Review: gigabyte ga-z77x-ud5h

Gigabyte, the world leader in the manufacture of motherboards and graphics cards presents us with some of the best motherboards on the market, this is the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WiFi ideal for systems seeking stability, connectivity and strong overclocking.

Product ceded by:

These new boards are characterized by having the new Intel Z77 chipset. They are compatible with all "Sandy Bridge" Core I3, Core i5 and Core i7 and all "Ivy Bridge". The new chipset offers few features that differ from the Z68 Chipset, such as;

• Ivy Bridge LGA1155 processors. Native USB 3.0 ports (4). OC capacity. Maximum 4 DIMM modules DDR3. PCI Express 3.0. Digital phases. Intel RST technology. Intel Smart Response Technology (Z77 & H77). Dual UEFI BIOS. (Depends on model and manufacturer) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (Depends on model and manufacturer).

Here is a table to see the differences between the current chipsets of socket 1155:

In fact we must remind our readers that 90% of P67 and Z68 boards are "Ivy Bridge" compatible with a BIOS update.

We also don't want to bore you with a lot of information, but we find it necessary to highlight the new advantages of the Ivy Bridge processor:

• New manufacturing system at 22 nm. Increasing the Overclock capacity and decreasing the temperature. New random number generator that was left outside of "Sandy Bridge". Increases the maximum multiplier from 57 to 63. Increases the memory bandwidth from 2133 to 2800mhz (In step of 200 mhz).Your GPU includes DX11 instructions increasing ~ 55% performance.

Now we include a table with the new models of Ivy Bridge 22nm processors:

Model	Cores / Threads	Speed ​​/ Turbo Boost	L3 Cache	Graphics Processor	TDP
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770	4/8	3.3 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	77W
I7-3770S	4/8	3.1 / 3.9	8MB	HD4000	65W
I7-3770T	4/8	2.5 / 3.7	8MB	HD4000	45W
I5-3570	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570K	4/4	3.3 / 3.7	6MB	HD4000	77W
I5-3570S	4/4	3.1 / 3.8	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3570T	4/4	2.3 / 3.3	6MB	HD2500	45W
I5-3550S	4/4	3.0 / 3.7	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3475S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	6MB	HD4000	65W
I5-3470S	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3470T	2/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	35W
I5-3450	4/4	2.9 / 3.6	3MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3450S	4/4	2.8 / 3.5	6MB	HD2500	65W
I5-3300	4/4	3 / 3.2º	6MB	HD2500	77W
I5-3300S	4/4	2.7 / 3.2	6MB	HD2500	65W

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WIFI FEATURES
Processor	L3 cache varies by CPUSupport for Intel ® Core ™ i7 / Intel ® Core ™ i5 / Intel ® Core ™ i3 processors / Intel ® Pentium ® / Intel ® Celeron ® on LGA1155 (Some Intel® Core ™ processors require graphics card, see the “list of supported CPUs” for more information.)
Chipset	Intel® Z77 Express Chipset
Memory	4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMMs supporting up to 32GB of system memory * Due to Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4GB of physical memory is installed, the displayed memory size will be less than 4 GB Dual Channel memory architecture Supports memory modules DDR3 2400 (OC) / 1600/1333/1066 MHz Support for non-ECC memory modules Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules.
Integrated Graphics	Integrated in the chipset: 1 x DVI-D port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920 × 1200 * DVI-D port does not support adapter D-Sub connection. 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 2560 × 16001 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution 1920 × 12001 x D-Sub port
Audio	Support for Realtek S / PDIFCodec ALC898 output Supports X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity® and EAX® Advanced HD ™ 5.02 / 4 / 5.1 / 7.1-channel HD audio
LAN	1 x Intel GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) (LAN2) 1 x Atheros GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) (LAN1)
Expansion sockets	1 x PCI Express x16 slot, operating at x16 (PCIEX16) * For optimal performance, if only one PCI Express graphics is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot. * PCI Express x16 slot supports up to PCI Express 2.0 standard When an Intel 32nm CPU (Sandy Bridge) is installed. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4) * The PCIEX4 slot is available only when an Intel 22nm CPU is installed. * The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX8 and PCIEX16 slots. When the PCIEX4 slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode and the PCIEX8 will operate at up to x4 mode. 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8) * The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with slotPCIEX16. When the PCIEX8 slot fills up, the PCIEX16 slot starts operating in x8 mode. (The PCIEX16, PCIEX8, and PCIEX4 slots are compliant with the PCI Express 3.0 standard.) 3 x PCI Express x1 slot (All PCI Express x1 slots are compliant with the standard PCI Express 2.0.) 1 x PCI
Multi Graphics Technology	Support for AMD CrossFireX ™ / NVIDIA SLI technology
Storage interface	Chipset: 1 x mSATA connector * The SATA2 5 connector will be disabled when the mSATA connector is installed with a solid state hard drive. 2 x SATA 6Gb / s connectors (SATA3 0/1) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb / s devices Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 * When the RAID set is distributed on SATA 6Gb / s and SATA 3Gb / s channels, the system performance of the RAID set may vary depending on the connected devices. 4 x SATA 3Gb / s (~ SATA2_2 SATA2_5) supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb / s devices 2 x Marvell 88SE9172 chips: 1 x eSATA 6Gb / s connector on the back panel for one SATA 6Gb / s3 device x SATA 6Gb / s connector (GSATA3 6/7/8) with capacity for 3 SATA 6Gb / s devices Support for RAID 0 and RAID 1
USB	Chipset: Up to 2 USB 3.0 / 2.0 ports (available through the internal USB connectors) Up to 6 USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports (2 ports on the rear panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB connectors) Chipset + 2 VIA VL810 hubs: Up to 8 USB 3.0 / 2.0 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 4 ports available through the internal USB connectors) * In Windows XP, the Intel USB 3.0 ports and VIA VL810 hub can support maximum transfer speed USB 2.0 driver. * Due to a limitation in Windows 7, the USB device (or devices) must be connected to the USB 2.0 / 1.1 ports before installing the Intel USB 3.0 driver.
IEEE 1394	VIA VT6308 chip: Up to 2 IEEE 1394a ports (1 port on the rear panel, one port available through the internal IEEE 1394a header)
Internal I / O connectors	Voltage Measurement Point 1 x Clear CMOS jumper 4 x System fan connector 1 x Power LED heatsink connector 2 x USB 2.0 / 1.14 connectors x SATA 3Gb / s connectors 1 x Front panel audio connector 2 x USB 3.0 / 2.01 x connector 24-pin ATX main power connector 5 x SATA 6Gb / s 1 x CMOS clearing button 1 x Reset button 1 x Power button 1 x Front panel connector 1 x CPU fan connector 1 x ATX 12V 8-pin power connector 1 x Trusted Platform Module connector (TPM) TPM function is optional according to different local policies 1 x SPDIF output 1 x BIOS switch 1 x PCIe power connector 1 x mSATA connector
Rear I / O Panel	2 x USB 2.0 / 1.06 port x Audio Jacks (Center / Speaker Subwoofer / Rear Speaker / Side Speaker Out / Line In / Line Out / Microphone) 1 x DVI-D1 port x D-Sub port 1 x eSATA connector 6Gb / s4 x USB 3.0 / 2.02 port x RJ-45 port1 x DisplayPort1 x HDMI1 x S / P-DIF Optical Output1 x IEEE 1394a
BIOS	PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.6, ACPI 2.0a Use of licensed AMI EFI BIOS 2 x 64 Mbit flash Supports DualBIOS ™
Format	ATX, 305mm x 244mm

