Longevity and reliability are particularly important purchasing decisions for a component such as a motherboard. Quite simply, your system’s motherboard failing can be considered not too far off a personal disaster. Gigabyte aims to put those reliability concerns at ease with the 168 hour, server-level validation process used on its Black Edition motherboards.

The philosophy of Gigabyte’s Ultra Durable Black Edition series is to offer proven reliability and durability. Gigabyte backs up those quality claims with a certificate of validation from the 168 hour stress test, as well as an enhanced warranty program which covers the motherboard for 5 years.

That warranty point may be an important factor to many buyers. After all, launch Z77 motherboards are approaching their third birthday and, in many respects, aren’t showing glaring signs of their age when it comes to overall performance. Heck, we could extend that age statistic to a warranty-busting six-and-a-half years if we want to bring the venerable (and still popular) X58 platform into the picture.

One of the other major points for the Black Edition components is Gigabyte’s Take One, Get 2 program. This service allows users to purchase a current Black Edition motherboard and then swap it for a new board in the next 3 years. It effectively protects your purchase against falling re-sale prices when new chipset motherboards launch.

So buying the Z97X-UD3H-BK, for example, will allow you to upgrade to the (theorised) 10-series chipset UD3H-BK version for free, or a higher-end SKU (e.g. UD5H-BK) for an upgrade fee. This is similar to EVGA’s Step-Up program that has proven successful for the graphics card vendor. Gigabyte explains the program in detail, as well as turnaround times and options, HERE.

Clearly after-sales support and quality are important points for the Z97X-UD3H-BK, but that doesn’t mean it lacks on the hardware front. Two-card SLI and three-way CrossFire support is provided, there are 10Gbps M.2 and SATA-Express connectors, and Realtek’s ALC1150 codec is at the heart of the audio system.

Does 168 hour stress testing and validated reliability translate into stable performance and strong overclocking results?

Features:

• Extended server level 168 hour durability Test
• SATA Express support for 10 Gb/s data transfer
• M.2 for SSDs drives with up to 10 Gb/s data transfer
• Intel GbE LAN with CFOS internet accelerator software
• Realtek ALC1150 115dB SNR HD Audio with built-in rear audio amplifier
• 2x copper PCB design
• Highly efficient MOSFET design
• Long lifespan Durable Black Solid caps
• APP Center including EasyTune™ and Cloud Station™ utilities
• GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS™

Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology managed to remain the world’s largest suppliers of branded motherboards in the first quarter of 2015, a media report claims. Gigabyte even managed tom outsell Asus by a small margin. Unfortunately, neither of large makers of mainboards will likely hit their shipments targets this year.

Gigabyte became the world’s largest motherboard supplier with about 4.7 – 4.8 million units shipped in Q1 2015, reports DigiTimes. Asustek sold around 4.5 million of mainboards during the same period. Other large manufacturers were considerably behind the two leaders. It is reported that shipments of Asrock and MicroStar International (MSI) in the first half of the year will be around 2.8 – 3.2 million for each company.

The report blames limited visibility and poor channel sales for weak shipments of mainboards in the 1H 2015. It is also likely that neither Asus nor Gigabyte will sell 20 million motherboards this year, as planned.

Late in 2014 it was reported that makers of motherboards expect their shipments to decline in 2015. At the same time, neither of the manufacturers planned to start price wars in a bid to sustain shipments.

It is possible that sales of mainboards will improve in the second half of the year after Intel Corp. introduces its next-generation microprocessors code-named “Skylake” that will only be supported by all-new mainboards with LGA1151 socket.

Asustek, Asrock, Gigabyte and MSI did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It is a little bit surprising that Gigabyte Technology managed to become the No. 1 supplier of mainboards in the first quarter. Either Asustek Computer was not aggressive enough, or actual demand for PC platforms was extremely weak.

One thing that everyone notices at major gaming LAN events like the Multiplay Insomnia series, is the overwhelming spirit of ‘goodwill to all’. Breaking with booth babe and blast em up action tradition, Gigabyte decided to do something different at i54 this Easter weekend. KitGuru was on hand to see the cash being captured for a good cause.

‘Think global – act local’ is a poster that most multinationals will have on the wall of their HQ at some point. The idea is that your company ethos should be decided for the whole planet, but the way you execute needs to be specific for local communities.

