"So impressive is the Z97X-SOC Force at overclocking
memory, it shuts the door on all other motherboards
there on the market."
All results were obtained at 4600MHz on an un-optimized Windows7 64-bit. These are our figures; yours may vary, so
only use these as a guideline for a similarly configured system.
Motherboard
CineBench
R15
3DMark11
Z97X-SOC FORCE (PSC)
944
16355
Graphics:
17985
1.24.739
38789
41654
36805
38,7
Z97X-SOC FORCE (F6)
931
16199
Graphics:
17980
1.25.551
32409
41865
34858
39,2
MSI Z97 Mpower Max AC
937
16191
Graphics:
18058
1.25.660
27629
33535
29881
39,8
GIGABYTE Z87X-OC (F9)
933
16179
Graphics:
18027
1.26.175
32410
41839
34893
39,1
he always writes them. That
is a must read especially if
you’re coming from another
vendors motherboard, as it’ll
save you some time and allow
you to get straight into your
overclocking.
As much as we admire
this motherboard, as with
all things it isn’t perfect.
There is an issue that is not
related to performance or
overclocking but just spacing.
The first PCI-Express slot,
where you would ideally have
your graphics card installed
is particularly close to the
DIMM sockets. That in itself
isn’t an issue, but should
you wish to mount a RAM
cooler (like the CORSAIR
Dominator AIRFLOW); it will
make contact with the back
of the graphics card. Thus,
some care should be taken
Super Pi 8M
Aida64 Read
Aida64 Write
if your graphic card’s PCB
has some components there.
It is easily remedied though
by inserting a small bit of
tape or anything really that
would prevent these two from
making contact.
In closing, this is yet
another impressive board from
GIGABYTE. Easily the most
inspired showing of any
motherboard to date for any
platform the company has
ever produced. The numbers
speak for themselves and we
are particularly enticed by the
selling price and performance
it offers. This one is a must
have. If any of what we’ve said
doesn’t compel you, perhaps
the 4560MHz (real!) memory
frequency it’s achieved
amongst other records will. In
short, it’s brilliant!
Aida 64 Copy
Aida 64
Latency
Summary
GIGABYTE was at the
cusp of greatness with
the Z87X-OC, with the
new Z97 line up they
have achieved it and
can lay claim to the best
overclocking Z97 series
on the market. Be it in
live competition or in
your private overclocking
room, the Z97X-SOC
Force is not going to let
you down. It’s a pure
overlocker’s board at a
ridiculously low price.
Would you buy it?
Yes, without question!
[ TheOverclocker ]
Issue 30 | 2014 The OverClocker 33