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Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K LGA 1155 Mainboards Review

Last update 16 May 2021

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Both these mainboards belong to the "Extreme" series. The major distinguishing feature of the meridian model is support of the Thunderbolt interface. As well, both boards have new Intel Visual BIOS. They boast extensive functionality, work stably in nominal mode and even support overclocking. However, they are non completely consequence-free, which may cast a shadow over the initial rosy impression from these boards.

By mid-summertime we accept already checked out the features and functionality of almost half a dozen mainboards for LGA 1155 processors congenital on the new Intel Z77 Limited chipset. Nosotros started our review series with Asus P8Z77-V Palatial, followed with a review of ASRock Z77 Extreme4 and ASRock Z77 Extreme6. After that we talked virtually a gaming Gigabyte G1.Sniper iii and MSI Z77A-GD65. This way we covered the products from many of the largest mainboard makers, just definitely non all of them. Very frequently DIY users practise not take mainboards from Intel into consideration when building their systems. Although they accept become dramatically different from the Intel boards we saw just a few years agone. The pattern and appearance, electronic components, technical specifications and functionality of the contemporary Intel mainboards are just as good as those of the mainboards from the leading makers. And even if you are into overclocking and organization fine-tuning, you volition now have almost a full gear up of options and features to play with. Therefore, unless you are familiar at to the lowest degree with a couple of mainboards from Intel, you tin't claim that you are upwards-to-engagement on all contemporary trends and tendencies in the mainboard field. And then, today we are going to talk well-nigh two new mainboards from Intel Corporation that belong to the "Farthermost" series – Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K.

• Design and Functionality
• Technical Specifications Comparison
• BIOS Functionality
• Testbed Configuration
• Operational and Overclocking Specifics
• Functioning Comparison
• Power Consumption
• Conclusion

Blueprint and Functionality

The model names of all Intel mainboards for desktop systems start with the letter "D" (Desktop). Both mainboard models to be discussed today are based on Intel Z77 Express chipset that is why it is not surprising that their model names also as the model names of a few other products from the same family unit start similarly. Judging just past the model name, it may seem that there should be no more similarities between Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K, merely a closer comparing reveals that these ii mainboards are not but related, just are congenital around the aforementioned layout.

The major feature distinguishing Intel DZ77RE-75K from its younger sister is the support of Thunderbolt technology, which was originally known as "Light Meridian". A little below the audio-jacks on the mainboard back panel in that location are a corresponding connector and controller, while Intel DZ77GA-70K has empty spots instead of them. The current implementation of this new engineering science allows transferring data and video using PCI Express and DisplayPort protocols with upward to x Gigabits per second speed, which is twice as fast equally USB 3.0 tin offering.

Thunderbolt technology uses "Plug and Play" concept, in other words, information technology doesn't require any special drivers. All you demand is to connect the device and you will exist able to start using it immediately.

The just problem is that in that location is really nothing to connect at this point and at the time of this review we didn't have the device that could allow us to test the functionality and performance of the Thunderbolt technology. The offset company to implement this new technology in their products was Apple tree, simply simply until recently there was only one monitor and a few external RAID stations even for the MAC OS users. Still, things have significantly changed for the better by at present and the listing of compatible products is constantly updated with new names and models. As well Intel, mainboards with Thunderbolt support have been launched by Asus and MSI, Thunderbolt connectors are now put into multiple notebooks from Acer and Gigabyte. The more support this new technology gets, the more peripheral devices with the new interface will come up to the market and the sooner bodily performance numbers volition striking the online customs. In fact, we take just received a Thunderbolt MiniStation from Buffalo, so stay tuned for our upcoming review updates and new articles.

Getting back to our today's heroes, Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K, we have to bespeak out some other difference betwixt them, which also appeared as a result of Thunderbolt back up implementation in the top model. Both boards accept ii PCI and ii PCI Limited 3.0/2.0 x16 slots on each. The graphics bill of fare slots work equally 1×16 or 2×8 assuasive to build AMD CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI graphics configurations. Even so, the Thunderbolt controller requires four PCI Express lanes therefore Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboard has two PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and one PCI Limited 2.0 x4 slot, while on Intel DZ77RE-75K mainboard all remaining iii slots are PCI Express 2.0 x1.

