he GA-Z97X-Gaming GT ATX Motherboard from Gigabyte serves as the foundation for creating your own custom desktop computer for gaming, work, as well as general use. Running advanced 3D games requires multiple graphic cards connected together to allow higher frame rates without compromising resolution, which is why this motherboard offers 2-, 3-, or 4-Way CrossFire or SLI multi-graphics technology. Some of the hardware needed for building your own system is included on the motherboard. For instance, the G1 Audio features a combination of technologies which can provide crisp sounds for music and realistic sound effects for gaming. To provide lag-free gameplay or stream videos over a network, the Killer E2201 LAN chip offers better performance when compared to standard Ethernet controllers.

This Gigabyte Gaming GT motherboard features an LGA1150 socket that accepts a 4th or 5th generation Intel processor. You may add up to 32GB of RAM across 4 memory slots. This motherboard offers eight SATA III 6 Gb/s connectors for adding optical and storage drives. Installing multiple storage drives can in turn allow for different RAID configurations. These configurations can be set so the drives provide the best transfer speed, the greatest data protection, or both. Optimize system-loading times by connecting an SSD to the SATA Express. Native 4K support is available via HDMI or DisplayPort when using an Intel CPU chip with an integrated Intel graphics processor. This GPU also supports up to three displays at the same time. For connecting to other peripherals, eight USB ports are available. Included with the Z97X motherboard are a driver disk, SATA cables, SLI bridge connectors, a CrossFire bridge connector, and a I/O shield.

G1 Audio

Gigabyte AMP-UP Audio Technology

The exclusive Gigabyte AMP-UP audio technology provides realistic sound effects while gaming and crisp sounds when you listen to your favorite music and movies.

Upgradable OP-AMP

Gigabyte's Gaming GT motherboard features an onboard OP-AMP socket, allowing you to swap out the motherboard's onboard operational amplifier and choose an OP-AMP based on your listening preferences. Choosing a different amplifier improves audio dynamics and overall sound quality. The installed TI Burr Brown OPA2134 allows you to select either standard 2.5x or high-amplification 6x mode for high impedance speakers and headphones.

Realtek ALC1150 HD Audio

The ALC1150 is a multi-channel High Definition Audio Codec that delivers up to 115 dB SNR. It provides ten DAC channels that simultaneously support 7.1-channel sound playback, plus 2 channels of independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel stereo outputs. Two integrated stereo ADCs can record at 104 dB SNR and can support a microphone array with Acoustic Echo Cancellation, Beam Forming, and Noise Suppression technologies.

Additional Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3

This motherboard includes the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 software suite, included within this suite are the SBX Pro Studio and Creative Alchemy, which are designed to provide a fuller audio experience. SBX Pro Studio suite offers audio realism by enhancing the sounds so you can clearly hear explosions, surround sound effects and more. Creative Alchemy restores EAX effects and 3D surround audio for older DirectSound 3D games running on Windows 7 and above.

High-End Audio Capacitors

Japanese-branded Nichicon capacitors offer expanded high-resolution audio to create realistic sound effects for gamers.

Gold-Plated Audio Hardware

Gold-plated audio and HDMI connectors offer improved connectivity and durability compared to other metals. Gold has better signal conductivity and will not tarnish over extended periods of use. The audio controller is also shielded by a gold-plated cover which eliminates electrostatic interference.

Dual DAC-UP USB Ports

The two USB 2.0 DAC-UP ports supply clean noise-free power delivery to your Digital-to-Analog Converter, which can be sensitive to fluctuations in power from the other USB ports. These ports take advantage of an isolated power source that minimizes potential fluctuations and ensures the best audio experience possible.

Dedicated Audio Hardware Zone

• Separation on the PCB layer protects the board's sensitive analog audio components.
• Each analog and digital component is grounded to help protect against electromagnetic interference.
• LED trace path lighting illuminates to show the separation of the PCB layers.

Separate PCB Layers

By placing the right and left audio channels on separate PCB layers, Gigabyte Gaming GT motherboards are able to eliminate channel crosstalk and help maintain the best audio quality.

