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

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