Pros: - USB 3.1
- Thunderbolt add-on ready
- (2) M.2 slots
- DDR4 support
- SoundBlaster X-FI MB3 software
- Dual USB 3.0 internal headers
- More features then I plan to use, but wanted to have them for possible upgrades.

Cons: - Board shipped with F4 bios; could not get DDR4 3000 to run at advertised speeds until I upgraded to F6.
- Lost ability to non-K overclock due to BIOS upgrade -- it was overclock or use DDR4 at 3000. I chose latter.
- I wish newer boards still had SPDIF Digital Input headers for onboard audio.
- Can't seem to figure out how to get CPU/Memory speed, bios revision, etc. to display during POST like old-fashion boards?

Other Thoughts: "Upgraded" from a 5 year old Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P (Socket 1156) with a Lynnfield i7-860 and 8gb of DDR3 1600 RAM to the below. What a difference. The fact that I can run my Samsung 850 EVO at full speed versus my old wanna-be Marvel 9128-based SATA III port is a huge plus alone.

i3-6100 (stock 3.7ghz)
Hyper 212 EVO cooler
16GB DDR4 3000mhz; Corsair Vengeance LPX 2x8GB, CMK16GX4M2B3000C15 (on memory-approved list)

Windows 10 clean installed from a USB flash drive in what seemed like only 10 minutes. With BIOS at "ultra fast" post, Windows 10 is at sign-on screen in under 10 seconds.

I would buy another Gigabyte board again.

Pros: N/A

Cons: This board has had a bad production cycle more than likely. I was already using one that was purchased awhile back and it was working fine. Got another one to do a build for a friend and there are BIOS issues affecting the cpu performance, RMA'd it for another one and it is doing the same thing.

Other Thoughts: don't buy this

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your comments. We apologize for your difficulty with your GIGABYTE product. Please contact us at
newegg-support@gigabyteusa.com with the case number 134474 in the e-mail subject line. We will provide personalized service and analysis to help solve your issue ASAP. If the matter is urgent, please send us your contact number, and we will contact you.

GIGABYTE VIP Support Team

Pros: Hardware and software Installation was breezy (no problems). I love the front-panel block connector (G connector) that reduces 7 connectors into 1. The rear I/O shield is padded, no pins (genius). I couldn't find any imperfections using a magnifying glass. Definitely durable. Install the APP Center because it tells you what drivers are missing and or needs updating. Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3 software suite is user friendly. XMP memory profile worked perfectly.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: I installed Windows 10 in 20 minutes and ready to use.
No issues or problems.

Pros: It was on sale for $194 Canadian. Has all the features im looking for, Decent audio specs and software, sli capable, good ram speeds, overclocking features, Has metal casings for pci slots, which is a bonus, Looks like a pretty decent board.

Cons: I noticed the top heatsink didnt seem on there too well, as i moved it with my hands by accident while handling the board, I have been having wierd random crashes( memory dumps), and other crashes where it just shuts off. im hoping going from windows 7 to windows 10 along with drivers and updates fix it. Because the board is not full ATX it only allows for 6 screws to be used in the motherboard standoffs, which allows MAJOR flexing on the board when you put in power and other connectors if you dont hold the back of the motherboard while you insert them. Its a little too iffy for me as i like solid. Also i installed windows several times and each time it automatically PARTIONED my 120gb ssd. I do not like that one bit, windows 10 seems to have fixed that but it is annoying. I do not like partioned DRIVES.

Other Thoughts: Wish i spent the $30 on the Asus pro gamer board as I have had no issues with any asus products, but so far ill be sticking away from Gigabyte from now on,. This motherboard if it will work out for me will be ok, however i am not 100% satisfied with it. But i dont feel like returning it as its a pain in the but to lose a few weeks for a board and replace it. Funds were limited when i bought the board.

I rate this board 4/5 for the iffy issues but when it works, its good.

Pros: Seems pretty solid once I finally got it setup.