For i54, Gigabyte’s Nigel Sutch decided to help a local children’s hospice called Zoe’s Place. Local to the Ricoh Arena that stages i54, Zoe’s Place are the only  baby specific hospices in the UK – specialising in patients under 5 years of age with life threatening conditions. Zoe’s Place is totally dependent on charity to carry on their vital work.

As well as raising a ton of cash from gamers at i54 to help the charity keep going, Gigabyte will also be installing a special BRIX-based projection system so Zoe’s Place patients with neck injuries can watch videos and play games without needing to move.

Gigabyte was supported in this venture by Antec, Kingston HyperX and AOC.

Here’s the raffle collection team on stand.

Gamers of all ages bought loads of tickets at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Gigabyte crew on the main stage, handing out prizes.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: It’s great to see a multi-national corporation taking the time to find out about a small, local organisation like Zoe’s Place and then working the audience at Multiplay i54 to raise funds that will make an immediate difference to the lives of the babies there.  Well played Gigabyte and well played to all of the generous gamers at i54 that donated to the cause.

Gigabyte Technology has quietly introduced its new GeForce GTX 960 graphics adapters designed for small-form-factor mini-ITX systems The new add-in-cards will be among the rarest graphics solutions in the industry that weds performance with tiny dimensions.

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 graphics cards – the GV-N960IX-2GD and the GV-N960IXOC-2GD – carry Nvidia GM206 graphics chip with 1024 stream processors, 2GB of 7GHz GDDR5 memory, two DVI, an HDMI and one DisplayPort output. The adapters use solid-state capacitors and other high-quality components to ensure maximum reliability. The cards require one six-pin PCIe power connector and space for dual-slot cooling system to provide overclocking headroom.

The GV-N960IX-2GD graphics card can operate at 1152MHz/1203MHz base/boost GPU frequencies, whereas the GV-N960IXOC-2GD is rated to run at 1190MHz/1253MHz base/boost clock-rates.

The graphics GV-N960IX-2GD/N960IXOC-2GD utilize similar advanced cooling systems with two copper heatpipes that directly contact the GPU and take away heat rapidly and efficiently. The fan speed is adjusted according to real-time GPU temperature in a bid to minimize noise level where possible.

The length of Gigabyte’s mini GeForce GTX 960 graphics adapters is just 17cm, which makes them compatible with all computer chassis, including small form-factor mini-ITX cases.

Thanks to rather high performance of Nvidia Corp.’s GeForce GTX graphics processing unit, Gigabyte’s new graphics solutions will be great optios for gamers with SFF builds who still want to have proper performance in games.

Pricing of Gigabyte GeForce GTX 960 for mini-ITX builds will vary depending on the region.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The new graphics cards from Gigabyte will compete against a similar offering from Asustek Computer. Since all graphics adapters are very similar, expect the manufacturers to adjust their prices to make their solution look better in the eyes of potential customers.

Gigabyte Technology on Thursday said that it had released new BIOS versions for all of its latest LGA1150 mainboards that add support for Intel Corp.’s upcoming Core i-series 5000-sequence “Broadwell” microprocessors. The move confirms imminent introduction of Intel’s new central processing units.

From now on, all Gigabyte mainboards based on the Intel Z97 and H97 core-logic sets will support Intel Core i-series 5000-family processors made using 14nm process technology and known as “Broadwell”. In a bid to add support for Intel’s latest CPUs to their platforms, end-users will need to flash their mainboards with the latest BIOS version. Updating the firmware using Gigabyte’s @BIOS utility is an easy one-click process.

Intel’s upcoming “Broadwell” central processing units made using 14nm fabrication technology are expected to reduce power consumption compared to existing “Haswell”, “Haswell Refresh” and “Devil’s Canyon” microprocessors made using 22nm manufacturing process. Intel is expected to release its family of “Broadwell” CPUs for desktops in mid-May.

Earlier this year it was reported that Intel’s lineup of higher-end quad-core “Broadwell” central processing units for desktop computers will be very limited. It will consist of five models in BGA1364 and LGA1150 form-factors designed for all-in-one and desktop PCs. Intel is also projected to introduce dual-core “Broadwell” products for desktops, but no details are available at the moment.

The family of “Broadwell Unlocked” processors designed for overclockers and featuring unlocked multiplier is expected to feature only two models: the Core i7-5775C (4 cores/8 threads, 3.30GHz/3.80GHz base/turbo frequency, 6MB cache, Iris Pro 6200 graphics core, 65W TDP) and the Core i5-5675C (4 cores/4 threads, 3.10GHz/3.60GHz base/turbo frequency, 4MB cache, Iris Pro 6200 graphics core, 65W TDP).

