Seven Sub-$160 Z77 Express Motherboards, Reviewed
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Page 1:Seven Affordable Z77 Express-Based Motherboards Get Dissected
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Page 2:ASRock Z77 Extreme4
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Page 3:Z77 Extreme4 Applications
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Page 4:Overclocking With ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility
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Page 5:Z77 Extreme4 UEFI
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Page 6:Asus P8Z77-V LX
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Page 7:P8Z77-V LX Applications
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Page 8:Overclocking With Asus TurboV
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Page 9:P8Z77-V LX UEFI
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Page 10:Biostar TZ77XE3
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Page 11:TZ77XE3 Applications
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Page 12:Overclocking With Biostar Toverclocker
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Page 13:TZ77XE3 UEFI
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Page 14:ECS Z77H2-A2X Deluxe
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Page 15:Z77H2-A2X Deluxe Applications
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Page 16:Overclocking With ECS eOC
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Page 17:Z77H2-A2X Deluxe UEFI
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Page 18:Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
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Page 19:Z77X-D3H Applications
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Page 20:Overclocking With Easy Tune6
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Page 21:Z77X-D3H UEFI
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Page 22:Intel DZ77SL-50K
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Page 23:DZ77SL-50K Applications
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Page 24:Overclocking With Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
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Page 25:DZ77SL-50K UEFI
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Page 26:MSI Z77A-G45
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Page 27:Z77A-G45 Applications
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Page 28:Overclocking With MSI Control Center
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Page 29:Z77A-G45 UEFI
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Page 30:Benchmark Settings And Peripheral Compatibility Testing
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Page 31:Benchmark Results: 3DMark 11
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Page 32:Benchmark Results: PCMark And Sandra
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Page 33:Power, Heat, And Efficiency
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Page 34:Overclocking
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Page 35:Three Sub-$160 Motherboards Rise To The Top
Z77A-G45 UEFI
MSI’s UEFI hasn’t changed noticeably in the past year, still placing the greatest visual priority on the system clock and the least visual priority on truly useful settings. Fortunately, the array of available settings is plentiful.
Base clock and CPU multiplier controls top the Z77A-G45’s OC menu. We were able to reach 4.65 GHz at our target 1.25 V when pairing these settings with a Vdroop Offset Control of 100%.
Unfortunately, we found that set voltage levels weren’t accurate whatsoever, requiring 1.235 V CPU core and 1.6330 V DIMM settings to reach our desired 1.25 V and 1.65 V. Using the 1.25 V setting with a lower Vdroop Offset Control simply allowed the CPU voltage to drop under load while remaining high at idle.
The Z77A-G45 allows the CPU multiplier to be raised as other features of Intel Turbo Boost technology are disabled.
Individual memory timings can be left in auto mode, while others are manually configured. MSI also allows XMP profiles to set the timings baseline by choosing the profile first, then manually altering other values (including memory ratio).
Up to six custom firmware configurations can be saved on the Z77A-G45 as overclocking profiles.
- Seven Affordable Z77 Express-Based Motherboards Get Dissected
- ASRock Z77 Extreme4
- Z77 Extreme4 Applications
- Overclocking With ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility
- Z77 Extreme4 UEFI
- Asus P8Z77-V LX
- P8Z77-V LX Applications
- Overclocking With Asus TurboV
- P8Z77-V LX UEFI
- Biostar TZ77XE3
- TZ77XE3 Applications
- Overclocking With Biostar Toverclocker
- TZ77XE3 UEFI
- ECS Z77H2-A2X Deluxe
- Z77H2-A2X Deluxe Applications
- Overclocking With ECS eOC
- Z77H2-A2X Deluxe UEFI
- Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
- Z77X-D3H Applications
- Overclocking With Easy Tune6
- Z77X-D3H UEFI
- Intel DZ77SL-50K
- DZ77SL-50K Applications
- Overclocking With Intel Extreme Tuning Utility
- DZ77SL-50K UEFI
- MSI Z77A-G45
- Z77A-G45 Applications
- Overclocking With MSI Control Center
- Z77A-G45 UEFI
- Benchmark Settings And Peripheral Compatibility Testing
- Benchmark Results: 3DMark 11
- Benchmark Results: PCMark And Sandra
- Power, Heat, And Efficiency
- Overclocking
- Three Sub-$160 Motherboards Rise To The Top
The things that actually get screwed-up are typically related to the clock generator, multiplier control, memory timings and power options.
Nice review.
You're kidding - Biostar. I guess this article is not about the 'Best Sub-$160 Z77' MOBO's but about the best manufacturers sent you. The cheapest MOBO I recommend for the SB/IB (K) is the ASUS P8Z77-V which pops your 'unique' budget cap depending where you shop; found it here for $159.99 - http://www.gadgetneeds.net/asus-p8z77-v-atx-intel-motherboard/
Interesting you didn't get an ASUS P8Z77-V LK ~$120 which offers SLI. The ASRock Z77 Extreme4 and Gigabyte Z77X-D3H for the price aren't bad.
There's NO WAY I'm recommending Biostar in the forum, folks and myself would thing I've lost my mind.
Would really like to see how the UD3X Atheros Ethernet controller fares against the Intel and broadcom ones.
Thank you!
This is what differentiates them performance wise.
Also, I love the True Studio Pro software, if you are running digital audio it really makes any idea of a dedicated sound card a thing of the past. Every computer I build now either has True Studio Pro with the mobo, or I purchase the MB2 software suite, it makes such a difference if using headphones or quality speakers, and much less buggy that Creative's sound cards and driver issues that we all know and love.