Description
The GA-Z68AP-D3 motherboard, based on the Intel Z68 Express Chipset and supporting the new 2nd generation Intel Core processors. Delivering the very best that Intel 6 series chipsets have to offer, including a significant performance boost with Intel Smart Response Technology, the first ever mSATA drive connectors on a standard desktop PC motherboard, and GIGABYTE's proprietary Touch BIOS technology, GIGABYTE Z68 series motherboards put users in the driver seat, allowing them to take total control over how their system operates and performs to best match their individual computing needs.
Onboard mSATA connector and Smart Response Technology
GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards are equipped with the much anticipated Intel® Smart Response Technology, allowing users to experience system performance similar to SSD-only systems. Intel® Smart Response technology works by using intelligent block-based caching of frequently used applications to improve system performance and responsiveness. In fact, GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards with Intel® Smart Response Technology are able to outperform hybrid drive systems by more than 2X (PC Mark Vantage HDD test) and HDD-only systems by as much as 4X (PC Mark Vantage HDD test) and deliver a 60% performance improvement over HDD-only systems in PC Mark Vantage Suite.
Built-in Visuals
Built-in Visuals GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards offer support for several 2nd generation Intel® Core™ Built-in Visual Features.
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Up to 2X faster media processing than any other solution for incredibly fast conversion of video files for portable media players or online sharing.
Intel® InTru™ 3D
Users can enjoy the ultimate 3D visual experiences-seamlessly-from their PC. Now they can watch their favorite 3D movies with Blu-ray Stereo 3D playback using active shutter 3D glasses. It delivers it all in 1080p full, high-definition resolution on the TV over HDMI 1.4.
Intel® Insider
Allows users to view premium 1080p HD content on their GIGABYTE Z68 series system.
Switchable Graphics with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization
GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards are enabled with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization technology which allows users to dynamically switch between their built-in graphics and their high-end, 3D discrete graphics cards. This is ideal for gamers who require high-resolution gaming and still want to enjoy the built-in media features of 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors. In so doing, switchable graphics helps to dramatically reduce PC graphics power consumption.
SuperSpeed USB 3.0
GIGABYTE motherboards boast SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology made possible through an additional onboard host controller. With superfast transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps, users are able to experience a theoretical 10x improvement over USB 2.0. Additionally, backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 assures users of long term use of their legacy USB 2.0 devices.
SATA 6 Gbps
GIGABYTE motherboards are High-Speed SATA Revision 3.0 compatible, delivering superfast 6Gbps link speeds for twice the data transfer rates of SATA Revision 2.0 (3 Gbps). When used in RAID 0 (Stripe) mode, they offer even faster data transfer rates of up to a theoretical 4x the speed of current SATA interfaces.
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Intel Quick Sync Video
Up to 2X faster media processing than any other solution for incredibly fast conversion of video files for portable media players or online sharing. -
Intel InTru 3D
Users can enjoy the ultimate 3D visual experiences - seamlessly - from their PC. Now you they can watch their favorite 3D movies with Blu-ray Stereo 3D playback using active shutter 3D glasses. It delivers it all in 1080p full, high-definition resolution on the TV over HDMI 1.4. -
Intel Insider
Allows users to view premium 1080p HD content on their GIGABYTE Z68 series system. -
Switchable graphics with LucidLogix Virtu GPU virtualization
GIGABYTE Z68 motherboards are enabled with LucidLogix Virtu GPU Virtualization technology which allows users to dynamically switch between their built-in graphics and their high-end, 3D discrete graphics cards. This is ideal for gamers who require high-resolution gaming and still want to enjoy the built-in media features of 2nd generation Intel Core processors. In so doing, switchable graphics helps to dramatically reduce PC graphics power consumption. -
An innovative new way to modify BIOS settings
Navigating through the BIOS to change system settings can be a daunting task for users not familiar with control "F"functions and mouse-less navigation. While some EFI BIOS try to address this with a mouse friendly environment, many implementations still lack a certain ease-of-use necessary for most people. With GIGABYTE Touch BIOS, GIGABYTE engineers have completely re-imagined how users can interact with their BIOS, allowing for a more intuitive user experience. In fact, with a touch screen monitor, GIGABYTE Touch BIOS is as easy to use as most apps on your iPhone. -
New 100% hardware VRD 12 compliant CPU power design
GIGABYTE 6 series motherboards incorporate an Intel approved Intersil PWM controller that is VRD 12 (Voltage Regulator Down) compliant. This means that it offers new features that include SerialVID (SVID) which transfers power management information between the processor and voltage regulator controller, allowing more robust and efficient signaling control between the CPU and PWM controller - hence, delivering a more energy efficient platform.
