Z68, Z77, and H77 – What’s the difference_ _ Puget Systems Blog

6/5/12 Z68, Z77, and H77 – What’s the difference? | Puget Systems Blog

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Z68

Z77

Z68, Z77, and H77 – What’s the difference?Posted on April 12, 2012 by William George

Intel is nearing the release of their third-generation Core Processor

platform, and in preparation they have launched several new

motherboard chipsets this week. For desktops, there are four

variants: Z77, Z75, H77, and B75 – with a couple more coming later

in the year.

All of these share the same core functionality, and for our customers here at Puget Systems

the more value-oriented Z75 and B75 options aren’t really worthwhile. However, I think a

brief overview of the differences between Z77 and H77, with a comparison to the preceding

Z68 chipset, merits a look. In fact, lets start with Z68.

This chipset represents the pinnacle of Intel’s second-generation, mainstream Core

processor platform (also known as Sandy Bridge). It combined the key features of

the earlier P67 and H67 chipsets, as we have previously discussed. It supports splitting the

main PCI-Express x16 connection into two x8 slots, allowing SLI or Crossfire functionality for

improved gaming. It also allows for overclocking of select processors, and was the first Intel

chipset to add Smart Response Technology – Intel’s fancy name for SSD caching of a

traditional hard drive. Use of the onboard graphics on Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors is also

supported, with up to two simultaneous monitor outputs.

Newer motherboards using this chipset have even been designed to be compatible with the

upcoming third-gen Core processors; the Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen3 is one such example.

Those modified in this way claim to support PCI-Express 3.0, once equipped with a new 3rd-

generation processor that supports the new standard.

This is the spiritual successor to Z68, with almost the exact same feature set. It

has everything Z68 does and then some. For example, USB 3.0 has been integrated

into the chipset; four USB 3.0 ports can be powered in this way, along with several of the

older USB 2.0 ports. That means an add-on controller chip is no longer required, though

many motherboards will still have one so that they can sport more than four USB 3.0 ports.

SSD caching, overclocking, dual PCI-Express x8 slots, etc are all still available as well.

Another aspect of the chipset that has been improved is the support for onboard graphics.

Once the matching 3rd-generation processors are out, motherboards will be able to offer

three simultaneous monitor outputs instead of just two. Onboard graphics will also be faster,

but both of those are functions of the newer processors; when paired with older Sandy Bridge

Z68, Z77, and H77 – What’s the difference?

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CPUs, the speed will be the same as Z68 and the number of monitors supported at a time will

still be two.

This is a scaled-back chipset option, suitable when overclocking and multiple video

cards are not needed. It cannot split the main PCI-Express x16 slot into two

connections, though the PCI-Express 3.0 standard is still supported (with the upcoming

processors). Support for increasing the multiplier on unlocked processor models is also

missing, hence the lack of overclocking support. Aside from those two limitations, though, it

is effectively the same as Z77: the same number of SATA and USB ports are there, SSD

caching, onboard Intel graphics, and more.

This situation makes Z77 ideal for most users, as it gives the largest range of performance

and upgrade options, but H77 is a great fit when overclocking and more than a single video

card are simply not feasible. For example, in small form factor systems like our Echo line the

H77 chipset should be right at home.

Now keep in mind that while the chipsets were released on April 8th, the actual 3rd-

generation Core processors are not yet out. Until they are also released, any system – even

one ordered with the new Z77 or H77 chipsets – would simply be running a Sandy Bridge

processor. There is nothing wrong with that, as those processors offer great performers and

have been running well for the last year. The chipset-specific features like added USB 3.0

will also be functional, so in one sense this is a nice upgrade for those who would have

purchased Z68 a week ago… but for the full set of new features to be operational we will have

to wait and see when Intel launches the processors that these chipsets pave the way for.

This entry was posted in Technology Commentary and tagged chipset, H77, Intel, motherboard, Z68, Z77. Bookmark the permalink.

Showing 13 comments

My Asus Maximus IV Extreme Z already has USB 3.0. Z77 seems pointless to me.

Brandenjew

Like Reply04/13/2012 03:55 PM 1 Like

From Intel's product support page:

"Intel H77 Express Chipset also enables overclocking features of unlocked 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors."

The PCI Express Graphics is the only difference I can see looking at the information on Intel's website.

poit57



Like Reply04/15/2012 03:05 AM

Poit57 - Do you have a link to where you got that quote? I would like to take it to Intel and see what they say, since all of the other sources

I've seen indicated H77 does not support overclocking.

William George

Like Reply04/16/2012 01:25 PM in reply to poit57

I was looking at Intel's website and found your article while trying to see if there were any other differences I was missing. That piece

of info just seemed to contradict what Intel's website said.

http://www.intel.com/content/w...

The chart below the diagram is labeled "Features and Benefits." The information I quoted is from the first section in that chart labeled

"Support for 3rd generation Intel® Core processors."

poit57

Like Reply04/16/2012 02:16 PM in reply to William George 1 Like

I haven't heard back officially from Intel yet, but I think it has to be a typo. Nowhere else can I find mention of the H77

chipset supporting overclocking, and the previous H67 chipset definitely did not support overclocking. You can see what Intel

says about H77 in other places, like this:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/cont...

I searched that document, and there is no mention of overclocking. Compare that to a similar document about Z77, where

overclocking is mentioned as a feature:

https://www-ssl.intel.com/cont...

William George

Like Reply04/18/2012 02:27 PM in reply to poit57

Think back to P67 and H67, I actually had some media boards that overclocked a little but nothing like P67, Z68 or

Z77. I could only get about 400/500MHz out of the chipset and it really depended on the board vendor BIOS. Maybe

there is a marketing perspective as to what frequency is considered overclocking.

EricG

Like Reply05/21/2012 04:41 PM in reply to William George

William, please do update us on what Intel says if you do get an update from them regarding that Poit57 has posted.

Dfd

Like Reply04/18/2012 06:05 AM in reply to William George

The H77 they say is "limited oc"

the multiplier cant be changed, even in K chips

i think its through the BCLK

samljer22

Like Reply04/20/2012 04:21 PM in reply to William George

If that's really all it is, that's not much overclocking capability. The highest BCLK I've seen that was 100% stable was 103

(from the default of 100). On a CPU like the 2500K (3.3Ghz), that only results in about a .1GHz overclock. Not really worth the

stability concerns if you ask me.

Matt Bach

Like Reply04/20/2012 04:31 PM in reply to samljer22

For gaming should I consider the new Z77 or z68 chipset? I'm not seeing much difference between the ASUS P8Z77-V PRO and ASUS P8Z68-V

PRO/GEN3 motherboards. I think both with support Ivy Bridge? (I'm not doing Ivy Bridge anytime soon, but would like the option to upgrade @ future

date) Will be mating the board to i5 2500K with 2 SDD drives and aftermarket air cooler. Any and all advice is welcomed!

Tony

Like Reply04/20/2012 08:58 AM

Matt Bach

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Z68, Z77, and H77 – What’s the difference_ _ Puget Systems Blog