Need a new i7 mobo

_lecro_ · 4 Jan 2010 at 00:18

Setting up a new system and just need the mobo/ram now
Already got i7/case arriving tomoz just cant make my mind up on the mobo.

Been put off gigabyte tbh with all the cold boot issues
so would prefer asus,
but is it worth getting a rampage 2 when the P6T is nearly £100 cheaper this week.

BTW i will be clocking to 4ghz with a H50

Then to save a new thread, i need 6gb of ram to match.

ive always used corsair but with prices ranging from £100 - £300 ,
really need to know if its worth getting some really good stuff i.e dominator gt

PakJai · 4 Jan 2010 at 01:27

To be honest, Gigabyte fixed the cold boot with the latest Bios.
Rampage is really niceand the Bios is nicely laid out. Can't comment on the P6T though.

Menaptu · 4 Jan 2010 at 01:40

Gigabyte UD5 with latest bios is fine

and the UD7 apparently doesn't have any problems

They're all a much of a muchness, really.....
UD5/UD4 (UD7??) has "silly" layout as in PCI_1x port can't be used
stuff like that....
As for "WAAAAAAAAAAAH I CAN'T USE 3xSLI DUAL SLOT CARDS WITH AN IDE/FRONT USB/FIREWIRE" so WHAT? These boards aren't _really_ meant for that. The 3rd should be for a dedicated PhysX card (single slot) etc etc etc

as for ASUS
IDK they aren't "made as well" and stuff

I mean I spent ~7 months choosing a motherboard!!!
Just get one

ANY one. (gigabyte or asus)

if you're upgrading within, say, a year don't spend too much
but if you're going to keep it for a while (~4 yrs) get a more expensive one, but not, I wouldn't say, with USB3/SATA3 as the tech will probably be better soon and you can use PCI cards and things

blahhhhhhhh

not really helpful, but...
really, it doesn't matter what you get

tipes · 4 Jan 2010 at 14:23

Menaptu said:
Gigabyte UD5 with latest bios is fine
and the UD7 apparently doesn't have any problems

Would agree as I have or have had both the above boards - currently using UD7 with no post problems. The cheaper Gigabyte boards are also good. AFAIK Asus support is not so good bordering on terrible at times - used to own and swear by Asus. Happy Gigabyte owner now.

To the op, regarding memory I would say you don't really need the dominator GT get the cheaper version unless you really want to push it as regards clocking and insist on good memory timings as well.

Mark

Danny_75 · 4 Jan 2010 at 16:01

I have the P55 UD5 giga mobo and its been spot on and simple to OC (1156) No probs at all.I am running the Dom Gt 2000 ram well worth the extra cash .

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD5, Intel P55, S1156, PCI-E 2.0, DDR3 1333/1600/2200, SATA III, RAID, ATX, USB 3.0 £172.00

tipes · 4 Jan 2010 at 17:10

Danny_75 said:
I have the P55 UD5 giga mobo and its been spot on and simple to OC (1156) No probs at all.I am running the Dom Gt 2000 ram well worth the extra cash .

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD5, Intel P55, S1156, PCI-E 2.0, DDR3 1333/1600/2200, SATA III, RAID, ATX, USB 3.0 £172.00

Yep - just cant beat the gigas at the mo - good boards I reckon, although each to their own of course. I take it your a happy bunny then.

Mark

R088ieS86 · 4 Jan 2010 at 17:24

+1 for the Gigabyte UD7.
Got it running on my latest build, no problems with booting.

Read good things about how well the H50 fits it as well.

_lecro_ · 4 Jan 2010 at 17:32

I do like the look of the UD7 but doesnt it require having a proper loop rather than just a H50 :confused:

tipes · 4 Jan 2010 at 18:25

_lecro_ said:
I do like the look of the UD7 but doesnt it require having a proper loop rather than just a H50

Yes it does if you want to cool the nb as well - which is already provided on the board as there are two barbs permanently fixed. You don't have to use the nb cooling - you could just use the H50 to cool the cpu only.

If at some point in the future you think you might like to add cooling for the northbridge/graphics cards/mosfets etc then custom water cooling is your best route as it would be far more flexible as you could add things into the loop as funds allow - this is why custom water cooling is so useful.

All depends on what you want to do really, and also what you want to achiewve from your system as regards overclocks etc.

Hope this helps

Mark

_lecro_ · 4 Jan 2010 at 19:52

Well from the pics at Ocuk there doesnt seem to be any form of NB cooling,
but i did find a pic with a passive cooler that gives the impression that its included with the mobo .
can anyone confirm this !

tipes · 4 Jan 2010 at 20:47

_lecro_ said:
Well from the pics at Ocuk there doesnt seem to be any form of NB cooling,
but i did find a pic with a passive cooler that gives the impression that its included with the mobo .
can anyone confirm this !

I can confirm that you get what is called a "Hybrid silent pipe module" which is packaged seperately in with the motherboard and you have to fix it on to the board yourself. The northbridge waterblocks are mentioned on page 16 of the manual for the UD7 - at the bottom of the page. I suggest you download the manual from Gigabyte and have a look - it will answer your questions.

Mark

_lecro_ · 4 Jan 2010 at 23:27

Thanks that pretty much answers my questions..
downloaded the manual quicker than the asus site would load

Pity my xonar wont fit into the PCIEX1 slot

Due to a hardware limitation, the PCIEX1_1 slot can only accommodate a shorter PCI Express x1
expansion card

Is there room in PCIEX1_2 ? looks very tight with the silent pipe module installed !