Intel Z68 Express with Smart Response Technology

Gigabyte also sent over a couple of Z68 Express-based motherboards, the Z68X-UD3H-B3 and the Z68X-UD5-B3.


 
Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-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.


 
Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-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.


Marco Chiappetta

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com

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