G1 Networking

Killer E2200 Network

Gigabyte Gaming GT motherboards feature the Killer E2200 from Qualcomm Atheros, an adaptive gigabit Ethernet controller that offers smoother online gaming and online media performance compared to standard solutions.

G1 Performance

Multi-GPU Support

Supports either 4-Way SLI or CrossFire action, which delivers faster graphics performance for gaming enthusiasts who demand the highest frame rates without compromising on resolution.

SATA Express Connector

The onboard SATA Express connector provides data transfer rates up to 10 Gb/s, which is considerably higher than SATA Revision 3 that only transfers at 6 Gb/s. This prevents bottlenecking when using faster NAND flash technologies in SSDs. SATA Express combines the benefits of PCI-Express and SATA to provide much higher bandwidth, allowing SATA Express based drives to perform at similar speeds as PCI-Express based drives.

Gigabyte App Center Including EasyTune and Cloud Station Utilities

Access Gigabyte apps via the APP Center, which can help you get the most of your Gigabyte motherboard. Using a simple, unified user interface, the Gigabyte APP Center allows you to launch all Gigabyte apps installed on your system.

• Gigabyte's EasyTune app is a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows users to fine-tune their system settings or adjust system and memory clocks and voltages in a Windows environment. With Smart Quick Boost, one click is all it takes to automatically overclock your system, giving an added performance boost when you need it the most.
• Gigabyte Cloud Station is composed of several unique apps, which allow your smart phone/tablet device to wirelessly communicate, share files, and control desktop PCs.

4K HD HDMI Support

This motherboard provides native 4K support with an integrated Intel HD Graphics via an HDMI port. This High-Definition Multimedia Interface provides up to 5 Gb/s of bandwidth for transmitting video and 8-channels of audio all through a single cable. Capable of transmitting uncompressed digital video and audio, HDMI ensures rendering of digital content up to 1080p without the quality losses associated with analog interfaces and their digital-to-analog conversion. In addition, HDMI is compatible with High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection, allowing the playback of Blu-ray/HD DVD and other protected media content.

Gigabyte OPT Fan Support

An additional CPU fan pin header can be used to connect a water pump and configured for continuous full speed operation. The OPT Fan is also useful for high performance coolers employing two fans.

5x 15μ Gold-Plated CPU Socket Design

The CPU socket is gold-plated to help prevent corroded pins and bad contacts when used longer than an average workday. In turn, gold-plating provides added reliability and longevity.

Game Controller

Gigabyte Game Controller allows you to define your own hotkeys and change the mouse sensitivity, helping you make the most out of your keyboard and mouse in games.

• Create macro commands and define your own hotkeys to quickly perform the function your want.
• The Sniper key switches the mouse sensitivity into sniper mode for precision aiming.

Bundled Software

• Norton Internet Security (OEM version) - Provides protection for your system against malware, viruses, and more. 
• Intel Rapid Start Technology - Resume in 6 seconds from deep sleep state. 
• Intel Smart Connect Technology - Periodically wakes up the system from standby mode to check and apply updates. 
• Intel Smart Response Technology - Automatically stores your most frequently used applications and data into the faster SSD.

Technical Specs

CPU

• Support for Intel® Core™ i7 processors/Intel® Core™ i5 processors/ Intel® Core™ i3 processors/Intel® Pentium® processors/Intel® Celeron® processors in the LGA1150 package
• L3 cache varies with CPU
• (Please refer "CPU Support List" for more information.)

