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Gigabyte Z97X Discussion, Help, and Owners Club(SOC and Gaming Editions also included)

205K views 3K replies 248 participants last post by  LoneWolf15 
#1 ·
The GIGABYTE Z97X Discussion Club



The boards have shown up on newegg.com so some users might have a Z97X-UD3H already, if you need help please post here!
If you have any questions about the new boards or want to know about some features, feel free to ask!

Boards Ordered by Newegg Prices:
Z97-HD3
Z97X-D3H
Z97X-SLI
Z97X-Gaming 3
Z97X-UD3H
Z97X-UD3H BK
Z97X-Gaming 5
G1.Sniper Z87
Z97X-Gaming 7
Z97X-UD5H
Z97X-SOC
Z97X-UD5H BK
Z97X-SOC Force
Z97X-UD7 TH
Z97X-Gaming GT
Z97X-Gaming G1
Z97X-Gaming G1 WIFI BK
Micro ATX:
Z97M-D3H
Z97MX-Gaming 5
Z97X-SLI
Mini ITX:
Z97N-WIFI
Z97N-Gaming 5

Some previews:
http://www.legitreviews.com/gigabyte-z97-motherboard-overview_139874
http://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/carl/gigabyte-z97-and-h97-motherboards-gallery/
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSCFBee3zcc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKiB7JTEBYM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eymjMQ7iig

Newer Software:
BIOS has been updated(pretty damn smooth for general functions)
Software package has been heavily expanded, these are the new software titles:
Smart Switch(Brings back start menu(s) to Windows 8/8.1)
System Information Viewer(Fan control/HW monitoring)
CloudStation: Includes: HomeCloud, HotSpot, GIGABYTE Remote, Remote OC, AutoGreen
Game Controller

As well as the older software which is included:
@BIOS
USB Blocker
EZ Setup
Fast Boot
Smart Time Lock
Smart Recovery 2
EasyTune

Also for boards with the Killer NIC, the software has also been updated(it looks more like windows 8 style and is less complicated than before)

Downloads:
New GTL for OCing
Drivers and new utilities
Some cool things about the new Z97X-SOC and Force
SMT DIMMs only on these two boards
DIP Switches for disabling memory channels
Added in new clock gen just for BCLK
Added in more support in BIOS for things like boot modes, PWM frequencies, Spread Spectrum, DDRVTT, DMI controls

Black Edition Benefits:
7 days burn-in testing (168 hours)
2 year extra warranty (5 year total)
Better and extra SATA cables(black weave sleeving)
Different(Extra) BK Edition Sticker
Different IO shield (Metalic Black)
Club membership will including drawings for trips to Taiwan to see their testing lab as well as free swag around the year for other members
 
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2
#5 ·
What PowlRstage IC is rated for up to 60 amp load?
Quote:
The current has very short paths from the bottom of the device, through either the control FET (duty cycle ON) or the Sync FET (Duty cycle OFF) and through the copper clip. This is another reason the device is so durable and can handle 60A.
Found at the Gigabyte Z97 SOC/Force page: http://www.gigabyte.us/MicroSite/365/images/features.html
 
#7 ·
The
Quote:
Originally Posted by SonDa5 View Post

Official Gigabyte page for Z97 SOC and SOC Force pages have helpful info too. The new SOC Force looks like a much improved Z87 OC to me.
http://www.gigabyte.us/MicroSite/365/9series-soc.html
i just made this

Quote:
Originally Posted by robE View Post

Any pics with the new bios ?
I can ask if i can.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaKe OuT View Post

Really considering one of these OC force or G1 boards but if it doesn't have M.2 for new ssd then that seems like a con. Can someone talk to this point?

EDIT: Nevermind I see they use Sata Express connector.
Yea they almost all have SATA Express, M.2 is on a few mainstream boards.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SonDa5 View Post

What PowlRstage IC is rated for up to 60 amp load?
Found at the Gigabyte Z97 SOC/Force page: http://www.gigabyte.us/MicroSite/365/images/features.html
Its 40A, idk why it says 60A, maybe a typo. But its 40A 8 phases, and the SOC is 4 phases IR3553 40A powerstages.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MaKe OuT View Post

Looks like Gibabyte has the largest offering (# of models) for the 9 series so far. Can anyone decipher (without reading each manual) the main differences between the Gaming G1, GT, Gaming 7, UD7H and UD5H? These all look like nice boards with about a $100 price spread between them.
Audio: All ALC1150 except the Gaming G1 which is Core3D, the Gaming GT has upgraded audio like the G1, but uses ALC1150.
The UD5H has M.2 while the UD7 TH has thunderbolt.
Just newegg search gigabyte z97x and compare the boards.
 
#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sin0822 View Post

The
i just made this

I can ask if i can.

Its 40A, idk why it says 60A, maybe a typo.
That sucks. I'm hoping for IR 3550 IC or bettter... However the feature set is much stronger than the Z87 OC. This looks like a great mother board for over clocking and gaming.

Newegg has the Z97 SOC Force for $209.99 and the Z97 SOC for $189.99. Very pleased with the initial pricing at release. I like the SOC Force alot more than the Z87 OC.
 
#11 ·
Z97 UD5H (not black edition) showing as available on Amazon US.

I'm looking hard at the UD5H black edition....I like the toned down heatsinks.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by stasio View Post

Sin........which board excatly replacing previous Z87X-OC.............SOC or SOC Force?
The Z97X-SOC Force, i honestly have no idea why they even made an SOC, there prob is a demand, the only two differences are power phases 4 versus 8, and NIC Intel i217v versus E2201

Yea some boards are for sale right now and its legit.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the information Sin0822!

I'm not sure if I should go with the Z97X-Gaming G1 WIFI-BK or the Z97X-Gaming GT...

If I'm not mistaken, the GT as less SATA connector (8 vs 10), a different audio chip (ALC1150 vs Sound Core 3D), a single NIC (Killer E2201 vs Killer E2201+Intel), different video output (DVI-D + D-SUB vs DVI-I), a different heat sink (no water block vs water block). There is also no WiFi+Bluetooth 4.0 on the GT.

Is the Digital CPU Power Design the same between the two boards? The only thing that would make me hesitant towards the GT is the Killer E2201 NIC instead of the Intel one...

Edit: I finally pre-ordered the GT since I do not plan to use the included water block, WiFi+Bluetooth nor the Sound Core 3D since I already have a ZxR.
 
#17 ·
These look enticing. May get me to switch from ASUS. I'm liking the SOC and the G1 Black.
 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sin0822 View Post

The Z97X-SOC Force, i honestly have no idea why they even made an SOC, there prob is a demand, the only two differences are power phases 4 versus 8, and NIC Intel i217v versus E2201
Maybe to add some swag to the 4 phase VRM design that is also used on the Gaming 5 mini and micro mother boards? I'm looking forward to detailed VRM analysis of this 4 phase design with over clocked loads with thermal imagery...
smile.gif


Also it may be that with new Intel CPUs coming out soon the FiVR VRM design has been improved and even less mother board VRM inputs is needed.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by fateswarm View Post

Sin is the Lord. I wonder if he'll make a list. I'm interested in the UD3H since the D3H seems to have gotten a nerf and it lost its 'X' from the Z87X name and from looking at the pics, it seems to have 4 phases now instead of 8 of the Z87X-D3H.
Like a list of the boards and their features?
 
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