The motherboard also includes a unique PCIe expansion card that offers connectivity via Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b / g / n. The Bluetooth 4.0 standard includes Smart Ready technology that debuts on mobile devices like the Apple ^® iPhone ^® 4s. This means that transferring content from a smart phone or tablet will be easier and faster than ever.

GIGABYTE Z77 Series Motherboards The GIGABYTE 7 Series Motherboards combine a variety of technology enhancements with Intel's latest Z77 Express chipset, creating a unique array of motherboard designs that take advantage of the outstanding performance of the third generation of processors. Intel ^® Core ™. Featuring an exclusive 'All Digital' VRM design, GIGABYTE 3D Power, and GIGABYTE 3D BIOS (Dual UEFI), the GIGABYTE 7 Series motherboard ensures exceptional power delivery with absolute control, which, along with other additional features, ensures you an experience unmatched the next time you build a PC.

12-Phase Power Design GIGABYTE's cutting-edge 12-phase design of the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) uses components of the highest caliber to provide consistent, unadulterated CPU power. The innovative 12-phase VRM has undergone a design and engineering process that enables it to provide fast transient response times, preventing jitter even during large variations in CPU load. Furthermore, the heat given off by the VRM is effectively reduced by spreading the load between the 12 phases, resulting in a more ventilated and stable platform.

GIGABYTE's revolutionary 3D BIOS application is based on our

UEFI DualBIOS ™ technology, available to our customers in two modes of

exclusive interactions, providing a unique variety of powerful graphical interfaces suitable for even our most demanding users.

At the core of the 3D BIOS technology are physically a couple of ROMs containing the UEFI BIOS system, designed internally and exclusively by GIGABYTE. UEFI DualBIOS ™ makes BIOS setup attractive and new to beginners and experienced users alike, with a graphical interface capable of displaying 32-bit color images as well as offering smooth mouse navigation. UEFI BIOS also offers native support for large hard drives on 64-bit operating systems.

GIGABYTE On / Off Charge

The GIGABYTE Series 7 motherboards include ON / OFF Charge, a unique technology that not only allows you to charge iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch devices, but also do it quickly. Also, they can be charged even when the PC is turned off. So even if you forget to plug yours into the charger after turning off your PC after syncing your songs, it will be fully charged when you need it.

Due to certain limitations on some mobile devices, it may be necessary to connect the device to the PC before the PC enters S4 / S5 modes to allow fast charging from the USB ports using ON / OFF Charge.

The recharge speed may vary depending on the model of mobile device.