We usually consider reliable screw-on heatsink retention an advantage, but both Intel mainboards employ plastic push-pins with springs for that thing. Nevertheless, we volition not characterization information technology a drawback this fourth dimension, because the heat dissipation is low and despite their low-end memory, the heatsink do their job simply fine. Intel Z77 Limited chipset provides the boards with two SATA 6 Gbps ports (blue connectors) and four SATA 3 Gbps ports (blackness connectors). Each of them also has an additional Marvel 88SE9172 controller that delivers another pair of SATA half-dozen Gbps ports (grayness connectors), and one more controller like that is responsible for an eSATA 6 Gbps port on the back panel.

The back console of the Intel DZ77RE-75K mainboard has the following ports and connectors:

• Universal PS/two connector for keyboard or mouse;
• 4 USB 2.0 ports, two of which are High Current ports for charging external devices (yellow connectors), another six ports are laid out as three onboard pin-connectors, the yellow one being the High Current ane;
• IEEE1394 (FireWire) port implemented via Texas Instruments TSB43AB22A controller, a second port is available as an onboard pin-connector;
• eSATA half dozen Gbps port implemented via Marvell 88SE9172 controller, a second controller like that provides back up for two internal SATA 6 Gbps ports;
• Glowing "Dorsum to BIOS" push;
• 4 USB 3.0 ports (blue connectors) and ii onboard pivot-connectors for another iv USB 3.0 ports, which are implemented via the Intel Z77 Express chipset functionality and two Genesys Logic GL3520M hubs;
• Two local network ports (network adapters are built on Gigabit Intel WG82579V and Intel WG82574L network controllers);
• HDMI Video Out;
• Optical South/PDIF and v analogue sound-jacks provided past viii-aqueduct Realtek ALC898 codec;
• Thunderbolt port.

Intel DZ77GA-70K has the same verbal gear up of ports and connectors in the back except for the Thunderbolt port. Both these mainboards are among the top models in the lineup, they are intended to be used with a discrete graphics card and perhaps fifty-fifty with a couple of those that is why only one HDMI Out in the back is quite justified. By removing all the diverse video outputs, which cannot be used simultaneously anyway, Intel managed to costless the precious space for other ports and connectors. I would as well like to specifically point out that the boards come up with a PCI Limited PLX PEX 8606 hub. Information technology allows using numerous expansion card slots and controllers all at the same time. We have already seen the aforementioned solution implemented in Asus P8Z77-Five Palatial.

Every bit we proceed with our give-and-take of the boards' features and functionality, nosotros should definitely mention glowing Power On and Reset buttons and a Post-code indicator. There is a row of LEDs a footling above the pinnacle heatsink, which indicates the number of agile phases in the processor voltage regulator circuitry. In that location is another row of LEDs called "Board Status LEDs" right at the lesser of the PCB. The first diode in it indicates the drives activity, the next ii will signal if the CPU or its voltage regulator go overheated, and the remaining LEDs light upwardly 1 after another as we go through the startup process indicating initialization of the CPU, memory, graphics carte du jour, etc.

The mainboards nosotros received weren't retail units, just OEM samples, that is why they didn't come with all the accessories y'all would normally get with a retail board. Withal, Intel's web-site lists all the accessories you will get with your new DZ77GA-70K mainboard:

• Four SATA cables;
• MS-3871 WiFi/Bluetooth module and a USB cable for it;
• A hard bridge for Nvidia 2-Fashion SLI graphics configurations;
• I/O Shield for the back panel;
• A module with two USB iii.0 ports for the 3-inch bay of the organization case;
• Integration Guide – colorful poster with brief assembly instructions;
• Configuration characterization – connector layout sticker to keep the inside of the system case panel;
• Mail service code decoder bill of fare;
• DVD disk with software and drivers.

The list of accessories accompanying Intel DZ77RE-75K mainboard is exactly the same, except for the bridge for two-style Nvidia SLI graphics menu configurations. Note that both mainboards are bundled with a module delivering two boosted USB 3.0 ports to the front panel every bit well equally MS-3871 WiFi/Bluetooth module. The latter establishes wireless connection via Bluetooth v.2.1 protocol at up to 3 Mbps speed, while the WiFi 802.11 north Ralink RT8070 controller will ensure connectedness at up to 300 m with upward to 150 Mbps speed. Moreover, we expect retail mainboard packages to also contain Farthermost-serial specific goodies such equally stickers, door tags and mouse pads with skulls on them.