Cons: I spent hours trying to install Windows. Windows 10 would install but would continually fail after the initial restart. Windows 7 wouldn't install at all. After upgrading BIOS to F6, it works right away.

Pros: Reinforced PCIE Slots
USB Type C
Dedicated Audio
3 Way Crossfire & 2 Way SLI
Looks Great for ~$120

Cons: Nothing at the moment.

Other Thoughts: For the money, your only other option with these features for this price is the MSI Z170 SLI Plus. This board has all the features a typical user would need with some added bonuses if you want that enthusiast experience without the enthusiast price tag. And in my opinion this board has a couple more features that are useful to me personally than the MSI option and it looks much better. It's also usually $10-$15 cheaper and goes on sale more often. I picked mine up for $115 and couldn't be happier.

Pros: Nice full featured board. All the latest features/tech.a z170 chip can do at a low end price. Has thunderbolt usb. Support for fast ms.2 drives , good raid ,sata3 and usb,3 pcie3.
Layout was ok for installing everything.
Heat spreaders and memory location allowed install of large aircooling DC400.

Cons: Supposed to be a ATX? known spec. for decades, but this board is short, so no support,does not lineup with last case standoffs on RT side. This is where you need to push hard to plug in power, usb3. I dug out some plastic standoffs that snap in, Gigabyte should supply these, since the board is not ATX.
Upper heat spreader above cpu is not stuck on well, only pinned on top!? Almost dropped it when i picked it up (peed a little) because it flopped over. I have seen same complaint from others, guess its just how they sposed to be, but I imagine it would work better at coducting heat if it were actually clamped/pinned in contact. ?

Other Thoughts: Very good bargain on sale these days, this board has been a fast, stable overclocker, although I must say the bios interface is third rate compared to MSI and ASrocks I have seen recently.
I had no trouble installing/running win 7 pro onto raid 0 SSDs. Just use disk drive to do it, have drivers disk handy.
Very happy to have this board for a C note after rebate, it runs my locked i5 at 125 fsbx 32= 4k The $ I did not spend on a top end board and i7 rite now, I could afford a decent vid card, R9 380 and 3k memory. One snappy fast capable rig that didnt suck my wallet dry.

Pros: Haven't had a single issue with the board. Very easy to install and set up. Works perfectly with the 6700k. Bios were great and easy to use. Very happy with my purchase!

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: buy it

Pros: Works out of the box.

Cons: If yoou are mining, board does not recognize pcie1 to pcie16 powered adapters. Look elsewhere if you are mining.

Pros: Price has dropped from $150 to $134 to $119 as easily affordable. Works very well.
Proud owner for 3 weeks. Waiting for Gigabyte Gaming G1 to drop below $250 to upgrade.
Works with A-Data XPG Z1 @2800MHz memory (2x8GB) and XMP profile works. Also have OC'd to 3000MHz by changing BIOS multiplier value from 28 to 30.
Have Intel i7-6700K and in BIOS one click go from 4.2GHz (Auto Booster - default) and you're at 4.6GHz.
Using BIOS version F5m.
Windows 10 Pro x64 works nicely. Windows 7 needs a helping hand now and then. Caution as to what Drivers you Download from Gigabyte website for Windows 7. Get only what you need and forget about Download any that you don't use. Also do not DL any Utility programs from Gigabyte if Windows 7 is installed.
It has 2 - M.2 slots so able to set Raid configuration if you want too.

Cons: Heard some people had issues with SLEEP MODE. Either it would recycle ON/Off their computer or not at all.
Windows 7 Ultimate works but please do not install Gigabyte Utility programs from their website as the produce some strange unexpected issues. Download only the drivers you intend to use. This only applies to Windows 7.

Other Thoughts: Wished it had 2- PCIx16 slots instead of one PCIx16 and PCIx8 which makes SLI / Crossfire run at x8.
But I'm only using 1 - GTX 970 for now so no biggie. When I update to the Gaming G1 mobo in 2017 will get 2 - GTX 980 Ti's.
The Gaming 7 is a good board but appears to have more problems than any other Gaming series mobo.