Gigabyte P45 UD3 Released, 2oz copper

Printable View

10-10-2008, 05:28 PM
Charles Wirth

Gigabyte P45 UD3 Released, 2oz copper

In case you did not get the memo, Gigabyte has released a new board design with a product they call UD3, Ultra Durable 3.

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/FileList...tracool-01.jpg

One of the major improvements was doubling the copper layers in the motherboard thus improving signal quality by lowering impedance, this helps in reaching maximum bus speeds as well as memory bandwidth beyond other boards are capable of on the market today.

The increased copper also helps spread heat and keeps components a little bit cooler. When going sub zero a bit more thought will need to go into containing the frost.

Hicookie has already shown off a sample of that the boards are capable of and I expect other manufactures to follow with similar product changes.

Thanks Dinos, stole your images!
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/6668/board2xb8.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7158/boardzy9.jpg
Images of the copper layers

http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/FileList...ultra-cool.htm

UD3 is on Newegg.com now and released Monday, just a heads up on a sweet P45 board well under $150
10-10-2008, 05:57 PM
G0ldBr1ck

I dont know much about the circuits within a board so can sombody tell me if the copper layer is used for more than just a common path to ground?
Looks like a nice board :up:
10-10-2008, 06:00 PM
Flinch

Is the ICH10R any cooler running than the ICH9R on the X48's?
10-10-2008, 06:01 PM
Zucker2k

Awesome idea, mobo. I was looking at this board for a second system on newegg this morning; almost pulled the trigger but held back. This post may just be what pushes me over the edge. Thanks for the heads up, FUGGER. :up:
10-10-2008, 09:20 PM
Blauhung

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flinch

Is the ICH10R any cooler running than the ICH9R on the X48's?

both are built on the same process (i think 130nm, but I can't remember right now) so the thermals are pretty much the same.
10-10-2008, 09:27 PM
Slovnaft

Quote:

Originally Posted by G0ldBr1ck

I dont know much about the circuits within a board so can sombody tell me if the copper layer is used for more than just a common path to ground?
Looks like a nice board :up:

two layers of copper, one is power distribution, one is ground.
10-10-2008, 09:42 PM
ABXG

Are there any reviews of this board yet? I think my P5K Premium may be on its last legs (issues where sometimes after shutting the PC down under load conditions, ie while folding, or if I use the case switch, when I try to restart I get a post error saying I have no VGA in my PC - requires me to clear the CMOS). I am currently looking at an P5Q-E as a replacement, but this Gigabyte board interests me.
10-11-2008, 06:35 AM
Lestat

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABXG

Are there any reviews of this board yet? I think my P5K Premium may be on its last legs (issues where sometimes after shutting the PC down under load conditions, ie while folding, or if I use the case switch, when I try to restart I get a post error saying I have no VGA in my PC - requires me to clear the CMOS). I am currently looking at an P5Q-E as a replacement, but this Gigabyte board interests me.

there is a thread about it in the intel section i believe.

i was looking at this board but waiting for Mike @ mobopro to get them in.
so far dual cores are running 600mhz, not as good as some other baords, but with its dual copper design it should offer advantages that we dont SEE, but ones that are on the inside where power distribution and regulation matter.

newegg has them for 125 bucks w/ free shipping.
one helluva deal if you ask me.
now if we can get gigabyte to just fix their god damn sata port positions
10-11-2008, 07:36 AM
Flinch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blauhung

both are built on the same process (i think 130nm, but I can't remember right now) so the thermals are pretty much the same.

Thanks for the info :)
10-11-2008, 07:44 AM
RPGWiZaRD

Any info regarding higher end models with UD3? I like Gigabyte but I don't like their budget boards though (DS3x). Clearly these 3 look like budget P45 Gigabyte boards, like DS3, DS3R and DS3P variants.
10-11-2008, 08:08 AM
Katanai

Hm... I dunno what to say about this... Someone needs to get a board and test it. I guess it can't do any harm but I dunno if it really helps with anything...
10-11-2008, 08:09 AM
GAR

Gigabyte is number 1 in build quality.
10-11-2008, 08:55 AM
ABXG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lestat

there is a thread about it in the intel section i believe.

i was looking at this board but waiting for Mike @ mobopro to get them in.
so far dual cores are running 600mhz, not as good as some other baords, but with its dual copper design it should offer advantages that we dont SEE, but ones that are on the inside where power distribution and regulation matter.

newegg has them for 125 bucks w/ free shipping.
one helluva deal if you ask me.
now if we can get gigabyte to just fix their god damn sata port positions

The price and OC certainly look right for me, I just can't find this review you are talking about :(

I'll keep searching around though.