While “Broadwell” products will introduce several new features as well as will lower power consumption of CPUs compared to 22nm chips, they will not increase performance of desktop systems.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Intel’s “Broadwell” processors are a couple of weeks away. While they may not be performance champs out-of-box, their prices may pleasantly surprise those, who does not like to spend a lot on hardware. But will those chips be successful on the market? Only time will tell.

Are you guys going to upgrade to “Broadwell” (if your current CPUs do not beat them, of course), or are you going to wait for “Skylake”? Share your thoughts in comments or on Facebook.

Colorful is not a brand name that is well known in Europe and the U.S. because the company’s primary focus market is China. However, this manufacturer of graphics adapters may well become one the world’s largest suppliers of appropriate products this year in terms of unit sales, only behind Palit Microsystems.

Sales of Colorful’s graphics cards this year have been around 500 thousand units per month in 2015 and the company may be able to ship five million or more graphics adapters this year, according to DigiTimes. This will exceed sales of graphics cards by Asustek Computer, Gigabyte Technology or MicroStar International in 2014, which totaled 5 million, 3.6 million and 2.9 million, respectively.

Shipments of graphics adapters globally are declining. But sales of graphics boards in China are high and stable. This year sales of add-in-cards in China will be around 16 – 17 million units. Companies like Colorful, who have good positions in China, will benefit from strong demand for graphics cards.

At present Palit Microsystems – which owns Gainward, Galax, KFA2, Palit and Point of View brands – is the world’s largest supplier of graphics cards that is unrivalled in terms of unit sales. There is also PC Partner, which produces AMD Radeon-based graphics cards for Sapphire Technologies and a number of other suppliers as well as Nvidia GeForce-based graphics adapters that are sold under Zotac brand. Zotac is on-track to ship three million graphics cards in 2015.

According to Jon Peddie Research (JPR), the market of graphics cards will total over 50 million this year. Sales of graphics cards hit around 11.3 million units in Q1 2015.

Colorful and Palit Microsystems did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It should be noted that a significant part of graphics cards sold by Colorful belong to the entry-level segment. By contrast, companies like Asustek Computer sell rather expensive solutions. As a result, while in terms of unit shipments Colorful may be ahead of Asus or Gigabyte, when it comes to revenues the Taiwan-based companies are still considerably ahead of their rival.

Building relationships with other companies is one way to give yourself a boost in the technology game and big trade shows like the currently ongoing Computex in Taiwan, are a popular place to announce such alliances. While Gigabyte hasn’t done anything quite so formal, it seems from our impressions of its stand and comments, that it’s become much closer friends with Nvidia than it was before.

For starters, while it’s Aorus laptops appear to be almost identical to their initial unveiling, it now appears that a number of them officially support Nvidia’s G-Sync. While it’s not clear if that will do anything to their pricing – since it’s rather a costly tech – it is a nice addition for those that want to avoid any tearing in their gaming.

There was also an area showing off Gigabyte’s workstation developments, though once again, it was with a heavy Nvidia focus. Almost all of them featured Intel 750 NVMe storage, alongside Nvidia Quadro graphics cards.

We were also told in no uncertain words, that Gigabyte wasn’t working much with AMD any more and had even dropped it from its workstation configurator.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Nvidia focus is an interesting one for Gigabyte, especially considering AMD’s new HBM supporting 300 series is expected out within a month or so.

Aorus, a division of Gigabyte Technology that specializes on gaming laptops, on Tuesday began to sell its Aorus X5 notebooks introduced earlier this year. The company had to slightly change configuration of the mobile PCs, but the laptop is still among the highest-performing slim notebooks on the planet.

The Aorus X5 notebook is based on the Intel Core i7-5700HQ “Broadwell” processor as well as two Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M graphics adapters in SLI mode. The system is equipped with 16GB DDR3 memory, 256GB or 512GB solid-state drive, 1TB hard disk drive, Killer Networking LAN chip with 802.11ac WiFi support and so on. The mobile PC can be further upgraded to support up to 32GB of memory, up to three M.2 solid-state drives and maybe even faster graphics processors.

