ASUS Maximus V Gene vs. Gigabyte G1.Sniper M3 Review
by Ian Cutress on May 13, 2013 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
- Gigabyte
- Asus
- MicroATX
- Z77
ASUS Maximus V Gene In The Box
Gaming motherboards have to have that something extra in the box that adds to the value of the purchase. It has to be something aside from the normal stuff that comes in the package – a gamer wants a little extra. Whether that is decals to spread around the case, or an additional feature or two, the package must feel like something worth a little bit more to give a sensation of ‘free’.
Inside the ASUS Maximus V Gene, we get:
Rear IO Shield
User Guide
Driver CD
Door Handle Sign that says “I’m gaming, do not disturb”
A set of labels for SATA cables
A mPCIe Combo Card
Six SATA Cables
ROG Connect Cable
A Flexi SLI Cable
Q-Connectors
In terms of connectivity, ASUS has you covered – plenty of SATA cables in the box, with Q-Connectors to help with case switches. There is no USB 3.0 front panel as there is only one USB 3.0 header on board - this is typically taken by any modern case.
ASUS Maximus V Gene Overclocking
Note: Ivy Bridge does not overclock like Sandy Bridge. For a detailed report on the effect of voltage on Ivy Bridge (and thus temperatures and power draw), please read Undervolting and Overclocking on Ivy Bridge.
Experience with ASUS Maximus V Gene
Overclocking on ASUS motherboards has historically been rather good, given that it is one of the areas they focus on when designing a motherboard. The ROG range is the epitome of this effort of course, and the options available to users who wish to fiddle in the BIOS are both numerate and expansive.
For users wishing to automatic overclock, we have several options. In the OS, the TurboV Evo software part of AI Suite gives ‘CPU Level Up options for 4.2 GHz, 4.4 GHz and 4.6 GHz. Each of these is a one button click, accept and reboot. In the BIOS, users have the option of a ‘Gamer’s OC’, which boosts the CPU to a 48/47/46/45 multiplier depending on loading. All options affect the voltage applied of course, and our results are below.
For manual overclocks, we took our base settings for our rather poor CPU (40x multiplier and 1.100 volts) and slowly raised the multiplier while trying to find the voltage at which each multiplier was stable. All other settings were left on auto, and compared to the Z77A-GD65 Gaming, almost all voltages the temperature reported by the CPU was a lot less, allowing us to get 4.6 GHz from the CPU, albeit at a rather wild 1.45 volts.
Methodology:
Our standard overclocking methodology is as follows. We select the automatic overclock options and test for stability with PovRay and OCCT to simulate high-end workloads. These stability tests aim to catch any immediate causes for memory or CPU errors.
For manual overclocks, based on the information gathered from previous testing, starts off at a nominal voltage and CPU multiplier, and the multiplier is increased until the stability tests are failed. The CPU voltage is increased gradually until the stability tests are passed, and the process repeated until the motherboard reduces the multiplier automatically (due to safety protocol) or the CPU temperature reaches a stupidly high level (100ºC+). Our test bed is not in a case, which should push overclocks higher with fresher (cooler) air.
Automatic Overclock:
For CPU Level 1, the system applied a 42x100 overclock, setting the CPU voltage at 1.275 volts. This gave 1.280 volts at load in the OS, with a PovRay score of 1523.17 and an OCCT load temperature of 72ºC.
For CPU Level 2, the system applied a 44x100 overclock, setting the CPU voltage at 1.325 volts. This gave 1.328 volts at load in the OS, with a PovRay score of 1601.70 and an OCCT load temperature of 74ºC.
For CPU Level 3, the system applied a 46x100 overclock, setting the CPU voltage at 1.330 volts. This gave 1.336 volts at load in the OS, but caused PovRay to crash with a memory error and OCCT to BSOD.
The Gamer’s OC Profile in the BIOS attempted to apply a 48/47/46/45x multiplier overclock based on loading, along with a CPU voltage of 1.350 volts and load line calibration set to high. This configuration caused the system to blue screen on boot.
