Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z87 Motherboard Review

For SATA 6Gb/s testing we use a Kingston HyperX 3K SSD. We tested USB 3.0 performance using the same Kingston HyperX 3K SSD connected to a SATA 6Gb/s to USB 3.0 adapter powered by an ASMedia ASM1053 controller.

Given that all six of the G1.Sniper Z87 motherboard's SATA 6Gb/s ports operate from the Z87 chipset, it comes as no surprise that they offer interference-free performance to a fast SSD.

Lacking any form of UASP-activating software, Gigabyte's G1.Sniper Z87 has to settle for second-to-last place in our USB 3.0 performance chart. Only MSI's Z87M Gaming offers marginally slower USB transfer speeds.

Without UASP-activating software, Gigabyte's motherboard cannot reach the transfer rates set by competing products from the likes of ASRock and Asus, both of whom equip their boards with speed-enhancing programs.

We use RightMark Audio Analyzer to analyse the performance of the motherboard’s onboard audio solution. A sampling mode of 24-bit, 192 kHz was tested.

The G1.Sniper Z87's audio system consists of a particularly high-end Texas Instruments OP2134 operational amplifier, a quad core Sound Core 3D audio processor from Creative, high-end audio capacitors from Nichicon, isolated circuitry, and gold plated connectors.

The overall performance of Gigabyte's audio solution used on the G1.Sniper is ‘Very Good', according to RightMark's Audio Analyzer software. This is good news for gamers who value the effect that good sound quality has on their gaming experience.

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