Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0: A Budget-Friendly Motherboard for Intel Processors
If you are looking for a cheap and reliable motherboard for your Intel processor, you might want to check out the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0. This motherboard is based on the Intel H61 chipset, which supports both 2nd and 3rd generation Intel Core CPUs with the LGA1155 socket. It also features some useful technologies that enhance its durability and functionality, such as humidity protection, electrostatic protection, power failure protection, and on/off charge. In this article, we will review the features and specifications of this motherboard, as well as how to download and install its drivers. We will also weigh its pros and cons, and give our recommendations on who should buy it.
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Features and Specifications of the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0
The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 has a micro ATX form factor, which means it can fit in most cases without taking up too much space. It has two DIMM slots that can support up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory with a maximum speed of 1333 MHz. It has four SATA II ports that can connect to hard drives, optical drives, or solid state drives with a data transfer rate of up to 3 Gbps. It has one PCI Express x16 slot that can accommodate a discrete graphics card with a bandwidth of up to Gen3 x16 (depending on the CPU). It also has two PCI Express x1 slots and one PCI slot that can be used for other expansion cards, such as sound cards, network cards, or wireless adapters.
The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 has some notable features that make it stand out from other budget motherboards. Here are some of them:
Humidity Protection PCB design: This feature helps protect the motherboard from moisture and electrical shorts by reducing the gaps in spacing between PCB filaments. This prevents corrosion and improves the lifespan of the motherboard.
Electrostatic Protection and Power Failure Protection design: This feature This feature protects the motherboard from damage caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD) and power surges. It uses high quality IC chips and anti-surge ICs to prevent overvoltage and overcurrent. It also has a dual BIOS design that allows the system to boot from a backup BIOS in case of a power failure or a corrupted BIOS.
Supports 3rd Gen. Intel 22nm CPUs and 2nd Gen. Intel Core CPUs (LGA1155 socket): This feature allows the motherboard to support a wide range of Intel processors, from the older Sandy Bridge to the newer Ivy Bridge models. These processors offer high performance, low power consumption, and integrated graphics. To install the CPU, you need to align the notches on the CPU with the socket, gently place it in the socket, and secure it with the metal lever.
Unique On/Off Charge technology: This feature enables fast and convenient charging for your devices, such as smartphones, tablets, or MP3 players. It allows you to charge your devices even when the PC is turned off, in sleep mode, or in hibernation mode. It also delivers more power than standard USB ports, up to 3x faster charging speed.
Supports 3rd generation PCI-Express interface: This feature provides a faster and more efficient data transfer rate for your graphics cards and other expansion cards. It doubles the bandwidth of the previous generation PCI-Express interface, from 5 GT/s to 10 GT/s. It also supports AMD CrossFireX technology, which allows you to combine two or more graphics cards for enhanced performance.
Enhanced Intel HD Graphics 2000/3000 integrated with the processor: This feature provides a basic graphics solution for your PC, without the need for a discrete graphics card. It supports DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.1, and Shader Model 4.1. It also supports dual display output, with one D-Sub port and one DVI-D port on the motherboard. However, it has some limitations, such as low resolution, low frame rate, and low quality settings for gaming and video editing.
How to Download and Install the Drivers for the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0
To ensure that your motherboard works properly and optimally, you need to download and install the latest drivers for it. The drivers are software programs that communicate with the hardware components and enable them to function correctly. Here are the steps to download and install the drivers for the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0:
Step 1: Visit the official website of Gigabyte and find the support page for the motherboard. You can use this link: . You will see a list of drivers for different categories, such as audio, chipset, LAN, SATA, USB, VGA, etc.
Step 2: Select your operating system and download the appropriate drivers. You can choose from Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10. You can also select either 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your system type. You can check your system type by right-clicking on My Computer or This PC and selecting Properties. You will see a section called System Type that shows whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system. After selecting your operating system, you can click on the Download button next to each driver category that you need.
Step 3: Extract the downloaded files and run the setup programs. After downloading the drivers, you need to extract them from their compressed format using a program like WinRAR or 7-Zip. You can right-click on each file and select Extract Here or Extract to Folder. You will see a folder with the same name as the file that contains the setup program and other files. You can double-click on the setup program and follow the instructions on the screen to install the driver.
Step 4: Follow the instructions on the screen and restart your computer if required. Some drivers may require you to restart your computer after installation to complete the process. You can click on Yes or OK when prompted to do so. After restarting your computer, you can check if the drivers are working properly by opening Device Manager and looking for any yellow exclamation marks or red crosses next to any devices. If there are none, then you have successfully installed the drivers for your motherboard.
Pros and Cons of the Pros and Cons of the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0
The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 is not a perfect motherboard, and it has its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the pros and cons of this motherboard that you should consider before buying it:
Pros:
Affordable price: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 is one of the cheapest motherboards that you can find for your Intel processor. It costs around $50, which is a great deal for a functional and durable motherboard.
Reliable performance: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 delivers a stable and consistent performance for your PC, thanks to its quality components and features. It supports various processors, memory, and devices, and it can handle basic tasks such as web browsing, office work, media playback, and casual gaming.
Durable design: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 has a robust and resilient design that protects it from various environmental and electrical hazards. It has humidity protection, electrostatic protection, power failure protection, and dual BIOS features that ensure its longevity and reliability.