The new laptops from Aorus are equipped with 15.6″ IPS display panels with 2880*1620 resolution and rather high luminance of 350 cd/m². The notebooks feature Nvidia’s G-Sync direct that dynamically synchronizes refresh rate of a display to the framerate of the outputting graphics processing unit. Earlier this year Aorus planned to use a 4K IGZO panel from Sharp.

The Aorus X5 gaming notebooks boast with extreme performance that is comparable to that of modern desktops. However, it is not very thick (22.9mm) or heavy (2.5 kilograms). In fact, its weight and dimensions are similar to those of non-gaming laptops released several years ago. In a bid to ensure maximum stability, the X5 employs an advanced cooling system with eight thermal pipes, four vents and two fans. Thermal parts have been placed at the rear in a bid to ensure maximum coolness for wrists. The Aorus laptops also feature advanced LED-backlit keyboard with programmable buttons and macros.

Aorus will start to sell its X5 laptops in the U.K. shortly at Overclockers UK. Two configurations will be available:

• Aorus X5/15.6″ WQHD+ 2880×1620/Intel Core i7-5700HQ/Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M SLI GDDR5 8GB/DRAM 16GB/ SSD 512GB/HDD 1TB/ G-Sync – £1,899 including VAT;
• Aorus X5/15.6″ WQHD+ 2880×1620/Intel Core i7-5700HQ/ GeForce GTX 965M SLI GDDR5 8GB/DRAM 16GB/ SSD 256GB/HDD 1TB/G-Sync – £1,799 including VAT.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Although it is a little bit sad that Aorus decided not to use 4K ultra HD display on its X5 laptops, the 2880*1620 resolution seems to be more optimal for a 15.6” display. Moreover, lower resolution also means higher performance in games. All-in-all, both Aorus X5 models seem to be decent gaming machines.

Gigabyte Technology has announced that some of its upcoming mainboards for Intel Corp.’s code-named “Skylake” processors will support the Thunderbolt 3 technology as well as USB 3.1 type-C ports. Gigabyte is one of the largest makers of mainboards in the world and its support of the new standard is hard to overestimate.

To enable Thunderbolt 3 with up to 40Gb/s of bandwidth and USB 3.1 with up to 10Gb/s transfer-rates on select Intel 100-series mainboards, Gigabyte plans to use the code-named “Alpine Ridge” controller. At present, the “Alpine Ridge” is the only chip that supports Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1, PCI Express and DisplayPort technologies.

Intel’s “Alpine Ridge” chip uses four PCI Express 3.0 lanes of the company’s 100-series core-logic and DisplayPort capabilities from the processor. Thanks to the fact that maximum bandwidth supported by the controller is around 4GB/s, the chip can handle simultaneous and uninterrupted 10Gb/s bandwidth over two USB 3.1 ports. Gigabyte’s upcoming mainboards featuring Intel 100-series chipsets will feature both USB type-A receptacles compatible with classic USB devices as well as USB 3.1 type-C receptacles designed for newer peripherals.

In the first quarter of 2015 Gigabyte Technology sold 4.7 – 4.8 million mainboards. The decision of the company to use “Alpine Ridge” controller on its motherboards represents a major success for the chip. Thanks to adoption of the controller by Gigabyte, its rivals will likely follow and release their platforms with “Alpine Ridge”, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1.

It is expected that LGA1151 mainboards for Intel “Skylake” processors will hit the market in August or September. Their pricing will depend on exact features and configurations.

The Thunderbolt 3 combines three interconnection technologies: SuperSpeed+ USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2 and PCI Express 3.0. The new technology supports maximum bandwidth of 40Gb/s, it can deliver up to 15W of power to any bus-powered device. The Thunderbolt 3 relies on passive copper cables with up to 2 meters length to provide maximum bandwidth of up to 20Gb/s for Thunderbolt, USB 3.1 and DisplayPort interconnections. For 40Gb/s transfer-rates more expensive active copper cables are required. Thunderbolt 3.0 ports can also be used for charging.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Looks like the Thunderbolt 3 technology is getting a better welcome by the PC industry than its predecessors. That is a great news since fast interconnections are very important for today’s personal computers.

Gigabyte Technology at Computex revealed details about its upcoming premium mainboards based on the Intel Z170 core-logic designed for the Intel’s “Skylake” microprocessors. As expected, the new motherboards will provide rather extreme capabilities when it comes to overclocking, multi-GPU and high-performance storage.

