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Futurelooks’ INTEL Z68 Round Up: ASUS vs GIGABYTE vs ASRock vs MSI – FIGHT!

Eric Garay
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Some say Z68 killed the P67 star. That really depends on what features you require and will realistically use. If gaming and other fun activities like home or office work are the primary purpose, a highly affordable P67 system would more than make you happy. However, if productivity is more important and you work with very large data intensive programs, the Intel Z68 Chipset is the platform of choice thanks to the new enhanced features like LucidLogix Virtu and Intel Smart Response (ISR). While Virtu and Intel Quick Sync are very handy for video projects, ISR still brings one of the most useful performance boosts to the table. Let’s have a look at a wide array of the Z68 motherboard choices available and see if it’s possible to crown a winner.


Common Platform Features and Specifications

This is a very different looking bunch of Z68 motherboards. But many offer the same or similar features and specs across the spectrum. The main differences occur with network, video out ports, audio, and prime features. Otherwise, they all offer USB 3.0, SATA 6Gbps, 2-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossfireX support as well as LucidLogix Virtu and Intel Smart Response Technology.

However, when Z68 first launched, GIGABYTE was the only manufacturer to omit Virtu on their higher model boards citing that power users wouldn’t really want or use the feature. With consumers seeing Virtu as a tangible asset, most all of GIGABYTE’s boards now offer at least a single HDMI port to meet the licensing specifications. It’s good to see GIGABYTE offer the GA-Z68XP-UD5 in that respect. However, boards without it you can save yourself $30 to $40 more at retail which may be worth considering.

On a side note, ECS is the only manufacturer to skip making Z68 motherboards despite what was shown at Computex 2011. ECS believed that Z68 had a limited shelf life of sorts and would instead focus on the upcoming X79 which as you know is rumored to reach us by 2nd quarter of 2012, but it’s looking like it may be a lot sooner based on unconfirmed reports. Considering how Z68 sales went, that wasn’t entirely the best choice by ECS.

Many of the boards can be found with updated PCI Express 3.0 support which adds more PCI bandwidth for data transfer. This is only active if you have a PCIE 3.0 capable processor which aren’t out yet. If you decide to upgrade your CPU when Sandy Bridge-E comes out, you’re all set. Otherwise, it’s a feature you can’t utilize. With the recap of the features of INTEL’s Z68 platform out of the way, let’s meet our contestants in this gruelling showdown!

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO Motherboard

This board was our first experience with the Z68 chipset. It was featured in our INTEL Z68 launch article because of its tangible integrated, user friendly features. In other words, with features like MemOK, users are all but guaranteed to get up and running. The board features the best of its P8P67 sibling’s performance along with all of the latest updates. It’s also the only board in the round up to feature BlueTooth Go.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLollmnFVss]

In terms of design and layout, the black PCB, blue heat sink and socket theme attracts the enthusiasts. And, most every expansion port, button, power connector, fan and front panel header are all placed on the outer edges of the motherboard freeing up space for your expansion slots. There’s plenty of SATA support on this board too.

In regards to the BlueTooth Go! feature, it includes extra capabilities like Folder Sync, BT Transfer (make moving files easy), Shot & Send (Very hand for tuners), BT to Net (have to show off sometimes), Music Player (get your jam on), and Personal Manager to keep you in order. And, if you want to show off to your friends, you can interface your P8Z68-V Pro with Turbo Remote via your iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian devices.  Overall, a very good bundle of features for $199.99 US MSRP.





ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 Motherboard

The ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 (AZE4) takes on a similar layout and look to its P67 cousin including its main features. Along with the UEFI BIOS and ASRock Extreme Tuning Utility (AXTU), you can listen to music through your player via the system even when the system is off via the On/Off Play feature. Our unboxing video will cover some other details. Check it out below!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BP1mhDO56k]

In my opinion, the Combo Cooler Option is slowly becoming antiquated. Not many people still have LGA 775 socket friendly CPU coolers still lying around. You’ll be fine if you do, but it would really be something special if we could some how use an LGA 1336 socket only CPU cooler as well. If you have a Noctua CPU cooler, you’re covered. They’ll send you any upgrade mounting kit free as we found out at COMPUTEX 2011 this year.

