Review: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP

Conclusion

The layout and BIOS are both very solid, performance is just where it ought to be, and it makes for a good fit with a mid-range fourth-generation Core chip.

Those folk wishing to upgrade to Intel's latest-and-greatest processor technology will also have to lay down cash on a new motherboard based on the 8-series chipset. Most enthusiasts will look towards Z87 motherboards and choose accordingly.

Our in-depth look at the fourth-generation Core processor reveals that Intel, like most of its competitors, is keen to integrate as much as possible on the chip itself, in the name of efficiency, leaving motherboard partners with a difficult headache with respect to product differentiation and performance.

Gigabyte's Z87-D3HP strikes a fair balance between a near-£100 price and features. The layout and BIOS are both very solid, performance is just where it ought to be, and it makes for a good fit with a mid-range fourth-generation Core chip. Our only caveat is the lack of Nvidia SLI support, but Gigabyte does have a board with appropriate certification a little higher up in the model range.

We feel as if you'd have to spend significantly more to achieve measurable performance benefits, particularly if only running a single video card. We'll certainly know more about where Gigabyte stands in relation to the competition once further boards have been through the labs, yet for the time being we have little hesitation in recommending the D3HP for that new Haswell build you've been secretly eyeing up.

Bottom line: a competent board in all respects, Gigabyte's Z87-D3HP has all the major tickboxes checked.

The Good

Attractive looks and thoughtful layout
New UEFI BIOS is comprehensive
Solid performance with a 4770K chip
Good power-consumption figures

The Bad

No onboard warnings for novice users

HEXUS Awards

Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Gigabyte Z87-D3HP motherboard is available to purchase from Scan Computers*.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

*UK-based HEXUS community members are eligible for free delivery and priority customer service through the SCAN.care@HEXUS forum.

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“We're going to be using the same CPU to overclock upcoming Z87 boards. Our Core i7-4770K managed to run at 4.375GHz (35*125MHz) with 1.25V. The limitation seems to be more of a heat/yield issue with the chip than any obvious problems associated with the Gigabyte board.”

Another website tested this board amongst others and found it overclocked less well than other boards, others adding 200-300mhz to the overclock.
So it certainly can limit the overclock although is still good value for the price.

Willzzz
Another website tested this board amongst others and found it overclocked less well than other boards, others adding 200-300mhz to the overclock.
So it certainly can limit the overclock although is still good value for the price.

But how much of this is down to the Mobo, or the use of a brand spanking new processor (as suggested by the review)? Bit early to criticise the boards overclocking ability imho, without comparing the clocks achieved using the same cpu in a different mobo.

I'm pretty certain it was the same CPU.

It has to be for the results to mean anything, even CPU's of the same stepping have varied overclockability…

Willzzz
I'm pretty certain it was the same CPU.

It may be the same product, but it's not the same CPU.

Who knows how consistent these devices yet are at overclocking? They're brand spanking new! The fact that you are saying that other sites are getting different results could mean that the variance is due to the MoBo, or with the CPU samples that have been shipped.

My point is that it's far too early to criticise a MoBo based on it's ability to overclock.