Easy installation: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 has a simple and straightforward installation process that does not require much technical knowledge or skill. It has a clear and user-friendly manual that guides you through the steps of installing the motherboard, the CPU, the memory, and the devices. It also has a convenient on/off charge feature that allows you to charge your devices without turning on the PC.
Compatible with various processors and devices: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 is compatible with a wide range of Intel processors, from the older Sandy Bridge to the newer Ivy Bridge models. It also supports various devices, such as hard drives, optical drives, solid state drives, graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, wireless adapters, smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players.
Cons:
Limited memory slots: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 has only two DIMM slots that can support up to 16 GB of DDR3 memory with a maximum speed of 1333 MHz. This means that you cannot upgrade your memory beyond this limit, and you cannot use faster or newer types of memory, such as DDR4 or DDR5.
No USB 3.0 ports: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 does not have any USB 3.0 ports, which are the latest and fastest standard for USB devices. It only has eight USB 2.0 ports, which have a data transfer rate of up to 480 Mbps. This means that you cannot enjoy the full speed and performance of your USB 3.0 devices, such as external hard drives, flash drives, or cameras.
No HDMI port: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 does not have an HDMI port, which is the most common and popular interface for connecting your PC to a monitor or a TV. It only has a D-Sub port and a DVI-D port, which have lower resolution and quality than HDMI. This means that you cannot enjoy high-definition video and audio on your display device.
No overclocking support: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 does not support overclocking, which is the process of increasing the speed and performance of your CPU, memory, or graphics card beyond their factory settings. It has a locked BIOS that prevents you from changing any settings related to overclocking. This means that you cannot boost your PC's performance or customize it to your preferences.
Outdated chipset: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 is based on the Intel H61 chipset, which was released in 2011 and is now outdated by newer and better chipsets, such as the H81, B85, H97, or Z97. The H61 chipset has limited features and capabilities compared to these newer chipsets, such as fewer SATA ports, fewer USB ports, no RAID support, no Smart Response Technology support, no Rapid Start Technology support, no Smart Connect Technology support, etc.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 is a budget-friendly motherboard that offers a decent performance and a durable design for your Intel processor. It has some useful features, such as humidity protection, electrostatic protection, power failure protection, on/off charge, and 3rd generation PCI-Express interface. It also supports various processors, memory, and devices, and it has an easy installation process. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as limited memory slots, no USB 3.0 ports, no HDMI port, no overclocking support, and an outdated chipset. Therefore, we recommend this motherboard to the following types of users:
Basic users who need a stable and functional platform for their PC and do not require high-end features or performance.
Users who have a tight budget and want to save money on their PC components.
Users who have older or lower-end Intel processors and do not plan to upgrade them anytime soon.
Users who do not care much about gaming or video editing and are satisfied with the integrated graphics solution.
We do not recommend this motherboard to the following types of users:
Advanced users who want to customize and optimize their PC and enjoy the latest features and technologies.
Users who have a generous budget and can afford to spend more on their PC components.
Users who have newer or higher-end Intel processors and want to make the most of them.
Users who care a lot about gaming or video editing and need a discrete graphics card with a high resolution and quality output.
We hope that this article has helped you understand the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 better and decide whether it is suitable for your needs or not. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the common questions that people ask about the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0:
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Q: How can I update the BIOS of the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0?
A: You can update the BIOS of the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 by using the Q-Flash utility that is built into the BIOS itself. You need to download the latest BIOS file from the official website of Gigabyte and save it on a USB flash drive. Then, you need to restart your PC and enter the BIOS by pressing the Delete key during bootup. You need to select the Q-Flash option from the main menu and follow the instructions on the screen to update the BIOS from the USB flash drive.
Q: Does the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 support Windows 11?
A: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 does not support Windows 11 officially, as it does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for this operating system. However, some users have reported that they were able to install Windows 11 on this motherboard by using some workarounds, such as disabling Secure Boot, enabling TPM 2.0 emulation, or modifying the registry. However, these methods are not recommended or supported by Gigabyte or Microsoft, and they may cause instability or compatibility issues with your PC.
Q: What is the difference between the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 and the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 4.0?
A: The Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 4.0 is an updated version of the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 that was released in 2014. It has some minor improvements over its predecessor, such as a higher memory speed support (1600 MHz instead of 1333 MHz), a higher CPU power delivery (4+1 phase instead of 3+1 phase), and a different color scheme (black instead of blue). However, it still has the same chipset, features, and limitations as the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0.
Q: Can I use dual channel memory with the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0?
A: Yes, you can use dual channel memory with the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0 if you install two identical memory modules in the two DIMM slots on the motherboard. This will increase your memory bandwidth and performance by allowing your CPU to access both memory modules simultaneously.
Q: Can I use an AMD processor with the Q: Can I use an AMD processor with the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0?
A: No, you cannot use an AMD processor with the Gigabyte H61M-S1 Rev 3.0, as it is not compatible with the LGA1155 socket or the Intel H61 chipset. You need to use an Intel processor that matches the socket and the chipset of the motherboard. If you want to use an AMD processor, you need to look for a different motherboard that supports the AMD socket and chipset that you want.
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