TheOverclocker Issue 33 | Page 29

the usual GIGABYTE eccentricities within the BIOS, but once you get used to them you’ll be well on your way to achieving your best without wishing for more. I am critical of the BIOS on GIGABYTE boards and remain so still. They are not up to scratch but In context of everything else, it just doesn't matter. The board is not any less valuable or incredible. Perhaps it speaks to just how far ahead it is of the competition. The closest motherboard to this one for overclocking is $160 more, which is a lot of money. There are differences between them certainly in favour of the other cosmetically at least, but they are not $100 worth, let alone $160. Where it really counts, the SOC CHAMPION is ahead and of course readily accessible and affordable. If my enthusiasm is doubtful then look to the records. Seek out any of the professional overclockers and ask them which X99 motherboard they would readily buy and you'll find they mostly echo my sentiments. In the same way the Rampage IV BE was unquestionably the best X79 motherboard. The SOC CHAMPION is in that position with this generation. Competing products have significantly better UEFI GUIs and slicker presentation but this one has the minerals. For instance, even with the socket selection set to 2011, 4GHz uncore is done with virtually no tweaking of any advanced voltages. There's not any other board I've come across that is able to pull that off with such ease. The SOC Champion is a sleeper hit, there’s nothing on the GIGABYTE page or anywhere else for that matter that would let you know just how good it is. Placed side by side with the numerous other motherboards on the market it would