Gigabyte Z97X-SOC Force Preview
Category : Z97
Published by Hiwa Pouri on 23.05.14
One of the most interestinge boards, which is based on Intels latest Z97 chipset - again - comes from Gigabyte and is called Z97X-SOC Force. At a very attractive price point you get no less than four full-size PCI-Express slots as well as a lot of features like Gigabyte OC-Touch buttons and voltage read-out points. It will be very interesting to take a closer looks at this particular model.


  Article in English   Artikel in Deutsch   Article en français   Articolo in italiano




The Z97X-SOC Force is Gigabyte's high-end overclocking motherboard regarding Intels latest Z97 chipset, which leaves us rather curious when it comes to expectations.

Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion
[pagebreak]

Specs and Delivery

Chipset Intel Z97
Memory Dual Channel DDR3 Technology, 4 x DDR3 DIMM Slots, Max. 32 GB DDR3, 3300 (O.C) / 3200 (O.C.) / 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz Non-ECC, Un-buffered Memory
Multi-GPU
  • Supports NVIDIA SLI Technology
  • Supports AMD CrossFireX Technology
Slots
  • 1 x PCIe 3.0 x16 @ x16
  • 1 x PCIe 3.0 x6 @ x8
  • 2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 @ x4
  • 1 x PCIe 2.0 x1
  • 2 x PCI
Sound Realtek ALC1150 Audio Codec
  • Realtek ALC1150 codec
  • High Definition Audio
  • 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
  • Support for S/PDIF Out
 
Storage Intel Z97 chipset
  • 1 x SATA Express
  • 6 x SATA 6Gb/s
  • Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Network
  • Qualcomm Atheros Killer  E2201 Series
Internal Connectors
  • 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
  • 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
  • 1 x 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
  • 1 x OC PEG power connector
  • 1 x SATA Express connector
  • 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
  • 1 x CPU fan header
  • 1 x water cooling fan header (CPU_OPT)
  • 6 x system fan headers
  • 1 x front panel header
  • 1 x front panel audio header
  • 1 x S/PDIF Out header
  • 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 header
  • 1 x USB 2.0/1.1 header
  • 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
  • 1 x serial port header
  • 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
  • 1 x power button
  • 1 x reset button
  • 1 x Clear CMOS button
  • 1 x Gear button
  • 1 x OC Turbo button?
  • 1 x OC Tag button
  • 1 x OC Trigger switch
  • 1 x CPU BCLK Down button
  • 1 x CPU BCLK Up button
  • 1 x CPU Ratio Down button
  • 1 x CPU Ratio Up button
  • 1 x Memory Safe button
  • 1 x Settings Lock button
  • 1 x Direct to BIOS button
  • 1 x OC DIMM switch
  • 1 x OC PCIe switch
  • 1 x OC Ignition button
  • 1 x Clear Battery button
  • 2 x BIOS switches
  • 1 x onboard voltage measurement module
Extrenal Connectors
  • 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
  • 4 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
  • 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
  • 1 x D-Sub port
  • 1 x DVI-D port
  • 1 x HDMI port
  • 1 x DisplayPort
  • 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
  • 1 x RJ-45 port
  • 6 x audio jacks
Forfactor ATX (30.5cm x 24.4cm)
BIOS Bios (2 x 128 Mb flash ROM, UEFI AMI BIOS)


 





Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion
[pagebreak]

Features

8 Phase Power Design

 Since quite some time Gigabyte has been equipping its boards with digital power designs. With the Z97X-SOC Force they are very proud about their solution which is using components from International Rectifyer (IR3553 and IR3563B) and each phase offers up to 60A. Additionally Gigabyte makes use of special black capacitors which are rated a 10'000 hours at 105°C.
 

OC Ignition

 If you activate OC Ignition basically everything on the system turns on but the CPU. In this case for example iRAM is able to preserve memory states and also all fan are running. It can also be a practical features if you want to fill up a new custom watercooling solution.
 

OC Touch

 OC-Touch enables overclockers to quickly and easily get more performance from their system. With onboard OC-Touch buttons, users are able to manually raise and lower the CPU ratio, change BCLK settings, and even change the BCLK stepping. These changes can be made at any time whether in the BIOS or Windows or in real-time without the need for rebooting, so users can quickly fine-tune to find their CPU’s maximum frequency. In the same area of the board you find voltage measurement points and connectors. Included in the delivery are twelve voltage measurement cables to easily connect a voltage read-out device.
   

OC Brace

 Included in the delivery you find the so called OC Brace. In our opinion this is one of the most practical new features in a long time. If you attach the OC Brace to the motherboard, you can then safely install graphics cards using screws to attach them to the OC Brace.
     

SATA Express Connector

 SATA Express is a new port for storage devices that basically combines two SATA connectors and bundles them. Each SATA Express port has been wired using two PCI Express Gen2 lanes offering a total of 10 Gbps bandwidth. Compared to SATA-III with 6 Gbps bandwidth this is quite an improvement.
     

Killer E2201

 Gigabyte equips their gaming motherboards with an E2201 Killer NIC. This chip is capable of providing features like traffic shaping on application level, which can help realizing a smoother online gaming experience.


Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion
[pagebreak]

Layout

At a first glance the Gigabyte Z97X-SOC Force leaves a very good impression with its harmonic design. The manufacturer decided to go for a combination of black and orange which suites nicely and in the end you get an aesthetic product. The layout itself is well thought and there is for example plenty of space around the CPU socket to install even todays largest CPU coolers. The fact that there are SATA connectors which have been angled by 90 degrees allow an easy installation of oversized graphics cards. Another very practical thing are the two standard USB ports right next to the SATA connectors. Overclockers will love them but they're also practical if you own a case where the front USB ports have to be connected using a standard USB cable. Usually you have to rout this cable to the backside of the motherboard to connect it with a USB port located at the I/O panel.
 


The Gigabyte Z97X-SOC Force comes with a digital 8 phase power design. It's most important for the manufacturer to make sure that components of highest quality are being used. Each individual phase is equipped with chokes from International Rectifyer (IR3580), which are able to withstand loads of up to 60A. Additionally there are special black capacitors which offer 100'000 hours lifespan at 105°C.
 


Totally you'll find four DIMM-slots on the Z97X-SOC Force. Officially supported are  DDR3 3300 (O.C) / 3200 (O.C.) / 3100(O.C.) / 3000(O.C.) / 2933(O.C.) / 2800(O.C.) / 2666(O.C.) / 2600(O.C.) / 2500(O.C.) / 2400(O.C.) / 2200(O.C.) / 2133(O.C.) / 2000(O.C.) / 1866(O.C.) / 1800(O.C.) / 1600 / 1333 MHz. There is engough space between the DIMM-slots and the CPU socket which means that you wont encounter compatibility problems with big coolers even when you choose to install RAM with big heatspreaders. Also supported are Xtreme Memory Profiles (XMP) in version 1.3.


Southbrigde as well as the current converters are being held at adequate temperatures via individual passive heatsinks. The fact that the cooling blocks around the CPU socket aren't too big makes it comfortable to install a big aircooler. We also noticed the very good build quality of the cooling blocks and their weight which is quite immense.

  


Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion
[pagebreak]

Connectors and I/O

Totally Gigabyte equipped the Z97X-SOC Force with six angled SATA ports. This is enough for any office setup, gaming system or overclocking setup. Apart from that two SATA 6Gbps ports can be combined to one SATA Express port. Furthermore all SATA 6 Gbps connectors are directly wired to the PCH. You'll also find practical onboard power- and reset-buttons in the top right corner of the board. There is even a debug display. Furthermore in this area of the board there are voltage read out points as well as Gigabytes OC-Touch buttons which allow an overclocker to change the multiplyer, BLCK as well as voltages on the fly.

 
  


In total you'll find seven fan header on the Z97X-SOC Force which is more than enough, to provide a well equipped high-end or overclocking-system with fresh air. It is also very practical that six out of these seven fan headers are 4-pin PWM and only one is 3-pin. In this case it's really easy to change rotation speeds from within the BIOS or Windows. The fan headers are located around the CPU socket as well as spread over the motherboard.

 


Looking at the external connectors directly at the back-panel Gigabyte equipped the Z97X-SOC Force with a P/S2 connector, four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, one gigabit ethernet port, one HDMI connector, a DisplayPort, a DVI and a D-Sub out as well as an optical out and an analogue audio panel.



Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion
[pagebreak]

Conclusion

Allgemein   + -
The first impression the Z97X-SOC Force from Gigabyte leaves, makes us want more. We like the individual design of this board, which actually follows the original X58A-OC, the Z77X-UD7 as well as the very famous Z87X OC.
The Z97X-SOC Force is a motherboard that really targets extreme overclockers, but nevertheless Gigabyte succeeded in crafting a product that is equally attractive to the guys handling LN2 as well as watercooling/aircooling setups. Both worlds will be able to squeeze the maximum out of their systems using this board. Other than that there is the price point. For about 175 Euro you get a board that comes with an armada of features. 		  - Design
- 4 x PCI-Express 3.0 Slots
- onboard standard USB ports		  
       
Layout   + -
Basically the Gigabyte Z97X-SOC Force's Layout has been very well thought. Once more practical are the angled SATA connectors as well as the power- and reset-buttons. There is also a debug display which is very useful in case you should have issues with a component in your system or the board itself. Right next to the SATA ports you find two standard USB ports which are very practical during overclocking. Should you own a case where the front USB ports are connected with a standard USB cable instead of an onboard USB 3.0 connector, then you don't have to route this cable to the I/O panel anymore. Even the placement of the PCI-Express x16 is well chosen. There is a total of four of these slots. Between two slots there is always one empty slot. We think this is a good number of PCI Express x16 slots for an overclocking/gaming motherboard altough most gamers will never use four graphics cards in their build. But still it leaves you with plenty of options if you want to plug in other expansion cards. Overclockers will also like the voltage readouts as well as the OC Brace.   - Angled SATA connectors- Power/Reset-Button onboard
- Debug display
- Space around the CPU socket - Voltage readouts- OC Buttons		  



Page 1 - Introduction Page 4 - Layout
Page 2 - Specs and Delivery Page 5 - Connectors and I/O
Page 3 - Features Page 6 - Conclusion


Author: m.buechel@ocaholic.ch Luca Rocchi l.rocchi@ocaholic.ch