It also seems that neither NCIX or Newegg.ca have the board in stock yet, so I have some time to find reviews.
10-11-2008, 09:07 AM
RejZoR

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAR

Gigabyte is number 1 in build quality.

As long as we talk about hardware. But what good is excellent hardware when they back it up with crappy software part (non existent BIOS support, awful programs, half working features etc etc)...
10-11-2008, 11:53 AM
RPGWiZaRD

Quote:

Originally Posted by RejZoR

As long as we talk about hardware. But what good is excellent hardware when they back it up with crappy software part (non existent BIOS support, awful programs, half working features etc etc)...

Exactly, agreed 100% but the hardware is so great I like them despite bios support is lacking.

But does any1 know about if Gigabyte has plans for any higherend boards with UD3 in near future cuz these boards are 6-phase power which are used for DS3 boards on P35 chipset too. At least comparing DS4 to DS3R on P35 was a night and day difference to me where DS4 had so much more stable voltage regulation but perhaps these are seriously improved in that matter too, I don't know. Just saying I haven't been a really huge fan of their P965 and P35 DS3 boards but DS4 and DQ6 have been superb IMO.
10-11-2008, 12:12 PM
systemviper

thanks for the info, the boards are 120 and 140 at the egg, might just be a purchse, :up:
10-12-2008, 12:11 AM
hecktic

got any links to these boards on newegg please ?
10-12-2008, 04:24 AM
chuchnit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 - UD3R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 - UD3P
10-12-2008, 07:07 AM
RejZoR

I was thinking of ASUS P5B back then but then i opted for 965P-DS3, mostly because of Xpress Recovery. Just that i found out later that it doesn't even work with SATA drives. Yey. Of course they NEVER and NOWHERE mentioned where it works and where it doesn't. Same goes for all the fancy BIOS recovery features. But when i needed BIOS recovery i had no clue how to use it. Again, they don't have any freakin documentation for half of their "unique" features making them as useless as possible. Heh.
Gigabyte, no thanks. Only thing from them that i liked a lot was Radeon 9600 Pro which worked great. At least something. I'll stick to ASUS now even though i just hate how only ASUS boards manage to corrupt actual BIOS when selecting specific BIOS settings (usually when you overclock memory too high or not supply enough voltage to CPU).
Bam and you get retarded BIOS recovery screen on next boot. But at least everything else works as advertised without any micro print somehwere in the back of the manual.
10-12-2008, 07:17 AM
Helmore

Quote:

Originally Posted by engadget

ASUS at it again, calling out Gigabyte's excessive copper usage

Oh ASUS, you bring us such joy. When this company isn't busy diluting its Eee brand, it loves to pick fights with noted rivals, and this latest spat with Gigabyte (who isn't at all innocent in this war) is wonderfully trivial. Apparently ASRock, ASUS's budget motherboard wing, has taken it upon itself to inform hardware review websites like HEXUS of Gigabyte's wasteful implementation of copper. The email ponders: "While the demand for copper keeps increasing and with that the price of this natural resource, why would manufacturers choose to use more copper without any valid reason?"

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/a...-copper-usage/

ASUS and Gigabyte sure like to have a little fight against each other from time to time. :D
10-12-2008, 07:26 AM
Hornet331

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmore

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/a...-copper-usage/

ASUS and Gigabyte sure like to have a little fight against each other from time to time. :D

lol nice one asus... copper is on a 2 1/2 year low. :ROTF:
10-12-2008, 07:57 AM
RPGWiZaRD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmore

Source:http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/12/a...-copper-usage/

ASUS and Gigabyte sure like to have a little fight against each other from time to time. :D

I LOL'ed. :D "Say no to waste" <- STFU ASUS :D

ASUS is just envious of Gigabyte being the first to release boards with this design. Cmon stop the catfighting. I bet ASUS will soon launch it's own models either with another name or hiding the fact it's the same 2oz layer design.
10-12-2008, 09:35 AM
ABXG

If I were ASUS I would go straight to 2.5 oz.
10-12-2008, 12:28 PM
M.Beier

Sweet technology!!
10-12-2008, 12:49 PM
RejZoR

They could do much more with properly crafted heatsinks (even aluminum ones) on the board and on chips instead cramming copper into PCB imo...
10-12-2008, 01:05 PM
dduckquack

could be a start of something new, wonder why they didnt thought about this earlier
10-12-2008, 01:05 PM
philbrown23

looks like the ud3p will be my next board, either that or something with the word extreme in the title, an i miss my maximus extreme :'(
10-12-2008, 03:39 PM
road-runner

I see the egg has went up $10 since I ordered my board on Friday...
10-12-2008, 03:46 PM
Flinch

Yup, and they did away with the free shipping as well.
10-12-2008, 08:29 PM
Rob94hawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by GAR

Gigabyte is number 1 in build quality.