Technical Specifications Comparison

For your convenience we summed upward the mainboards' features and specs in a single table:

So, information technology becomes clear that that visitor was targeting enthusiasts that is why these boards have everything an enthusiast may retrieve of, such as Ability On and Reset buttons, numerous onboard controllers. On the other hand, the voltage regulator circuitry doesn't have too many phases, which is the company's deliberate determination and not an intention to bulldoze the end-toll downwards. The voltage regulator is adequately uncomplicated, but of exemplary quality and has exactly the number of phases that is needed for the specific board: they do not resort to popular marketing tricks like doubling the number of phases. Both mainboards look great, and I would have never noticed an issue with their design if I hadn't tried to install one of them into a system case. I am certain that well-nigh of yous may not detect this consequence immediately, besides:

During the arrangement associates I discovered that I can't use the provided forepart panel module with the two USB three.0 ports. Both mainboards have two internal USB 3.0 connectors providing another four ports, but both of them are located at the very bottom of the PCB and the relatively short cable from the forepart panel module simply can't reach them. This location would exist ideal for the back panel, merely in that location is no back panel bracket amid the included accessories. Information technology would make much more sense to identify the connector for the boosted front panel USB 3.0 ports in almost the middle of the right part of the PCB. I specifically checked all previously tested mainboards with internal USB 3.0 pin-connectors, and in that location was a connector in that specific identify on most all of them: a little to the right and just below the memory DIMMs. The merely exceptions were Intel boards and some MSI boards, though MSI does accept a sort of an excuse: they practise not include any forepart panel modules with USB 3.0 ports with the boards, only simply provide dorsum console brackets. Why didn't Intel mainboard designers place at least one USB 3.0 onboard connector in a more user-friendly spot? I am sure merely they can reply this question for us.

BIOS Functionality

So far we have done both to Intel mainboards: criticized too as praised, but in either case we pointed out that they had very user-unfriendly BIOS. All of import parameters were almost randomly scattered over multiple sub-sections, and on top of that they were tricky to adjust during a multi-footstep procedure. However, information technology looks like very soon Intel mainboards volition no longer suffer from this eternal shortcoming, because the new Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards feature a completely new Intel Visual BIOS. By the way, the boards are so similar that they employ identical BIOS versions. Then, let'southward cheque out the new Visual BIOS using Intel DZ77RE-75K equally an example (the BIOS of the Intel DZ77GA-75K is absolutely identical: y'all won't find anything different in that location).

The startup section doesn't seem also loaded, but information technology allows y'all to practise a ton of things:

The card in the upper role of the screen displays some data about the BIOS Setup, offers the option of switching to classical BIOS view or to extended Visual BIOS, load the default settings or get out. Then y'all become the mainboard model name and cursory system specifications. The "Kicking Lodge" window on the left displays the order of kick-up devices and you tin change it by merely dragging and dropping items with your mouse pointer. If necessary, "Advanced" push button will ship you to more detailed configuration of the startup parameters, simply we are going to dwell on these options a little later when we discuss the Visual BIOS in detail. "Overclocking Assistant" window on the right will let you raise the clock frequencies of the CPU, integrated graphics core and memory by simply moving the slider with your mouse. All related parameters, such as power consumption thresholds and voltages, will be adjusted automatically. The "Tuning", "Devices" and "SATA" buttons beneath will navigate you to the corresponding sub-sections of the extended "Visual BIOS" way, and "Profiles" button will let you lot save, load or delete settings profiles. Each profile may be assigned a descriptive name. At the very bottom of the screen, the "Welcome to the hereafter of BIOS" message will be replaced with hints once y'all roll the mouse arrow over a selected option on the screen. In some cases you may press F1 key to go more helpful info. Below that you tin come across active hot key reminders and a search field. You tin can motility to any parameter in the Visual BIOS by locating i of the words in its name.

Even this detailed description of the startup section doesn't tell the whole story. Y'all tin notice an arrow symbol on the right or the iii circles at the bottom, ane the first of which is highlighted. You can click the pointer or the 2d circumvolve to move on to the 2d page of the startup screen.

The creeping line in the window on the left lists all connected devices and the window in the eye shows rotation speeds of the connected fans, system voltages and temperatures. The listing of disk drives is displayed in the window on the correct-hand side. The 3rd startup screen page serves purely informational purposes reporting various organization data.

The functionality of the startup section is and so vast that in most cases the user will non need anything else. However, for initial or more than detailed configuring options you tin switch to advanced mode by pressing "Advanced Setup" button. This will atomic number 82 you to the "Main" section.

