Being a mATX motherboard we were not expecting anything too dramatic with the GA-X99M-Gaming 5 and while it didn't exactly set the world alight with ground breaking performance it certainly punched above its class. Performance wise, the GA-X99M-Gaming 5 excelled, especially in terms of memory performance where it often led the pack. What surprised us most was the overclocking potential this motherboard possesses. Hitting 4.9GHz and booting at 5.0GHz with less voltage than some of the other dedicated overclocking motherboards we have tested seemed to defy belief given that the power circuitry, while highly specced was not as powerful on paper as some of the other motherboards on test. Nevertheless it did surpass most and this is a truly magnificent effort.

Perhaps the biggest attraction to the GA-X99M-Gaming 5 (other than the size) though is the audio performance. The components used are not exactly top drawer and it is fair to say most audiophiles will have there own dedicated sound cards but, and it is a very big but, GIGABYTE have provided a solid set of upgradeable and adjustable components which for all but the most anal of enthusiasts means this motherboards should not leave you wanting in terms of audio clarity and performance.



The GA-X99M-Gaming 5 is a solid all round performer belying its size. It can hold its own when pitched against bigger, more expensive motherboards and while its size physically restricts a certain degree of expansion such as memory and PCIe slots it offers a good level of support for all but the very greediest of power hungry users wanting quad SLI and perhaps 128GB of ram. These lucky, affluent users are in the minority though and thus GIGABYTE have appealed to the majority by creating a motherboard that not only looks great, performs great and has audio capabilities to make most green with envy but it also encompasses copious amounts of storage and peripheral expansion. We loved it, not least because at £170 it is one of the cheapest X99 motherboards available but it is truly a pocket rocket that sets the standards for others to follow.

If you like you audio loud, your gaming fast yet prefer your desktop real estate is not the biggest then the GA-X99M-Gaming 5 should be top of your mATX motherboard list.