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GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force Review | 107 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£110
  • Avg. price in US: ~$130
  • CPU socket: LGA 1150
  • Chipset: Intel Z87
  • Form factor: E-ATX

GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force review. Compare 107 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among motherboards and if it is worth buying.

5.2

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the motherboard's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best motherboards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

5.3

Technical Score

10.0%

4.6

User score

Good
5.3

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

6.7

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

6.5

Network

13.0%

3.7

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.6

Expansion

8.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.2

Audio

Good
4.6

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

5.6

User reviews

30.0%

2.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
2.8
(14)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
2.5
(13)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

Poor
  • 3.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    28.0%

    7.6

    VRM phases

    22.0%

    1.0

    N. of M.2 sockets

    18.0%

    4.6

    LAN speed

    17.0%

    3.0

    Maximum RAM speed

    15.0%

    1.0

    N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC Force is a flagship Extended ATX motherboard designed for extreme overclocking on the Intel LGA1150 socket, supporting 4th Gen Haswell processors. It features a robust 16-phase digital power delivery system, 10 SATA 6Gb/s ports, dual Intel Gigabit LAN, and five PCIe 3.0 x16 slots supporting 4-way SLI and Crossfire configurations. Performance is bolstered by exclusive 'OC Touch' onboard buttons for real-time frequency adjustments, an 'OC Ignition' feature for testing cooling setups without powering the CPU, and an 'OC Brace' for securing multiple graphics cards. While its advanced 'Ultra Durable 5 Plus' components and integrated water-cooling heatsink are significant pros for enthusiasts, notable cons include its high power consumption, BIOS mouse-related performance issues, and fixed 3/8-inch water cooling barbs that limit customization for modern liquid loops.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the motherboard's technical performance, covering key areas such as power delivery, CPU and memory support, expansion, storage, connectivity, cooling, BIOS features, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare motherboards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

19.0%

4.0

Memory

16.0%

6.7

Platform & Features

16.0%

3.4

Storage

15.0%

6.5

Network

13.0%

3.7

Ports & USB

8.0%

5.6

Expansion

8.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

5.0%

8.2

Audio

5.3
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a technical score of 5.26 points, which is lower than that of 73.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the motherboard.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a motherboard performs in real-world builds and how reliable it is in terms of stability, BIOS usability, connectivity, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

5.6

User reviews

30.0%

2.3

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
2.8
(14)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
2.5
(13)

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

4.6
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a user score of 4.61 points, which is lower than that of 99% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you prefer a motherboard that has already been bought and reviewed by many other users.
2.3
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a popularity of 2.3 points, which is lower than 66.8% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the motherboard's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a motherboard that offers a strong balance of features, performance, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.9

Price

6.6
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.6 points, which is lower than 75.9% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The brand that makes the motherboard.
When it matters: When you have a brand preference for support, BIOS, or build quality.

Importance: MEDIUM

Gigabyte
CPU socket
What it is: The socket type the motherboard is built to support.
When it matters: When you need the motherboard to match a specific CPU.

Importance: HIGH

LGA 1150
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses the LGA 1150 CPU socket, which is less advanced than that of 90.2% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.6% of motherboards.
CPU platform

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel
Chipset
What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

Importance: HIGH

Intel Z87
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses the Intel Z87 chipset, which is less advanced than that of 80% of motherboards and equal to that of 3% of motherboards.
Form factor
What it is: The physical size standard of the motherboard, such as ATX or Micro-ATX.
When it matters: When you need the board to fit a specific case size.

Importance: HIGH

E-ATX
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has the E-ATX form factor, which is less versatile than that of 92% of motherboards and equal to that of 6.8% of motherboards.
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DDR memory version
What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: DDR5

DDR3
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses DDR3 memory, which is older than that of 86.6% of motherboards and equal to that of 13.4% of motherboards.
Memory slots
What it is: The number of RAM slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for future memory upgrades.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=4

4
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 4 Memory slots, which is more than 21.5% of motherboards and equal to 72.5% of motherboards.
Maximum memory capacity
What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=128 GB

32 GB
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports up to 32 GB of memory, which is less than 87% of motherboards and equal to 11.2% of motherboards.
Memory channels
What it is: The memory channel configuration supported by the motherboard platform.
When it matters: When memory bandwidth matters for your build.