The "Main" section reports unlike system info, allows setting current date and time and select a startup page, which will be displayed upon accessing the BIOS. The menu at the meridian of the screen will pb you dorsum to the Home page or permit you access any of the sections from the advanced "Visual BIOS" way. By the way, when you press the Alt key, the active letter sin the department names volition get highlighted. And then, by pressing the Alt key and the respective alphabetic character at the same fourth dimension, you lot tin apace become to the desired section.

"Devices & Peripherals" section is divide into four sub-sections, where you can configure USB devices, SATA drives, integrated onboard controllers and installed expansion cards.

The kickoff of the 4 sub-sections called "Cooling" tells yous about the current fan rotation speeds, system voltages and temperatures and composes their variation graphs. Other sub-sections permit setting the fan rotation speeds in dependence to the temperatures, set acceptable range for voltages and temperatures.

The kickoff screen of the "Operation" section serves informational purposes reporting the default, current (active) and proposed system parameters.

The next three sub-sections of the "Performance" section let fine-tuning the processor, retentivity and integrated graphics cadre to your liking. You can fix the values yourself or just slide the bar while watching the changes of the corresponding parameters. All the adapted values volition exist highlighted with different colour.

"Security" section offers to set up admission passwords and other security-related settings. "Power" section contains parameters dealing with power supply and power-saving technologies. "Boot" section allows configuring different settings related to the arrangement starting time-upward.

I have to say that at showtime the new "Intel Visual BIOS" seems simply vivid. It is not until later that yous starting time to wish they had completely restructured information technology, and so that information technology wouldn't remind you of the old disruptive Intel BIOS. For case, unlike the BIOS from other mainboard makers, this one still doesn't take a carve up folio or section with all processor parameters gathered in it: they are still scattered all over the place. Simply some of the processor settings can be found in one of the sub-sections of the "Performance" department, the processor power-saving technologies are located in the "Ability" department, and I personally would never exist looking for virtualization technology in the "Security" section, simply this is exactly where it is correct now. Despite a few drawbacks, "Intel Visual BIOS" is much easier to piece of work with and much prettier than the former BIOS. We totally loved the extensive functionality of the new "Home" startup folio, like shooting fish in a barrel overclocking with the help of "Overclocking Assistant", the option that allows you lot to make whatsoever BISO page your "home page" and the power to access desired parameters using Search function. Unfortunately, we did notice a few serious bugs in the new Visual BIOS, which we volition mention a fiddling later in our review, and then we would similar to remind you what the regular Intel mainboard BIOS looks like earlier we continue. Y'all can switch to the "sometime" style by clicking the "Classic Mode" button in the "Home" section menu.

The startup "Main" screen performs advisory office and reports the bones arrangement info. The "Configuration" section allows configuring integrated controllers and peripheral devices.

Nearly overclocking-related parameters are gathered in the "Operation" section. There are 3 columns at that place: default settings, current (active) settings and proposed settings, which volition accept result later on you apply the changes.

"Memory Overrides" page allows adjusting retention settings, and "Processor Overrides" folio – processor settings.

"Security" section is exactly the same as in the new "Visual BIOS". It volition allow yous set admission passwords and other security-related parameters.

"Power" department too is exactly the same as the namesake section in the new "Visual BIOS". The parameters here refer to power supply and ability-saving.

The simply section in the Intel mainboard BIOS, which we have never had any problems with, is "Boot". On the contrary, it has been known for extensive functionality related to system startup parameters configuring.

Yous can relieve or discard the changes in the "Leave" section. Moreover, here yous can also relieve or load user BIOS settings profiles. Each profile may take a descriptive proper name. If necessary, profiles may besides be deleted completely. The last two options in this department allow returning to the new "Visual BIOS".

Of class, small bug and bugs are inevitable during the introduction of the new "Visual BIOS", it is indeed frustrating to uncover them, merely information technology is part of the process. As time goes on, most of them volition surely be eliminated, and at that point you won't even recall about the "Return to Classic Mode" option. Nonetheless, now we desperately need the opportunity to select startup BIOS mode, and then that nosotros didn't accept to constantly switch dorsum from the default "Visual BIOS" to the "Archetype" one.

