Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H, UD3H or D3H?

Tobes

Tobes

Tobes

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Hey guys,

So picking parts for a new rig and was looking at motherboards. I tend to go with what everyone else has as it helps with overclocking, troubleshooting and tends to be the better motherboard. So I'm going to take a guess and say the UD5H is the bees knees but it might be a bit overkill for me.

I don't need uber sound and I am buying a dedicated sound card, I don't need integrated graphics but I guess it does help should I have a GPU failure. I am after a fair amount of USB 3 ports because I have no idea why we are still putting USB 2 ports on mobos when USB 3 is backwards compatible. I'm basically after a futureproof board.

So I don't mind spending the money on the UD5H but I was hoping someone could justify it or tell me not to be silly and grab another board.
 
I needed a new motherboard after I ham fistedly ruined the USB 3.0 header on my 2 year old ASUS P8P67 and it ended up needing to be replaced because I couldn't see the BIOS screen or Windows loading logo but it did show the Windows login screen.

This was all OK until I decided to do a CMOS reset and then I couldn't get anything on screen anymore as it was obviously prompting me to enter the BIOS or something and I couldn't blindly get it to load Windows.

I tried a different graphics card to rule that out and if it was the CPU it wouldn't have made it to the login screen.

So I was looking for a z77 board to replace it and the cheapest suitable board I found was the Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H.

I don't need crossfire or SLI don't need anything fancy my basic requirements were a z77 board capable of taking an i5-2500k to 4.6ghz for as little money as possible and the GA-Z77-D3H fitted the bill perfectly.

My P8P67 is now only worth around £ 30 - £ 40 in fully working condition so I look at this as a small incremental upgrade taking me from P67 to z77 and that upgrade alone is worth £ 35 IMO.

So ruining my board only cost me about £ 30 and its a good job I can replace it myself for free rather then relying on a local PC shop which would charge for labour on top of the cost of a new motherboard.
 
The UD5H is a nice board, it has a better sound chip and more expansion than the UD3H or D3H.

Its also currently on offer which will change tomorrow.
 
UD5 has more usb3.0 ports i think plus 2 lan ports one of which is Intel, so that fits your needs for more usb 3.0.
 
Yeah I think it just makes more sense spending the extra £40 for the futureproof. Unless intel decide to change the socket again.

Now I just need to pick a decent but quiet cooler for overclocking.
 
Well they are changing soon, you might want to read the UD5 discussion thread to see what they think.
Personally use a Z77X-UD3H and have had zero problems with it.
 
troops said:
Well they are changing soon, you might want to read the UD5 discussion thread to see what they think.
Personally use a Z77X-UD3H and have had zero problems with it.
Click to expand...

Damnit lol. Just everyone be shush, I'm trying to justify spending money here lol.
 
Tobes said:
Yeah I think it just makes more sense spending the extra £40 for the futureproof. Unless intel decide to change the socket again.

Now I just need to pick a decent but quiet cooler for overclocking.
Click to expand...

Well the cheapest board you can get for decent overclocking is the GA-Z77-D3H that was my main requirement. I don't know if any other manufacturer makes an equivalent board for the same price.

I will never use crossfire, don't need tons of USB 3.0 ports the four onboard will suffice, not bothered about anything else really and you just know that come March/April the z87 will be out so you can never future proof.

Just get the cheapest board that fits your requirements I paid about £ 100 for my P8P67 when it was released in Jan 2011 and now its worth £ 30 in working order.
 
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Love my UD3H, was running an older BIOS version, F5 which was causing issues with my USB ports being slow/failing to respond after waking from sleep, but quick and easy Q flash to F18 and all hunky dory :)
 
the ud3h is a good/cheap capable board or the up5 th is the other end of the scale with all the bells n whistles
 
Ended up getting the UD5H only the pci e slot has broken. I put in my old 4890 only it wouldn't show a display so took it out and it took out the socket with it. The clip was undone but it did seem stiff but yeah now the pins which go into the socket are bent so the socket won't go back on. Hope I'm not out of pocket.
 
Well the competitor won't replace it as they say it's user damaged. I kinda understand but at the same time it seemed dodgy when I put the card in. Also I don't see how it's come away from the board so easily. On looking at the socket it doesn't seem to have and clips which would hook itself on but then none of the other sockets do either.

Really really bummed out. I'm a weakling as well. I couldn't beat my 18 year old sister in a arm wrestle.
 
Just request an rma directly from gigabyte UK,say it arrived that way and they will repair it,if they ask about the retailer say they refused
 
Not long after my post I emailed them but didn't say it arrived like it. Think they would be able to tell I have used it as I can imagine it has screw marks where it's been screwed into the case although it might not I don't have it in front of me at the moment. Just don't fancy paying for postage and having it sent back saying they won't repair it.
 
they will repair it,they might charge you I don't know,you could say the slot was faulty/loose and it came away from the board when you tried to install the gpu

gigabyte are good when it comes to repairs
 
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