Importance: MEDIUM

2
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports 2 memory channels, which is more than 0.2% of motherboards and equal to 92.5% of motherboards.
Maximum RAM speed
What it is: The highest officially supported memory speed for the motherboard.
When it matters: When you choose RAM and want to know the supported speed ceiling.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=6400 MT/s

3,000 MT/s
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports memory speeds up to 3000 MT/s, which is lower than that of 73.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.1% of motherboards.
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N. of M.2 sockets
What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=3

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 M.2 sockets, which is fewer than 88.4% of motherboards and equal to 11.7% of motherboards.
M.2 slot interface per slot
What it is: The storage or PCIe interface available for each M.2 slot on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want to check which drives each M.2 slot can use.

Importance: HIGH

N/A
N. of SATA 3 connectors
What it is: The number of SATA 6Gb/s connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you plan to connect multiple SATA drives.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

10
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 10 SATA 3 connectors, which is more than 96.7% of motherboards and equal to 3.3% of motherboards.
Supported RAID levels
What it is: The RAID modes officially supported by the motherboard storage platform.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple drives in a RAID setup.

Importance: MEDIUM

0/1/5/10
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports RAID levels 0/1/5/10, which is broader than 31.8% of motherboards and equal to 68.2% of motherboards.
secondary Marvell controller has different RAID limits
NVMe RAID support
What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

Importance: LOW

no
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support NVMe RAID. 59.8% of motherboards support this feature.
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N. of PCIe 5.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 5.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want the newest high-bandwidth expansion slots.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 PCIe 5.0x16 slots, which is equal to 68.5% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 4.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 4.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more room for modern expansion cards.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 PCIe 4.0x16 slots, which is equal to 55.6% of motherboards.
N. of PCIe 3.0 x16 slots
What it is: The number of PCIe 3.0 x16 physical slots on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need more full-length expansion slots.

Importance: MEDIUM

5
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 5 PCIe 3.0x16 slots, which is more than 97.4% of motherboards and equal to 2.1% of motherboards.
PCIe slot electrical configuration
What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

Importance: HIGH

x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 for PCIe slot electrical configuration, which is more flexible than that of 98% of motherboards.
PCIe bifurcation support
What it is: Shows whether the board can split PCIe lanes across multiple devices from one slot or link.
When it matters: When you plan multi-SSD adapters or more advanced expansion setups.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports PCIe bifurcation. 39.1% of motherboards support this feature.
Show more
Total USB ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB ports available on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you use many USB devices directly from the back of the PC.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=8

8
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 8 USB ports (rear I/O), which is more than 40.3% of motherboards and equal to 30.7% of motherboards.
Total USB ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want to know the board's full USB expansion potential.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=14

16
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 16 USB ports (including headers), which is more than 61.8% of motherboards and equal to 10.2% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (rear I/O)
What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 USB-C ports (rear I/O), which is fewer than 64.6% of motherboards and equal to 35.4% of motherboards.
Total USB-C ports (including headers)
What it is: The total number of USB-C ports supported when rear ports and internal headers are counted together.
When it matters: When you want more USB-C connectivity across the whole build.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=2

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 USB-C ports (including headers), which is fewer than 69.6% of motherboards and equal to 30.4% of motherboards.
N. of USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C)
What it is: The number of rear USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want very fast USB-C connectivity on the rear I/O.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=1

0
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 0 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 ports (USB-C), which is equal to 81.6% of motherboards.
Show more
LAN speed
What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.5GbE

1 Gbps
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports LAN speeds up to 1 Gbps, which is lower than that of 50.8% of motherboards and equal to that of 49.1% of motherboards.
dual 1GbE ports
LAN controller
What it is: The model of onboard Ethernet controller used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When you compare networking hardware quality and features.

