Overclocking and Conclusion
Overclocking
To give a feel for the overclocking performance potential of the Z170-Ultra Gaming motherboard, we attempted to push it to known CPU-supported performance parameters with minimal tweaking. The board did not want to run with a base clock over 100 nor could we get the CPU over 4.6GHz. In either case, the board would either not boot at all or become very unstable very quickly. The CPU speed stabilized at a 4.6GHZ speed with the ring clock at 4.5GHz at the base clock set to its stock 100Mhz speed. Memory speeds ran at a maximum of 3200MHz at that base close speed. The modules used have run up to 3466MHz speeds on other boards, but would not stability on this one at any speeds about 3200MHz. All overclocking sessions remained stable for over 4hrs. System stability was tested running the AIDA64 stability test in conjunction with EVGA's OC Scanner X graphical benchmark running at 1280×1024 resolution and 8x MSAA in stress test mode. Note that 16GB (2 x 8GB) of Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-2666 and 16GB (4 x 4GB) of Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3200 memory modules were used for the overclocking tests.
100MHz Base Clock Stats with 3200MHz Memory
Note that this is is meant only as a quick preview of the board's performance potential. With more time to tweak the settings to a greater extent, pushing to a higher base clock and ring bus speed may have been achievable, in addition to an overnight stability run without issue.
Performance
The Z170X-Ultra Gaming motherboard performed within expectations at stock speeds with some performance oddities encountered during the overclocking sessions.
Pricing
As of October 28, the GIGABYTE Z170X-Ultra Gaming motherboard was available from Newegg.com for $159.99, Amazon.com for $159.99 with Prime shipping, and from B&H for $159.00 with free shipping.
Conclusion
GIGABYTE's Z170X-Ultra Gaming motherboard has quite a bit going for it, including design and aesthetics, stock performance, and price. The board is a solidly designed product with looks and performance that should appeal to any gamer. Its black and red aesthetic would go well with most cases with a layout that gives easy access to all the integrated components. At stock settings, its benchmark performance was equivalent to the other test systems, but did not stand out. Further, its integrated component performance more than proved out the quality of the board's design.
The biggest gotcha with the board seemed to be with the overclocking performance. While the board did manage solid CPU and memory speeds, the accessible overclocking performance seemed to hit a wall. Though mileage in this department could vary with the CPU used and luck of the draw. The only other design point to mention would be the lack of RGB support for the integrated LEDs. This board has a nice set of LEDs, but the limiting the LEDs to a single color may limit the board's appeal.
Strengths
- Stock performance
- Board aesthetics, layout, and design
- Price
- LED placement
- Motherboard manual details and quality
- UEFI BIOS design and usability
- Intel GigE network controller performance
- M.2 port placement
Weaknesses
- Lack of RGB LEDs
- Overclocking performance
- Odd surface mounting for SATA ports 4 / 5
I wish gigabyte would fix
I wish gigabyte would fix their onboard audio. Their G1 line is overall good with the exception of the audio.
It is not that the audio hardware is bad, but the drivers are really bad.
Currently there is an issue with their realtek drivers where frequencies below 40Hz gets a strange averaging effect which reduces detail in the bass.
This happens on the front outputs, but not on the front outputs if just the realtek drivers are installed. And for the ones that support X-Fi MB3, when the creative software is installed, both the rear and front get the issue regardless of what settings of toggles you mess with.
While the front ports have issues with sub 40Hz sounds, tones within the 41-150Hz range have more detail in the front output.
The real output will do the entire range, but the lower frequencies have less detail,, even though it is the port that is connected to the main audio amp designed to support 600ohm impedance headphones. The other supporting tones for various bass notes have no real presence, and thus you start to get more of the drum sound that you get from midi audio where it sound fake due to it only producing a small set of the frequencies needed to make an instrument sound real., and any attempt to boost those frequencies, results in some slight distortion.
If a generic driver is installed, the issue goes away, but then you lose proper support for 5.1 speaker systems, as well as some of the input functions
I ultimately ended up having to buy a sound blaster Z, because because 3 different boards on their G1 gaming line had the same issue.
I recorded samples of the issue.
Anyway, instead of designing new boards, they need to reallocate some staff to work on the onboard audio.
The funny thing about this is
The funny thing about this is that the Gigabyte boards with audio issues are the higher end ones using the Creative Sound Core chipset as opposed to Realteks.
Maybe a conspiracy theory? After all in your case it net Creative 2 sales!
It might be, considering that
It might be, considering that if the on board drivers worked properly, I would not be able to tell the difference between it and the soundblaster Z.
I was amaze that these board
I was amaze that these board can do a very solid 4.5 (1.32v) and 4.6 (1.35v) Did use the EasyTune for 3 weeks and is easy to use. stable app. The fan app need to be polish and perfected. I box 2 Asus boards since all the issues with there programs and apps. and 1 with VR spikes These board for 160.00 is perfect Imagine other models like Designare or the new Auris.I am happy with these since I get my problems with voltages and app, and I wanted to discard the cpu. And was not. I also recomend these board to everyone. I am still playing with fans on my case since the PWM OP2 beside the case plugs and system 3 fan only reads the PCH Temps. Is a very smart board also. I just change a fan and the bios automatically see that turns off and turn on again and the changes where done. Sound is ok Not the best, miss my Asus on that area, but since that was my last software that works, since just stop working. A nice detail was the app update screen perfect. no more looking for drivers and apps and updates. Gigabyte has to make it better but works perfect. A note. I use my pump from the deep cool captain 360 on the the CPU fan. I also use it on the OPT1 there is NO difference on performance either speeds. on normal. The 3 fans also. I just select PMW the board see that and on these conditions WORKS on both as same.
I will wait of the new Auris bord.
I like how in their promo
I like how in their promo material (3rd picture in the article) coolant tubes pass CPU waterblock without entering it. It’s a nice way to spend crapload of money to quickly fry high-end CPU. EK would be proud of this promotion, i’m sure of it.
😉
Well, it does take extra work
Well, it does take extra work to actually connect the tubes, thus laziness deems it unnecessary.
I saw this and was excited.
I saw this and was excited.
But then they seem to have stripped down the audio compared to other boards in this segment including those from GB.
Realtek 892 instead of 1150. No more Creative X-fi MB3 or equivalent.