Z68 Express Roundup: Three Motherboards Do Battle Around $200

Z68X-UD3H Utilities

Receiving our Gigabyte support CD during final edits, we previously downloaded its EasyTune6 application to have a closer look.

Gigabyte’s Quick Boost application sets our processor at 200, 400, or 700 MHz beyond its reference frequency. Remember that the stock Turbo Boost ratios for our processor are 35x (four cores loaded) to 38x (one core loaded), so that Step 3 is the only setting that forces continuous overclocking at all loads.

Base clock can be increased up to 150 MHz, though our processor only functions with settings up to 108 MHz (depending on the motherboard). Changing the memory ratio requires a reboot.

Because LGA 1155-based processors rely on Turbo Boost for any serious overclocking, these can also be changed via Gigabyte’s OS application. A reboot is only required to activate the “Enable real time ratio changes” setting.

Voltage levels can also be adjusted within Windows. We verified functionality through a monitoring application.

Gigabyte’s application can even overclock other brands of graphics cards, as long as the cards cooperate.

Gigabyte’s fan controls operate on a curve, but that curve can’t be adjusted. Instead, users pick a target temperature and EasyTune6 tries to maintain it.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
  • user 18
    ASrock comes with 4 eSATA cables?
    Reply
  • Kisakuku
    The first UEFI screenshots for ASRock and Asus are switched.
    Reply
  • Crashman
    user 18ASrock comes with 4 eSATA cables?KisakukuThe first UEFI screenshots for ASRock and Asus are switched.Fixed, thanks!
    Reply
  • pirateboy
    mayankleoboy1a little something from MSI would have made this more interesting.
    +1
    Reply
  • evga_fan
    ->Thomas

    "Gigabyte’s Quick Boost application sets our processor at 200, 400, or 700 MHz beyond its rated frequency."

    Just so you know. Anyways, keep up the good work!

    Cheers
    Reply
  • crisan_tiberiu
    so, basicaly there is no difference in performance between theese boards as i can see.
    Reply
  • hmm .. was thinking of getting an Asus P8Z68-V Pro .. not so sure now knowing that the other boards offer the same performance and are both cheaper.
    Reply
  • Olle P
    One additional feature of the ASRock card that isn't mentioned is its set of holes matching a socket 775 cooler. That feature was the main reason I ordered one of these cards three days ago, since I won't have to spend money on a new CPU cooler.
    Reply
  • tommysch
    So a P67 is superior... interesting.
    Reply
  • crisan_tiberiu
    Olle POne additional feature of the ASRock card that isn't mentioned is its set of holes matching a socket 775 cooler. That feature was the main reason I ordered one of these cards three days ago, since I won't have to spend money on a new CPU cooler.
    ermm thats pro, since i have a socket 775 core 2 duo atm. Any other motherboards out there that suport this?? i would love to know

    Reply