55 | |
| CPU Base Clock | 95-110 MHz (0.1 MHz) | 100-300 MHz (1 MHz) | 80-200 MHz (0.1 MHz) | 100-300 MHz (1 MHz) | 38-282 MHz (0.1 MHz) |
| CPU Multiplier | Up to 60x | Up to 100x | Up to 59x | Up to 255x | Up to 60x |
| DRAM Data Rates | 1066-2133 (266.6 MHz) | 1066-2133 (266.6 MHz) | 800-2400 (266.6 MHz) | 1066-2133 (266.6 MHz) | 800-2133 (266.6 MHz) |
| CPU Vcore | 0.723-1.52 V (5 mV) | 1.00-1.79 V (10 mV) | 0.75-1.70 V (5 mV) | 1.00-1.35 V (12.5 mV) | 0.80-1.80 V (5 mV) |
| VTT Voltage | 0.77-1.63 V (9 mV) | 1.05-1.70 V (12.5 mV) | 0.86-1.53 V (5 mV) | Not Adjustable | 0.95-1.55 V (20 mV) |
| PCH Voltage | 0.78-1.65 V (9 mV) | 1.05-1.20 V (50 mV) | Not Adjustable | Not Adjustable | 0.78-1.72 V (5 mV) |
| DRAM Voltage | 1.20-1.80 V (14 mV) | 1.30-2.20 V (12.5 mV) | 0.89-2.14 V (5 mV) | 1.20-1.80 V (50 mV) | 1.11-2.46 V (7.25 mV) |
| CAS Latency | 5-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 5-15 Cycles | 5-12 Cycles | 5-15 Cycles |
| tRCD | 4-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 1-15 Cycles | 5-16 Cycles | 4-15 Cycles |
| tRP | 4-15 Cycles | 3-15 Cycles | 1-15 Cycles | 5-16 Cycles | 4-15 Cycles |
| tRAS | 10-40 Cycles | 9-63 Cycles | 1-40 Cycles | 15-75 Cycles | 10-40 Cycles |
All of today’s motherboards offer a wide enough range of voltage and frequency settings to satisfy the majority of semi-serious overclockers, yet no motherboard in this price comes with a voltage regulator we'd feel comfortable taking into an overclocking competition. Differences in trace layout also affect signal strength between devices, setting us up for an interesting overclocking comparison.

The chart does not tell the whole story in today’s CPU overclocking chart. Intel actually had the highest stable CPU clock, but it eventually throttled back down to its stock 3.4 GHz frequency after a few minutes of load. This unfortunately took the board with the best CPU stability out of the running in the overclocking comparison. We tried lower voltage, but all that did was delay the onset of the same symptoms. This test was done with maximum power and thermal limits set in the BIOS, of course.
Thus, with the same low price as Intel, Biostar’s reduced-feature overclocking motherboard wins.

Biostar also has the highest base clock, though this is primarily a restriction of our CPU. We have no idea why the DZ68DB could push our processor’s normal 107 MHz limit, but more conservative settings are better for preserving hardware, and when it comes to longevity in a daily use machine, we err on the side of long-term health.

MSI tops our memory overclocking chart with a superb data rate. Biostar sits at the bottom because it wasn’t completely stable at 2129 MT/s and didn’t support BCLK underclocking to assess its capabilities at the same high multiplier.
ASRock has the lowest full-load power consumption, while MSI ties Intel for the lowest idle power. That tie is good news for MSI, since its board has a far more extensive feature set.


We had some difficulty finding the hot spot on Gigabyte’s Z68XP-UD3, but MSI’s voltage regulator temperature readings were far more stable and lower than the rest of the pack.

Less than one percent difference separates today’s top and bottom performers. That means performance has a negligible effect on efficiency.

Low power consumption at full load puts ASRock’s Z68 Pro3 on top of our efficiency chart, followed by MSI’s Z68A-GD55 with its low idle power. Energy misers must figure out which of these is most important based on their own use patterns.
Before we can assess value, let’s take a quick look at what today’s value-oriented performance motherboards currently cost:

ASRock deserves applause for including Lucidlogix's Virtu license on a motherboard priced at only $120. Yet, for a few dollars more, one could buy Biostar’s superb overclocker. Both of these boards come up a little short on even the most basic features though, and for that we can look to Intel’s DZ68DB. Buyers can break that tie on their own based on overclocking ambitions and connectivity needs.
That brings us to the Gigabyte versus MSI debate. A few days ago it seemed as though MSI's only issue was hitting ample volume with its board to push prices down to where our story required. We were ready to hand Gigabyte the value victory when MSI's Z68A-GD55 showed up on Newegg for the same $170 we'd seen elsewhere. But MSI pulled a rabbit out of its hat with a $20 mail-in-rebate.
A slight edge in overclocking could make MSI's $150 after-MIR price a better value to some buyers, though it also comes up around $10 shorter in features. At the end of the day, the fact that you have to send away to get $20 back (and we all know how many folks actually take that step) gives Gigabyte the narrow advantage here.
The problem is that all five of today’s products deserve an award: ASRock based on price alone, Biostar based on overclocking alone, Gigabyte based on features alone, Intel based on its combination of price and connectivity, and MSI based on its combination of features and overclocking. Handing out five awards to five vendors diminishes the value of giving the things out in the first place. But we can tell you which one we’d pick for any number of tasks.
Our kid brother gets the Z68 Pro3 because it’s cheap. He doesn’t need a bunch of features, and we don’t want to waste money on stuff he won’t use.
Our significant others get the DZ68DB because they have so many portable devices and peripherals. They don’t care what’s under the hood, and they won’t overclock.
The tech-curious kid next door gets the TZ68A+ because he’s done such a great job of mowing the lawn. He’ll spend hours overclocking it to perfection, and it’s still cheap enough to give away.
For Tom’s Hardware editors, the choice is less clear. A few of us use FireWire on occasion, but not often enough to make it a primary consideration in motherboard selection. The Z68XP-UD3 also adds a PCIe 2.0 x1-based SATA controller, but few of us use more than six drives in our personal PCs. But we’d hate to pay even more to not get those features with MSI, even though the Z68A-GD55 is marginally more efficient and an insignificantly better overclocker.
After careful deliberation, Gigabyte’s Z68XP-UD3 gets our Recommended Buy award.













