14 DAY TRIAL // Either Intel hasn't completed that CPU microcode, or Gigabyte found some way to overcome the limitations Imposed by Intel, or found a loophole in the new rules. Or maybe it has a special contract that allows it to do what it wants.
For those that don't know what we're talking about, Intel decided, a while ago, that it doesn't approve of how motherboard makers enabled CPU overclocking on all mainboards.
It wants that capability limited to Z87 chipsets, the high-end market as it were, so it began designing a CPU microcode update that will disable clock tweaking on other chipsets.
Thus, one would assume that Gigabyte's H81 series motherboards would have that limitation in place.
They don't, though. Either Intel hasn't shipped the update, or Gigabyte found a way to squirm out of having to follow the rules.
The Gigabyte Intel H81 motherboards get it from the UEFI DualBIOS (one for tweaking, one for backup in case you mess up) and the fully customizable user interface that allows real-time adjustments.
There's even a Dashboard Mode, which allows access to all data related to clocks (CPU, graphics and memory), temperatures and voltages.
That said, the new series is composed of both ATX and micro-ATX platforms, all of them with Ultra Durable Plus 4 construction: All Solid Caps (Capacitors) and Low RDS (on) MOSFETs.
Furthermore, high ESD protection exists for USB 3.0 and LAN, plus more USB 3.0 ports than usual and, of course, 4K UHD support.
All buyers of Gigabyte H81 Series motherboards will gain access to Gigabyte's App Center, which provides many apps and a single user interface to launch all installed Gigabyte apps.
There is a page already set up for the new PC platforms. Check it out here, and don't be too surprised by the large number of motherboard models. H81 is, after all, the chipset likely to sell best on the Haswell front.