Chipset

• Intel® Z97 Express Chipset

Memory

• 4 x DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory
• * Due to a Windows 32-bit operating system limitation, when more than 4 GB of physical memory is installed, the actual memory size displayed will be less than the size of the physical memory installed.
• Dual channel memory architecture
• Support for 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 memory modules
• Support for non-ECC memory modules
• Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules
• (Please refer "Memory Support List" for more information.)
• Onboard Graphics Integrated Graphics Processor - Intel® HD Graphics support:
• 1 x D-Sub port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200@60Hz
• 1 x DVI-D port, supporting a maximum resolution of 1920x1200@60Hz
• * The DVI-D port does not support D-Sub connection by adapter.
• 1 x HDMI port, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@24Hz or 2560x1600@60Hz
• * Support for HDMI 1.4a version.
• 1 x DisplayPort, supporting a maximum resolution of 4096x2160@24Hz or 3840x2160@60Hz
• * Support for DisplayPort 1.2 version.
• Support for up to 3 displays at the same time
• Maximum shared memory of 512MB

Audio

• Realtek® ALC1150 codec
• TI Burr Brown® OPA2134 operational amplifier
• Support for Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3
• High Definition Audio
• 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel
• Support for S/PDIF Out

LAN

• Qualcomm® Atheros Killer E2201 LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)

Expansion Slots

• 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1~2)
• * For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16_1 slot; if you are installing two PCI Express graphics cards, it is recommended that you install them in the PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots.
• 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1~2)
• * The PCIEX8_1 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16_1 slot and the PCIEX8_2 slot with PCIEX16_2. The PCIEX16_1/PCIEX16_2 slot will operate at up to x8 mode when the PCIEX8_1/PCIEX8_2 is populated.
• (The PCI Express x16 slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
• 3 x PCI Express x1 slots
• (The PCI Express x1 slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
• Multi-Graphics Technology
• Support for 4-Way/3-Way/2-Way AMD CrossFire™/NVIDIA® SLI™ technology
• Storage Interface Chipset:
• 1 x SATA Express connector
• 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (SATA3 0~5)
• Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10
• (SATA Express and SATA3 4/5 connectors can only be used one at a time.)
• Marvell® 88SE9172 chip:
• 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3 6~7)
• Support for RAID 0 and RAID 1
• * Due to system limitation, Intel RAID and Marvell RAID can only use either one.

USB Chipset:

• 4 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header)
• 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 6 ports available through the internal USB header)
• Chipset + Renesas® uPD720210 USB 3.0 Hub:
• 4 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back panel

Internal I/O Connectors

• 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector
• 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector
• 1 x PCIe power connector
• 1 x SATA Express connector
• 8 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors
• 1 x CPU fan header
• 1 x water cooling fan header (CPU_OPT)
• 5 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
• 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers
• 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 audio gain control switch
• 8 x onboard voltage measurement points
• 2 x BIOS switches

Back Panel Connectors

• 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port
• 1 x D-Sub port
• 1 x DVI-D port
• 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
• 1 x HDMI port
• 1 x DisplayPort
• 6 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
• 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
• 1 x RJ-45 port
• 6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out, Rear Speaker Out, Side Speaker Out, Line In, Line Out, Mic In)

I/O Controller

• iTE® I/O Controller Chip
• H/W Monitoring
• System voltage detection
• CPU/System/Chipset temperature detection
• CPU/CPU OPT/System fan speed detection
• CPU/System overheating warning
• CPU/CPU OPT/System fan fail warning
• CPU/CPU OPT/System fan speed control
• * Whether the fan speed control function is supported will depend on the cooler you install.

BIOS

• 2 x 128 Mbit flash
• Use of licensed AMI UEFI BIOS
• Support for DualBIOS™
• PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0

Unique Features

• Support for APP Center
• * Available applications in APP Center may differ by motherboard model. Supported functions of each application may also differ depending on motherboard specifications.
• @BIOS
• EasyTune
• EZ Setup
• Fast Boot
• Game Controller
• ON/OFF Charge
• Smart TimeLock
• Smart Recovery 2
• System Information Viewer
• USB Blocker
• Support for Q-Flash
• Support for Smart Switch
• Support for Xpress Install

Bundle Software

• Norton® Internet Security (OEM version)
• Intel® Rapid Start Technology
• Intel® Smart Connect Technology
• Intel® Smart Response Technology

Operating System

• Support for Windows 10/8.1/8/7

Form Factor

• ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm