Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H (B3) Motherboard Intel Core Socket 1155 Intel Z68 Express RAID SATA ATX Gigabit

Summary

Combining the advantages of the Intel P67 and H67 platforms in one complete package, the GIGABYTE Z68 series offer the best of both worlds; users can take advantage of the system tuning and overclocking features found in the Intel P67 platform as well as the built-in visual features of the H67 platforms when combined with 2nd generation Intel Core processors. Navigating through the BIOS to change system settings can be a daunting task for users not familiar with control \'F\'functions and mouse-less navigation. While some EFI BIOS try to address this with a mouse friendly environment, many implementations still lack a certain ease-of-use necessary for most people. With GIGABYTE Touch BIOS, GIGABYTE engineers have completely re-imagined how users can interact with their BIOS, allowing for a more intuitive user experience. In fact, with a touch screen monitor, GIGABYTE Touch BIOS is as easy to use as most apps on your iPhone. GIGABYTE Z68 series motherboards are equipped with the much anticipated Intel Smart Response Technology, allowing users to experience system performance similar to SSD only systems. Intel Smart Response technology works by using intelligent block-based caching of frequently used applications to improve system performance and responsiveness. In fact, GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards with Intel Smart Response Technology are able to outperform hybrid drive systems by more than 2X (PC Mark Vantage) and HDD-only systems by as much as 4X (PC Mark Vantage). Built-in Visuals GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards offer support for several 2nd generation Intel Core Built-in Visual Features. Up to 2X faster media processing than any other solution for incredibly fast conversion of video files for portable media players or online sharing. Users can enjoy the ultimate 3D visual experiences-seamlessly-from their PC. Now you they can watch their favorite 3D movies with Blu-ray Stereo 3D playback using active shutter 3D glasses. It delivers it all in 1080p full, high-definition resolution on the TV over HDMI 1.4. Allows users to view premium 1080p HD content on their GIGABYTE Z68 series system. GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards are enabled with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization technology which allows users to dynamically switch between their built-in graphics and their high-end, 3D discrete graphics cards. This is ideal for gamers who require high-resolution gaming and still want to enjoy the built-in media features of 2nd generation Intel Core processors. In so doing, switchable graphics helps to dramatically reduce PC graphics power consumption.

Description

GIGABYTE 6 series motherboards incorporate an Intel approved Intersil PWM controller that is VRD 12 (Voltage Regulator Down) compliant. This means that it offers new features that include SerialVID (SVID) which transfers power management information between the processor and voltage regulator controller, allowing more robust and efficient signaling control between the CPU and PWM controller - hence, delivering a more energy efficient platform. A traditional Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) consists of a Choke, Capacitors, MOSFETs and a Driver IC. By incorporating the MOSFETs and driver IC in accordance with the Intel Driver-MOSFET specification, we can achieve higher power transfer and increased efficiency at higher switching frequencies to satisfy the growing power requirements of today\'s processors. Driver-MOSFETs also help to reduce VRM real estate requirements in the CPU zone. GIGABYTE strongly believes that in 2011, HD audio playback is a standard specification, and as such, we have made Blu-ray audio playback a standard for all of our motherboards. All of GIGABYTE\'s 2011 motherboards feature higher capability audio solution with 108dB Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) playback quality to deliver high-performance, multi-channel HD audio. SNR is a comparison of the amount of signal to the amount of noise such as hiss present in the signal (expressed in Decibels). A higher SNR equals a better audio experience. For example, 108dB, is a high audio specification, as this means the audio signal is 108dB higher than the level of the noise. Hybrid EFI Technology combines the benefits of GIGABYTE\'s mature BIOS platform including stability and compatibility with 3rd party products with 3TB+ HDD support from EFI technology, allowing GIGABYTE to offer the best of both worlds through a quick and easy BIOS update using GIGABYTE\'s @BIOS utility that is freely available from the GIGABYTE website. GIGABYTE DualBIOS is a patented technology that automatically recovers BIOS data when the main BIOS has crashed or failed. Featuring 2 physical BIOS ROMs integrated onboard, GIGABYTE DualBIOS allows quick and seamless recovery from BIOS damage or failure due to viruses or improper BIOS updating. In addition, GIGABYTE DualBIOS now supports 3TB+ (terabyte) hard drive booting without the need for partitioning, and enables more data storage on a single hard drive. GIGABYTE motherboards boast SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology made possible through an additional onboard host controller. With superfast transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps, users are able to experience a theoretical 10x improvement over USB 2.0. Additionally, backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 assures users of long term use of their legacy USB 2.0 devices.

