Review: gigabyte g1.sniper m5

The Gigabyte G1.Sniper series is intended for gamer and overclocker users. Specifically I have tested for a couple of weeks, the Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5 motherboard of mATX format. Among its new features we find ultra durable 5 components, 8 power phases, PCI Express 3.0 ports and AMP-UP audio, ideal for music lovers.

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Technical characteristics Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5

Processor	Support for Intel® Core ™ i7 / Intel® Core ™ i5 / Intel® Core ™ i3 / Intel® Pentium® / Intel® Celeron® processors in LGA1150 packaging L3 cache varies by CPU Please refer to the "CPU Support List" for more information.
Chipset	Intel® Z87 Express Chipset
Memory	4 x DDR3 DIMM sockets with 32GB of system memory * Due to a 32-bit Windows operating system limitation, when more than 4GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed by the operating system may be less than the size of the installed physical memory Dual Channel memory architecture Support for DDR3 3000 (OC) / 2933 (OC) / 2800 (OC) / 2666 (OC) / 2600 (OC) / 2500 (OC) memory modules / 2400 (OC) / 2200 (OC) / 2133 (OC) / 2000 (OC) / 1866 (OC) / 1800 (OC) / 1600/1333 MHz Support for non-ECC memory modules Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules) (Please refer to the "Memory Support List" for more information.)
Integrated Graphics	Integrated graphics processor: 1 x DisplayPort, with a maximum resolution capacity of 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz * Support for DisplayPort version 1.2. 2 x HDMI port, with a maximum resolution capacity of 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz * Supports HDMI version 1.4a1 x DVI-I port, with maximum resolution of 1920 × 12001 GB maximum shared memory (The DVI-I and HDMI ports below cannot be used at the same time.)
Audio	High definition audio Support S / PDIF output Support Sound Blaster Recon3DiCanales 2 / 5.1 Creative® Sound Core 3D chip
LAN	1 x Qualcomm® Atheros Killer E2201 chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)
Expansion Sockets	1 x PCI Express x16, to x4 (PCIEX4) 1 x PCI Express x16 to x16 slot (PCIEX16) * If you are installing only a PCI Express graphics card, for performance Optimum, make sure it is placed in PCIEX16.1 slot x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8) * PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with slot PCIEX16. When the PCIEX8 slot fills up, the PCIEX16 slot starts working in x8.1 mode x PCI Express x1 slot (PCIEX4 and PCIEX1 slots comply with PCI Express 2.0 standard.) (The PCIEX16 and PCIEX8 slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
Multi Graphics Technology	Supports 2-Way AMD CrossFire ™ / 2-Way NVIDIA® SLI ™ technology (PCIEX16 and PCIEX8 slots)
Storage interface	Chipset: Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 106 x SATA 6Gb / s connector with capacity for up to 6 SATA 6Gb / s devices
USB	Chipset: Up to 6 USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports (2 ports on the rear panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB connectors) Up to 6 USB 3.0 / 2.0 ports (4 ports on the rear panel, 2 ports available through the USB connectors internal)
Internal I / O connectors	1 x ATX 12V 8-pin power connector 3 x system fan connector 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x front panel connector 1 x power button 1 x reset button 1 x ATX 24-pin main power connector 1 x audio connector on the Front panel 1 x USB 3.0 / 2.02 x USB 2.0 / 1.11 connectors x Clear CMOS jumper Voltage measurement point 1 x Clear CMOS button 6 x SATA 6Gb / s connector 1 x Water Cooled Fan (CPU_OPT) connector 2 x BIOS switches
Rear I / O Panel	1 x RJ-452 port x USB 2.0 / 1.15 port x audio jacks (center / subwoofer speaker output, rear speaker output, line / mic input, line output, headphone / speaker output) 1 x S / PDIF Out 1 optical connector DisplayPort1 x PS keyboard / mouse port / 24 x USB 3.0 / 2.0 port2 x HDMI port1 x DVI-I port
I / O controller	ITE® I / O Controller Chip
Hardware monitoring	System Voltage Detection CPU / System Overheat Warning CPU / System / Chipset Temperature Detection CPU / CPU OPT / System Fan Speed Detection CPU / CPU OPT / System Fan Failure Control CPU / CPU OPT / System Fan Control * The fan speed control function is supported as long as the fan supports it.
BIOS	Using Licensed AMI EFI BIOSPnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0aSupports DualBIOS ™ 2 x 128 Mbit Flash
Other features	@ BIOS ™ Q-Flash Support Supports EZ Setup Supports Xpress Install APP Support CenterEasyTuneON / OFF Charge 2USB Blocker * The applications available in the APP Center may vary depending on the motherboard model. The functions supported by each application may also differ depending on the specifications of each motherboard.
Included Software	Intel® Smart Response Technology Intel® Rapid Start Technology Intel® Smart Connect Technology Norton® Internet Security (OEM version)
OS	Supports Windows 8/7
Format	Micro ATX form factor: 24.4cm x 24.4cm
Observations	Most hardware / software manufacturers no longer offer drivers that support Win9X / ME / 2000 / XP. If any of these drivers were available, we would update the GIGABYTE website accordingly. Due to different support conditions for Linux provided by chipset manufacturers, please download the Linux drivers from the manufacturer's website or from a third party website.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5 - in front of the camera.

The Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5 comes protected in a medium or small box with a "Premium" cover. In it we see his style very of the series and very great the excellent sound card that it includes.

On the back we have all the most important characteristics and technical specifications of the motherboard. Once we open the box we find a second box that houses all the components.

Your bundle includes:

Instruction Manual and Driver CD Gigabyte sticker SLI bridge 4 SATA cables Rear I / O panel

This is a Micro-ATX format motherboard: 24.4cm x 24.4cm. Designed with a black PCB and green components in both expansion slots and heatsinks. That is, the official colors of the Sniper line.

Regarding refrigeration, we have two key areas with passive dissipation. The first one located in the processor zone. Here we have two heatsinks that are attached via a heatpipe.

Next we have an 8-pin ATX connection for better stability. The colors that predominate in these heatsinks are black, silver and green.

Already in the chipset area of the southern bridge, we have the classic skull and serigraphy of the G1-Killer series.

The board has four DIMM slots compatible with up to 32 GB DDR3 ranging from stock speed (1600 mhz) to 2400 mhz with overclock.

This is one of the most interesting areas of the base plate. We have an internal USB 3.0 connection, a Debug LED that will "tell us" if we have a problem, a 24-pin ATX connector, points that allow us to carry out the

voltage measurement, switch to choose BIOS and a CMOS reset button for overclockers.

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It incorporates the AMP-UP sound system, which combines the Creative Sound Core3D chip, operational amplifiers (includes two OP-AMP chips) replaceable to use it according to our needs and EMI isolation.

We have a total of 6 SATA connections. Other models have 8, I do not understand why Gigabyte has not put more. Since we would have a deadly machine: Gaming / Server / HTPC…

The rear connections are gold plated and we have from digital output (DVI and HDMI), USB 2.0, USB 3.0, ps / 2 and a network card.

BIOS

Test bench and tests

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel i7 4770k
Base plate:	Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5
Memory:	G.Skills Trident X 2400mhz.
Heatsink	Liquid refrigeration.
HDD	Samsumg 840 250GB
Graphic card	Gigabyte GTX780 Rev 2.0
Power supply	Antec HCP 850

To check the stability of the processor and the motherboard, we have made an extreme OC of up to 4600 mhz with Prime 95 Custom by liquid cooling. The graphics we have used is a Gigabyte GTX780 Rev 2.0. We go to the results:

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	P48032
3dMark11	P14739 PTS
Crysis 3	39 FPS
CineBench 11.5	10.3 fps.
Resident Evil 6 Lost planet tomb Raider Meter	13501 PTS. 140 FPS. 65 FPS 62 FPS

Final words and conclusion

The Gigabyte G1.Sniper M5 is a Micro ATX motherboard for socket 1150, compatible with the fourth generation of Intel processors. Becoming the perfect candidate for small teams due to its excellent Ultra Durable 5 plus components, Japanese capacitors, multiGPU SLI system and its excellent overclock margin.

In our test bench, we have tested the motherboard with a high-end i7 4770k processor, 2400 mhz RAM and a Gigabyte GTX 780 OC Rev 2.0 with B1 chip. The results have been excellent in FULL HD 1080 resolution. Games like Crysis 3, Battlefield 4 and Metro 2033 LN reach an average of 70/90 FPS.

Regarding Overclock, it has allowed us to get the most out of the processor. Reaching 4600 mhz with 1.35v. Excellent Overclock!

One of its strongest points is the integration of the AMP-UP sound system, which combines the Creative Sound Core3D chip with electrolytic capacitors. Includes replaceable op amps (includes two OP-AMP chips) to use it according to our needs. To prevent possible interference / electrical noise, an EMI insulation system is included.

Its price in online store ranges from 160 to 175 €. I personally believe that it is worth every penny it costs, and that it will help us to assemble a very balanced team with excellent characteristics.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ ULTRA DURABLE 5 PLUS COMPONENTS.	- COULD INCLUDE 8 SATA CONNECTIONS.
+ POSSIBILITY TO MOUNT TWO MULTIGPU GRAPHICS CARDS.
+ VERY GOOD OVERCLOCK CAPACITY.
+ AMP-UP SOUND CARD WITH CHIP RECON3D.
+ STABLE BIOS.
+ IDEAL FOR THE MOST GAMERS.