Gigabyte GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX Motherboard

The GA-Z97X-Gaming 5 ATX Motherboard from Gigabyte accepts PC components to create your own desktop computer for gaming, work, or everyday home use. Some of the hardware needed for building your own system is included on the motherboard. For instance, the G1 Audio that features a combination of technologies provides crisp sounds for music and realistic sound effects for gaming. To provide lag-free gameplay or streaming videos over a network, a Killer E2201 LAN chip offers better performance when compared to standard Ethernet controllers. If you want to build a gaming desktop, this motherboard can accept up to three graphics cards that can be configured for either 3-Way CrossFire or 2-Way SLI to deliver faster frame rates without compromising on resolution. With this Z97 motherboard, Gigabyte has emphasised stability and durability by offering 10K solid state capacitors and a gold-plated CPU socket.

This Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboard features an LGA1150 socket that accepts a 4th or 5th generation Intel processor. You may add up to 32GB of RAM in the 4 memory slots. This motherboard offers six SATA III 6 Gb/s connectors for connecting optical and storage drives. Optimise system loading times by connecting an SSD to either the SATA Express or M.2 PCIe connector. Native 4K support is available via HDMI when using an Intel CPU chip with an integrated Intel graphics processor. For connecting to other peripherals, eight USB and two PS/2 ports are available as well as five audio jacks. Included with the Z97X motherboard are a driver disk, SATA cables, a 2-Way SLI bridge connector, and an I/O shield.

Features

G1 Audio

Gigabyte AMP-UP Audio Technology

Gigabyte's AMP-UP audio technology provides realistic sound effects for gamers and crisp sounds for audiophiles listening to their favourite music and movies.

Realtek ALC1150 HD Audio

The ALC1150 is a multi-channel HD Audio Codec that delivers up to 115dB SNR, offering HD quality audio from your PC. It provides ten DAC channels that simultaneously support 7.1-channel sound playback, plus 2 channels of independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel stereo outputs. Two integrated stereo ADCs can record at 104dB SNR and can support a microphone array with Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Beam Forming, and Noise Suppression technologies.

Built-in Rear Audio Amplifier

Specially designed for gamers, Gigabyte motherboards utilise a high-capacity amplifier which is able to drive 600O loads, offering gamers a fuller range of dynamic sound with crisper details and less distortion when using high quality professional headphones.

Additional Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3

This motherboard includes Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 software suite, which features several audio technologies that provide a fuller audio experience by including SBX Pro Studio suite. This suite of technologies offers audio realism by enhancing the sounds so you can clearly hear explosions, surround sound effects, and more.

High-End Audio Capacitors

Japanese-branded Nichicon audio capacitors provide sound resolution and expansion to create realistic sound effects for gamers.

Gold-Plated Audio Hardware

Gold-plated audio and HDMI connectors offer improved connectivity and durability compared to other metals. Gold has better signal conductivity and will not tarnish over extended periods of use. The audio controller is also shielded by a gold-plated cover that eliminates electrostatic interference.

Dedicated Audio Hardware Zone

• Separation on the PCB layer protects the board's sensitive analogue audio components
• Each analogue and digital component is grounded to help protect against Electromagnetic Interference
• LED trace path lighting illuminates to show the separation of the PCB layers

Separate PCB Layers

By placing the right and left audio channels on separate PCB layers, Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboards are able to eliminate channel crosstalk and help maintain the best audio quality.

G1 Networking

Killer E2200 Network

Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboards feature the Killer E2200 from Qualcomm Atheros, an adaptive gigabit Ethernet controller that offers smoother online gaming and online media performance compared to standard solutions.

G1 Performance

Multi-GPU Support

This motherboard supports 3-Way CrossFire or 2-Way SLI action, which delivers faster graphics performance for gaming enthusiasts who demand the highest frame rates without compromising on resolution.

SATA Express Connector

The onboard SATA Express connector provides data transfer rates up to 10 Gb/s, which is higher than SATA III 6 Gb/s. This prevents bottlenecking when using faster NAND flash technologies in SSDs. SATA Express combines the benefits of PCI-Express and SATA to provide much higher bandwidth, allowing SATA Express based drives to perform at similar speeds as PCI-Express based drives.

M.2 Onboard Connector

Delivering up to 10 Gb/s data transfer speeds, the onboard M.2 slot is another connection type that offers faster storage performance than current mSATA and even SATA III storage devices.

Gigabyte App Centre Including EasyTune and Cloud Station Utilities

Access Gigabyte apps via the APP Centre, which can help you get the most of your Gigabyte motherboard. Using a simple, unified user interface, Gigabyte APP Centre allows you to launch all Gigabyte apps installed on your system.* Gigabyte's EasyTune app is a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows you to fine-tune system settings or adjust system and memory clocks and voltages in a Windows environment

• With Smart Quick Boost, one click is all it takes to automatically overclock your system, giving an added performance boost when you need it the most
• Gigabyte Cloud Station is composed of several unique apps that allow your smart phone/tablet device to communicate, share resources, and control desktop PCs via a wireless connection

4K HD HDMI Support

This motherboard provides native 4K support with integrated Intel HD Graphics via a HDMI port. This High-Definition Multimedia Interface provides up to 5 Gb/s of bandwidth for transmitting video and 8-channels of audio all through a single cable. Capable of transmitting uncompressed digital video and audio, HDMI ensures rendering of digital content without the quality losses associated with analogue interfaces and their digital-to-analogue conversion. In addition, HDMI is compatible with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, allowing the playback of Blu-ray/HD DVD and other protected media content.

Gigabyte OPT Fan Support

An additional CPU fan pin header can be used to connect a water pump and configured for continuous full speed operation.

10K Durable Black Solid Caps

Gigabyte Gaming 5 motherboards use solid-state capacitors that are rated to perform at maximum efficiency for a guaranteed minimum of 10K hours. Not only do they provide ultra-low ESR no matter how high the CPU loading, they also come in customised jet black from Nippon Chemi-Con and Nichicon.

5x 15µ Gold-Plated CPU Socket Design

To provide reliability and longevity, the CPU socket has been gold-plated to help prevent corroded pins and bad contacts when used longer than an average workday.

Game Controller

Gigabyte Game Controller allows you to define your own hotkeys and change the mouse sensitivity, helping you make the most out of your keyboard and mouse in games.* Create macro commands and define your own hotkeys to quickly perform the function your want with the Hot Key function

• The Sniper key switches the mouse sensitivity into sniper mode for precision aiming

Bundled Software

Norton Internet Security (OEM version): provides protection for your system against malware, viruses, and more Intel Rapid Start Technology: resume in 6 seconds from deep sleep state Intel Smart Connect Technology: periodically wakes up the system from standby mode to cheque and apply updates Intel Smart Response Technology: automatically stores your most frequently used applications and data into the faster SSD

Specifications