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SATA
For SATA 6Gb/s testing we use a Kingston HyperX 3K (SandForce SF-2281) SSD.
Performance of the Z97 chipset's SATA ports is competitive with other 9-series parts, as expected.
Transfer speeds of the PCIe-based Marvell storage controller are poor. ASMedia's ASM1061 competitor firmly outruns the Marvell host controller, as do the 9-series chipset-based SATA ports.
We would strongly recommend reserving the Marvell-based SATA 6Gbps ports for use with mechanical HDDs or slower solid state drives.
M.2 connector
We use Plextor‘s ultra-fast M6e 256GB M.2 SSD to test the speed of a motherboard's M.2 PCIe connection. We reviewed the 512GB Plextor M6e (and its PCIe x2 adapter card) HERE.
We also use a Kingston M.2 SATA device to confirm the motherboard's operation with M.2 SATA connections.
Using the same two-lane solution as many other motherboard vendors, M.2 PCIe performance on Gigabyte's Z97X-Gaming 7 is where one would expect it to be.
We can confirm that the Z97X-Gaming 7 also support M.2 SATA devices, such as Kingston's upcoming Phison-powered SSD.
USB 3.0
We tested USB 3.0 performance using the Kingston HyperX 3K SSD connected to a SATA 6Gb/s to USB 3.0 adapter powered by an ASMedia ASM1053 controller.
USB 3.0 transfer rates are capped at 362MBps due to Gigabyte's omission of a UASP-activating tool for Windows 7 users.
Given the Z97X-Gaming 7's target audience, the maximum transfer rate of 362MBps is likely to be sufficient, although it is still noticeably slower than the speeds registered by Asus' board with its UASP-activating software.
Audio
We use RightMark Audio Analyzer (RMMA) to analyse the performance of the motherboard’s onboard audio solution. A sampling mode of 24-bit, 192 kHz was tested.
Calling it G1 Audio (with Amp-Up technology) Gigabyte outfits the Z97X-Gaming 7 motherboard with a high-end audio solution. Based around the Realtek ALC1150 codec, Nichicon capacitors help to send signals along a discrete audio pathway, through a Texas Instruments N5532 amplifier, to the gold-plated outputs.
The audio solution on Gigabyte's Z97X-Gaming 7 motherboard delivers Very Good performance, according to RMAA. Gigabyte's board seems to be particularly competitive in the stereo crosstalk department, indicating that the board's audio circuitry is doing a good job of minimising signal interference across channels.
Gigabyte used to be a leader, and I still love their products, but what is with this red and black on every product? These are traditionally ASUS ROG colours, which even MSI are copying now. I want oranges/greens etc like Z87. Its a huge loss for me and im very disappointed to see this.
Great product and well priced. I want it in green too. Sounds like such a minor point, but im a Gigabyte purist and I dont want another red and black board. What is going on!
ASUS must be loving this. MSI copied their ROG colours and now Gigabyte. I suppose you could say the colours don’t matter, but every company has a certain colour scheme which their fans end up liking over the years.
Z97 has not impressed me so far, no new processors , apart from locked nonsense and all the companies have decided to make their products look identical.
Im waiting until later this year as I want to build a new system in my green Nvidia branded case. I dont want fu&king red and black to clash with all the rest of my components and my liquid in the water cooler.
Wow every forum and page I go to, has people complaining about red and black boards from Gigabyte. Who cares what colour a board is? all this colour coordinating crap is for women. matching shoes etc!
Its a great looking board, but I am waiting for this platform to settle a little and to work out if the upcoming K processors are worth a pitch.
Another great review from Luke. thanks. I am curious Luke – which is your favourite Z97 board to this point? Id like to see a review of a sniper – hopefully they make that with green heatsinks. I like to colour coordinate my system too. Seems everyone who doesnt own a red or black case is screwed with Z97.
Ga- Ζ97p-D3 are better from all ther “yellow series” Mothrboards!
I have use almost all except by one and im 99% is better in many ways working better in all works u wan’t to do with CPU,Best O.C,Sound (gigabybite maybe can do it better for this but is great like this anyway, Is Faster & Many More… And the very best is cheap right now 🙂
Sorry if i dont for my bad english but this is my oppinion and for my Store ppl say this and sell it more from others “in yellow series always” !
Very nice post thank you very mych!!!