Testbed Configuration

We performed all our tests on a testbed congenital with the following components:

• Mainboards:
  • Intel DZ77GA-70K (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express, BIOS version 0045);
  • Intel DZ77RE-75K (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Limited, BIOS version 0045);
• Intel Core i5-3570K CPU (three.6-3.8 GHz, 4 cores, Ivy Bridge rev.E1, 22nm, 77 W, ane.05 V, LGA 1155);
• two 10 iv GB DDR3 SDRAM Corsair Vengeance CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9R (1866 MHz, nine-10-9-27 timings, 1.5 Five voltage);
• Gigabyte GV-T797OC-3GD (AMD Radeon Hard disk 7970, Tahiti, 28 nm, 1000/5500 MHz, 384-scrap GDDR5 3072 MB);
• Crucial m4 SSD (CT256M4SSD2, 256 GB, SATA half-dozen Gbps);
• Scythe Mugen 3 Revision B (SCMG-3100) CPU cooler;
• ARCTIC MX-2 thermal interface;
• CoolerMaster RealPower M850 PSU (RS-850-ESBA);
• Open testbed built using Antec Skeleton system case.

We used Microsoft Windows seven Ultimate SP1 64 bit (Microsoft Windows, Version 6.1, Build 7601: Service Pack i) operating system, Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility version 9.iii.0.1020, AMD Catalyst graphics carte driver version 12.4.

Operational and Overclocking Specifics

In that location were no problems during the testbed assembly on Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards. Both boards worked impeccably in default mode, although it was pretty strange to discover out that not all ability-saving technologies were enabled past default. Upon arrangement kick we run into a startup epitome. Unlike other mainboards, the ones from Intel let you select the list of hot keys to be displayed during startup.

You lot tin can take advantage of the optimizations that accelerate mainboard boot-upward, such equally disabling the startup image. Yet, it won't reveal any additional useful info in anyway.

It is recommended to update the BIOS by launching a self-extracting annal, which will automatically reflash the BIOS. However, this approach will not work for any operating systems other than Microsoft Windows. We used a built-in updating tool, which can be launched by pressing F7 during system startup.

Note that besides the USB bulldoze with the new BIOS update, the list also contains both partitions of the connected SSD, i.e. it supports NTFS file arrangement, different many other integrated utilities that come up with competitor mainboards.

Once you found the file containing the new BIOS version, yous merely need to confirm your decision to update.

While in nominal manner both mainboards worked flawlessly, during overclocking we faced multiple bug of different sorts. At first we couldn't even figure out what caused such unpredictable mainboard beliefs, just afterwards we discovered that the profiles in Visual BIOS did not work correctly. Such parameters equally memory frequency, load-line calibration and Processor Power Efficiency Policy couldn't be saved or recovered. Trying to discover answers we institute ourselves on the folio with the parameters of the integrated graphics core and were shocked with what we saw! It turned out that when y'all try to load whatsoever existing profile, the boards effort to increment the voltage by 27303 mV, although the integrated graphics is supposed to get automatically disabled with a discrete graphics accelerator installed.

The boards are hardly capable of feeding over 27 V, and it is simply testify that the current version of Intel's new Visual BIOS is still far from perfect. However, we completely gave upwardly on it only after the CPU Vcore had increased by xx mV with default settings contour. By the way, 20 mV is the minimal increment in Offset mode and information technology is manner too large for contemporary processors, which nominal voltages are around 1V.

Still, it is still possible to overclock processors with Intel mainboards if you witch from the new Visual BIOS to the old Classic i. The thing is that both BIOS types are non identical. For case, Visual BIOS promises to raise the graphics core voltage by 27303 mV, while the old BIOS is eager to do with but 68 mV.

Both BIOS types do non report the right memory settings. For example, the new BIOS thinks that you can get unlike memory frequencies by using the same 10x multiplier.

The same operational mode in the sometime BIOS looks differently, but is also incorrect:

Of course, I tin't say that there are 2 completely independent BIOS systems on each of these boards, just they comport totally different. As for the settings profiles, each BIOS saves its ain profiles, and they practise non interfere with each other in any way. So, we started using the classic BIOS version to save and restore settings profiles. It likewise wasn't ideal, because it couldn't save the temperatures set in "Fan Command & Real-Time Monitoring" sub-section, but it saved and restored correctly all major frequencies, multipliers and voltages.