Importance: MEDIUM

Intel I217-V
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses the Intel I217-V LAN controller, which is less advanced than that of 63.4% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.8% of motherboards.
N. of RJ45 ports
What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

Importance: LOW

2
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 2 RJ45 ports, which is more than 85.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.5% of motherboards.
Wi-Fi connectivity
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes onboard Wi-Fi hardware instead of requiring a separate adapter.
When it matters: When you want wireless networking without adding an extra card.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 50.9% of motherboards support this feature.
Wi-Fi version
What it is: The supported Wi-Fi generation, such as Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7.
When it matters: When you care about wireless speed and router compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), which is older than that of 50.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.2% of motherboards.
Show more
Audio codec
What it is: The onboard audio codec used by the motherboard.
When it matters: When sound quality from the built-in audio matters to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

Realtek ALC898
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force uses the Realtek ALC898 audio codec, which is more advanced than that of 49.7% of motherboards and equal to that of 1.9% of motherboards.
Audio channels
What it is: The audio channel configuration supported by the onboard sound solution.
When it matters: When you want surround sound from the motherboard audio outputs.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 7.1

7.1
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force offers 7.1 audio channels, which is more than 4.9% of motherboards and equal to 95.1% of motherboards.
Audio SNR
What it is: The signal-to-noise ratio of the onboard audio solution.
When it matters: When you care about cleaner onboard audio output.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=120 dB

110 dB
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has an audio SNR of 110 dB, which is lower than that of 55.9% of motherboards and equal to that of 5.7% of motherboards.
Headphone amp support
What it is: Shows whether the onboard audio path includes dedicated headphone amplification for harder-to-drive headsets.
When it matters: When you use harder-to-drive headphones from the onboard audio.

Importance: LOW

yes
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports a headphone amp. 37% of motherboards support this feature.
N. of 3.5mm audio jacks
What it is: The number of rear 3.5mm audio jacks on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you want more analog audio connection options.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=5

6
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 6 3.5mm audio jacks, which is more than 86.6% of motherboards and equal to 13.4% of motherboards.
Show more
VRM phases
What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=12

16
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 16 VRM phases, which is more than 78.4% of motherboards and equal to 3.2% of motherboards.
N. of CPU power connectors
What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >=2

2
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 2 CPU power connectors, which is more than 54.6% of motherboards and equal to 45.3% of motherboards.
N. of fan headers
What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=6

11
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has 11 fan headers, which is more than 99.6% of motherboards and equal to 0.3% of motherboards.
Pump header
What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes a dedicated header designed for a liquid-cooling pump.
When it matters: When you build with an AIO or custom liquid cooling loop.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a pump header. 23.1% of motherboards include this feature.
Pump header max current
What it is: The maximum current the dedicated pump header can supply.
When it matters: When you want to make sure the pump header can power your cooling setup.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2 A

0 A
GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports up to 0 A on the pump header, which is lower than that of 74.3% of motherboards and equal to that of 25.7% of motherboards.
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GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force vs the average motherboard

  • 2 more PCIe x8 slots
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more PCIe x8 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x8 slot/s.
    What it is: The number of PCIe x8 slots on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need more bandwidth for add-in cards beyond x4.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more PCIe x8 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x8 slot/s.2 vs 0
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
    What it is: The actual lane wiring used by the motherboard PCIe slots.
    When it matters: When you need to know how much bandwidth each slot really gets.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
    What it is: The number of wired Ethernet ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you need one or more wired network connections.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.2 vs 1
  • 6 more fan headers
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more fan headers than the average motherboard (11 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
    What it is: The number of headers available for case or CPU fans.
    When it matters: When your build uses several fans.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=6

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more fan headers than the average motherboard (11 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.11 vs 5
  • Includes POST code display
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
    What it is: Shows whether the board includes a diagnostic POST code readout for boot troubleshooting.
    When it matters: When you troubleshoot boot issues and want clearer error information.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
    What it is: The number of CPU power connectors on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you care about power delivery for higher-end CPUs.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=2

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.2 vs 1
  • Includes dual BIOS
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard includes two BIOS chips for redundancy or recovery.
    When it matters: When BIOS safety and recovery matter to you.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.
    What it is: The number of power-delivery phases used by the motherboard VRM.
    When it matters: When you care about CPU power delivery and overclocking headroom.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=12

