Preview of GIGABYTE P55A mobos

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10-24-2009, 06:03 AM
zalbard

Preview of GIGABYTE P55A mobos

Source: http://www.tweaktown.com/

Quote:

SATA3, USB3 and 3x USB power

Today we were invited to the GIGABYTE headquarters here in Taipei. We were given an exclusive hands-on look at its upcoming and refreshed Intel P55 Express based motherboards for Core i5 and Core i7 Lynnfield based Socket 1156 processors. Namely, we are looking at the P55A-UD6 and the P55A-UD4P.

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_01.png

GIGABYTE had actually planned to implement SATA3 support in its first revision P55 motherboards that were launched back in June around Computex time, but due to some controller issues, a delay was an unfortunate result.

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_04.png

Marvel has since fixed and improved its single disk and RAID 0 supporting SATA3 controller and now we see one of the first motherboards on the market to support the next generation storage system. At the moment, there is no RAID 1 support, but a GIGABYTE product manager mentioned in our meeting that Marvell may come out with a new firmware a little later adding that ability. Also, GIGABYTE told us that they saw up to a 30% increase in performance when going from a SATA2 to SATA 3 hard drive under HD Tach, measuring both burst and read speeds. Not bad.

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_05.png

Next on the list of refresh changes with both boards is the addition of USB 3.0 support. We’ve all been using USB 2.0 for what feels like an eternity now, finally we see again one of the first motherboards to add in support for the new Super Speed plug and play connectivity standard. An NEC chipset has been used as you can see below.

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_03.png

The third big thing GIGABYTE is pushing with the “A” refresh of P55 boards is triple power USB. What the heck is that? Well, in order to increase the stability and support of connected USB devices, GIGABYTE tripled the amount of output power on all USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. The USB 2.0 spec calls for a minimum output of 500 milliamps per port, that has gone to 1500 milliamps and the USB 3.0 spec calls for a higher minimum output of 900 milliamps per power and that has been increased to 2700 milliamps. What this also means is that now all external hard drives will work and you’ll only need to use one USB cable for both data and power transfer.

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_02.png

But we’re not quite done yet. The forth change that isn’t documented as much is the fact that GIGABYTE has switched over from a Foxconn socket to a Lotes socket. While I haven’t personally heard of this, GIGABYTE told us that there have been reports online of the Foxconn sockets causing all sorts of problems, hence the switch. The socket has also been coated to match the rest of the board. Good touch.

Check out our video right here for all the details and a good, close, hands-on look.
10-24-2009, 06:17 AM
jalyst

Looks lovely, don't suppose you've heard anything about the EX58A?
Even if you have I guess you couldn't say anything!? :-)
10-24-2009, 06:34 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by jalyst

Looks lovely, don't suppose you've heard anything about the EX58A?
Even if you have I guess you couldn't say anything!? :-)

Well, my guess is that X58A board will be actually made, but after P55A release because a) we have no information whatsoever about X58A so far and b) Gigabyte and all other motherboard companies have to actually promote the new P55 brand since it's not so appealing price wise atm. So guess a few months after this board, not so soon...
10-24-2009, 06:37 AM
Marco André

Sweet! I see lotes socket there :up:
10-24-2009, 06:39 AM
fellix_bg

Oh, snap!
So, now even the CPU socket brand has become an advertising check point feature... :D
10-24-2009, 06:40 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by fellix_bg

Oh, snap!
So, now even the CPU socket brand has become an advertising check point feature... :D

Hehe, aye. EVGA Classified started it I guess.
10-24-2009, 06:59 AM
Jamesrt2004

p55a ftw please
10-24-2009, 07:11 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamesrt2004

p55a ftw please

Wish granted!

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...37_edition.jpg
10-24-2009, 08:08 AM
George_o/c

LOL zalbard :p: :D

Can't wait for these to hit retail :up:
10-24-2009, 08:56 AM
SubZero.it

Quote:

Originally Posted by zalbard

Well, my guess is that X58A board will be actually made, but after P55A release because a) we have no information whatsoever about X58A so far and b) Gigabyte and all other motherboard companies have to actually promote the new P55 brand since it's not so appealing price wise atm. So guess a few months after this board, not so soon...

Read the entire article please :) under the video there is written about an upcoming preview next week about the X58 Extreme2 board. That is what you want :up:
10-24-2009, 09:23 AM
Glow9

"They are futureproof" lol okay.