However, fifty-fifty when we switched to the classic BIOS version, we didn't get rid of all overclocking-related issues. We failed to overclock our processor to its maximum of four.6 GHz. WE couldn't accomplish stability at 4.5 GHz, and even at the relatively low frequency of only 4.4 GHz the errors would pop upwards all the time. And every fourth dimension we tried to utilise "Overclocking Assistant", the boards would immediately increase the frequency and voltage of the integrated graphics core.

Equally a result, we had to resort to a complex combination overclocking method. All initial parameters were ready in the new "Visual BIOS", then nosotros switched to the archetype BIOS where we saved and loaded the settings profiles. This way we managed to push the CPU clock to 4.5 GHz, and the memory clock to 1867 MHz on both tested mainboards. By the way, if you take a closer await at AIDA screenshots, you will run into where the proper noun of this review is coming from: "Roads End" and "Gasper" are the codenames for Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards respectively.

In the meanwhile we uncovered the already existing issue of Intel mainboards: they either fix all memory timings automatically, or you have to set all of them manually. It turned out that the same was true for the X.M.P. profiles. All other manufacturers' mainboards used the X.M.P. contour for our particular memory modules and set the memory frequency to 1867 MHz with 9-10-9-27-2T timings. All of them allowed changing the timings to 9-10-9-27-1T, but not the Intel boards. To be off-white, I have to add that EVGA mainboards as well carry the same verbal way, merely nevertheless it is no alibi for Intel.

At present I would simply like to remind you that we always overclock mainboards in such a fashion that they could be used for a prolonged menstruation of time in this mode. We practice not try to make our life easier past disabling any of the mainboard features, such as onboard controllers, for instance. Nosotros also try to keep the CPU's power-saving technologies up and running commonly to the all-time of our ability. And this time all power-saving technologies remained upward and running fifty-fifty during overclocking lowering the CPU voltage and frequency multiplier in idle mode.

There is pretty much nothing to say most the arranged software. At present there is even no "Intel Extreme Tuning Utility" included with the boards, though it used to be bundled with all Extreme series mainboards before. It could be because they are still polishing off their new Visual BIOS. You lot can only download the ancient "Intel Desktop Utilities" suite, which is hopelessly outdated and is unable to bespeak correct CPU frequency or SSD temp.

Operation Comparing

As usual, we are going to compare the mainboards speeds in two different modes: in nominal mode and during CPU and memory overclocking. The commencement fashion is interesting because it shows how well the mainboards work with their default settings. It is a known fact that most users practise not fine-tune their systems, they just cull the optimal BIOS settings and do zero else. That is why we run a circular of tests most without interfering in any fashion with the default mainboard settings. For comparison purposes we also included the results of the previously reviewed Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe, ASRock Z77 Extreme4 and ASRock Z77 Extreme6, Gigabyte G1.Sniper iii and MSI Z77A-GD65 mainboards. The results on the diagrams are sorted out in descending order.

Nosotros used Cinebench 11.v. All tests were run v times and the boilerplate issue of the five runs was taken for the performance charts. We have been using Fritz Chess Benchmark utility for a long time already and it proved very illustrative. It generated repeated results, the operation in it is scales perfectly depending on the number of involved computational threads.

A small video in x264 Hd Criterion 4.0 is encoded in ii passes and then the unabridged process is repeated four times. The average results of the second laissez passer are displayed on the following diagram: We measured the operation in Adobe Photoshop using our ain benchmark made from Retouch Artists Photoshop Speed Test that has been creatively modified. It includes typical editing of iv 10-megapixel images from a digital photograph camera.

In the archiving test a 1 GB file is compressed using LZMA2 algorithms, while other pinch settings remain at defaults. Like in the data compression exam, the faster 16 1000000 of Pi digits are calculated, the better. This is the only benchmark where the number of processor cores doesn't really matter, because it creates single-threaded load.

Since we practice not overclock graphics in our mainboard reviews, the side by side diagram shows only CPU tests from the 3DMark11 – Physics Score. This score is obtained in a special physics examination that emulates the behavior of a complex gaming organisation working with numerous objects:

We use FC2 Benchmark Tool to go over Ranch Pocket-sized map ten times in 1920×1080 resolution with loftier image quality settings in DirectX 10.

Resident Evil 5 game as well has a born performance examination. Its peculiarity is that it can really have reward of multi-cadre processor architecture. The tests were run in DirectX 10 in 1920×1080 resolution with high paradigm quality settings. The average of 5 examination runs was taken for further analysis:

Batman: Arkham City game also reacts eagerly to any changes in the CPU clock frequency, but information technology uses DirectX 11. We ran game's integrated criterion five times with loftier image quality settings and then have the boilerplate of the five runs for the diagrams.