Moisture can wreak havoc on the motherboard circuitry. GIGABYTE's new PCB Glass Fabric design helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, reducing the space between the tracks on the printed circuit board.

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GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 4 Classic boards incorporate High-resistance integrated circuits that help protect the motherboard from electrostatic discharge.

Permanent damage caused by surges or power outages during BIOS updates can be prevented by GIGABYTE DualBIOS, which automatically activates a secondary backup BIOS. GIGABYTE also makes use of Anti-Surge ICs to protect the motherboard from surges.

GIGABYTE uses All Solid Caps (capacitors) and MOSFETs Low RDS (on) suitable to work at high temperatures, increasing the life of the components up to 50, 000 hours.

GIGABYTE EZ Smart Response The GIGABYTE EZ Smart Response utility is a simple application that enables users to configure Intel ^® Smart Response on their systems quickly and easily. Previously, activating Intel ^® Smart Response required users to enter the BIOS to configure RAID mode and then reinstall the operating system completely. Once this process was completed, it was necessary to install the Intel ^® Rapid Storage utility and configure the Intel Smart Response. GIGABYTE's EZ Smart Response does all of this automatically, without users having to go through any complicated installation processes so they can quickly and effortlessly enjoy a significant improvement in system performance.

The GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards take advantage of the latest connectivity and expansion bus technologies available on the Intel platform. The third generation of Intel ^® Core ™ processors debuts the new PCI Express gen expansion bus. 3.0, allowing users to take advantage of the new generation of solutions for high-bandwidth external graphics cards.

* PCIE Gen.3 requires CPU and expansion cards to be compatible.

The motherboard comes protected in a fantastic white box. In it we can see the logos of its best technology: 3D BIOS and Power, Ultra Durable 4, compatibility with SLI, Ivy Bridge, etc…

And in the back all its main features detailed.

Matt black and electric blue predominate giving an elegant and very attractive touch.

Rear view of the motherboard.

The distribution of the PCI ports is very good. It allows us to install three multigpu graphics and a high-end sound card in the first PCI port.

Details of the USB connectors, control panel and SATA.

It also incorporates an M-Sata 3.0 port to install a solid state disk (SSD).

Dissipation is close to perfection: robust, effective and aesthetically impressive. We have tried running high OC tests at 4800mhz and they have barely warmed up. Its Ultra Durable 4 technology has a lot to do!

We are glad to see two LAN connections:), digital video outputs (DVI and HDMI), USB 3.0, E-SATA and integrated sound card.

Nice gesture by Gigabyte the incorporation of an on / off button and a LED indicator panel for any incompatibility or problem.

SATA 2.0 and 3.0 ports.

Next to the board we find an instruction manual, quick guide, installation CD, back plate, SLI bridge and SATA cables.

A useful USB 3.0 connector.

Wifi 802.11 b / g / n network card.

And two fantastic antenna to connect to the closest access.

TESTING BENCH
Processor:	Intel 2600k
Base plate:	Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WiFi
Memory:	Kingston Hyperx PNP 2x4GB
Heatsink	Corsair H60
HDD	Kingston Hyperx 120gb
Graphic card	ASUS GTX580 DCII
Power supply	Thermaltake TouchPower 1350W

I have overclocked the 4800mhz CPU with Prime 95 Custom and a GTX580 graphics card at 780mhz. And I have obtained the following results:

TESTS
3dMark Vantage:	25182 PTS TOTAL.
3dMark11	P5655 PTS.
Heaven Unigine v2.1	42.6 FPS and 1061 PTS.
CineBench	OPENGPL: 62.63 AND CPU: 8.42

The Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WiFi is an ATX format motherboard with 16 digital phases, compatible with Ivy Bridge, multiGPU system, M-SATA connection, Dual LAN and Ultra Durable 4 technology. In addition to having a beastly aesthetic with the combination of black and electric blue.

To check the performance we have used an Intel 2600k with an overclock at 4800 mhz and a GTX580 graphics card at 750mhz. Performance is brutal with 25182 PTS on 3DMARK Vantage and 3DMARK11 P5655. I have added a test to SATA connections with a Crucial M4 SSD getting the most out of the disk with 512MB / s read SEQ.

Cooling is one of its strongest points, when it comes to overclocking, it has hardly warmed up the heatsinks. Chapó for the Gigabyte R&D team.

The difference between this model and the normal one, is the incorporation of an Atheros wireless network card (one of the best manufacturers) 802.11 b / g / n and two high-performance antennas. We have tested its power in a house with two floors. In the first we had the access point and in the second floor the equipment, and its connection during the 2 hours that it was connected very stable.

In short, the GA-Z77X-UD5H is a solid, stable board with enough power to perform Championship Overclock and excellent dissipation ability. Its price is quite attractive, since we can find it on the 195-215 €.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ ATTRACTIVE DESIGN.	- NONE.
+ LAYOUT.
+ GREAT OVERCLOCK CAPACITY.
+ ULTRA DURABLE TECHNOLOGY 4.
+ COMPATIBLE WITH MULTIGPU SYSTEMS.
+ DUAL LAN AND WIFI CONNECTIVID.

The Professional Review team awards you the platinum medal: