Motherboard manufacturer Gigabyte is today launching a novel promotion for its Z97 Black Edition boards. Known as 'take one, get two,' Gigabyte is providing end users with a means to futureproof their immediate purchase.
The offer is available on three Intel Z97-based motherboards designated with a BK suffix. The trio include the £130 Z97X-UD3H-BK, the £175 Z97X-UD5H-BK and the £320 Z97X-Gaming G1-WiFi-BK. All are backed by a five-year warranty as standard, too.
Gigabyte enables users who register their Z97 Black Edition boards within four weeks of purchase to upgrade to newer BK motherboards when they become available. The offer is available up to three years post initial purchase.
For example, a Z97X-UD3H-BK can be upgraded to, say, the equivalent 10- or 11-series boards, assuming they're available within that three-year period. Those who want to upgrade to a better board can do so by paying the difference in the retail price between the two.
The upgraded board will be provided after the original is sent in to Gigabyte, meaning you may have some downtime between builds, though Gigabyte will offer a pre-swap service if the user agrees to pay a refundable fee into the firm's bank account.
Exact mechanics of this deal are explained in this FAQ. The bottom line, we suppose, is that Gigabyte, with the Black Edition boards, is shouldering the cost of upgrading the motherboard within a three-year period. For example, the Haswell-compatible Z97-BK can be swapped out for a Skylake-based 100 series board next year, free of charge.
What we don't know is how long the promotion will run for, so if it's up your street, you had better get in quick. For your reference, though the boards can be purchased from any retailer, Gigabyte highlights the following well-known sellers:
