MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3) Motherboard Pictured

[btarunr]

Here are the first pictures of MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3), the company's first socket LGA1155 motherboard based on Intel's new Z68 PCH. Intel is weeks away from launching the Z68 PCH, which is a middle-ground between P67 and H67. P67 let you overclock, while it didn't feature Flexible Display Interface (FDI); H67 featured FDI, but didn't let you overclock. Z68 features FDI, it also lets you overclock to the potential of P67. MSI's Z68A-GD80 makes use of the B3 revision of the Z68 PCH. It intends to offer loads of overclocking features, ample discrete GPU expansion, as well as FDI connectivity to let you use the processor-embedded graphics.

The LGA1155 socket supports 2011 Core i5/i7 "Sandy Bridge" processors. The LOTES-made socket on the Z68A-GD80 is powered by a 15-phase VRM that uses "solid-state" chokes that don't buzz on load. The VRM is cooled by two heatsinks that share heat over a heat pipe. The socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots that support dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include three PCI-Express x16 (electrical x16/NC/x4 or x8/x8/x4), two PCI-E x1, and two PCI.



Storage connectivity includes four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, three SATA 6 Gb/s ports (two from PCH, one from a 3rd party controller), and one eSATA 6 Gb/s. FDI display connectivity includes DVI and HDMI. Other connectivity features include 8-channel HD audio, USB 3.0 (two rear-panel, two by internal header), dual gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, and FireWire.

Overclocker-friendly features include OC Genie 2, memory optimizer technology, auxiliary 6-pin power input for additional electrical stability, consolidated voltage measure points, and likely a feature-rich BIOS.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[{uZa}DOA]

so this is a mid-range board then? I just don't see the point I guess.. The P67 boards are priced decent already just curious where these will land price wise...? Not to mention benefits of OC and features...

 

[MoonPig]

Oooo. I LOVE that it has onboard aswell as 3x PCI-E!

Great feature, been waiting for something like this.

Well done MSI.

 

[Cold Storm]

I has some good stuff... on the factor that the Volt measure points are probably going to be covered up due to the 24pin..

 

[btarunr]

so this is a mid-range board then? I just don't see the point I guess.. The P67 boards are priced decent already just curious where these will land price wise...? Not to mention benefits of OC and features...

It will be priced above P67 boards, definitely above the P67 GD80.

 

[{uZa}DOA]

I has some good stuff... on the factor that the Volt measure points are probably going to be covered up due to the 24pin..

yeah that was a stupid place for those.. WOW how does something like that get through quality control/common sense.. lol

 

[{uZa}DOA]

It will be priced above P67 boards, definitely above the P67 GD80.

oh the way I read it they were somewhere between P67 and the H series....P67 being the top tier.. No??

 

[Cold Storm]

yeah that was a stupid place for those.. WOW how does something like that get through quality control/common sense.. lol

The only way i see that it wouldn't be a problem is if you use, single braided connector... but, I really don't like to move them around all the time to get to the modular I need to check on..

 

[afw]

like 'Z68' ... sounds better than 'P67' for me ...

 

[caleb]

oh the way I read it they were somewhere between P67 and the H series....P67 being the top tier.. No??

Which part of this you don't understand ?

Z68 features FDI, it also lets you overclock to the potential of P67.

Z68 = P67+FDI hence Z68>P67

 

[btarunr]

oh the way I read it they were somewhere between P67 and the H series....P67 being the top tier.. No??

Well that's why it's numbered Z68. It will overclock just like P67, and also feature FDI. That makes it superior to both P67 and H67.

 

[{uZa}DOA]

Which part of this you don't understand ?


Z68 = P67+FDI hence Z68>P67

Well that's why it's numbered Z68. It will overclock just like P67, and also feature FDI. That makes it superior to both P67 and H67.

ah thanks! Got it sorry.. Minor brain fart before my morning coffee...

this is what confused me.... "Intel is weeks away from launching the Z68 PCH, which is a middle-ground between P67 and H67."

 

[DRDNA]

That last PCI-E slot looks to be worthless for a graphic card... The caps (or what ever it is) are too close and too tall, other than that it seems ok.

 

[stupido]

That last PCI-E slot looks to be worthless for a graphic card... The caps (or what ever it is) are too close and too tall, other than that it seems ok.

Maybe worthless for GPU but very usable for one of those expensive PCIe SSD...
or for physics GPU?

 

[Batou1986]

i spy a usb3 header, bout damn time

 

[Yellow&Nerdy?]

Can't seem to figure out, why Z68 even exists. Are there any situations, when you would need integrated graphics and discrete graphics from the same PC? If your going for a HTPC or some other type of media PC, you would choose the H67. If you intend to do gaming, you will be getting a discrete graphics card and would want to squeeze some extra out of your CPU, therefore you would choose P67.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Can't seem to figure out, why Z68 even exists. Are there any situations, when you would need integrated graphics and discrete graphics from the same PC? If your going for a HTPC or some other type of media PC, you would choose the H67. If you intend to do gaming, you will be getting a discrete graphics card and would want to squeeze some extra out of your CPU, therefore you would choose P67.

Intel Quick Sync?
Also LucidLogix Virtu makes it well worth it, as you can save on your power bill by using the Intel graphics and power down the graphics card when you don't need the extra GPU power.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

The asus version I saw is "Pro" version and looking at this one all seem to be mid range. I though they would be top tier boards? So far it looks like they took the mid-range and imported video connectivity, etc to it.

 

[Assimilator]

I thought Z68 was for LGA2011 boards...

 

[Initialised]

Mmmm... Smelly...

I like the look of the board, had 5GHz LinX stable (not Prime) on P67 GD80 hopefully this can nail it.