Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X FM2 Review

Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review

Up Close

The packaging for the A88X Sniper is not quite as complex as the early G1 Killer motherboards, and it’s the better for it. Freed from a multitude of technological logos there is a clarity to the box which is backed up by the contents. The G1.Sniper A88X itself isn’t quite as bedazzled as some that we’ve seen. If it wasn’t for the Sniper green colours it could pass for almost any Gigabyte motherboard. As is often the case, the devil is in the details.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review     Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review  

The A88X supports 2400MHz DDR3, which should go some way towards redressing the bandwidth deficit between the AMD and Intel offerings. Despite being part of the serious G1.Sniper range the power heatsink is smaller than we had expected. It still cools the MOSFETs effectively, it just doesn’t visually wow you.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review     Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review

One of the big selling points of the high end Gigabyte motherboards is the excellent audio and the split PCB that keeps interference at a minimum. The G1.Sniper A88X has probably the finest audio on an AMD socket motherboard we’ve experienced.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review     Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review

Given that the G1.Sniper A88X is a barely believable £80 there will always be a few areas that are a slight disappointment, and vertical SATA ports are the price that we pay, if you’ll pardon the expression, for such an affordable package. We’d rather have a feature-rich, low priced choice with a couple of cosmetic niggles than something that is all show and no go.

Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review     Gigabyte G1.Sniper A88X Review Â