In our previous review nosotros pointed out that MSI Z77A-GD65 didn't fix whatsoever functioning records, and today we can conclude the same about the two Intel boards. They are noticeably lagging behind the leading group in every test, simply the gap becomes unacceptably huge in Batman: Arkham Urban center game.

We do not have reasons to expect anything different in overclocked style, because both mainboards failed to achieve the maximum frequency of our test processor. The obtained results are summed upwards in the following tabular array:

Strange equally it might seem, but during the tests in overclocked mode Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards manage to compete more successfully confronting Gigabyte G1.Sniper iii and MSI Z77A-GD65 mainboards, which managed to overclock the processor to the same exact frequency. The difference is bigger than normal only in vii-nil test, because it is very sensitive to the retentiveness sub-system parameters, and the retentiveness timings on Intel mainboards are not as good equally on others. Besides, the lag in Batman: Arkham City game is one time again greater than everywhere else.

Power Consumption

We performed our power consumption measurements using an Extech Power Analyzer 380803. This device is continued earlier the PSU and measures the power draw of the entire system (without the monitor), including the power loss that occurs in the PSU itself. In the idle mode we start the arrangement up and expect until it stops accessing the difficult disk. And so nosotros use LinX to load the CPU. For a more illustrative film there are graphs that testify how the computer power consumption grows up depending on the number of agile execution threads in LinX (both at the default and overclocked organisation settings).

Throughout this review nosotros mentioned that non all power-saving technologies were enabled by default. Sicne the boards are very similar and not only perform as fast, just also consume equal corporeality of ability, we decided to slightly change our testing approach for 1 of them. During our tests on the Intel DZ77RE-75K we didn't change any of the settings, while Intel DZ77GA-70K was tested with all power-saving technologies enabled manually. The difference turned out quite significant especially in idle fashion. Both these boards could hands fall in the leading group, merely their power consumption values exceed the average level when they are tested with default settings. The difference is even noticeable in case of unmarried-threaded load, although it grows smaller every bit the load increases and disappears completely under maximum load.

We enabled all power-saving technologies during overclocking. Besides, Intel mainboards didn't overclock the processor to its maximum. Therefore, both tested mainboards look very attractive in terms of free energy-efficiency, although they still yield to MSI Z77A-GD65. The gaming Gigabyte board supports advanced functionality with multiple graphics cards due to integrated additional PCI Express bus hub, just higher ability consumption is the price information technology has to pay in this example.

Conclusion

I have to say that as we were getting more and more acquainted with the new Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards, our opinion near them inverse dramatically. At first their layout seemed flawless, but subsequently on some problems convinced us otherwise. The developers obviously had their ain thought of the all-time spot for the internal USB iii.0 connector, which was different from the others' and proved to be somewhat flawed after all.

The new "Visual BIOS" charmed us at first glance by being much easier to work with and much better-looking with way richer functionality. The selection that allows you lot to select a BIOS department as a Home page was simply available by Biostar mainboards earlier, and none of the makers take so far come up up with the thought of adding a Search selection to the BIOS. Among its other indisputable advantages are exceptionally rich functionality of the "Home" department and super-easy overclocking using "Overclocking Assistant". However, subsequently on we discovered that the new Visual BIOS hasn't been restructured equally much every bit it seemed at first sight: it retained some of the erstwhile issues and acquired numerous new ones, unfortunately. Of course, introduction of the new Visual BIOS could not be completely issue-costless, and they will be fixed and eliminated with the time. Only what really bothers me is whether anyone will ever get to eliminating the one-time ongoing problems that have existed in the old BIOS versions, too.

Despite a number of shortcomings, we tin't consider these mainboards a failure. They take very rich functionality meeting all today'due south needs, they piece of work smashing in default fashion and even overclock processors. Information technology is great to see the top model in the lineup to avowal new Thunderbolt interface, and the more systems supporting it volition come out, the bigger will the infrastructure grow. Overall, Intel DZ77RE-75K and Intel DZ77GA-70K mainboards are quite interesting, but unfortunately, we can't requite them our ultimate recommendation just yet.

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Source: https://www.xbitlabs.com/intel-dz77re-75k-and-intel-dz77ga-70k-lga-1155-mainboards-review/

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