GIGABYTE G1 Sniper M3 Review

👤by David Mitchelson Comments 📅30-05-12
Conclusion

So we’ve already looked at one of GIGABYTE’s entry level MATX Z77 motherboards but now we come to a product that is aimed a little higher, targeting the avid gamer and a predominant model from GIGABYTE’s notorious G1-Killer Series.

GIGABYTE has refined the aesthetics on their Sniper M3. Gone are the gimmicks of old but here to stay are the dazzling colour configurations appeals to a broad spectrum of users. There is no doubting that Sniper M3 looks the business.

Looks are one thing but how does this motherboard perform? Well, let me tell you Sniper M3 topped most of our benchmarks and even beat the much revered ASUS Maximus V GENE. The Sniper M3 excelled in this department and showed that for its size it can still pack a punch.

Though I’m not a huge fan of the BIOS, using it to overclock was very easy. Sniper M3 realised an impressive 4.7GHz overclock with our Intel Core i5-3570K – overclocking this chip with the Sniper M3 demonstrates some significant benefits indeed. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go back a few pages and check the benchmarks.

The Sniper M3 has recently seen a significant price-drop making it even more appealing to discerning gamers and enthusiasts alike. Priced at approx. £139.99, Sniper M3 is a great pick for those wanting a slice of Z77 under MATX form factor. Many will compare this motherboard to the ASUS Maximus V GENE and whilst it does lack the functionality of onboard power/reset buttons, LED debug and a few other features it’s the performance that delivers the trade-off. If you don’t need some of these features then it’s a no brainer.

Using the 6th revision of Sniper M3 BIOS I did notice some improvements in the BIOS which is very pleasing. Against the Z77X-D3H which I recently reviewed (where the mouse would sometimes work and sometimes not) the mouse now works, but navigation still needs perfecting. Navigation during my experience wasn’t the most fluid, the BIOS needs refining if it is to keep up with other vendors.

Sniper M3 raises the bar for MATX lovers who want a slice of Intel Z77. Out of the box there are impressive results to be had in terms of performance and overclocking only helps to extend this. Recent price-drops make this motherboard a great choice for those wanting to build a compact rig.

Pros
+ Affordable
+ Pleasing to the eye
+ Top performance
+ Overclocks well
+ Ultra Durable 4 feature-set

Cons
- No LED Debug
- No Onboard power/reset buttons
- 3D BIOS needs improving



Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net. Thanks to GIGABYTE for providing today’s review sample.

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