UEFI Features
GIGABYTE bundled the latest version of their UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) implementation with the Z170X-Ultra gaming. The UEFI offers full keyboard and mouse support while using the BIOS pages. By default, the user sees the Easy mode interface when entering the UEFI. The Classic mode screens accessible via the Classic button at the upper right corner of the screen or by hitting the F2 function key. Classic mode screens can be set for the default user interface via the UEFI BIOS tab as well.
GIGABYTE's UEFI is both responsive and easy to use with almost no lag or questionable click-space evident anywhere. The UEFI is designed in an intuitive manner so that both novice and advance users can quickly find what they are looking for. The Easy Mode screen lays out everything in a highly readable format, while the Classic mode tabbed layout displays as you would expect from a traditional BIOS. GIGABYTE also gives you the ability to taken screen captures from within the BIOS by pressing the F12 key with those screen-caps saved in a 1024×768 bitmap format to an attached USB device.
UEFI Notable Features
GIGABYTE took the opportunity to completely overhaul their UEFI with the introduction of the Z170X-Ultra Gaming motherboard. Gone are the HD Mode screens and fancy real-time graphics and statistics along side and bottom bars. Instead, they simplified the UEFI with two modes offered – Easy mode and Classic mode. Easy mode displays various system information and statistics in a tile interface while the Classic mode interface is more reminiscent of the traditional tabbed layout. This overhaul and simplification of their interface is in no way a bad thing. The new UEFI is cleanly and intuitively laid out with access to all the settings you've come to expect on a high-end board.
Easy Mode interface
The Easy Mode interface organizes system data and settings into tiles across the page in an easy-to-read manner for those users who do not want to be bothered with the labyrinth of the Classic mode tabbed interface. Most commonly used settings, including boot sequence, EZ OC, and smart fan, are readily accessible from within the Easy Mode page.
Classic mode interface
The Classic mode interface offers advanced users access to the more traditional tabbed interface with its logically grouped system settings and configuration features. GIGIBYTE enhanced this inteface with popup side and bottom menus. The right side popout menu displays real-time system statistics, including CPU, memory, and voltage settings. The bottom pop out menu displays a quick menu interface for accessing Easy Mode, the UEFI language settings, Q-Flash, and Smart Fan functions.
Q-Flash settings page
The Q-Flash settings page gives the user a GUI for updating the board's BIOS as well as saving the current BIOS to an attached USB device. The Q-Flash configuration page is accessed by clicking on the Smart Fan button in the pop out menu within the Classic mode interface, the Smart Fan button in the upper right corner of the Easy Mode interface, or pressing the F8 function key.
Smart Fan configuration page
The Smart Fan configuration page allows for graphical configuration of fan operation based on predefined threshold levels. The page offers an easy to user visualization with settings available for setting tiered fan speeds based on tied temperature thresholds, as well as temperature-based warning and fan fail warning configuration. The Smart Fan configuration page is accessed by clicking on the Smart Fan button in the pop out menu within the Classic mode interface or the Smart Fan button in the upper right corner of the Easy Mode interface.
Classic mode, Save & Exit tab, Save Profiles popup
Classic mode, Save & Exit tab, Load Profiles popup
Classic mode, Save & Exit tab, Save Profiles to drive
GIGABYTE allows for storing up to eight UEFI profiles through the Save Profiles and Load Profiles functions within the Save & Exit tab in the Classic mode interface. The saved profiles contain all user configured settings from the UEFI, and can be saved to or restored from any attached storage device. The Smart Fan configuration page allows for graphical configuration of fan operation based on predefined threshold levels. The page offers an easy to user visualization with settings available for setting tiered fan speeds based on tied temperature thresholds, as well as temperature-based warning and fan fail warning configuration. The Smart Fan configuration page is accessed by clicking on the Smart Fan button in the pop out menu within the Classic mode interface or the Smart Fan button in the upper right corner of the Easy Mode interface. The Save Profiles popup can be accessed by pressing the F3 function key. The Load Profiles popup can be invoked by pressing the F4 function key.
Classic mode, System tab
Classic mode (non-English language)
Clicking on the Language pull down from within the System tab (Classic mode interface) opens the System Language page. From here, you can select one of 19 languages with which to customize the UEFI text and labels. The UEFI language can also be customized by click on the language button on the bottom button bar from within the Classic mode interface.
UEFI Walkthrough – Classic mode interface
M.I.T tab
M.I.T tab, Advanced Frequency Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Frequency Settings, Advanced CPU Core Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Frequency Settings, Advanced CPU Core Settings page continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, IMC Timing Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, Channel A/B Memory Sub Timings page, Standard and Advanced Timing Control settings
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, Channel A/B Memory Sub Timings page, Standard and Advanced Timing Control settings continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, Channel A/B Memory Sub Timings page, Standard and Advanced Timing Control settings continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, Channel A/B Memory Sub Timings page, Standard and Advanced Timing Control settings continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Memory Settings, Channel A/B Memory Sub Timings page, Standard and Advanced Timing Control settings continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Advanced Power Settings page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, CPU Core Voltage Control page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Chipset Voltage Control page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, DRAM Voltage Control page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Internal VR Control page
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Internal VR Control page continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Internal VR Control page continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Internal VR Control page continued
M.I.T tab, Advanced Voltage Settings, Internal VR Control page continued
>M.I.T tab, PC Health Status page
>M.I.T tab, Miscellaneous Settings page
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.