Intel Z68 Express with Smart Response Technology
Z68 Motherboards: Gigabyte
Gigabyte also sent over a couple of Z68 Express-based motherboards, the Z68X-UD3H-B3 and the Z68X-UD5-B3.
The Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 is a more straightforward Z68-Express based motherboard, with requisite display outputs, storage, and expansion slot configuration to support of the Z68’s features. Unfortunately, our particular board had already passed through the hands of some other editors, was missing all of its accessories, and didn’t want to boot, so beyond what you can see in the pictures, we don’t have much else to tell you about the Z68X-UD3H-B3.
The Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3 is a somewhat different animal. Although it too is based on the Z68 Express chipset, the board does not feature any display outputs. Users may not care if they plan to use a discrete GPU with the board, but not having display outputs also means the board cannot take advantage of Intel’s QuickSync technology. In essence, the Z68X-UD5-B3 has the features of an enthusiast-class P67 Express-based motherboard, but uses Intel’s latest chipset.
With that said, the Z68X-UD5-B3 is otherwise a very full-features board. It’s outfitted with USB 3.0 (front mounted ports included) and features a 20 phase CPU power design, Gigabyte’s “Ultra Durable 3” technology with two ounces copper layers within the PCB, 3-way CrossFireX and SLI support, DualBIOS technology, and On/Off Charge support.