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.16 vs 10
  • Includes POST code display
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a POST code display, while the average motherboard does not. 27.2% of motherboards include a POST code display.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has dual BIOS, while the average motherboard does not. 22.4% of motherboards include dual BIOS.
  • Includes onboard power button
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has an onboard power button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.7% of motherboards include an onboard power button.
  • Includes onboard reset button
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has an onboard reset button, while the average motherboard does not. 27.6% of motherboards include an onboard reset button.
  • 6 more SATA 3 connectors
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more SATA 3 connectors than the average motherboard (10 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 SATA 3 connectors.
  • 2 more PCIe x8 slots
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more PCIe x8 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 0). The average motherboard has 0 PCIe x8 slot/s.
  • More flexible PCIe lane configuration
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more flexible PCIe lane configuration than the average motherboard (x16/x0/x16/x0/x16, x8/x8/x8/x8/x4 vs x16/x1). The average motherboard uses x16/x1 PCIe slot lane configuration.
  • 4 more PCIe 3.0x16 slots
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more PCIe 3.0x16 slots than the average motherboard (5 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe 3.0x16 slot/s.
  • 1 more PCIe x1 slots
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more PCIe x1 slots than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 PCIe x1 slot/s.
  • 1 more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more USB 3.2 Gen1 headers than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 header/s.
  • 2 more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more USB 3.2 Gen1 ports than the average motherboard (6 vs 4). The average motherboard has 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 port/s.
  • 1 more total USB connections
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more total USB connections than the average motherboard (16 vs 15). The average motherboard has 15 total USB connections.
  • 1 more HDMI outputs
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more HDMI outputs than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 HDMI outputs.
  • 1 more RJ45 ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more RJ45 ports than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RJ45 port/s.
  • Supports Wi-Fi
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports Wi-Fi connectivity, while the average motherboard does not. 49.1% of motherboards support Wi-Fi connectivity.
  • Supports Bluetooth
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force supports Bluetooth, while the average motherboard does not. 47% of motherboards support Bluetooth.
  • 1 more 3.5mm audio jacks
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more 3.5mm audio jacks than the average motherboard (6 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 3.5mm audio jacks.
  • 6 more fan headers
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more fan headers than the average motherboard (11 vs 5). The average motherboard has 5 fan header/s.
  • 1 more CPU power connectors
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more CPU power connectors than the average motherboard (2 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 CPU power connectors.
  • More VRM phases
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more VRM phases than the average motherboard (16 vs 10). The average motherboard has 10 VRM phase/s.

Total
Platform & Features
Storage
Expansion
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
  • No BIOS flashback support
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • Older CPU socket
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older CPU socket than the average motherboard (LGA 1,150 vs LGA 1,151). The average motherboard uses LGA 1,151 CPU socket.
  • Not ready for Windows 11
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force is not ready for Windows 11, while the average motherboard is. 77.1% of motherboards are ready for Windows 11.
  • Fewer BIOS update options
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer BIOS update options than the average motherboard (UEFI utility, Windows app, DOS vs UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app). The average motherboard offers UEFI utility, flashback, Windows app BIOS update methods.
  • Narrower Windows support
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has narrower Windows support than the average motherboard (Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 vs Windows 11, Windows 10). The average motherboard supports Windows 11, Windows 10.
  • 8 years older release date
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force is older than the average motherboard (2,013 vs 2,021). The average motherboard was released in 2,021.
    June 2013
  • No TPM connector
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not have a TPM connector, while the average motherboard does. 86.7% of motherboards include a TPM connector.
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
  • 34.8% lower maximum RAM speed
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower maximum RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,000 MT/s vs 4,600 MT/s). The average motherboard supports RAM speed of 4,600 MT/s.
  • 39.2% lower overclocked RAM speed
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower overclocked RAM speed than the average motherboard (3,000 MT/s vs 4,933 MT/s). The average motherboard supports overclocked RAM speed of 4,933 MT/s.
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
  • No NVMe RAID support
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
  • 1 fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer USB 3.2 Gen2 ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 port/s.
  • Older HDMI version
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older HDMI version than the average motherboard (1.4 vs 2.1). The average motherboard supports HDMI 2.1.
  • 1 fewer total USB-C connections
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer total USB-C connections than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 total USB-C connections.
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    dual 1GbE ports
  • Older Bluetooth version
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older Bluetooth version than the average motherboard (4 vs 5.4). The average motherboard supports Bluetooth 5.4.
  • 5 dB lower audio SNR
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower audio SNR than the average motherboard (110 dB vs 115 dB). The average motherboard has audio SNR of 115 dB.
  • More basic chipset cooling
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more basic chipset cooling than the average motherboard (Active vs Passive). The average motherboard uses Passive chipset cooling.
  • 2 fewer ARGB headers
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer ARGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 ARGB header/s.
  • No onboard RGB lighting
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not have onboard RGB lighting, while the average motherboard does. 50.3% of motherboards include onboard RGB lighting.
  • 1 fewer RGB headers
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer RGB headers than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 RGB header/s.
  • 2 A lower pump header current limit
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower pump header current than the average motherboard (0 A vs 2 A). The average motherboard provides pump header current of 2 A.
  • 61 mm wider
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force is wider than the average motherboard (305 mm vs 244 mm). The average motherboard width is 244 mm.
  • More basic motherboard chipset
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.
    What it is: The chipset that defines the motherboard platform and many of its features.
    When it matters: When you compare platform features, connectivity, and CPU support.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has more basic motherboard chipset than the average motherboard (Intel Z87 vs Intel B860). The average motherboard uses Intel B860 chipset.Intel Z87 vs Intel B860
  • 60% lower LAN speed
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.
    dual 1GbE ports
    What it is: The maximum wired Ethernet speed supported by the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want faster wired networking.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: 2.5GbE