And that's where it ends. Don't even get me started with their BIOS..:mad:
10-12-2008, 08:43 PM
Rob94hawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuchnit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 - UD3R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 - UD3P

Anyone read the specifications? Memory standard: DDR2 1333?!?
10-12-2008, 09:10 PM
Zytek_Fan

Oh god yes.
10-12-2008, 09:53 PM
T_M

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob94hawk

Don't even get me started with their BIOS..:mad:

Actually, please do share with us.
Its feedback that helps make things better next time round, and if you are refering to the BIOS on some older models then i can assure you that recent boards have had superb BIOSs.
10-12-2008, 10:12 PM
Rob94hawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_M

Actually, please do share with us.
Its feedback that helps make things better next time round, and if you are refering to the BIOS on some older models then i can assure you that recent boards have had superb BIOSs.

How recent? Because my X38T board has been giving me issues such as multiple reboots before startup of Vista 64. Regardless of the BIOS version I've been using. I was getting the reboot of death until I flashed back to the origional BIOS. Now I just get 1 to 3 reboots before Vista loads up.
10-12-2008, 10:13 PM
Newblar

P5Q vs UD3?
can anyone tell me about this one? pretty close to buying a new Q9550 e0 system, but if the UD3 is better than the P5Q pro then it gets my buy
10-12-2008, 10:23 PM
dinos22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob94hawk

How recent? Because my X38T board has been giving me issues such as multiple reboots before startup of Vista 64. Regardless of the BIOS version I've been using. I was getting the reboot of death until I flashed back to the origional BIOS. Now I just get 1 to 3 reboots before Vista loads up.

something is clearly not right with your machine

you should not need to get any reboots for machine to start up in any OS

are you trying stock settings and gettin reboots?

it could be RAM related as sometimes the bios doesnt pick the right timings and RAM ratio and needs to be manually adjusted

but T_M is right

GIgabyte does listen to feedback and tries to change whatever it can for better.....they are getting a lot better since the 965 days ..... but there is always something else that can be improved for sure
10-12-2008, 10:34 PM
ABXG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newblar

P5Q vs UD3?
can anyone tell me about this one? pretty close to buying a new Q9550 e0 system, but if the UD3 is better than the P5Q pro then it gets my buy

I am also very much interested in this.
10-12-2008, 10:38 PM
Charles Wirth

On a sample board we hit 1508Mhz dual channel on DDR2 (using unbugged 1:2 ratio) :eek:

Vapor needs to submit validation and post it.
10-12-2008, 10:43 PM
dinos22

:shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked::shoc ked::shocked::shocked::shocked:
10-13-2008, 04:25 AM
Slovnaft

yeah holy christwagons.
as to the p5q vs ud3 thing, i think it's been made rather clear that ep45-ud3p has landed amongst p45 kings I45 and that goofy dfi board, probably surpassing both.
so imho, ud3>p5q.
10-13-2008, 05:17 AM
RPGWiZaRD

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUGGER

On a sample board we hit 1508Mhz dual channel on DDR2 (using unbugged 1:2 ratio) :eek:

Vapor needs to submit validation and post it.

:shocked::eek2:

You sure you didn't mix up the DDR3 with DDR2. :rofl: Which model was it btw, UD3, R or P?

And suddenly I got a strong itch to upgrade mobo...
10-13-2008, 06:00 AM
Vapor

Nah, it's DDR2 :D

I don't have those files on my flash drive? I thought Gigabyte was going to upload them. :)

It was a UD3P, though the differences between the three shouldn't effect the memory speed.

EDIT: using the bugged 3:5 ratio, we were easily over 1600 (and stable) :lol: Definitely a sick board for DDR2 speeds.
10-13-2008, 06:46 AM
T_M

Nice indeedy, pity ill likely never tough a DDR2 board again in my life
10-13-2008, 08:58 AM
stasio

EP45-UD3P Bios detail released:
HERE
10-13-2008, 10:05 AM
Katanai

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vapor

Nah, it's DDR2 :D

I don't have those files on my flash drive? I thought Gigabyte was going to upload them. :)

It was a UD3P, though the differences between the three shouldn't effect the memory speed.

EDIT: using the bugged 3:5 ratio, we were easily over 1600 (and stable) :lol: Definitely a sick board for DDR2 speeds.