Features

Specifications

• CPU

Installed Processors (Max)-0 (1)
Processor-( ) (L1 Cache) (L2 Cache) (L3 Cache)
Supported Processor Manufacturer-Intel
Supported Processors-Intel Core i7 processors • Intel Core i5 processors • Intel Core i3 processors • Intel Pentium processors • Intel Celeron processors
Socket-Socket 1155

• Motherboard

Chipset-Intel \r Z68 Express
Input/Output Controller-iTE IT8728
RAID Supported-Yes \r Chipset: RAID 0, 1, 5, 10
SATA Supported-Yes

• Rear Panel I/O Ports

VGA Port-1 x D-Sub Port
Digital Port-1 x DVI-D
HDMI Port-1 x HDMI
S/PDIF Port-1 x Optical S/PDIF-out
Audio Line In Ports-1 x Line in
Audio Line Out Ports-1 x Line Out
Microphone In Port-1 x Microphone Port
Keyboard/Mouse Combo Port-1 x PS/2 Keyboard or Mouse Port
RJ-45 Ports-1 x RJ-45 Port
USB Ports-4 x USB 2.0 • 2 x USB 3.0

• Internal I/O Connectors

SATA Connectors-2 x SATA 6Gb/s • 4 x SATA 3Gb/s
S/PDIF Connectors-1 x S/PDIF out Header
USB Connectors-4 x USB 2.0
Serial Connectors-1 x Serial Port Header
Cooling Fan Support-1 x CPU Fan • 2 x System Fan • 1 Power Fan
Front Panel Connectors-1 x front panel header • 1 x front panel audio header
TPM Header-1 x TPM Header

• Expansion

AGP Slots--
PCI Slots-2 slot(s)\r- PCI
PCI-X Slots--
PCI Express Slots-5 slot(s)\r- , 1 x PCI Express x16, 1 x PCI Express x16(x8 mode), 1 x PCI Express x16(x4 mode) \r, 2 x PCI Express x1

• Memory

Maximum Memory-32 GB\r 1066/1333/1600/1800/1866/2133 MHz\r DDR3
Memory Expansion Options-4 x 1.5V DDR 3 DIMM

• Graphics Device

Graphics Adaptor-Yes \r ATI \r CrossFireX

• Sound

Integrated Sound-Realtek ALC889 codec • High Definition Audio • 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel (To configure 7.1-channel audio, you have to use an HD front panel audio module and enable the multi-channel audio feature through the audio driver.) • Support for S/PDIF Out

• Network

Integrated Network-Realtek RTL8111E
Network Speeds Supported-10/100/1000 Mbps

• System Requirements

Operating Systems Supported-Microsoft Windows 7 • Vista • XP

• System

BIOS-2 x 32 Mbit flash • Use of licensed AWARD BIOS • Support for DualBIOS • PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b
Special Features-Support for @BIOS • Support for Q-Flash • Support for Xpress BIOS Rescue • Support for Download Center • Support for Xpress Install • Support for Xpress Recovery2 • Support for EasyTune (Available functions in EasyTune may differ by motherboard model.) • Support for Smart 6 • Support for Auto Green • Support for eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D) • Support for ON/OFF Charge • Support for Cloud OC • Support for Q-Share
Jumpers-Clear CMOS jumper

• Electrical

Power Connector-1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector • 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector

• Environmental

Environmental-Operating Temperature - Humidity

• Physical

Form Factor-ATX
Dimensions-30.5 cm\r(W) x 22.5 cm\r(L) - Weight

Warranty

Unless otherwise stated it the product description, products come with a minimum 1 year RTB* warranty. Certain products have an increased warranty period please contact us if you wish to confirm warranty terms/duration.

*Warranty terms for certain products may require you to return your item directly to the manufacturer/supplier.