GIGABYTE X99-SLI (Intel X99) Motherboard Review

Introduction

GIGABYTE has one of the largest Intel X99 motherboard fleets in the retail market. Instead of leaving just a few models to satisfy their customers, they tend to tailor their segments to better target their end users' needs. GIGABYTE has come out with G1 Gaming, SOC Overclocking, and Ultra Durable lines. While each type of board is specifically targeted towards gamers, overclockers, or power users, all the boards cross over into each other's domains.

Their overclocking boards carry upgraded audio and their gaming boards carry overclocking features, while their main series carries both. Today, I will look at one of GIGABYTE's main series Ultra Durable motherboards, the X99-SLI. While I usually cover high-end products, most users try to purchase the least expensive motherboard that can handle what they need. Let's see if the X99-SLI is up to the task of running a flagship processor, and pushing it to its limits.

Specifications

The specifications of the X99-SLI are almost identical to that of the X99-UD4P ($20 more) which I have not reviewed. The only real differences I could find is that the UD4P has an IO shield and heat sinks with built in LEDs, and the UD4P is E-ATX while the SLI is ATX. The X99-SLI is inherently a "basic" X99 motherboard when it comes to connectivity, in that all the PCH features are being utilized, and third-party controllers are rare. The board does have a lot of advanced, non-connectivity, features like USB BIOS recovery, Dual BIOS, and GIGABYTE's increased pin count socket.

Pricing

The X99-SLI is $240 on Newegg and $255 on Amazon at the time of this review, which is in the low-middle range for X99 motherboards.