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has a lower LAN speed than the average motherboard (1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps). The average motherboard offers LAN speed of 2.5 Gbps.1 Gbps vs 2.5 Gbps
  • 75% less maximum memory capacity
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.
    What it is: The largest total amount of RAM the motherboard supports.
    When it matters: When you plan a build with very high memory capacity.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=128 GB

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer maximum memory capacity than the average motherboard (32 GB vs 128 GB). The average motherboard supports 128 GB of memory.32 GB vs 128 GB
  • 2 fewer M.2 sockets
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.
    What it is: The number of M.2 slots available on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want room for more NVMe or M.2 drives.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: >=3

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer M.2 sockets than the average motherboard (0 vs 2). The average motherboard has 2 M.2 socket/s.0 vs 2
  • No NVMe RAID support
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
    What it is: Shows whether the board supports RAID configurations that use NVMe SSDs.
    When it matters: When you plan to use multiple NVMe drives in RAID.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support NVMe RAID, while the average motherboard does. 59.8% of motherboards support NVMe RAID.
  • Older DDR memory generation
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.
    What it is: The RAM generation the motherboard supports, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
    When it matters: When you need the board to match a certain memory platform.

    Importance: HIGH

    Good value: DDR5

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has older DDR memory generation than the average motherboard (DDR3 vs DDR4). The average motherboard supports DDR4 memory.DDR3 vs DDR4
  • No BIOS flashback support
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
    What it is: Shows whether the motherboard can update BIOS without needing a fully installed or supported CPU to boot first.
    When it matters: When you may need to update BIOS before the system can boot.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force does not support BIOS flashback, while the average motherboard does. 50.8% of motherboards support BIOS flashback.
  • 1 fewer rear USB-C ports
    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.
    What it is: The total number of rear USB-C ports on the motherboard.
    When it matters: When you want more USB-C devices connected without adapters.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=1

    GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force has fewer rear USB-C ports than the average motherboard (0 vs 1). The average motherboard has 1 rear USB-C port/s.0 vs 1
Total
Overall
Platform & Features
Memory
Storage
Ports & USB
Network
Audio
Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
2.8
14 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
2.5
13 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: May 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force?

  • Exceptional overclocking potential with robust 16-phase digital power delivery for CPU and memory stability.
  • Extensive connectivity including 10 SATA 6Gb/s ports and 5 PCI-Express x16 slots supporting up to 4-way graphics configurations.
  • High-end cooling solution featuring an active fan-cooled heatsink and integrated water cooling support for the VRMs.
  • Includes a rich accessory bundle with a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 4.0 card, OC Brace for open testbeds, and multiple SLI/Crossfire bridges.
  • Dedicated 'OC Touch' onboard buttons for real-time frequency and voltage adjustments without entering the BIOS.
  • Dual Intel Gigabit LAN ports and high-quality Realtek ALC898 audio with 110dB SNR.

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE GA Z87X OC Force?

  • High retail price compared to other Z87 motherboards, making it a significant investment.
  • Integrated VRM water cooling barbs are fixed at 3/8 inch, which may not fit all custom liquid cooling loops.
  • The 3D BIOS/Dashboard Mode can be 'flaky,' with some users reporting mouse lag or issues rendering in HD resolution without removing dedicated GPUs.
  • The chipset cooler can run quite hot, primarily due to the heat generated by the PCIe bridge chip.
  • E-ATX form factor requires a larger case, which may limit compatibility with standard mid-tower chassis.

Video reviews

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