Specifications
Summary
- Product Description
- Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 - 1.0 - motherboard - ATX - LGA1155 Socket - Z68
- Product Type
- Motherboard - ATX
- Chipset Type
- Intel Z68 Express / ITE IT8728
- Processor Socket
- 1 x LGA1155 Socket
- Compatible Processors
- Pentium, Celeron, Core i5, Core i3, Core i7
- Max RAM Size
- 32 GB
- RAM Supported
- 4 DIMM slots - DDR3, non-ECC
- Storage Ports
- 2 x SATA-600 (RAID), 4 x SATA-300 (RAID)
- USB / FireWire Ports
- 2 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0 + (6 x USB 2.0 via headers)
- Audio
- HD Audio (8-channel)
- LAN
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Microsoft Certification
- Compatible with Windows 7
Detailed Specification
General
- Product Type
- Motherboard - ATX
- Chipset Type
- Intel Z68 Express / ITE IT8728
- Processor Socket
- LGA1155 Socket
- Max Processors Qty
- 1
- Compatible Processors
- Pentium, Celeron, Core i5, Core i3, Core i7
Supported RAM
- Max Size
- 32 GB
- Technology
- DDR3
- Bus Clock
- 1600 MHz, 1333 MHz, 1066 MHz, 1866 MHz, 2133 MHz
- Speed
- PC3-17600, PC3-14400, PC3-12800, PC3-10600, PC3-8500
- Supported RAM Integrity Check
- Non-ECC
- Features
- Dual channel memory architecture, Intel Extreme Memory Profiles (XMP)
Audio
- Type
- HD Audio (8-channel)
- Audio Codec
- Realtek ALC889
- Compliant Standards
- High Definition Audio
LAN
- Network Controller
- Realtek RTL8111E
- Network Interfaces
- Gigabit Ethernet
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots
- 1 x CPU , 4 x DIMM 240-pin (1.5 V) , 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 , 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 , 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 , 2 x PCI
- Storage Interfaces
- SATA-300 -connectors: 4 x 7pin Serial ATA - 4 devices - RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 10 / RAID 5 , SATA-600 -connectors: 2 x 7pin Serial ATA - 2 devices - RAID 0 / RAID 1 / RAID 10 / RAID 5
- Interfaces
- 1 x PS/2 keyboard / mouse , 4 x USB 2.0 , 1 x serial , 1 x parallel , 1 x TOSLINK , 2 x USB 3.0 , 1 x LAN (Gigabit Ethernet) , 1 x audio line-out - mini-jack , 1 x audio line-in - mini-jack , 1 x microphone - mini-jack , 1 x HDMI
- Internal Interfaces
- 6 x USB 2.0
- Power Connectors
- 4-pin ATX12V connector, 24-pin main power connector
Features
- BIOS Type
- Award
- BIOS Features
- DMI 2.0 support, ACPI 1.0b support, SMBIOS 2.4 support, Touch BIOS, Xpress BIOS Rescue
- Hardware Monitoring
- CPU core temperature, chassis temperature, CPU fan tachometer, chassis fan tachometer, system voltage, CPU overheating protection, power supply fan tachometer
- Hardware Features
- DualBIOS, Q-Flash, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), Smart 6, GIGABYTE eXtreme Hard Drive (XHD), AutoGreen, 3x USB Power Boost, On/Off Charge, GIGABYTE Turbo XHD, Lucid Virtu, Voltage Regulator Down 12 (VRD) compliant, AMD CrossFireX technology support
Miscellaneous
- Software Included
- Norton Internet Security, @BIOS, Xpress Recovery 2, Q-Share, Cloud OC, EasyTune
- Compatible with Windows 7
- "Compatible with Windows 7" software and devices carry Microsoft’s assurance that these products have passed tests for compatibility and reliability with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7.
- Compliant Standards
- Plug and Play, ACPI 1.0b, Energy-Related Products (ErP) Lot 6
- Width
- 30.5 cm
- Depth
- 21.5 cm