Gigabyte’s premium Intel Z170-based motherboards for LGA1151 microprocessors will all support dual-channel DDR4 memory sub-system, 2-way/3-way/4-way multi-GPU, one or more M.2 slots for solid-state drives with 32Gb/s (4GB/s) maximum bandwidth, one or more SATA Express connectors with 16Gb/s transfer rate, NVMe protocol, Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2200 network controller (G1 Gaming-branded only), Intel “Alpine Ridge” controller for Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s) and USB 3.1 (10Gb/s) with type-C receptacle, HDMI 2.0 outputs and advanced 7.1-channel audio.

The top-of-the-range Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming G1 mainboard features multi-phase all-digital voltage regulation module (VRM) for CPUs, four PCI Express x16 slots for graphics cards and solid-state drives (shielded for maximum reliability and piece of mind), two M.2 32Gb/s slots for high-end SSDs, three SATA Express connectors with up to 16Gb/s transfer rate, Creative SoundBlaster ZxRi integrated audio, Intel “Alpine Ridge” controller for TB3 and USB 3.1, Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2200 network controller, water-cooling ready heatsink for VRM and so on.

Other Gigabyte Gaming G1 mainboards will be less expensive and will feature lower number of PCIe x16 slots, less M.2 and SATAe connectors, Creative SoundCore 3D audio and so on.

For customers with budget constraints, Gigabyte will offer GA-Z170X-UD5 TH UltraDurable-series motherboard that will feature all key premium capabilities (such as, 10-phase digital VRM, 3-way multi-GPU, M.2 32Gb/s, SATAe 16Gb/s, TB3, USB 3.1, GbE, etc.), but will come without advanced capabilities and design elements aimed at gamers and modders.

Gigabyte will release its Intel Z170 mainboards with LGA1151 sockets in August or September, when Intel rolls-out its unlocked “Skylake-S” processors. Prices will be disclosed at launch.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Gigabyte’s mainboards are traditionally very impressive. The company clearly deserves praise for using Intel’s “Alpine Ridge” controller on all premium Intel Z170 platforms. Let’s just hope that these mainboards are not too expensive because of that…

It’s tempting for senior officials at every company to regurgitate the ‘About Us’ section of their web site. Henry Kao is different. Prior to the cameras being switched on, Henry assured us that we could ask ‘Anything we want’. And so we did. Henry gave us his full, frank opinion on everything from oppressive surveillance becoming the norm with wearable technology, to AMD’s chances of success with its next gen products and processes.

Watch via our VIMEO Channel (below) or over on YOUTUBE

KitGuru says: We thank Henry for his refreshingly honest overview of the market and his insight into the challenges facing some of the biggest companies in the tech industry today.

Elitegroup Computer Systems has reportedly announced that it will not actively promote its own-brand mainboards aimed at the DIY [do-it-yourself] market going forward. The company will continue to produce motherboards for its clients, but will eventually quit the market of platforms for enthusiasts.

ECS used to be one of the largest makers of mainboards in the world about ten years ago. While the company has never been truly successful with its own-brand motherboards, in the recent years the competition with Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology become fiercer than ever, whereas the DIY market shrank. ECS shipped 17 million mainboards in 2014, but only 3.5 million of them were aimed at the DIY market segment and carried the ECS brand-name. 13.5 million of platforms were made for various ODM (original design manufacturer) clients of ECS.

Recently ECS made decision to stop to actively market its own-brand DIY mainboards and to only fulfill orders from its OEM and OEM partners. DigiTimes reports citing sources in the supply chain that this is the equivalent of a gradual withdrawal from the global own-brand DIY motherboard market.

Unlike the majority of its competitors, ECS does not manufacture graphics cards and other components under its own brand, which could help it to keep its production capacities busy and its trademark popular.

ECS  introduced a lineup of own brand LGA1151 mainboards for Intel Corp.’s “Skylake” processors at Computex recently, therefore, mainboards with ECS trademark will not disappear from the market in the coming months.

As the competition between Asus and Gigabyte escalates, it becomes increasingly hard for other makers, such as Asrock, MicroStar International and Biostar to maintain their market share, revenue and profit margins. As a result, many believe that yet another major maker of motherboards may quit the DIY market in 2016.

ECS did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This is not the first time when various market sources report about ECS’ plans to quit the DIY market. The company has always denied such reports.

Elitegroup Computer Systems has once again denied plans to stop making own-brand mainboards for the DIY [do-it-yourself] market. This is the second time this year when the company makes such denial.

