Gigabyte X99-Ultra Gaming (with Broadwell-E)

[cadaveca]

We test the Gigabyte X99-Ultra Gaming with the latest Intel 20-core Broadwell-E processor. This new motherboard comes with both Intel and KillerNIC LAN, U.2 and M.2 drive support, USB 3.1 Type-C, and audio-tailored for gaming. It also supports multiple videocards and to look pretty it provides fantastic LED lighting.

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[avatar_raq]

Nice review, Dave, as usual. Personally I like motherboards with 10+ USB type A ports on the back because I have tons of peripherals.

Edit: Could windows 10 faulty maximum performance power plan is the cause of high idle clocks?

 

[cadaveca]

Nice review, Dave, as usual. Personally I like motherboards with 10+ USB type A ports on the back because I have tons of peripherals.

Edit: Could windows 10 faulty maximum performance power plan is the cause of high idle clocks?

Maybe, but it doesn't on other boards. Could it be adjusted by the end user if wanted? I'm sure it could.

I understand the USB thing too; I use 3 of four plugs on my monitor as well, and I use a board with only 7 ports.

 

[Chaitanya]

One small thing I dont understand is that why did Gigabyte drop their backlit Backpanel from these refresh motherboard. It such a useful feature for every PC user.

 

[cadaveca]

One small thing I dont understand is that why did Gigabyte drop their backlit Backpanel from these refresh motherboard. It such a useful feature for every PC user.

That header is now in use for the I/O cover LEDs. I suppose they could add in the back panel LED again if they wanted. Great feedback on that point though!

 

[apertotes]

Sorry if what I'm about to say is stupid, I am not a very technical person. But, would it be possible or interesting to somehow test LAN performance on motherboards?

 

[msamelis]

Honestly, this whole new trend of getting LEDs everywhere is just bloody too much IMO. LED fans and heatsinks, LED RAM, LED GPUs, LED mobos.. What's next? LED SSDs?

Other than that, it's a good looking board. Thanks for the excellent review too.

 

[cadaveca]

Sorry if what I'm about to say is stupid, I am not a very technical person. But, would it be possible or interesting to somehow test LAN performance on motherboards?

Possible, yes. Interesting, maybe. However, to do so requires that you plug into another device, so you do not isolate the controller on the board being tested.. you are then testing the interaction between the two controllers, and their drivers. This is why I do not report on such. Also, the differences are not large.

 

[erixx]

What's next? LED SSDs?

PCIe SDDs already come with that

Nice review Dave! Rampage V 10Edition in the works maybe? Warmly looking forward

 

[cadaveca]

PCIe SDDs already come with that

Nice review Dave! Rampage V 10Edition in the works maybe? Warmly looking forward

Haven't heard a peep from ASUS in nigh on a year. Maximus VIII Extreme just showed up on my doorstep. I moved last May. They may have been shipping me stuff to the wrong address, or I did something that got someone there a bit angry (I could think of a few things...). Other companies send email, ask if I want a sample, etc. so... no promises on that one. I got some ASRock and hopefully soon some MSI boards in the works, and I still got several min-PCs to do (one ECS done, one to do, two ASRock; one in testing already, one waiting)... lots of good products!

 

[Dethroy]

I got some ASRock and hopefully soon some MSI boards in the works, and I still got several min-PCs to do (one ECS done, one to do, two ASRock; one in testing already, one waiting)... lots of good products!

Please tell me that the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac is one of 'em!

Edit: cadaveca says thanks. I'll take that as a yes

 

[shilka]

I just upgraded my system with this motherboard a 6850K and 32 GB of Kingston RAM two days ago.

I think its a really good board and it has a lot of features without costing a small fortune

Build log link if anyone want to see more pictures
http://www.overclock.net/t/1588877/project-arios-seravee/20#post_25318354

 

[avatar_raq]

Living in a hot area, I am curious about the temps of motherboard, VRM and PCH in idle and full load (stock and OC). Dave, can you include them in future reviews please?

 

[cadaveca]

Living in a hot area, I am curious about the temps of motherboard, VRM and PCH in idle and full load (stock and OC). Dave, can you include them in future reviews please?

I could, but my ambient conditions is not very consistent, and I also live at what is kind of considered high altitude, so much so that furnace and hot water heaters are de-rated. Not all boards have sensors in these places, but I do have an IR probe I could use. I'll take some measurements with the next few boards and see how it works out. Humidity and air pressure do play a role in cooling capacity as well.

I do know that Gigabyte has a high-altitude testing facility, however, which is not that common, I think.

Please tell me that the ASRock Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming-ITX/ac is one of 'em!

I have not received sample notice of this product, but once I get a few items done I can ask them for one if they have it. ASRock is very helpful with samples.

 

[avatar_raq]

I could, but my ambient conditions is not very consistent, and I also live at what is kind of considered high altitude, so much so that furnace and hot water heaters are de-rated.

Thanks! I suggest you report the temp delta over ambient.

 

[darklm]

hi, nice review (and also pretty funny to read) but there is a problem with some images not displaying (404 error)

 

[cadaveca]

hi, nice review (and also pretty funny to read) but there is a problem with some images not displaying (404 error)

Pics show up fine here... must be some server issue of some sort. W1zz just swapped us over to https, maybe some weird thing because of that.

 

[msamelis]

PCIe SDDs already come with that

Nice review Dave! Rampage V 10Edition in the works maybe? Warmly looking forward

Blimey, I must have missed the memo, lol, thanks for the tip

 

[qurotro]

Just Upgrade mine to the Asus Strix x99 few days agoI cant believe this one is a little bit sexyer than the Strix and maybe a sightly cheaper than the Asus...

Actually they are pretty much the same though..from those M.2...U.2...USB3.1...Type-c features to the 8 phase power supplying etc..Oh...Asus Comes with an WIFI while the Gigabyte comes with one more Killer Lan controller...

 

[BiggieShady]

I'm curious what was the source of the white smoke prior to plugging in the pump?
Also, I fail to see the point in comparing the board with nine Z170 chipset motherboards ... instead of having predominantly X99 mobos for comparison and few Z170 mobos for reference. The only explanation I could come up with is that this way you can actually see different sized bars on the graph

 

[cadaveca]

I'm curious what was the source of the white smoke prior to plugging in the pump?
Also, I fail to see the point in comparing the board with nine Z170 chipset motherboards ... instead of having predominantly X99 mobos for comparison and few Z170 mobos for reference. The only explanation I could come up with is that this way you can actually see different sized bars on the graph

Other X99 boards were tested with 5930K. Would be much of the same. There'll be more boards with i7-6950X soon (got another chip on loan, this one an ES), and Z170 boards will be removed from graph. At least you have an idea of general performance; HDD and audio are kind of the only real performance metrics. Other benchmarks are affected by Turbo profiling and other things that are easily changed by the end user.

Wasn't white smoke; the board initially fires up with white LEDs for a second, then it switches to red.

 

[Yomny]

Anyone else having issues with the ATX4P connector which is facing down at the bottom part of the mobo? Its suggested to plug in with two or more GPUs but its nearly impossible to get to since its a molex plug and in my case, mid size case, the PSU blocks it.

So far I'm really liking the mobo, no issues posting at all even after failed attempts when OCing. The lights are nice, I have them set to auto which alternates the coolers, mostly like red. The OCing is also very nice, great options and seems to delivery power just right.

Had to update to latest bios to get adaptive cpu core voltage option and intel turbo boost 3.0 option in bios. It wasn't present with F2.