Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH Motherboard Review Motherboards   Page 1

Reviewer: Chris Ledenican Article Publish Date: 1/25/2013

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Without a new chipset coming down the pipe for a few months it is up to the motherboard manufactures to be the innovators and make the latest Z77 motherboards sexy and exciting. It is for this reason all the major players in the industry are turning to Thunderbolt, which has been used in the Apple market for some time, but is relatively new to the PC scene.

Thunderbolt is essentially a connection standard built for storage as it supports both data and video transfers at rates of up to 10Gbps, making it faster than USB 3.0 and FireWire 800, but it also has the ability to daisy-chain up to six devices via a single connection. The GA-Z77A-UP5TH, however, has dual Thunderbolt ports, allowing it to support up to 12 devices, six per connector.

Along with the enhanced Thunderbolt support the Gigabyte Z77X-UP5TH also comes will all the bells and whistles we have come to expect from Gigabyte and the Z77 platform. These consist of Gigabyte’s 3D Power, 3D BIOS, WiFi+BlueTooth 4.0, Lucid MVP, mSATA, EZ Smart Response, SLI, CrossFireX, CFOS, On/off charge, and All Japanese Solid capacitors. In addition, the UP5TH has a new look for Gigabyte that cuts down on the blue, giving it darker appearance with just the right amount of blue to accent the board.

With so many high-end features and dual Thunderbolt ports the Gigabyte Z77Z-UP5TH is obviously designed for the high-end market. This is reflected in its $239 price tag, but as the old adage says, you have to give a little, to get a little. Or in this case a lot.

About Gigabyte:

GIGABYTE was founded in 1986, establishing our uncontested position in continuous technological innovation. By focusing on key technologies and achieving strict quality standards, GIGABYTE has been regarded as an innovative and trusted motherboard leader in the globe. To keep pace in a rapidly changing world, we have offered a comprehensive product line covering Graphics Cards, PC Components, PC Peripherals, Laptops, Slate Devices, Desktop PCs, Network Communications, Servers and Mobile Phones. We dedicate to building up a full-range digital life, responding promptly and sonorously to consumer desires and needs.