Whaaat? :shocked: That's insane man.
10-13-2008, 10:31 AM
Vapor

The bugged 3:5 ratio wasn't actually running the memory at 1600, but still saying it for reference :)

The 1508 in the unbugged 1:2 was definitely fun though :D
10-13-2008, 10:35 AM
Gautam

Bugged 3:5 1600 = 1440 in reality.

(I know you know, Eric :p:)
10-13-2008, 10:43 AM
boostedevo

Nice job Eric! Damn I wish I had some DDR2 sticks that would run that high, I would've picked one of these boards up already. What's the PP like at those speeds? Even if it's on the low end, can't beat that kind of clocking (670FSB 3Ds too) for that kind of $$$. Still waiting for the DDR3 variants to make an appearance, I'll be all over one :D
10-13-2008, 10:50 AM
Slovnaft

Quote:

Originally Posted by boostedevo

Nice job Eric! Damn I wish I had some DDR2 sticks that would run that high, I would've picked one of these boards up already. What's the PP like at those speeds? Even if it's on the low end, can't beat that kind of clocking (670FSB 3Ds too) for that kind of $$$. Still waiting for the DDR3 variants to make an appearance, I'll be all over one :D

With the issues this MC has been having with DDR3, i'm not sure we will see one.
I mean have we actually seen a DDR3 P45 board toy with the likes of I45, DFI LP Jr., and now this UD3. I guess the EP45 exreme, but iirc that wasn't close to 700fsb?
10-13-2008, 11:02 AM
boostedevo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slovnaft

With the issues this MC has been having with DDR3, i'm not sure we will see one.
I mean have we actually seen a DDR3 P45 board toy with the likes of I45, DFI LP Jr., and now this UD3. I guess the EP45 exreme, but iirc that wasn't close to 700fsb?

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...45t_700fsb.png

Mine boots froms BIOS to the desktop @ 660FSB (below) and benches 3Ds up to 650FSB with tight PL, all on watercooling :shrug: You must be thinking of some "other" P45 DDR3 boards :) If the DDR2 UD3 is hitting 670 benchable, I'd bet the DDR3 version will be ridiculously fast for FSB.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...to_desktop.png
10-13-2008, 11:13 AM
Slovnaft

Oh...heheh. i guess i might just be reminiscing ASUS P5Qcrap "underclock your DDR3!"
Guess I eat my...whatever you eat when you're wrong.
10-13-2008, 12:02 PM
RPGWiZaRD

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuchnit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 - UD3R

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128358 - UD3P

Man how can they sell it this cheap, only site that lists UD3R and P in Finland wants 148 EUR and 165 EUR respectively!!! Talk about getting price raped. :soap:
10-13-2008, 12:02 PM
Vapor

Quote:

Originally Posted by boostedevo

Nice job Eric! Damn I wish I had some DDR2 sticks that would run that high, I would've picked one of these boards up already. What's the PP like at those speeds? Even if it's on the low end, can't beat that kind of clocking (670FSB 3Ds too) for that kind of $$$. Still waiting for the DDR3 variants to make an appearance, I'll be all over one :D

With the P4Pi BIOS in another thread, I think it was hicookie that got ~45.5k at PL9 and modest settings. :D

I'm also excited for future UD3 boards :D
10-13-2008, 12:04 PM
Charles Wirth

The validation is on your USB drive. I put it there.
10-13-2008, 12:05 PM
Slovnaft

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vapor

With the P4Pi BIOS in another thread, I think it was hicookie that got ~45.5k at PL9 and modest settings. :D

I'm also excited for future UD3 boards :D

Yeah this board has pretty much convinced me to go Gigabyte again for X58.
It's just so hard to give up the sexy frills of ASUS! I can't wait to get some actual numbers on R2E and its 16pwm and GA-EX58 and its copper and such.
10-13-2008, 02:17 PM
Charles Wirth

1 Attachment(s)

Validation
http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=425018
10-13-2008, 02:52 PM
TheGoat Eater

:D - nice one Fugger!
10-13-2008, 03:26 PM
Vapor

So turns out YOU had it after all! :lol:
10-13-2008, 03:29 PM
dinos22

crazy stuff
DDR2 and DDR3 speeds in dual channel and all
heh

Gigabyte is saying that one of the reasons for the design change to 2oz is to improve RAM overclocking even more

seems to be that way :)
10-13-2008, 03:43 PM
RPGWiZaRD

They also seem to improve performance slightly with it. Gigabyte hasn't been very good for superpi b4 but with these boards they are a lil bit faster as I saw a 1M posted in another thread.
10-13-2008, 03:59 PM
dinos22

