Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

Memory Setup Page
It has 800, 1066, 1333, 1600, 1866 and 2133.


Advanced DDR3 Parameters Setup Page
The setting below is DDR3 2133 CL7 10-7-27 1T


Voltage Page
Milti-Steps Load-Line Disabled/Level 1~Level10
CPU Vcore 0.750~1.700V
QPI/Vtt Voltage 0.800~1.700V
PCH Core 0.840~1.940V
CPU PLL 1.520~2.520V
DRAM Voltage 0.900~2.600V


PC Health Status


Z68 BIOS OC tuning is same as P67.
CPU just needs to adjust the ratio and fine tune voltage by CPU quality.
For DDR3 OC setup, you just need to adjust the frequency, CL and voltage to fit your memory.
Sandy Bridge BIOS OC is much easier than the past. Of course you only can use 2500K/2600K two CPUs.
The setup above is windwithme using 2600K. CPU/DDR3 set as 5GHz/2133you’re your reference.

Test Configuration
CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K
MB: GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7-B3
DRAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR-GT CMT4GX3M2B2133C9
VGA: msi N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II
HD: Seagate Momentus XT 500G/ CORSAIR CSSD-F40GB2
POWER: Thermaltake TR2 450W
Cooler: CORSAIR Hydro Series H70
OS: Windows7 Ultimate 64bit


The cooler I use special CORSAIR Hydro Series H70 water cooler.
Hydro Series has 5 models and the latest models are H80 and top H100.


Most user image for water cooler is hard to install, but the cooling performance is better.
However, CORSAIR water cooling kit emphasizes easy to install and no extra space need.
During test, H70 can install in standard ATX Case which is very convenient.
All black design make cooling pipe be better texture. You can install 2 12cm fan in both sides. Rotation speed set at 1600/2000rpm.


The bottom is big dimension cooper sink which is good for heat conduction.
The original thermal paste quality is very good. I suggest you can use it directly.
Just like me install CPU very often, so I use Arctic Sliver or higher grade one instead.
The temperature is still 3~5 ℃ higher than H70 original one. You have to beware it.


GIGABYTE provides many tools in OS. Most is familiar with the users.
This time, I pick 2 new applications to test. The first is fresh new Touch BIOS.
It provides multi-language interface. The pic is Traditional Chinese version.


The key feature is you can adjust BIOS in OS.
Even though not all items can find, for the OC and standard setup are included which means you can find 80% BIOS items in Touch BIOS.
If you are using the hottest touch panel LCD, you can use Touch BIOS more easily.


Sandy Bridge DDR3 bandwidth is 20~30% higher than LGA 1156 in most software.
Advanced Memory Controller technology frees the DDR3 install limitation and the bandwidth is even same as LGA 1366 3-channel platform.

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

Temperature (Room Temp. is 28℃)
Enter to OS Desktop - 37~44


CPU Full Speed - 55~70
Intel Burn Test v2.4，Stress Level Maximum


The temperature is acceptable which CPU OC to 4.5GHz.
It’s summer now, Taiwan weather is hot, the CPU Full Speed is only 70℃
If you use for longtime under this setup, the stability is not a problem. H70 water cooling system really shows the benefit.

Power Consumption Test
Enter to OS Desktop - 114W


CPU Full Speed - 198W


Since this is high end platform, I use high end Z68 MB with top end 2600K CPU. Of course the VGA is mid-high end GTX 560 Ti.
Enter to OS, the Power Consumption is only 114W. CPU full speed, 4.5GHz, is only 198W.
Sandy Bridg CPU and chipset power consumption is much improved.

Z68 exclusive Intel Smart Response Technology Test, hereinafter called ISRT.
You need to install Smart Response Technology 10.5 to enable it.
I use HDD Seagate Momentus XT 500G, 2.5”, 7200rp, and built-in 4GB SLC SSD.

Performance test
ATTO DISK Benchmark over 32K test, reading is 101.6 Mb/s and writing is 103.6 MB/s.
CrystalDiskMark Seq Read - 99.97 MB/s and Write - 94.57 MB/s


HD Tune Pro 4.60 Benchmark
File Benchmark
Transfer size over 2048k, the read performance is over 90MB/s.
Read - Average 84.1 MB/s Access Time 0.661ms
ADIA64 DISK Benchmark
Buffered Read Average - 217.2 MB/s


Momentus XT is hybrid HDD, the read/write performance above is not big improvement.
Due to the built-in 4GB SSD, Access Time/ Buffered Read performance is SSD level.
Access time is very fast, so the booting or software performance is all rising.

Install CORSAIR F40 SSD to enable Intel ISRT for 2nd step.
F40 spec is 2.5” and the max performance is 280/270 MB/s, Random 4K writing performance is 50000 IOPS.

