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Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD Intel Z68 Motherboard & Intel 20GB SSD Review
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD Intel Z68 Motherboard & Intel 20GB SSD Review - PCSTATS
There are four key features that make the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD a real killer among Intel Z68 motherboards - a bundled 20GB Intel mSATA SSD, Virtu, SLI/Crossfire and onboard HDMI video output.
 95% Rating:   
Filed under: Motherboards Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Gigabyte Dec 25 2011   Max Page  
Home > Reviews > Motherboards > Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD

Overclocking Test Report and Test System Details

Overclocking Results:
stock max. oc
cpu multiplier: x33 x45
graphics core: 1100 mhz 1700 mhz
motherboard blck: 100 mhz

105 mhz

if you're new to Overclocking and not sure what to do, check out these two excellent Guides for some pointers:
Overclocking the CPU and Memory
Overclocking the Videocard

Overclocking has taken a bit of a strange turn with Intel's Sandy Bridge processors. If you were savvy enough to buy an unlocked Intel Core i5 2500K or 2600K CPU you know the unlocked CPU multiplier will let you push these chips into the mid-4 GHz range without much fuss.

Owing to the integrated graphics on Sandy Bridge processors, overclocking via the processor BCLK beyond about 105MHz isn't very practical. Not all Z68 boards offer the video output jacks, but with those that do you have full overclocking control of both the processor and integrated graphics core clock speed.

Gigabyte's GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard offers up a full range of CPU and IGP overclocking controls in the BIOS and from within Windows via the TouchBIOS interface.

Since BCLK overclocking is generally limited to 105MHz, PCSTATS left memory settings alone and focused on the CPU multiplier. Starting from the default x33, PCSTATS pushed the multiplier to x40, then x45... x46... and back to x45 where things were more stable. This seems to be about the limit of the Core i5 2500K chip PCSTATS tests with.

Since the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard is equiped with an onboard HDMI video output we tried our hand at overclocking the integrated graphics core.

From the stock IGP speed of 1100MHz which resulted in a 3DMark06 score of 5330, PCSTATS overclocked the Intel HD 3000 graphics core to 1200MHz, 1300MHz, 1500MHz, 1600MHz... and even 1700MHz without any serious issues.

With the Intel graphics core speed up 600MHz to 1700MHz, 3DMark06 achieved a slightly improved score of 5740. Better than a kick in the head I suppose.

Next up, the complete PCSTATS motherboard benchmark suite in addition to Intel SRT and Intel HD 3000 IGP benchmark results!

Test System Hardware

We've relied on Crucial memory for PCSTATS servers for many years now, so it was only logical to install 4GB's of high end Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8-8-8-24 memory into the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD test system. This is some good quick DDR3 RAM and it features thermal monitoring too!

Storage devices have changed dramatically in recent years, you'll notice PCSTATS to retired the faithful old Western Digital Raptor's for a super quick OCZ Vertex 2 SSD (120GB, SATAII). The effect on system-wide benchmarks is dramatic!


Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD Motherboard

Thanks to Crucial Memory, OCZ Technology and Intel for help outfitting this test platform.

Details on how the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard ( was configured for benchmarking, including specific hardware, software drivers, operating system and benchmark versions, is listed in the Test System Spec chart below. Please take a moment to look over PCSTATS test system configurations before moving on to the individual benchmark results.

PCSTATS Test System Specs

test system

processor:

intel core i5 2500k
(32nm)

amd fusion a8-3850
(32nm)

intel Core i5 750
(45nm)

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
(45nm)

Intel Core i7 920
(45nm)
Clock Speed: 33 x 100 MHz = 3.3 GHz 29 x 100 MHz = 2.9 GHz 20 x 133 MHz = 2.66 GHz 16 x 200 MHz = 3.2 GHz 20 x 133 MHz = 2.67 GHz
Socket: Socket LGA1155 Socket FM1 Socket LGA1156 Socket AM3 / AM2+ Socket LGA1366
Motherboard: - Intel Z68 -
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3
Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD