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPGWiZaRD

They also seem to improve performance slightly with it. Gigabyte hasn't been very good for superpi b4 but with these boards they are a lil bit faster as I saw a 1M posted in another thread.

it's just bios (obviously the board has to give you decent settings to get that performance too)

i've done a superfast time with pre-45nm bioses in the past on X38-DQ6 >> even below 45K PP ;)

45022 pp

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3...5137mhzhh5.png

44908 pp and it wasnt fully tweaked yet

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/3...iciencytt7.png

what this P45-UD3P board has over these older boards is that fact it can run monster FSB (hugely important for benching these dual cores) and huge RAM speeds :D.....
10-13-2008, 06:52 PM
hicookie

fuuger and vapor done it with 1:2 true clock and Dual channel

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/1459/1508aj6.png
10-14-2008, 12:25 AM
Newblar

what about max fsb? :)
10-14-2008, 02:59 AM
Scog

I would like to see max fsb on a 45 quad. Looking at getting this as a replacement for my disappointing p35 ds3r
10-14-2008, 03:04 AM
Charles Wirth

Check Hicookies thread for bus speed.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=203272
10-14-2008, 03:55 AM
Bobsama

Sexy motherboards. The $117 pricetag after MIR is incredibly attractive too: P45, UD3, ICH10R, and CFX compatible. Excellent layout, Firewire, and a good package overall. Dang--Gigabyte's going to make a killing off of these!
10-14-2008, 09:47 AM
HousERaT

UD3P has free shipping again at the egg. Just bit and I don't really need but with the rebate and live cashback................ :D
10-14-2008, 08:01 PM
GAR

Wow, very impressive, i like my MF II, or else i would get this in a heartbeat.
10-14-2008, 11:06 PM
alpha0ne

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUGGER

Validation
http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=425018

Damn thats impressive, I even like the layout of this board and I will be sure to keep a lookout in AU for availability and price :up:
10-17-2008, 01:31 AM
VRSpy

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUGGER

Check Hicookies thread for bus speed.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=203272

strange, tested On UD3P can do 550x6 max out and not stable even at X7,X8...
Using Initial bios F4.
Mine E8500 can do 600fsb, tested on dfi 45 plus. And after changing to another DFi 45 plus ( rma new one ) no longer can do 600Fsb.
So I am sure, P45 chips are not consistence. Or needed a better bios to do it.
My guess is that the bios can do more.
A friend on mine using Msi P45neo2 fr, initially did 510fsb 2 mths back and he update the new bios 3.2 and voila ! 604fsb.
cOME ON gUYS ( gigabyte ), give us a better bios or is meant only for special group.
ASUs & Gigabyte :(
10-17-2008, 02:20 AM
Bellisimo

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSpy

strange, tested On UD3P can do 550x6 max out and not stable even at X7,X8...
Using Initial bios F4.
Mine E8500 can do 600fsb, tested on dfi 45 plus. And after changing to another DFi 45 plus ( rma new one ) no longer can do 600Fsb.
So I am sure, P45 chips are not consistence. Or needed a better bios to do it.
My guess is that the bios can do more.
A friend on mine using Msi P45neo2 fr, initially did 510fsb 2 mths back and he update the new bios 3.2 and voila ! 604fsb.
cOME ON gUYS ( gigabyte ), give us a better bios or is meant only for special group.
ASUs & Gigabyte :(

tried hicookie bios?
10-17-2008, 03:09 AM
VRSpy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellisimo

tried hicookie bios?

send him a pm but no news yet...just download from the site initial released F4.
After flashing it was F4-4. Still stuck at 540x7...even worst...:down:
Even tested UD3R can do 490x6fsb.

MSi can do much better after bios update to 3.2...BIOS !
http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=339949
10-17-2008, 03:19 AM
dinos22

you should create a thread and put down detailed settings what you're doing to get that OC
probably the best way to get help quick :up:
10-17-2008, 03:31 AM
VRSpy

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinos22

you should create a thread and put down detailed settings what you're doing to get that OC
probably the best way to get help quick :up:

hehe...just needed a F5a bios. Anyone ? :D
10-17-2008, 04:20 AM
stasio

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSpy

hehe...just needed a F5a bios. Anyone ? :D

PM to Benny Lodewijk,he using F5a
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=203785
10-17-2008, 04:29 AM
splmann

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRSpy

hehe...just needed a F5a bios. Anyone ? :D

http://www.savefile.com/files/1844049

Regards
splmann
10-17-2008, 04:33 AM
naokaji

Double the US price ftw.. ordered one anyway, ud3p on the way, now to dig out my good old team extreem 6400's and gkx cellshocks's:p:

All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:26 PM.

XtremeSystems