Enhanced Mode - (It’s write through mode, so will have no data loss)
ATTO DISK Benchmark over 32K test, reading is 242.9 Mb/s and writing 101.4 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Seq Read - 149.0 MB/s, Write - 49.98 MB/s


HD Tune Pro 4.60 Benchmark
File Benchmark
Over 128K, the reading performance is over 230MB/s.
Read - Average 118.8 MB/s Access Time 0.076ms
ADIA64 DISK Benchmark
Buffered Read Average – 222.2 MB/s


In Enhanced Mode, the reading performance is almost same as F40 SSD performance.
Writing and 4K performance is similar to HDD which is not big improvement.
ISRT technology is using SSD as buffer cache, some benchmark software need to run several times to achieve the best transfer rate.

Maximized Mode - (Caches writes as well as reads)
ATTO DISK Benchmark over 64k test, max reading is 275.6 Mb/s and writing is 262.9 MB/s.
CrystalDiskMark Seq Read – 148.8 MB/s Write - 49.55 MB/s


HD Tune Pro 4.60 Benchmark
File Benchmark
Over 256K, the reading is over 250MB/s.
Read - Average 133.0 MB/s Access Time 0.080ms
ADIA64 DISK Benchmark
Buffered Read Average - 240.2 MB/s


In maximized mode, writing and 4K performance is great improved and almost same performance as SSD F40.
Enhanced mode improvement is not as big as Maximized mode. However, it’s write-through cache without data loss risk.
Maximized mode is read/write cache. If you encounter access issue or drive failure, the data may lost or system crash.
Depending on your need, you can choose which SRT mode is more suitable for you.

[windwithme]

[windwithme]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

Cooling fan size is 12cm and 2200rpm low acoustic.
It’s 5 years warranty and 1 year for swapping new.
450W spec with the price and service, it’s good C/P value.
If they can improve components more in the future, it’s very good value PSU.


Power Consumption Test
Enter to OS Desktop - 135W


CPU Full Speed - 261W


Power Consumption status is similar to temperature. Entering to OS, Power Consumption is 21W higher than 4.5GHz which is not big gap.
5GHz full speed Power Consumption is 261W which is 63W higher than 4.5GHz.
This is another extra cost for 5GHz. For enthusiasts, the proud of 5GHz long term run is priceless.
TR2 450W can really deal with this high end platform. Even GTX560 Ti full speed run, it’s still hard to over 400W Power Consumption.
Sandy Bridge structure is really saving PC power.

GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7-B3
Good
1.Z68X-UD7 is all black design and new heatsink design. The texture is better.
2.Rich BIOS items, more voltage range, OC ability is very good.
3.VGA can support up to 3Way ATI CrossFireX/NVIDIA SLI technology
4.Dual LAN, 2 eSATA, 4 SATA3 and 10 USB3.
5.100% Japanese Solid Capacitors, built-in POWER/RESET/CMOS Reset buttons and debug LED.
6.Z68 exclusive SRT is really helpful for system performance, and GIGABYTE own design, EZ Smart Response, can avoid re-installing OS.

Weak
1.Due to rich IO interfaces, it doesn’t have GPU output which cannot support Lucid Virtu.
2.CPU voltage only display correctly in BIOS and own software. Some software cannot display right.



Performance ★★★★★★★★★☆
Components ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Specification ★★★★★★★★★☆
Outlook ★★★★★★★★★☆
C/P Value ★★★★★★★☆☆☆


UD7 is one of the most high end GIGABYTE model. The components and spec are the best in GIGABYTE brand.
As it’s top end product, the price is also high.
For pyramid top MB product, C/P value is always low. It’s only for high budget users.
If you need high performance CPU, I recommend 2500K/2600K.
After OC, the performance is improved clearly. Also new technologies of Sandy Bridge can improve platform efficiency.

Z68 is only one integrated P67 OC and H67 GPU output Sandy Bridge chipset.
Z68MB price is higher than P67 in same spec.
If your original budget is P67, you can consider Z68.
So far Z68 product line is not many in Taiwan. I believe all MB makers will launch more Z68 products for users.



This article is top Intel LGA1155 platform which includes performance and new technologies.
This is should be my longest review this year. It takes me 2 weeks for OC, tuning and all features test.
My next one will be entry Z68 or AMD FM1 platform. Please look forward it.

This article is also in my blog.
WIND3C
Welcome your visit.

[wazza300]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

Good review I enjoyed reading it,still feel its a shame they didn't include igpu outputs considering how much the mb costs

[zoters]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

good review that board is awesome..i hope to have that one day...hehehehe

[smail]

Re: Intel Core i7-2600K with GIGABYTE Z68X-UD7,the latest High End Platform OC Guide

Oh, well written, top fuel you ha ha
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