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PCSTATS has a real treat for
you today - the ECS Z77H2-A2X Black Edition Golden motherboard! Every metallic surface on this board is gold plated so it's got quite the 'bling' factor going for it.
84% Rating: 
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Video Transcoding and Power Draw
Video Transcoding
In this
test a 450MB 1080i high definition MPEG2 video is transcoded via Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso 6 to a 640x360 MP4
video format suitable for the Apple iPhone 4.
| Video Transcoding Test |
|
Without Intel
QuickSync |
With Intel
QuickSync enabled |
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Intel Core i5
2500K /
ECS Z77H2-A2X |
57
sec |
14
sec | |
Using an
Intel Core i5 2500K / ECS Z77H2-A2X test system this video transcoded in 57
seconds. Not bad, but with this same test platform reconfigured to run off the
Intel HD3000 integrated graphics core and leverage Intel QuickSync, the video
transcoded in 14 sec. Power Draw figures are next followed by PCSTATS final
thoughts on the golden ECS Z77H2-A2X motherboard.
System Power Draw
PCSTATS
measures total system power draw (watts) with the aid of an Extech 380803 AC
Power Analyzer and A-PFC compliant Seasonic SS-760KM power supply. The meter is placed
between the 120V AC outlet and the PC power supply and the computer stressed.
Total system power draw is recorded and compared to the PC's idle state.
| Total System Power Draw - ECS
Z77H2-A2X |
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Idle
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CPU
Loaded |
GFX
Loaded |
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Intel Core i5 2500K
nVidia Geforce GTX470
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83W
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168W
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247W
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Intel Core i5 2500K
Intel HD 3000 IGP |
35W
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119W
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69W
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(Idel @ desktop) |
(via Prime95) |
(via
3DM06) | |
ECS'
Z77H2-A2X motherboard draws 83W while idle with a videocard, just 35W on IGP.
Likewise, when the CPU is loaded with Prime95 power draw is 168W with a VGA and
119W with IGP. The largest difference in power draw figures comes whe the
graphics are stressed; 247W with a videocard, just 69W on the Intel IGP.
Gold, Gold, Everywhere, Not a Drop to Drink
 The new Intel Z77 chipset + LGA1155 platform is
compatible with both 32nm Intel 2nd Generation Core i7/i5/i3 Sandy Bridge and 22nm Intel 3nd Generation Core
i7/i5/i3 Ivy Bridge processors.
However, from a PC
upgraders point of view there's really no need make the leap if you currently
have an Intel Z68 platform. The Intel Z77's most significant feature, native
USB 3.0,
is handled by third party controllers on previous LGA1155
boards so you're really not missing out on the feature front.
If you're assembling a new computer system with an eye on
a PCI Express 3.0 videocard, an Intel Z77 platform makes a logical choice when
paired with an 'Ivy Bridge' processor. However, as you've seen here, the
general performance of ECS's Z77H2-A2X platform is essentially identical to
previous Intel Z68/P67-B3/H67 platforms PCSTATS has tested. The CPU sets the
pace, the chipset has negligible impact on system performance these days.
 The ECS
Z77H2-A2X motherboard obviously stands out from the crowd of Z77 boards with it's gold plated
bling.
On top of that, ECS give users embedded Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and 802.11n/g/b wireless LAN, triple monitor
capability with 'ivy bridge' CPUs, not to mention that full gold treatment on every metal
surface.
A little 'Year of the Dragon' bling is a
personal aesthetic, but at least the gold doesn't come at the sacrifice of useful connectivity.
Furthermore, ECS Golden Boards are tested after leaving the factory line so you're also buying into
a platform which has been "individually fine tuned and run in, including a cursory overclocking
test."
More
tangibly, the CPU socket and memory slot connector pins are gold plated to
15microns; about 3x times the industry standard.
Ultimately, the ECS Z77H2-A2X motherboard is a pretty
good, but slightly price-premium Intel Z77 platform for new computer builders
assembling a system around an 'ivy bridge' processor. The ECS Z77H2-A2X is
priced at a small premium, $219 USD/CDN, but for that investment you get a well
featured platform and a visual style unto itself. All that makes the ECS
Z77H2-A2X a great motherboard to consider.
Find out about this and many other reviews by joining
the Weekly PCstats.com Newsletter today! Catch all of PCSTATS
latest reviews right here.
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