Of all the boards in the round up, the AZE4 is the only board to implement a PLX PEX8608 chip. This chip helps keep all the expansion slots and ports run at their full PCI-E speed at x1 while the rest of the platforms in the round up lose function to some of those. This is a big deal if you’re a user with dual video cards and need the function of all those other ports. A good example would be discrete audio or gaming network adapter. It’s hard to believe all of this costs a mere $169.99 US MSRP from the usual places.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Motherboard

This is currently GIGABYTE’s flagship Virtu capable motherboard. It’s basically a lot like the UD4 model but with video out ports. Their all new Touch Hybrid BIOS brings tweaking the system to the Windows environment. This board also includes EZ Smart Response to quickly set up Intel Smart Response Technology without entering the BIOS or reinstalling your software. Have a peek at this jet black beauty in our unboxing video below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8EPwmJOMc]

While it may not boast an aggressive overclocking look, the board uses an Intel approved Intersil PWM controller which is VRD 12 compliant. That helps provide the CPU with much needed clean power. If you have some Kingston HyperX Genesis 2133MHz with XMP features or another brand of high frequency memory, it will easily run it.  The board bundles their Smart 6 software which includes QuickBoot (decreases boot times), QuickBoost (one click overclocking), Recovery 2 (retrieve lost files), DualBIOS, Recorder (system watch dog), and TimeLock (timer for locking up your PC).

In terms of layout and design, this is a very low profile platform in that there are no components that stand tall aside from the PWM heat sink next to the CPU socket. It’s very clean with all of the major power sockets expansion ports, panel headers, and SATA. Again, the only the proprietary USB bracket port finds an odd spot between the 24-pin power connector and DIMM slots. For $159.99 US MSRP, you’ll find this the most affordable SLI/CrossfireX motherboard that comes with GIGABYTE’s overclocking heritage.





GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD5-B3 Motherboard

The original UD5 that we featured in the Z68 launch article didn’t have any video out ports. But, with many people feeling a loss without access to the video and Virtu, GIGABYTE added an HDMI port renaming the board to the Z68XP-UD5. With 20-Phase VRM, the platform is poised to offer better overclocking than its “H” siblings. You’ll definitely like the look if you take pride in your system. We go through it in detail in the unboxing video below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6EAo5L5E74]

Overall, the UD5 layout is also very clean and similar to the UD3H. It’s very easy to get to all the ports including the special USB ports which are at the bottom of the board now. The platform has larger heat sinks and pipes to accommodate higher VRM output to the CPU from overclocking. While both the UD3H and UD5 have Cloud OC for overclocking using your smartphone or tablet and Hotekey OC for overclocking, the UD5 stands to achieve the highest extended overclocks with better stability. You’ll find the power and reset buttons hiding behind the 24-pin power connector. Since, most users will be using a case, this is a pretty minor issue.

While you can still find the original GA-Z68X-UD5 for $239.99 US, the revised Z68XP-UD5 cost increased to $269.99 US after adding Virtu and an HDMI port. At this increased price, consumers are going to have to heavily consider the competition at the original price. Still, GIGABYTE’s quality has secured many happy fans willing to pay a little extra for the sexy black PCB and a more traditional BIOS experience.

MSI Z68A-GD80 Motherboard

The GD80 is a more aggressive model and seems to be MSI’s best bang for buck overclocking choice. We’ve seen the P67A-GD80 sibling get close to 5GHz with moderate tweaks. The VRM engineers appear to be doing what it takes to get these boards noticed in all facets of performance. The Military Class II theme returns featuring OC Genie II for super easy 4GHz+ overclocking. Let’s go to the unboxing video below for a closer look and overview.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeYiEVHiCIA]

The ClickBIOS II is a very easy BIOS to navigate and doesn’t take a pro to figure out the performance sweet spots. There are options for automated overclocking similar to the ASUS P8Z68-V Pro right down to the frequency selections if you’re using a Core i7-2600K. MSI really worked on cleaning up the software for the Windows environment. Most of what you can do in the BIOS can also be done in Windows.

We found that the GD80 has a very low profile set of components except for the VRM heat pipe sinks around the CPU socket. The new Hi-C caps (flat components next to the socket) sit very low and out of the way. Users should find all the sockets near the edges of the motherboard including the special front panel USB header. A single 6-pin PCI Express power port oddly crowds the top PCIEx1 slot. Other than that tiny issue, the GD80 is a very cool board priced in at $229.99 US which also includes Virtu. If we could get this board about $20 cheaper, we would really see it flying off the shelves.





