Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H Review – Z77 and MicroATX

Civilization V

Civilization V is a strategy video game that utilizes a significant number of the latest GPU features and software advances.  Using the in-game benchmark, we run Civilization V at 2560x1440 with full graphical settings, similar to Ryan in his GPU testing functionality.  Results reported by the benchmark are the total number of frames in sixty seconds, which we normalize to frames per second.

Performance in Civilization V is varied, however in dual GTX 580 mode the Gigabyte oddly enough comes in last place, 7.5 FPS (8%) slower than the UD3H.

Dirt 3

Dirt 3 is a rallying video game and the third in the Dirt series of the Colin McRae Rally series, developed and published by Codemasters.  Using the in game benchmark, Dirt 3 is run at 2560x1440 with full graphical settings.  Results are reported as the average frame rate across four runs.

The Z77MX-D3H performs well in Dirt3, though given the close proximity of all the results, it seems like there are other limitations than the motherboard in the results.

Metro2033

Metro2033 is a DX11 benchmark that challenges every system that tries to run it at any high-end settings.  Developed by 4A Games and released in March 2010, we use the inbuilt DirectX 11 Frontline benchmark to test the hardware at 2560x1440 with full graphical settings.  Results are given as the average frame rate from 10 runs.

The Z77MX-D3H has a good showing in Metro2033, coming near top in all our testing.