System Configuration, BIOS, and Software
Testing Hardware
- Gigabyte Aorus Z270X-Gaming 8
- Intel Core i7 7700K Processor
- Kingston HyperX Predator 2666MHz DRR4 Memory
- PowerColor Radeon R9 285 TurboDuo Graphics Card
- Crucial M550 256GB Solid State Drive
- Spotswood Small Tech Station
- XFX PRO850W XXX Edition 850w Silver Power Supply
Drivers
- Radeon Crimson 16.4.1
CPU Cooling:
- Swiftech H320 X2 Prestige AIO
Testing Operating System:
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home
General System Benchmarks:
- PCMark 8
- Super Pi
CPU Benchmarks:
- Fritz Chess
- Handbrake
- Cinebench R15
- 7-Zip
Memory Benchmarks:
- AIDA64 Engineer
- Passmark Performance Test 8.0
- SiSoft Sandra
Storage Benchmarks:
- ATTO Disk Benchmark
- CrystalDiskMark 3.0
- AS SSD
- Passmark Performance Test 8.0
Game Benchmarks:
- 3Dmark
- Bioshock: Infinite
- Metro: Last Light
- Thief
- Tomb Raider
BIOS
The Aorus Z270X-Gaming 8 BIOS comes with similar interface to the interface that was introduced with the X99 and Z170 motherboards.
All the basic, as well as some more advanced settings are here. I found the BIOS to be flexible, easy to use, and intuitive. Most of the time I did not have any difficulty finding the settings that I wanted to change and everything seemed to be logically laid out.
Up next, software.
Software
Gigabyte has unified their included utility software under what is called APP Center. APP Center is a one stop source area for almost every setting and feature the X99-Designare EX has to offer.
The color of the APP Center menus can be easily changed to suit the user’s taste.
3S OSD
3S OSD automatically detects and displays your system information during games, allowing you to easily get hold of your system information without switching between screens.
@BIOS
@BIOS allows for simple and easy updating of the BIOS via Windows.
AutoGreen
AutoGreen is an easy-to-use tool that provides users with simple options to enable system power savings via a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone/tablet device. When the device is out of the range of the computer’s Bluetooth receiver, the system will enter the specified power saving mode. Before using this app, you need to turn on Bluetooth on both your computer and smart phone/tablet device.
BIOS Setup
Bios Setup allows for the simple BIOS related changes to be made inside Windows.
Color Temperature
This is a simple monitor color adjustment tool.
USB Blocker
USB Blocker provides you with an easy-to-use interface that allows you to block certain USB device types on your PC. Devices classes that are blocked will be ignored by the operating system.
Cloud Station
Cloud Station Server is composed of HomeCloud, Gigabyte Remote, Remote OC, and HotSpot, which allow your smart phone, tablet device, and remote computer to communicate, share resources, and control the host computer via wireless connection. Cloud Station allows your computer to share files with another computer that has Cloud Station (Server) installed.