“We [ECS] feel regret to learn the untrue report from DigiTimes,” said Sunny Yang, the president of ECS, in a statement published by TweakTown. “[We] formally clarify that ECS would never give up any opportunity to work on own-band DIY motherboard as what we always commit to our valuable customers.”

ECS sold 17 million mainboards last year, but only 3.5 million of them were aimed at the DIY market segment and carried the ECS brand-name. 13.5 million of motherboards were made for various ODM (original design manufacturer) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) clients of ECS.

According to media reports, the competition and the price-war between Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology have made it tremendously hard for other makers to maintain their revenue, market share and profits. Moreover, as the market of components has been shrinking, a number of mainboard producers have left it in the recent years. Even Intel Corp. has largely quit the market of motherboards in the recent years.

ECS introduced a lineup of own brand LGA1151 mainboards for Intel Corp.’s “Skylake” processors at Computex recently. As a result, it is clear that Elitegroup will continue to sell its own-brand motherboards this year.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: ECS generally sells a lot of mainboards and can probably sustain certain level of profits even if it competes against Asus and Gigabyte. Therefore, it is not surprising that the company wants to continue selling its own-brand motherboards. What is unclear is why ECS does not produce other products under its own brand.

Asmedia and Intel Corp. have started to reduce prices of their USB 3.1 controllers in a bid to gain market share. Intel Corp.’s “Alpine Ridge” chip offers Thunderbolt 3 in addition to USB 3.1, but Asmedia’s controller is significantly cheaper to make and can be sold a very low price.

Intel planned to sell its “Alpine Ridge” controller for $10 originally, but in a bid to speed-up adoption of Thunderbolt 3 by various makers of mainboards and improve its revenues, the company decreased the price of the chip to $6. As a result, Asmedia had to cut the price of its popular ASM1142 controller to below $3.

Gigabyte Technology was the only maker of mainboards, who planned to adopt Intel’s “Alpine Ridge” for a wide range of its new platforms. The rest of the motherboard manufacturers – Asustek Computer, Asrock, MicroStar International (MSI), Biostar and Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) – planned to continue using Asmedia’s ASM1142 to enable USB 3.1 on their Intel 100-series LGA1151 mainboards for ‘Skylake’ processors, reports DigiTimes.

Thanks to the price-cut by Intel and the fact that the “Alpine Ridge” is considerably more advanced because it supports Thunderbolt 3 (with maximum data transfer-rate of 40Gb/s), HDMI 2.0 as well as PCI Express 3.0 x4 interface, Asus and MSI have reconsidered their original plans and decided to use Intel’s solution instead of Asmedia’s for their high-end platforms.

Intel’s Thunderbolt 3 combines four interconnection technologies: Thunderbolt 3, SuperSpeed+ USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2 and PCI Express 3.0. The TB3 features maximum bandwidth of 40Gb/s, it can deliver up to 15W of power to any bus-powered device and up to 100W for charging, everything using an industry-standard USB 3.1 cable and type-C connectors. As an added bonus, the “Alpine Ridge” chip also supports HDMI 2.0.

Intel does not produce “Alpine Ridge” silicon at its fabs. It is believed that production is outsourced to TSMC or UMC, who manufacture the chip using one of their 28nm fabrication processes.

While it remains to be seen whose USB 3.1 solution will eventually get more popular, it is evident that both Asmedia and Intel helped the new standard to become more widespread.

Asmedia, Intel and makers of mainboards did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: In many cases, price-wars slow-down progress. However, in the case of USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3, the competition between Asmedia and Intel will evidently help to drive adoption of both technologies as well as the USB type-C connector.

Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology remained the top mainboard makers in the first half of this year, according to a media report. Each company shipped about eight million motherboards globally, which was below their initial plans. In fact, the market of mainboards shrunk pretty significantly in 1H 2015.

Gigabyte managed to close the gap with Asustek in the first half of the year when it comes to shipments of mainboards, which is quite an achievement. However, it is unlikely that the two companies will meet their shipments goals for the whole year because the PC market seems to be very weak. Originally, Asus and Gigabyte planned to ship 20 million motherboards each in 2015, but it is unlikely that their shipments will exceed 18 million units each, according to observers of the market cited by DigiTimes. In 2015 Asustek sold around 22 million motherboards.