- Intel P67 -
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD7
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD4
ASUS P8P67 Pro
MSI P67A-GD65
ECS P67H2-A

- Intel H67 -
ASUS P8H67-M Evo
Biostar TH67XE
ECS H67H2-M
Intel DH67BL
- AMD A75 -
Gigabyte GA-A75-UD4H
Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H

- Intel P55 -
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD6
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD5
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P
Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3R
ASUS P7P55D Premium
ASUS P7P55D Deluxe
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro

- AMD 990FX -
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD7*


- AMD 890FX -
ASUS Crosshair IV Formula
Biostar TA890FXE
MSI 890FXA-GD70
Gigabyte GA-890FXA-UD7

- AMD 790FX -
Gigabyte GA-MA790FXT-UD5P

- AMD 785G -

MSI
785GM-E65

- Intel X58 -
Gigabyte G1.Assassin*
MSI Eclipse Plus
Videocard:

Gigabyte GV-N470SO-13I (Geforce GTX470)

ASUS ENGTS250 DK
(Geforce GTS250)

Memory:

2x 2GB Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 8.8.8.24

2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C9

2x 2GB Corsair XMS3-1600C8

3x 2GB Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D DDR3
Memory Speed: DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1066
*DDR3-1333
DDR3-1066

120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II)
Intel SRT Tests: 74GB Western Digital Raptor WD740 & 20GB Intel Larson Creek 311 SSD

74GB Western Digital Raptor WD740 (3GB/s SATA II)
*120GB OCZ Vertex2 SSD (3GB/s SATA II)

Optical Drive:

Plextor PX-B310U Blu-Ray

ASUS BC-1205PT-BD

Power Supply:

Seasonic SS-760KM (760W)

PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 750W

Heatsink:

Intel Reference LGA1155 Heatsink

AMD Reference Heatsink

Intel Reference LGA1156 Heatsink

AMD Reference Heatsink

Intel Reference LGA1366 Heatsink

Monitor (1080p):

ASUS MK241 24" HD LCD

Software Setup:

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
Intel 9.2.0.1025
nVIDIA 266.58

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
AMD Catalyst 8.86RC2
nVIDIA 266.58

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Intel 9.1.1.1019
nVIDIA Forceware 190.62

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
AMD Catalyst 9.12
nVIDIA Forceware 195.62

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
Intel INF 9.1.0.1012
nVIDIA Forceware 182.08

Benchmarks:
System Benchmarks:
SYSmark 2007
PCMark Vantage
SiSoft Sandra 2011

Gaming B/M:
3DMark 11
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 06
FEAR

< Previous Page © 2023 PCSTATS.com Next Page >

 

Contents of Article: Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD
 Pg 1.  Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD Intel Z68 Motherboard & Intel 20GB SSD Review
 Pg 2.  Bundled-in 20GB SSD - Intel Smart Response Technology
 Pg 3.  360-Degree Motherboard Gallery: Board Layout
 Pg 4.  360-Degree Motherboard Gallery: Continued
 Pg 5.  BIOS and Hybrid-EFI Touch BIOS
 Pg 6.  — Overclocking Test Report and Test System Details
 Pg 7.  Configuring Intel Smart Response Technology
 Pg 8.  Testing Intel SRT: PCMark Vantage
 Pg 9.  Sysmark 2007 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 10.  SiSoft Sandra: CPU Motherboard Benchmarks:
 Pg 11.  Sandra: Memory Motherboard Benchmarks:
 Pg 12.  PCMark Vantage Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 13.  3DMark 11 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 14.  3DMark Vantage Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 15.  3DMark 06 Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 16.  FEAR Motherboard Benchmarks
 Pg 17.  IGP Motherboard Benchmarks: 3DMark Vantage, 3DMark06, FEAR
 Pg 18.  IGP Motherboard Benchmarks: Call of Juarez, Crysis, Video Transcoding
 Pg 19.  System Power Draw and Final Conclusions

 
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