Anyways whats with good companies like gigabyte who keep putting the bios reset switch on the motherboard. Anyone else think that is completely dumb to not have it at the back? I love having one at the back so I don't need to open up my entire case for no reason.
10-24-2009, 09:58 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by SubZero.it

Read the entire article please :) under the video there is written about an upcoming preview next week about the X58 Extreme2 board. That is what you want :up:

LOL, good point, missed the last line. :p:
Guess it's coming sooner than expected then! But still a bit later than P55A probably.
10-24-2009, 10:37 AM
sholvaco

Love how Gigabyte boards are always packed to the brim with goodies :up:... Which begs the question: How the fwck did they manage to hook everything up?

Tally on the 16 + 8 available PCIe lanes:
- 16 CPU lanes to x16 slots #1 and #2
- 4 PCH lanes to x16 slot #3
- 2 x 1 PCH lanes to 2 x Realtek NICs
- 1 PCH lane to Realtek audio codec
- 1 PCH lane to Marvell SATA 6Gb controller?
- ran out of PCIe lanes, what does the NEC USB 3.0 controller use? (PCI offers only 133MB/s)

P55A-UD6 vs. P55-UD6:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/upload/...%20picture.jpg
compared to
http://www.images.clunk.org.uk/revie...6/IMG_9111.jpg

Additional lane switch... Is the Marvell SATA 6Gb controller running off a CPU provided PCIe lane? If that were the case, it would leave you with a choice of either:
- x16 link on x16 slot #1, no SATA 6Gb or...
- x8 by x8 link on x16 slots #1 and #2, no SATA 6Gb or...
- x8 link on x16 slot #1, x1 (PCIe 2.0) link on SATA 6Gb controller.

You sacrifice graphics performance but gain full speed on the SATA 6Gb controller?
10-24-2009, 10:59 AM
Sh1tyMcGee

ftw? is evga going to have to sue gigabyte? lol
10-24-2009, 11:11 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh1tyMcGee

ftw? is evga going to have to sue gigabyte? lol

Nah, it's just my Photochop skills are pretty good. :p:

http://images.tweaktown.com/news/1/3/13357_01.png

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...37_edition.jpg

Just compare these two.
10-24-2009, 11:17 AM
Salavat23

Quote:

Originally Posted by zalbard

Nah, it's just my Photochop skills are pretty good. :p:

If you used the right font, it would have been more convincing.
10-24-2009, 11:19 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salavat23

If you used the right font, it would have been more convincing.

I was lazy, this took like 5 mins to make... Does it matter, really? Was just for :banana::banana::banana::banana:s and giggles anyways. :D
10-24-2009, 11:09 PM
saaya

im curious how the hooked up the sata 6gbps chip :D
10-25-2009, 01:25 AM
Jamesrt2004

Hate you Zalbard :P: I fell for that :( then read the post after it lmao! :P:

but seriously, the colourscheme of the p55 ftw is epic giga should have somethign similar
10-25-2009, 04:12 AM
zalbard

I think it would be a good idea to offer the top boards not just in one colour scheme in limited quantities. Would be quite profitable. Or perhaps GB would find out their colour scheme is not so great.

Edit: I like your new avatar, Saaya. :D
10-25-2009, 10:20 AM
George_o/c

Hey zalbard, do we know when these babes are going to hit the stores ? Anytime soon perhaps ?
10-25-2009, 10:27 AM
zalbard

I don't know personally. But since they already have working boards, and even boxes for those made, it can't take too long. Guess Gigabyte's ramping up production atm.
10-25-2009, 07:29 PM
gumballguy

Worried about how the sata3/usb3 connects.. nothing out there is going to run several sata3 ports at ~500mb/s per port.

Which sucks. Hard.

