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Gigabyte Z97X-SOC FORCE Motherboard Review

Motherboards/Intel S1150 by leeghoofd @ 2014-07-22

Gigabyte continues to release new products in their orange themed overclocking motherboard series. The first of the OC series was the immaculate X58 OC motherboard, a trimmed down on features board, however purely designed to provide the ultimate overclocking experience. Sadly the X58 OC board arrived just a tad too late on the market to become a major selling product. Nevertheless a trend was set: deliver affordable, yet customized for maximum tweaking potential motherboard series. Other brands had similar overclocking friendly boards yet retailing at far more elevated prices. The predecessor, the Z87X-OC was one of the most utilized overclocking boards during the last year according statistics expert Massman from HWBot.org. Gigabyte had to live up to its name and make the Z97X-SOC FORCE as good or preferably even better…

BClocking Tests and Memory Compatibility

BClocking is essential for overclocking, allowing to maximize your CPU/RAM frequency regarding the benchmark run. We tested the ASUS Maximus VI Formula versus the 3 other OC mainboards, however keep in mind this is done on air cooling and without going out of bounce on any of the voltages. The CPU was always around stock speed by lowering the CPU multiplier. the three available gear ratios were checked: 1.00x, 1.25x and 1.66x.

Note these are straight boot results from the Bios, no upping or whatsoever in the Windows operating system. The BClock stability was checked via a 1024 WPrime run.

1.00 Bclock ratio:

1.25 Bclock ratio:

1.66 Bclock ratio:

Memory Compatibility:

Even though the MHz records set by single sided 4GB Hynix MFR kits might seem impressive, it's not always that this means this is the most efficient for benching or even daily usage. Haswell's IMC is far superior to what Ivy Bridge ever could deliver and we see even older kits scale well with some added voltages. Since these boards are designed for overclocking, RAM compatibility can make or break a board. We test 3 of the more popular IC brands used.

Kits we used:

G.Skill 2000C7 Flare using PSC ICs 2 x 2GB

CORSAIR 2666C10 using Samsung ICs 2 x 4GB

CORSAIR 2800C11 using Hynix CFR 2 x 4GB

The vintage PSC sticks need to run SuperPI 32M at 2600MHz C8-12-8-28 1T to pass the test

The Samsung sticks need to be able to reach 2800MHz C10-12-12-24 1T

The Hynix CFR sticks have to run with tighter timings then XMP at 2800MHz C11-13-13-31 1T

PSC at 2600C8-12-8-28 1T: OK at 1.89Vdimm at 1.25 strap

SAMSUNG at 2800C10-12-12-24 1T: OK at 1.82Vdimm

Hynix CFR at 2800C11-13-13-31 1T: OK at 1.77 Vdimm

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We also quickly tested two CORSAIR 32GB kits

Corsair Vengeance Pro 1600C9: pass
Corsair Vengeance Pro 2666C11: pass

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We have been binning several processors on this motherboard and one of the better Devils Canyon i7-4790K processors could handle the AIDA Software benchmark stress tool at 4800MHz 1.3Vcore rock steady

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