Since there is a tie in shipments between Asustek and Gigabyte, the two companies are now fighting rigorously against each other, which causes a lot of trouble for smaller makers of mainboards.

Asrock and MicroStar International each shipped about two million mainboards in the first half of the year, which is below their original plans. Shipments of each company will unlikely surpass six million units for the whole 2015. Biostar, which is known for its rather exotic offerings, is projected to sell 2.5 – 3 million motherboards this year. It is unknown how many mainboards ECS sold in the first half of 2015.

In a bid to stay profitable, all companies originally known for their motherboards diversify their product lineups. MSI is very focused on its gaming laptops, Asrock is aggressively expanding in the market of low-cost servers and industrial PCs. Even Asustek has started to offer branded desktops.

Asus, Asrock, Biostar, Gigabyte, MSI and ECS did not comment on the news-story.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The launch of Intel’s “Broadwell Unlocked” microprocessors could not revive the market of mainboards. Hopefully, the all-new “Skylake” processors will help to boost shipments of mainboards. The new CPUs seem to have potential, but will they offer enough to convince people to upgrade and buy new platforms? Makers of mainboards clearly hope they will.

High-end graphics cards for desktop PCs represent only a tiny fraction of the whole market of discrete graphics adapters, but as integrated graphics processors become more powerful and end-users cease to buy entry-level solutions, producers of standalone adapters need to refocus their businesses.

Demand for entry-level and mainstream personal computers has been decreasing for quarters and so is demand for entry-level graphics adapters. However, demand for expensive gaming systems running Intel Core i7 central processing units seems to be solid, so is demand for discrete high performance graphics adapters. According to a media report, makers of graphics cards recently started to pay more and more attention to the higher-end segments of graphics adapters markets.

For companies like Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology, high-end PC hardware for the DIY [do it yourself] market has always been a strong profit foundation. Asus- and Gigabyte-branded graphics cards and motherboards are very popular across the globe. Even in China, where Asustek is behind companies like Colorful and Galaxy, it maintains lead in the high-end segment.

Traditionally, many companies have tried to sell as many graphics adapters as possible. But as the market shrinks, suppliers of graphics adapters started to turn “their focuses to mid-range and high-end graphics cards”, reports DigiTimes. The publication does not elaborate what exactly changed recently in the strategies of graphics cards vendors. However, considering the amount of highly-custom $199 – $649 adapters introduced this year, it is clear that many suppliers do want to increase shipments of advanced products.

Shipments of graphics cards in the first quarter of 2015 decreased to 11.3 million units, an 8.79 per cent drop quarter over quarter and a 19.41 per cent drop year-over-year, according to Jon Peddie Research. Nvidia managed to increase its market share to 77.5 per cent in Q1 2015, whereas the share of AMD’s GPUs dropped to 22.5 per cent.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It remains to be seen whether refocus of graphics cards makers will lead to price-wars and drops of prices of high-end DIY hardware.

A professional overclocker this week set a new clock-rate record for DDR4 memory. This time a memory module from G.Skill was overclocked to whopping 4838MHz on Gigabyte Technology’s Z170X-SOC Force mainboard.

Hicookie, a professional overclocker from Taiwan who works with Gigabyte Technology, this week pushed a 4GB G.Skill memory module to 4838MHz. He used a system powered by Intel Core i7-6700K “Skylake-S” processor as well as Gigabyte Z170X-SOC Force-CF mainboard. The module worked in single-channel mode, which increases chances to hit record clock-rates, but diminishes practical value of the result.

The processor, the memory module itself and the mainboard were cooled down using liquid nitrogen, according to Hicookie.

It is noteworthy that the overclocker did not disable processor cores and Hyper-Threading technology to maximize the DDR4 frequency result. The chip was downclocked to 2340MHz and its voltage was set at 1.28V, which is a minimal increase versus stock Vcore.

Gigabyte Z170X-SOC Force. Image by Zolkorn.com

The Gigabyte Z170X-SOC Force mainboard is largely considered an overclocker’s dream motherboard. The platform features 22-phase voltage regulator module for CPU and memory based on solid-state chokes and high-end capacitors as well as extremely robust overclocking capabilities. The mainboard comes in E-ATX form-factor, supports four PCI Express x16 slots for graphics cards or solid-state drives, three high-performance M.2 connectors (PCIe 3.0 x4), four SATA Express connectors, advanced 7.1-channel audio and so on.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Looks like Intel “Skylake” processors are excellent overclockers, so are Samsung’s latest DDR4 memory ICs, which are used for new enthusiast-class modules. It will be interesting to see when overclockers manage to hit 5GHz frequency with DDR4 SDRAM.

