Intel Extreme Series Z77 motherboards detailed

There are quite a lot of Intel Extreme series motherboards due for the Z77 launch, unfortunately there are no pictures but this is what we know so far.

Intel Extreme Series DZ77GA Motherboard

The first board is codenamed ‘Gasper’ and has model name DZ77GA. It has two PCI-E 3.0 16X lanes. When both occupied they operate in an 8X/8X configuration. There is also a PCI-E 2.0 4X slot, PCI-E 2.0 1X slot and 2 PCI slots for extra connectivity. You get 8 SATA ports with there being a 50/50 split between SATA II and SATA III. There are also enough motherboard headers for two USB 3.0 headers providing four ports six USB 2.0 ports and a FireWire port as well as four DIMM slots and a POST80 debut LED.

At the back there are four USB 2.0 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, a Firewire port, an eSATA port, a pair of Intel ethernet ports, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/PDIF out and a single HDMI port. With only 1 display output provided it would appear Intel doesn’t want users of their Extreme series motherboards to be able to run multiple displays without a graphics card.

Intel Extreme Series DZ77RE Motherboard

This second board is codenamed ‘Roads End’ and this board is identical to the above DZ77GA motherboard with exception of one change. The DZ77RE has a single thunderbolt port present. In true Intel style we expect these boards to be heavily overpriced and as VR-Zone puts it “In fact, it’s a bit hard to understand why Intel really bothers to create so many high-end products when most consumers rather buy from the Taiwanese motherboard makers.”

Source: VR-Zone