GIGABYTE H610M S2 DDR4 LGA 1700 m-ATX Motherboard Review: A Budget-Friendly Option for 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel CPUs
GIGABYTE H610M S2 DDR4 LGA 1700 m-ATX Motherboard Review: A Budget-Friendly Option for 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel CPUs
Table of Contents
Introduction
The GIGABYTE H610M S2 DDR4 is a micro-ATX motherboard designed for users looking for a budget-friendly option to build a system with 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen Intel Core processors. Featuring the Intel H610 chipset, this motherboard offers a balance of essential features and affordability, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious builders.
I’ve been using this motherboard for the past few weeks and put it through its paces. Here’s a comprehensive review covering its features, performance, and overall value.
Features
The H610M S2 DDR4 comes packed with features that cater to everyday computing needs. Here’s a breakdown of its key highlights:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | LGA1700 socket: Support for 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold, Celeron® Processors* (L3 cache varies by CPU) |
| Chipset | Intel® H610 Express Chipset |
| Memory | DDR4 3200/3000/2933/2666/2400/2133 MT/s, 2 x DDR4 DIMM sockets (up to 64 GB), Dual-channel, Support for ECC/Non-ECC DIMM, XMP memory modules |
| Onboard Graphics | Integrated Intel® HD Graphics, 1 x D-Sub port (1920×1200@60 Hz) |
| Audio | Realtek® Audio CODEC, High Definition Audio, 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel |
| LAN | Realtek® GbE LAN chip (1 Gbps/100 Mbps) |
| Expansion Slots | 1 x PCIe x16 (PCIe 4.0), 1 x PCIe x1 (PCIe 3.0) |
| Storage Interface | 1 x M.2 connector (PCIe 3.0 x4/x2 SSD support), 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors |
| USB Ports | 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (2 rear, 2 internal), 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 (rear), 4 x USB 2.0/1.1 (internal headers) |
| Internal I/O Connectors | 1 x 24-pin ATX power, 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V, 1 x M.2, 4 x SATA 6Gb/s, 1 x CPU fan, 2 x system fan, 1 x RGB LED, front panel/audio, USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 2.0/1.1, TPM, serial |
| Back Panel Connectors | 1 x PS/2 keyboard, 1 x PS/2 mouse, 1 x D-Sub, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 4 x USB 2.0/1.1, 1 x RJ-45, 3 x audio jacks |
| I/O Controller | iTE® I/O Controller Chip |
| H/W Monitoring | Voltage, temperature, fan speed detection, overheating/fan fail warning, fan speed control |
| BIOS | 256 Mbit flash, AMI UEFI BIOS, PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0 |
| Unique Features | Support for APP Center, @BIOS, Ambient LED, EasyTune, Smart Backup, System Information Viewer, Q-Flash, Xpress Install |
| Bundled Software | Norton® Internet Security (OEM), LAN bandwidth management software |
| Operating System | Windows 11 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit |
| Form Factor | Micro ATX (23.0cm x 21.5cm) |
Performance
The H610M S2 DDR4, equipped with an Intel Core i5-12400 processor and 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM, delivered solid performance for everyday tasks. I used it for web browsing, office work, video streaming, and light gaming. The system consistently ran smoothly, even with multiple programs running simultaneously.
For gaming, I tested it with various titles like Valorant, CS:GO, and League of Legends. While I didn’t experience any significant issues, performance wasn’t as impressive as higher-end motherboards with PCIe 4.0 support. If you’re a hardcore gamer, consider a more premium option.
The motherboard’s integrated Intel HD Graphics performed reasonably well for basic tasks like video playback and web browsing. However, it’s not recommended for serious graphics work or demanding games.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Affordable price point, making it a good choice for budget-conscious builders.
- Supports the latest 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen Intel Core processors.
- Offers a good selection of ports, including USB 3.2 Gen 1, PCIe 4.0, and SATA 6Gb/s.
- Features a robust BIOS with intuitive navigation and a wide range of customization options.
- Includes useful software for system monitoring, fan control, and performance optimization.
Cons:
- Limited expansion slots, with only one PCIe x16 and one PCIe x1 slot.
- The onboard graphics might not be powerful enough for demanding graphics work or gaming.
- The lack of PCIe 4.0 support on the M.2 slot could limit the performance of high-end NVMe SSDs.
Final Verdict
Overall, the GIGABYTE H610M S2 DDR4 is a solid motherboard that offers a good balance of features and performance at an affordable price. It’s a great option for budget-conscious builders who want to assemble a reliable PC for everyday use, light gaming, or productivity tasks. If you need more expansion slots, higher-end features, or better gaming performance, you might want to consider a more premium motherboard. However, for its intended market, this motherboard delivers well. If you’re building a budget-friendly PC with a 12th, 13th, or 14th Gen Intel CPU, the GIGABYTE H610M S2 DDR4 is certainly worth considering.
