Z68 motherboard roundup: AsRock, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI (page 19: Conclusion)

Conclusion

Here we are (finally !) at the end of this motherboard roundup, the sort of article we've been too long in getting round to publish. Such an exercise is long and difficult if you want to be at all exhaustive and we hope we’ve managed to answer most of the questions you might have on the models covered. As things stand, at least in our selection, there’s no perfect motherboard. Each model has its strengths and weaknesses and the one you go for will depend on your priorities.

The MSI Z68A-GD65 B3 differentiates itself on certain points. Overclockers will appreciate finding voltage read points on such a low-priced model and there are some other extras such as the inclusion of an S/PDIF coaxial port. Using NEC/Renasas USB 3.0 controllers is also a good choice. Sure they didn’t perform as well as the ASMedias in our tests but they were a good deal better than the EtronTechs. The efforts made with the hardware weren't followed up on the software side however and the UEFI implementation would benefit from being completely revisited. The mouse and keyboard functionality is really poor and even the menu organisation could be greatly improved. The incessant flickering when you move from one line to another is also particularly annoying, both visually and in terms of functionality, as any clicks you execute during this flickering are ignored! These are faults that you also find in the software in Windows, which could also be improved a good deal. MSI needs to work on this as it's spoiling the efforts made in terms of hardware. Note that like ASRock, MSI is also marketing a ‘G3’ version of this card. This model is compatible with PCI Express 3.0 which will be integrated into the forthcoming Ivy Bridge processors and comes with the new UEFI Click Bios II which should correct the faults of the version tested on the B3.

The Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3 is the most basic of the boards in the roundup, though it's the highest Z68 in the Gigabyte range that offers several video outs for the IGP. The fact that there aren’t many additional chips means, unsurprisingly, that the card scrores very well when it comes to energy consumption though of course this has an impact on functionality. The same goes for the UEFI, where, once again, Gigabyte does the strict minimum, giving us just the standard interface with, as on the MSI card, no thermostatic regulation of the casing fans. This is a definite minus for Gigabyte when it comes to the ‘Touch BIOS’ marketing, which it uses to attempt to mask these deficiencies. The rest of the card is solid though the choice of components isn’t always the best. While the chip is excellent, using the EtronTech USB 3.0 controller is very limiting. All in all, this board has little to give it the advantage over other mobos apart from being slightly cheaper.

For us, two of the boards reviewed here do actually stand out from the rest. The ASRock first of all, mainly for its use of a PCI Express PLX bridge. It’s the only motherboard in this price bracket which really enables a large quantity of PCI Express ports and additional components. If you’re looking for maximum functionality, the Z68 Extreme4 is easily top choice in terms of the functionalities you get for your money. The relative quality of the different components can be a brake on this however, with the Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet chipset, EtronTech USB 3 controller and the Marvell SATA 6G controller also the slowest in this roundup, even if ASRock does try to make up for this with the software for the EtronTech. These limitations are relative, with performance at a good level for most usage, but it is worth flagging them up. Implementation of thermostatic regulation of the casing fans will, as on the Asus board, be appreciated and startup is a lot faster here than on the other boards in the roundup. Note that for an extra ten euros or so, you can upgrade to a ‘Gen 3' PCI Express 3.0 compatible model.

Finally the Asus P8Z68-V Pro balances functionalities and performance quite well. Asus has made almost all the right choices in terms of performance, whether in terms of the Intel network controller, the ASMedia USB 3.0 controllers or the more recent Marvell controller. The sound chip used isn't however the best of the lot and it's also a shame that the third PCI Express x16 port isn't really of any purpose, except to make us think that the board has an additional PCI Express switch! It would also be good to see the JMicron chip banned for use as an eSATA controller. Asus does however stand out for its ample bundle, the addition of a Bluetooth controller and a good quality UEFI BIOS and software suite. If we were pushed, we’d opt for the Asus P8Z68-V Pro for its overall consistency. Note that there’s also a non Pro version with exactly the same base but without certain functionalities (IEEE 1394, SATA 6G Marvell, DTS support for audio): a good deal for those who won’t be using these features, especially as it costs between €20 and €30 less.