Gigabyte Outs G1.Gaming Branded H81 Chipset Motherboard

[btarunr]

Gigabyte took the concept of H81M-WW a notch higher, and gave it the G1.Gaming branding. So what, if you can't run PCI-Express gen 3.0 graphics cards at their native gen 3.0 bus speeds, the H81 Express chipset must still amount for something? Gigabyte thinks so, and launched a G1.Gaming branded entry-level micro-ATX motherboard based on the chipset, which Intel reserves for "essential computing."

The new H81M-Gaming 3 is mostly identical to the H81M-WW, and the only visual differences we can spot are the second PCI-Express 2.0 x1 slot on the former, instead of the latter's legacy PCI; and the fancier PCH heatsink. The board still gives you onboard audio with audio-grade electrolytic capacitors and ground-layer isolation, even if its centerpiece, the ALC892 CODEC, doesn't have a three-figure SNR. One notable difference here is Gigabyte opting for an Intel-made gigabit Ethernet controller, instead of the cheaper Realtek-made one on the H81M-WW. Gigabyte didn't announce pricing or availability, but something tells us this package could sell well with entry-level gaming PC builders.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[dj-electric]

H81M-HD3 slightly better audio edition.

 

[Ruru]

Wait, what? 3 phases VRM?

Otherwise this would be a decent cheap MB for Pentium G3258, but with VRM like that..

 

[Winston_008]

those vrm phases are in line with low cost mini itx mobos lol

 

[buildzoid]

Wait, what? 3 phases VRM?

Otherwise this would be a decent cheap MB for Pentium G3258, but with VRM like that..

Doesn't matter Haswell doesn't need more than 90A from the motherboard VRM so if these pahses are halfway decent they'll handle an OCed G3258 with just some heat-sinks on the MOSFETs

 

[newtekie1]

With z97 boards in the ~$100 price range with M.2 and SATA-Express, I can't really see every buying a board like this, even if it was $50. The extra future proofing of the z97 board and much better build quality are easily worth the extra $50.

 

[Ferrum Master]

With z97 boards in the ~$100 price range with M.2 and SATA-Express, I can't really see every buying a board like this, even if it was $50. The extra future proofing of the z97 board and much better build quality are easily worth the extra $50.

Well for 50% you can't have a dinner for two, can you?

But I agree... it's kind of... hyperbolic to have a board like that...