From my board/memory upgrade (got a Z77) I gained some performance increases.
 
Core i7-2700k / 2xGTX580 Class Ultra's / 8GB Patriot 2133MHz / Intel 330SSD
 
3% Increase in 3DMark11 to 13,741
3% Increase in 3DMark Vantage to 45,821
2% Increase in 3DMark 06 to 36,999
SuperPi 32MB down to 6min, 57.99sec
 
The least difference was in Heaven, 1 fps.

 
Windows performance rating STILL doesn't know what the hell it is talking about lol.
Can't beat it!

 
 

Aside from the performance boost you noted, I would be very interest to know your thoughts on the Z77.  I've been toying around with switching from the Z68 to the Z77 - but, right now, not sure that I can justify it. 

boballee


Aside from the performance boost you noted, I would be very interest to know your thoughts on the Z77.  I've been toying around with switching from the Z68 to the Z77 - but, right now, not sure that I can justify it. 

I'll get back with some more info/feedback on it after I play with it some more.

The performance improvement you noted could just be the variation due to the clock generator, how many times have you run the same test to see how often the number stay in the same range?
 
Even if it were consistent, seems a bit disturbing that the Z68 motherboard design itself was holding back you 32nm Sandy quad, certainly downplays 22nm Ivy improvements to not just the CPU.
 
The Panther Point chipset on the board is a southbridge, it won't do anything for performance except to provide more native connections.  Ultimately, if the performance variation isn't the clock generator, you're looking at an improvement in tracing, that's it. 
 
The board is just a frame, so to speak; don't give it too much credit.

I wouldn't think to upgrade to a Z77 unless it were Gen3, with PCI-E 3.0 16x/16x at least.  So far Asus is the only one on the market, to my knowledge.  I think I am going to wait for EVGA to debut their Z77, but the spec sheet says 1x16 or 5x8, and I hope that is wrong.  The first run of LGA 1155 Ivy Bridge 3770k has been less than stellar as far as OC goes, which makes me want to wait till Intel's TOCK version of Ivy Bridge.
 
.. or wait for Socket 2011 Ivy Bridge and Z79.