Test System Configuration and Installation Notes

Let’s break down the test system and get straight to the benchmarks. We’ll be using a familiar Kingston V+100 SSD in our tests since running Intel Smart Response is what the INTEL Z68 chipset is made for.

Some Kingston HyperX Genesis and Patriot Division II memory was used to throw a couple variables at the Z68 round up both to validate and approve stability. The systems were all tested with a Kingston 64GB SSDNow V+100 connected since it is a standard Z68 feature. SSDs do enhance performance of the system through out. Keep that in mind if you’re comparing benchmarks.

The most serious issue encountered with the ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 is mostly a moot point now that boards ship with a newer BIOS. However, if you happen to get an older one, RAID set up needed for using ISR or SSD caching will give you issues at boot. The system may randomly not detect the OS hard drive and keep going back to BIOS. However, a quick BIOS update fixes any issues. Make sure you grab it before using this board.

Benchmark Suite Notes

As per standard operating procedures, the overclocked system has to pass three iterations of Sysmark 2007 or we don’t count it as stable. That said, the suite consists of programs that test the entire platform’s features and sub-systems under real world applications. The benchmarks include: Sysmark 2007, CineBench R11.5, 3DMark11, Metro 2033, RightMarkAudio Analyzer, input/output performance, power consumption, and quality control.

Power Consumption was measured using a power meter from the outlet. Quality Control was done utilizing both our senses and a laser thermometer. We’re looking for EMF, noises and any unusual hot spots compared to previous P67 platforms.

Overclocking: Who Brings the Frequencies?

When it comes to overclocking, the power supply, motherboard, CPU, and temps effect the results. If you can’t overclock very high, one of these variables will limit your system. With that in mind,  CPU voltage were set to a max of 1.5 volts and memory set to 1.68 volts for all overclocking. If you want to use the bundled OC software, you’ll find they all will reach 4.2GHz easily just like MSI’s OC Genie II on a 2600K.

Switching to the BIOS, we found each board provides OC profiles topping out at 4.8GHz found on the Z68 Extreme 4. The P8Z68-V Pro and Extreme 4 achieved 4.6GHz presets out of the gate. The rest weren’t quite as aggressive with their preset profiles but still break the 4.2GHz barrier. When switching to full manual BIOS OC mode, the P8Z68-V Pro made excellent use of its offset DIGI+VRM voltages to lead the pack.

It makes sense that the boards with the more aggressive VRM overclock the best. You can also see that the Max Base Clocks weren’t very high. The higher you go with the CPU frequency, the less flexible the base clocks become. In comparison to the P67 boards we’ve had in the labs, each one randomly tested with the same voltage are a little more eager to squeeze out an extra multiplier and/or base clock frequency.

Sysmark 2007

This program benchmarks a computer’s overall performance rating the system in areas such as E-Learning, Video Creation, Office Productivity, and 3D Modeling. E-Learning uses apps like Adobe Flash and Photoshop to execute rich image, video, and audio in web based presentations. Video Creation creates a video rendering uses apps like SONY VEGAS to stress the system in professional video editing using effects and images from multiple sources, content types and formats. Office Productivity uses the real Microsoft Office to assess performance gains using these types of application. Finally, 3D Modeling professional applications to stress the system in real world modelling simulations.

Sysmark 2007 is a data demon. It goes faster and faster thanks to the SSD and Intel Smart Response especially compared to the Z68 or P67 running without it. Keep in mind that it’s only with the help of a good quality 20-64GB max SSD that ISR makes such an impact. Repetitive games and programs will load quicker. But, you won’t see any decrease to your video rendering times or access when random data is involved.





3DMark11 – 1280 x 720p Standard Performance Setting

Here, we see the arguable 3D benchmark standard showing us a bit of the system’s overall 3D performance. Most of it is video card performance. But, some motherboards interact more aggressively. The surprising change up is the near even scores with the Extreme 4 pulling off a top spot.

