Introduction

Now that it has been several months since the launch of Intel's Z77 Express chipset, we've seen countless varieties of supporting board products ranging from super-pricey, mega-overclocking products to value orientated boards with just a minimum of features. At the same time though, I've really noticed a huge departure from one brand to the next, although each appears to be delivering the same product. Each brand has its key features and its own specific color-schemes.

Biostar has something completely different this time around with a debut of a whole new product line-up of which I will be covering at least a couple iterations over the coming weeks. The first is, of course, the Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X. That "Hi-Fi" moniker, as the name suggests, stands for some audio specialization in the design, and with Biostar that means that's what the whole board is about. Since Biostar is known for value-oriented products, can Biostar bring decent, built-in audio to the market like some other brands do with their high-end boards? Let's find out.

Specifications

Intel Z77 Express Chipset

Intel's launch of their latest desktop platform in the first half of April 2012 began with board products. The Intel Z77 Express platform is an incremental upgrade from previous platforms. It adds additional features and provides a wider level of functionality with full support for the 3rd Generation Core i5/i7 family of CPUs commonly called Ivy Bridge in enthusiast circles.


The Ivy Bridge CPUs are made using a new 28nm process technology that lowers power consumption and gives a bit more performance-per-clock over previous Intel 2nd Generation Core i5/i7 products. Also changed is the onboard GPU that's part of the Ivy Bridge silicon, now taking up more of that slice of silicon that sits under the integrated heatspreader.


The integrated PCIe bus on the CPU has also been upgraded. It can, compared to the two devices and PCIe 2.0 connectivity that are found inside Sandy Bridge products, be split differently from SandyBridge CPUs with IvyBridge natively supporting three devices over a single bus with 16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 connectivity. Taking advantage of that added PCIe functionality requires a motherboard design change from previous Sandybridge-supporting motherboards. Backward and forward component compatibility for both SandyBridge and IvyBridge platform products, including CPUs and chipsets, is still possible with updated firmware for older Socket 1155 board products. Using a new IvyBridge CPU with an older P67 Express or Z68 Express motherboard may limit PCIe functionality. PCIe functionality would, naturally, with SandyBridge only supporting two devices, be limited. The tertiary slot provided on some Z77 Express boards will not work with some products when a SandyBridge CPU is installed.

Biostar is attempting to create a definite presence in the market with the Hi-Fi Z77X by taking all that and tweaking it for better audio. Biostar is really offering a take on things I wasn't expecting, especially not at such an affordable price level. Great audio for a really good price. I know what you're thinking, or I, rather, know what I thought of first: what is the catch? I honestly don't think there IS one.

Packaging

Packaging for the Biostar Hi-Fi Z77X definitely departs from what I've seen from Biostar lately. The motherboard comes in a nice, clean, and white box with what appears to be a speaker emitting, well, something. There are a bunch of logos here, a few of which repeat the "Hi-Fi" theme, and there's even one with headphones on it, clearly showing that the audio is what this board is all about. The back of the box has nothing other than a bunch of technology descriptions; pretty basic stuff.


Opening the box, I was pleased to find Biostar did not change anything in terms of accessories. All the accessories sat on top of a cardboard liner that keeps the board safe until the end-consumer opens the box - pretty typical for Biostar. I know it's a small thing, but I even like Biostar's choice of anti-static bag: a nice soft plastic bag rather than the hard, crisp, and reflective bag that is much much more common for computer parts and devices. A very small detail for sure, but it's the little things that sometimes count.