PS: Don't ask me if I "need" that much speed over that many ports.
10-25-2009, 08:21 PM
Benny Lodewijk

ahh.. got P55A-UD3P today.... i notice the socket using from LOTES and more phases compare to P55-UD3P (12 phase vs 8 phases)... I will post my test result soon
10-25-2009, 08:46 PM
mrcape

I'm surprised to see the top of the line UD6 uses push pin sinks. Guess it doesn't matter really, but it could seem like a bell or a whistle if they used screws. Just thinking from a marketing perspective..
10-25-2009, 09:18 PM
dinos22

nice benny :up:
ud3p or ud4p is always they best value OCer isnt it
can you let us know if the vcore is still at 1.9 or has it moved upwards heheh
10-26-2009, 04:03 AM
3NZ0

Quote:

Originally Posted by sholvaco

Love how Gigabyte boards are always packed to the brim with goodies :up:... Which begs the question: How the fwck did they manage to hook everything up?

Audio doesn't use a pci-e lane up, it has its own bus.
10-26-2009, 04:25 AM
LinkinParkBoy

Tri Channel ?
10-26-2009, 04:30 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinkinParkBoy

Tri Channel ?

???
Memory?
X58A yes, P55A nope...
10-26-2009, 05:38 AM
LinkinParkBoy

Check the movie zalbard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv0TM8rMuME&hd=1
10-26-2009, 08:21 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by LinkinParkBoy

Check the movie zalbard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv0TM8rMuME&hd=1

I just did again and I have no clue what you're talking about. :p:
10-26-2009, 09:32 AM
hardtarget

Maybe due to the 6 memory slots on the Gigabyte P55A UD6 causing some confusion?
10-26-2009, 11:41 AM
sholvaco

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3NZ0

Audio doesn't use a pci-e lane up, it has its own bus.

It does. Thanks.

The lanes are still taken up by the two x1 slots I failed to account previously. A lot of either-or on connectivity thanks to Intels nearsightedness with the mainstream platform agenda.

The P55A-UD4 is missing the PCIe x4 though, so if they connected the Marvell controller through a PCIe bridge to jury rig a 5 Gbps link, it'd be the SATA3 board to go after.
10-26-2009, 11:51 AM
hatakiller

will current cases usb2 plug work with usb3?
10-26-2009, 11:53 AM
zalbard

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatakiller

will current cases usb2 plug work with usb3?

I don't think so. Doesn't USB 3.0 have more contacts in the connector?
10-26-2009, 12:14 PM
doompc

USB 3.0 uses a different set of pins, but the connector is backwards compatible:
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6386/230509usb02.jpg
10-26-2009, 12:14 PM
sholvaco

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatakiller

will current cases usb2 plug work with usb3?

If you mean the frontpanel ports connecting to a mobo pinout, then no. I don't think any upcoming "USB 3.0" boards even provide this option. You can plug a USB 2.0 device into an USB 3.0 port freely though since it's backwards compatible (vice versa depends on the device).

Tweaktown has the Extreme2 preview up:
http://www.tweaktown.com/news/13369/...ard/index.html
10-26-2009, 01:32 PM
H2O

Actually, the revised X58 chipset may be closer than you think...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8kSW5i3FS8

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2009/10/...g_motherboards
10-26-2009, 04:04 PM
sukebe

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O

Actually, the revised X58 chipset may be closer than you think...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8kSW5i3FS8

http://www.hardocp.com/news/2009/10/...g_motherboards

Finally good news!
10-27-2009, 08:15 AM
SubZero.it

Gigabyte announced it so they'll should be really near
http://www.tweaktown.com/pressreleas...wer/index.html
10-30-2009, 06:02 AM
zalbard

http://www.overclockers.ru/ and a translated version of the article have some information about pricing.
GA-P55A-UD3R - 180$
GA-P55MA-UD4 - 203$
And xxxA boards should be on average 20$ more expensive than normal ones. Fair pricing imo! :up:
11-03-2009, 07:04 PM
willow

They're here! :clap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128409

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128410
11-03-2009, 07:34 PM
Gnarkill9800

what a waste of money....
11-03-2009, 08:03 PM
SamHughe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnarkill9800

what a waste of money....

You don't have to post on every single thread in the news section you know. :spam:
24 post in your first day. I don't see you being here too long without getting banned.

EDIT: Oh snap!
11-10-2009, 01:20 PM
Charles Wirth

Ive had this board for a few weeks, good to see it's on the shelf already.

The marvell controller refuses work as a boot drive in RAID mode, the driver has issues and windows 7 doesn't recognize it. I need to look around for newer bios and or drivers again.

"333" is what marketing is going with... USB 3, SATA 3, and 3x the USB power.

Plastic push pins holding down the sinks needs to be addressed too.