Introduction

Just over a month ago, Intel and its partners released the Z68 chipset, and supporting products. Offering overclocking of both the CPU proper and the integrated Intel GPU, the Z68 in some cases even goes so far as to completely eliminate previous Socket 1155 chipsets, as is the case with Gigabyte. Our first look at the Intel Z68 comes from Biostar however, in the form of the TZ68A+, an entry-level priced product, supporting many enthusiast features. Biostar itself has been around for a long, long time, but isn't a name we see too commonly in the forums until as of late. With 2011 being Biostar's 25th year as a company, and its name popping up every once and a while, laying claim to quite a few overclocking records, we take an in-depth look at the TZ68A+, and attempt to push it to the max.

Specifications

Intel Z68 Chipset

In the middle of May Intel launched its new "mainstream-enthusiast" product line, based on the Z68 Express chipset. With the P67 and H67 chipsets launched just a few months before, the Z68 takes the best features of both, and combines them together to offer extreme flexibility and several key features. The first, and most obvious of these features is the ability to use not only discrete graphics cards, but also allows use of the SandyBridge integrated GPU, while overclocking the CPU at the same time. The H67 chipset, that offered use of the integrated SandyBridge graphics, only allowed use of limited CPU multipliers for overclocking, while the P67 chipset did not allow use of the integrated GPU at all. However, the Z68 chipset has none of these limitations. In fact, through the use of third-party software, you can even use just one monitor, and both the Intel HD2000 integrated GPU and a discrete graphics card can work together, combining the features of both solutions into one big all-in-one solution with optimized power management.



The second feature not seen in P67 or H67 is Intel's "Smart Response Technology", which allows the combination of both a mechanical disk drive and an ultra-fast SSD into one, offering the superfast speed of the SSD, and the larger storage space of a mechanical drive, as a single storage solution. Combining technologies seems what Z68 is all about, and "Smart Response Technlogy" is no different. Once set up, it requires no user intervention, and will automatically keep commonly used files on the SSD, for quick and easy access, and faster load times than if using a mechanical drive on its own.

Intel has offered alot with the Z68 package, such that it's questionable why the P67 and H67 chipsets are even around still, and some OEMs agree; such as Gigabyte, who has dropped all P67-based products in favor of Z68 chipsets. And with that in mind, it's also important to mention that OEMs are not required to enable all features available on the Z68 platform, and certain things, like PCIe lane configuration, and if the display outputs can be changed, all up to the OEM to implement.

Of course, that leads to today's product, the Biostar TZ68A+. Priced at just over $100, this entry-level product offers all the features of the Z68 chipset, but at a level of affordability that ensures the technology is available to the masses. We take a look at the TZ68A+, and see what the Biostar motherboard offers.

Packaging

The Biostar TZ68A+ arrived on our doorstep a short time ago, and when we opened the package, we were greeted with a bright blue box, with what looked to be a tablet staring back at us. Thinking perhaps we were sent the wrong product, we flipped the box over to realize we were staring at the back of the box, which has quite a few logos on the back depicting what technology is to be found inside. On the front of the box, the "T-SERIES" logo stands out first and foremost, with just a few technology logos, and the board's actual name tucked into the bottom right corner. We spent several minutes flipping the box over and back; the orientation of the box design was spun a full 90 degrees from a lot of other products we've looked at, and all together, really gives an impression of quality that we do not find on every product's packaging. The stylish blue box just might be one of our favorites so far.


Upon opening the box, we find the accessories right on top, separated from the board below by a decent layer of cardboard, and most of the accessories were neatly bundled together with a Velcro strap with the Biostar logo printed on it in white. Under the cardboard we find the board itself, wrapped in the usual anti-static bag. The packaging is enough to ensure the board gets to your door intact, and looks good on the store shelf too.