Metro 2033 – 1920 x 1200 Maximum Settings

Whoever says Z68 boards can’t get their game on might want to double check their data, or lack there of. Granted these aren’t the highest frames, but you can try running Metro 2033 at our resolution and settings to see how well your system does especially with two ZOTAC GTX 560 Ti in SLI.

CineBench R11.5 – Likes SSDs Too!

Rendering in this benchmark is very CPU intensive and sensitive to things like core frequencies with Intel Turbo Tech. A primary SSD offers performance alone. But, what you may not know is that rendering programs can and often do benefit from using an SSD in both cached and non-cached configurations. The Core i7-2600K netted a 6.31 average multi core and 1.41 single core score without. But with the SSD, it did much better as you can see below.

 

Compared to the test system running on a standard platter hard drive, both multi and single core scores improved with all the platforms. The pack was close during standard operations. But, the pack separates a bit further when running a very healthy overclock. Since the bulk of the users won’t run them overclocked, you still get an idea of the refinements built in to the boards.

RightMarkAudio Analyzer

The objective here is to compare the motherboards’ audio performance a bit more objectively than with the human ear. Breaking down audio performance requires a high quality set of head phones, good quality male-to-male analog cable, and RMAA. We actually test 24-bit 48, 96, and 192Hz frequencies. The results are averaged out in our table below.

In all honesty, there is hardly any noticeable difference in audio when using a good pair of headphones. The chances are mostly inaudible to the human ear. If I had to which seemed the most up to speed, it would be the Pro and GD80. They were the clearest when pushing the volume. However, the UD5 and UD3H offered the loudest volumes though not quite as crisp. If you opt for an audio card like the ASUS Xonar cards we’ve tested, you’ll get better results and can pretty much omit this entire section.

Cougar Point Input/Output PCIE Bus Limitations Examined

The PCI Express lanes on motherboards with Cougar Point (P6x/H6x/Z6x) chipsets have been getting a little crowded. Even Ibex Peak (P55 chipset) motherboards had some bus limitations. When populating 3 or more PCI Express expansion slots, some devices are then disabled. The table below, provided by ASUS, gives us an idea from among all the platforms.

In our NVIDIA SLI tests, if the PCIE x4 expansion slot is occupied, you lose USB 3.0 function since it shares the bus lane. Although you can manually configure the PCIE x4 slot mode, you’ll have to sacrifice USB 3.0 or eSATA performance or function. In SLI or CrossfireX gaming configurations, all the boards still rocked the frame rates. But, after adding any PCIE expansion card, USB 3.0 was the first thing to vanish. The only board exempt from the shared limitations is the ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 because it has a separate PLX controller. However, if you utilize the board’s rear eSATA ports, you lose the Marvell controlled internal SATA port function. There is some kind of limitation for everything it seems.

Since we tested our batch of boards as a budget conscious consumer, we tested all the IO using one video card and no extra PCIE cards. In this stock setting, IO performance remained full speed for all the boards with the Extreme 4 moving just a few more MB/s here and there. Again, when running SLI and PCIE card, at least the Extreme 4 remained IO functional while the others didn’t.





Overall Power Consumption and Quality Control

Idle, graphic testing, and full load consumption was averaged over 30 minute intervals each. Unigine Heaven demo was used for graphical testing as it also uses the CPU like many of the latest games. OCCT was added to the mix to give us a simulation of a fully loaded system.

Well, this is slightly uneventful. All of the systems are pretty comparable without discrete graphics cards. Things separate ever so slightly with one installed. We’re still not talking about any differences compared to the P67 averages.

There are varying degrees of noise emissions that electronics produce. Typically, we look for any audible noises rating them by the distance you can hear them at. I’m happy to report that I couldn’t find any Z68 motherboards producing any kind of noise at all. This time around, they are extremely quiet which is good news for system integrators.

The Good and Bad with Z68 Offerings

Each Z68 motherboard in the round up are formidable combatants when it comes to providing users with well tuned choices thanks to LucidLogix Virtu and Intel Smart Response. GIGABYTE even recently announced PCIE 3.0 support for their entire 6-Series motherboards to sweeten the pie.

However, without PCIE 3.0 expansion cards, filling up the group’s expansion slots will slow some features down if not disable them. On the one hand, most users don’t often pack the expansion slots which means a very small chance of running in to connectivity issues. On the other hand, any consumer would rather buy a motherboard without any restrictions no matter how unlikely the issues might be. As prosumers, we err on the side of prevention.