Gigabyte’s Z170XP-SLI is aiming to tempt users looking for a motherboard that offers the Z170 platform’s core features, but without requiring a significant cash outlay. In the Z170XP-SLI, Gigabyte offers one of the lowest cost boards to support SLI, while also retaining features such as USB 3.1, USB Type-C, and a 32Gbps M.2 connector.

Gigabyte manages to cut costs and squeeze SLI certification into the Z170XP-SLI motherboard’s ~£110 price tag by minimising the number of add-on features. Intel’s healthy Z170 chipset makes such a design methodology possible, although noticeable divergences from the low-cost approach come in the way of an upgraded audio system, USB 3.1 ports, and no less than three SATA-Express connectors.

Can the Z170XP-SLI prove that jumping onto the Skylake platform does not have to be a costly activity?

Features:

• Fast USB 3.1 with USB Type-C™ – The World’s Next Universal Connector
• 3-Way Graphics with Premium PCIe Lane
• PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 Connector with up to 32Gb/s Data Transfer (PCIe & SATA SSD support)
• 3 SATA Express Connectors for up to 16Gb/s Data Transfer
• 115dB SNR HD Audio with Built-in Rear Audio Amplifier
• High Quality Audio Capacitors and Audio Noise Guard with LED Trace Path Lighting
• Intel^® GbE LAN with cFos Speed Internet Accelerator Software
• APP Center Including EasyTune™ and Cloud Station™ Utilities
• GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS™ Technology

Gigabyte Technology has introduced its new mini-ITX mainboard for Intel Corp.’s “Skylake” processors with premium features. The new platform supports a number of advanced technologies, including Creative SoundBlaster audio enhancements, USB 3.1 type-C port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and so on.

The Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 mainboard based on the Intel Z170 core-logic with LGA1151 socket is designed for Intel’s latest Core i-series “Skylake” microprocessors and has high-quality five-phase voltage regulator module (VRM). The motherboard features 24-pin ATX main power connector and 8-pin ATX 12V power connector.

The new GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 mainboard sports two DDR4 memory slots, one reinforced PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot for graphics cards, one high-performance M.2 connector (with PCI Express 3.0 x4 interface) for advanced solid-state drives, two SATA Express connectors, six Serial ATA-6Gb/s ports, 8-channel Realtek ALC1150 audio with Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi MB3 software enhancements, six USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.1 type-C port powered by an Intel USB 3.1 controller and so on.

The new mini-ITX mainboard features advanced networking connectivity capabilities, such as a Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet controller that speeds up gaming traffic and minimizes latency. In addition, the mainboard is equipped with an Intel mini PCI Express card with Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 support. The Wi-Fi solution has two antennas and supports bandwidth of up to 867Mb/s.

The GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 mainboard uses high-quality components, including solid-state chokes and capacitors to improve durability of the product. Like other Intel Z170-based motherboards, the mini-ITX mainboard from Gigabyte supports basic overclocking capabilities.

Pricing of Gigabyte’s GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 is unknown, but do not expect it to be affordable. The mainboard features a number of high-end technologies and will naturally belong to the list of Gigabyte’s premium products.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Gigabyte GA-Z170N-Gaming 5 will allow to build very high-end systems in a very small form-factor. In fact, the only technology that the mainboard does not seem to support is Thunderbolt 3, which is supported by larger motherboards based on Intel Z170 from Gigabyte.

Gigabyte Technology, one of the globe’s largest maker of motherboards, on Monday said that its Z170X-UD5 TH motherboard is the world’s first platform to be certified by Intel for Thunderbolt 3 compliancy.

The Gigabyte Z170X-UD5 TH mainboard is based on Intel Z170 core-logic as well as Intel’s “Alpine Ridge” controller. The platform features 10-phase digital VRM, 3-way multi-GPU, M.2 32Gb/s, SATAe 16Gb/s, TB3, USB 3.1, GbE, etc.

Intel’s Thunderbolt 3 supports single-wire bandwidth of up to 40Gb/s and uses USB type-C connector.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: As announced back in June, Gigabyte Technology is the only company to offer Intel Z170-based platforms with Intel Thunderbolt 3 support.