GIGABYTE Z270X-Gaming 5 Motherboard Review

Bundled Applications

Included Applications

• App Center
  • 3D OSD
  • @BIOS
  • AutoGreen
  • BIOS Setup
  • Color Temperature
  • Cloud Station
  • EasyTune
  • Easy RAID
  • Fast Boot
  • Game Boost
  • ON/OFF Charge
  • Platform Power Management
  • RGB Fusion
  • Smart Backup
  • Smart Keyboard
  • Smart TimeLock
  • System Information Viewer
  • USB Blocker
  • USB DAC-UP 2
  • V-Tuner
• Norton® Internet Security (OEM version)
• Intel® Smart Response Technology
• Intel Extreme Tuning Utility

The GIGABYTE APP Center provides a centralized location for all the GIGABYTE Windows-based utilities. The @BIOS applet can be used to backup and update the board BIOS. The EasyTune utility can be used to configure board settings, including bus speeds and voltages. The System Information Viewer applet displays board component information, monitored device information, and provides an interface for automated or manual fan configuration. Fast Boot provides the user a GUI interface to modify the BIOS Fast Boot setting and the OS-based power loss setting. The Smart Keyboard applet allows the user to create customized keyboard and mouse hot keys and macros. The Cloud Station app allows the for interaction with and control of the base system from a remote device via a wireless connection. The Smart TimeLock applet allows the user to define computer and Internet usage time for a user via its rules-based interface. The Smart Backup applet controls time-based system backups with the ability to create a new partition image file one time per hour. The USB Blocker applet is a security mechanism allowing you to block specific types of USB devices and access. The RGB Fusion applet allows for user configuration of the color and operating mode of the board integrated LEDs and LEDs connected to the RGB 12V header. The Auto Green applet gives user control over the board's power saving features. The Fast Boost applet gives user access to the board Fast Boot settings. The Easy Raid applet gives the user a wizard-based interface for creating a RAID array from attached hard drives and SSDs. The 3D OSD provides access to system monitored information via an in-game interface. The USB DAC-UP 2 applet allows for adjustment of the voltage supplied via the integrated USB 3.0 ports and headers. The Color Temperature applet allows the user to adjust the blue light settings for attached monitors. The BIOS Setup applet gives rudimentary control over various system startup settings as well as information concerning the BIOS version.

EasyTune with System Information Viewer

The GIGABYTE EasyTune applet provides access to board settings, including voltage, bus speeds, ratios, memory timings, and fan operation can be manually manipulated through the easy to use GUI interface. Speed presets are also available for automated overclocking using the applet. The applet provides a hot key interface to bind up to two user configured overclocking profiles to multi-key settings.

EasyTune, Advanced CPU OC tab

EasyTune, Advanced DDR OC tab

EasyTune, Advanced Power tab

EasyTune, Hotkey tab

System Information Viewer

The GIGABYTE System Information Viewer applet provides access to board information concerning the CPU, memory, and attached devices. In its minimized state, the System Information Viewer runs as the Hardware Monitor window. The System Information Viewer window becomes visible by clicking the left arrow icon from the Hardware Monitor window. The applet also provides access to a recorder interface to record values of monitored items over time. You can view the monitored items via a graph interface.

System Information Viewer, Smart Fan Auto tab

System Information Viewer, Smart Fan Advanced tab

System Information Viewer, System Alerts tab

System Information Viewer, Record tab, Voltage subtab

System Information Viewer, Record tab, Temperature subtab

System Information Viewer, Record tab, Fan subtab

System Information Viewer, Hardware Monitor interface

RGB Fusion

The RGB Fusion applet controls the active state of the RGB LEDs embedded in to the board as well as LED strips connected to the board's RGB LED 12V header. The controlled LEDs can be configured for any desired color using the color picker control and to operate in a variety of modes including pulse, music, color cycle, static, double flash, flash, random, wave, and intelligent. With the applet operating in Advanced mode, the board LEDS can be configured independently of an LED strip connected to the 12V RGB LED header. Advanced mode supports a total of four operation modes including pulse, static, flash, and custom. Additionally, the user can configure up to three profiles.

Advanced mode page

USB DAC-UP 2

The USB DAC-UP 2 applet allows the end user to configure the power supplied to attached USB devices via the integrated USB 3.0 ports and headers. The ports and headers can be configured to provided default power, no power, or > default power of up to +0.3V.

3D OSD

The GIGABYTE 3D OSD applet provides an in-game interface for real-time viewing of system performance, including FPS, CPU speed, system temperature, etc. The interface can be customized to show in several color styles and screen locations, as well as customized as to what system data is shown tracking. The applet also provides hotkey functionality to quickly show and dismiss the overlay.

Information popup

Display Setting tab

CD Feature tab

Apply To tab

Color Temperature

The GIGABYTE Color Temperature applet gives user control of the desktop blue light setting via a slider. You simply move the slider to the right to reduce the blue light effect which can decrease the eye straining effects of intense blue light settings.

BIOS Setup

The GIGABYTE BIOS Setup applet give user control over various startup settings including system language, power button, and power recovery. Additionally, the applet displays BIOS version information.