If you aren’t sure either we present exhibit A: P67 Cougar Point SATA3Gbps issue. It was highly unlikely a noticeable percentage of users would experience an issue but a revision was made anyway. Without redesigning the Z68 chipset, a PLX chip is the answer to remedying any current or future PCI Express bus limitations and ASRock was the only one in the field to accommodate this.

The Final Scores Tallied

Scoring and penalizing all of the boards is a little skewed because the PCIE limitation is mainly due to the Z68 chipset design which is shared by all the boards save for the ASRock Z68 Extreme 4. Thus, we decided to score as though users will pack their expansion slots and would be a bit disappointed if they suddenly lose expansion card performance.

With this in mind, extra credit must be given to the Z68 Extreme 4 because ASRock took the initiative to fix things giving proper value to their motherboard. If the rest of the pack had done the same, the ASUS P8Z68-V Pro would have earned the number one spot with the MSI Z68A-GD80 right on its tail.

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO Motherboard

ASUS continues to design their platforms for any kind of user whether it be overclockers, gamers, or power conscious pros. We continue to find the ample number of tangible motherboard features useful even if we enthusiasts don’t always need them. With a flick of a switch, the V-Pro can go from mean to green. Stability and reliability are naturally top notch. The board also offers useful BlueTooth connectivity which none of the other manufacturers offer in an ATX solution. Overclockers will find that this board rises to the occasion. As long as you don’t pack the board’s expansion ports, users will enjoy top notch performance.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Motherboard

The strengths of this board are its performance and price. Performance is within the ranges of the competition yet is very simple to get up and running especially if you’re a gamer in need of SLI or CrossfireX. Naturally, you shouldn’t expect high end overclocking on a very lean 8 Phase VRM though many users will be happy with 4.5GHz potential. We’re happy to see Easy Tune 6 continue to improve in that area. And, the EZ Smart Response software rocks for setting up Intel Smart Response so easily. Overall, we highly recommend the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 motherboard for entry level, cost conscious consumers looking for simplicity and performance.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68XP-UD5-B3 Motherboard

The Z68XP is a welcomed platform now offering 20-Phase VRM high end performance potential as well as LucidLogix Virtu. There’s overclocking to be gained if you’re willing to push it to more extreme levels. We find ourselves on the fence as it continues to use the standard looking Hybrid BIOS. While easy to navigate, we are ready to see something that matches GIGABYTE’s unquestionable quality. Their EZ Smart Response software is extremely useful. The board is far more aggressive than Easy Tune 6 can keep up with. Unfortunately, the $269.99 price range is $30 more than it’s $239.99 Z68X-UD5 sibling which would have been near perfect if it included Virtu. While it’s great that it now has Virtu, $269.99 should definitely include a PLX chip for unlimited operation.

MSI Z68A-GD80 Motherboard

What makes this board so attractive is that any regular or pro user can experience what this overclocking noise is about with a single press of the OC Genie II button. Any K-SKU processor can go from 1.6GHz to about 4.2GHz instantly. The EUFI/Click BIOS is one of the easiest to figure out. The board includes software that is rock solid as ever and should please enthusiasts as well as regular users. The GD80 is very easy to set up and provides great system stability. The single 6-pin auxiliary power port next to the top PCIx1 slot could use a slight location adjustment though. Users who require the board’s maximum expansion connectivity may run in to limitations as with most of the board’s in this round up. Still, at $229 USD, this board is definitely worth the price. It’s just not top dog in this round up.

ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 Motherboard

ASRock continues to improve quality and design. Performance was extremely comparable to the competition in our labs. In fact, the Extreme 4 is the only motherboard to give users the most unhindered connectivity simply from one additional PLX chip controller which makes sure the PCIE bus has room to stretch. Overclockers will be pleasantly surprised with their results. Some more polishing in the area of design, software, and BIOS would really solidify ASRock’s position among the DIY users as well as system integrators and enthusiasts. Users don’t like to see “trial software” and we’re hoping that ASRock discontinues putting it in the box or just offering the real deal. At $184.99 USD, the ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 offers all of the important features consumers want in a high performance, fully functional platform. For that reason, we’re giving it our Editors’ Choice award in this gruelling round up.

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