Manual Overclock:
For our manual overclocks, we left LLC at automatic, as well as power/current settings. Here are our results:
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cmdrdredd - Monday, May 13, 2013 - link
For overclocking and enthusiast oriented boards you get what you pay for. This review wasn't supposed to be catered to budget builders at all.takeship - Monday, May 13, 2013 - link
I built with first the Asus Gene V, and then the M3 Sniper, all in the last 9 months. Biggest difference: the pci & fan header layout on the Gigabyte made more sense, vs transiting nearly the length of the board with the 3rd Asus fan header. Makes a mess of routing. Headers all along the edges, and the lower (none-blocking) location of the second x8 pcie were a big plus. Not to mention the larger CPU socket area. I seem to recall the Gigabyte had a better fan control setup as well, though I could be wrong (and anyways the 3D UEFI is not good). Top it off with the fact that the Gigabyte was on sale for $140 when I picked it up, far below the $205 I paid for the Asus. I love my Asus board, but I would recommend the Gigabyte over it in an instant.Samus - Monday, May 13, 2013 - link
Yikes, lost me at Creative Labs...chedrz - Monday, May 13, 2013 - link
I love my Sniper M3. It's rock-solid, stable, hasn't given me any sort of problem. I guess that makes it the exact opposite of every ASUS board I've ever owned. I was a little worried about the Creative sound also, but I fortunately have a Xonar D2X that I've been using. This board's a champ.jrs77 - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
I'd wish that GA or ASUS release some high-end, but stripped motherboards where there's only the absolute minimum of components on them.Take sound for example. An $30 USB-DAC will beat any onboard-sound solution easily, and noone really needs anything else then the PEG-slots either.
The mass of USB- and SATA-ports is a waste of efforts aswell, as you usually have a single SSD + HDD, mouse, keyboard, USB-DAC and the front-USB ports for your camera etc.
Less is more, and less components result in less errors. Additionally, less components result in less board-temperature and cleaner routing.
Will never happen unfortunately :/
Rick83 - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
The X58-OC did happen. It was apparently a complete failure, judging by how often in featured in giveaways.It may have been pared back a bit too much though, with only two USB ports on the back, IIRC. Of course, you can use an external hub for mice and keyboards, so that won't matter.
But given how it went the first time around, I doubt that anyone else is going to try that any time soon again.
Also, I think you're oversimplifying. PCI cards still exist, and plenty of people have one that they'd rather use in their new machine. Network cards, sound cards, that kind of thing. Why buy new, when you have a card that works perfectly well?
Also, I am currently using every one of the MIVG's rear USB outputs, AND two USB hubs.
Charging mini and micro USB, managing screens, two keyboards, a mouse, an IR receiver, a Joystick, a floppy drive, a camera - I don't think paring back on USB is an option, as I don't even have a printer, scanner, modem or DAC/ADC attached. I'm also using 4 SATA ports, for two SSDs, a hotswap bay and an optical drive. Going down to two is very limiting, given how many disks are supported by almost all cases.
Considering that you want to market to the masses in order to recoup your investment, as a mainboard maker, I doubt anyone is going to cut features (even features that are there anyway, due to the platform) only to make an expensive board, with no option for expansion.
And as for onboard sound: It's plenty good to attach a microphone, and the optical outs are also usually just dandy. Saves a USB port for other devices than a USB-DAC.
JDG1980 - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Check out the Asus P8B-X.Rick83 - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
I still don't get, why GigaByte perpetually insists on adding VGA D-Sub headers to the I/O-Panel. That interface is so obsolete, it's a complete joke, and cutting back on USB 2 headers is the result. DP and HDMI are nice to have, there's a case for DVI, in case you want to dual-screen, but VGA is just not used anymore. Even budget TFTs should be coming with only digital inputs by now.It's interesting to see, that the Creative solution is clearly targeted at 48kHz usage, with results getting worse, at higher sampling rates.
When the M3 first was announced, I was excited, because finally there was a rival to the Gene series. But this first iteration is (spec-wise and price-wise) simply not in the same league.
The placement of the second x8 PCIe is the only thing that's good about it, as you probably won't run two big GPUs in a micro-ATX case, hence by putting it down there, the option remains for big cases, and in small cases there's more PCIe bandwidth available.
The downside is, that you cannot install a big card in the second PCIe, if a combination of large coolers blocks the first PCIe slot.
Ilias78 - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Always the same story with Ian: Loves Asus motherboards, while dissing every other brand...just4U - Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - link
Currently the M3 is my board of choice. I pick it over the Asus variant every time (if in stock) It's $50 cheaper than the Maximus V Gene (here in Calgary) and I like the fact that they didn't cheap out on the sound option yet still include the Intel Nic. It hits in all the right areas.