Seek Quad Core Clock and Component upgrade version, GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P

[windwithme]

GIGABYTE launched Intel new mainstream chipset, P45+ICH10, in June.
The naming rule still continued DS3/DS4/DQ6, and also added the new EXTREME series.

Since GIGABYTE announced Ultra Durable 3, the new naming rule is UD3 series.
This spec starts from P45 chipset. The UD3 has 3 models, UD3/UD3R/UD3P, which are sorted by price.

The board I got is GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P.
The difference to UD3R is that UD3P has Dual GbE LAN, 1 more PCI-e X8 and support ATI CrossFireX.

Take a look for packing first
Package emphasize UD3 technology, DDR2 1366+ and 2oz cooper PCB used

Backside also has detail function introduction

Accessories inside
Manual and installation guide, cables, I/O shield, eSATA bracket.

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P

Left Lower corner
1 X PCI-E X16(blue)
1 X PCI-E X8(orange which can run CrossFireX X8+X8 with blue slot)
3 X PCI-E X1
2 X PCI
Realtek 8111C LAN chip supports Teaming technology
Realtek ALC889A supports 7.1 channel and High Definition Audio.
It also has Dolby simulation function by dual channel sound.

Right Lower corner
6 X SATAII( SB ICH10R provided. It supports SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10)
2 X SATAII(JMicron 368 provided)
1 X Floppy
Dual BIOS protection

Right Upper corner
4 X DIMM DDR2, supports 800/1066/1366 and 1366 is special spec.
1 X IDE(JMicron 368 provided)
24Pin power in

CPU VRM is 6 phase and support DES advanced.
The latest VRD11.1 can bring Intel E0 stepping CPU energy saving into full play.

IO part
8 X USB 2.0
2 X RJ-45 LAN
1 X S/PDIF fiber/coaxial
1 X IEEE 1394a

 

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The Pipe Thermal Module
Even though it’s not common cooper or aluminum with copper color, GIGABYTE use blue and gray are also looking good.

Boot screen

BIOS main page

M.I.T. OC/Performance page

Voltage page
Load-Line Calibration avoid CPU voltage dropped
CPU Vcore 0.5000~2.30000V
CPU Terminatin 1.100~1.700V
CPU PLL 1.050~2.810V

MCH Core 0.850~2.000V
MCH Reference 0.690~1.230V
ICH I/O 1.050~2.310V
DARM Voltage 1.450~3.040V
DRAM Termination 0.970~1.665V

Advanced CPU items
CPU Clock Skew can adjust between 50~200ps to let dual core CPU to reach higher clock.

Advanced DRAM items

Sercuity Chip Configuration

PC Health Status

 

[windwithme]

Test Configuration
CPU: INTEL Core 2 Duo E8400/Quad Q8200
MB: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P
DRAM: CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X4096-8500C5D/TWIN2X2048-10000C5D
VGA: MSI HD4670 512MB
HD: Seagate 7200.10 320GB
POWER: Corsair HX1000W Modular Power Supply
Cooler: Thermaltake BigTyp VP/JETART Nano Diamond

CPU part
E8400 E0 dual core

CPU 500 X 9=>4500Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-15
2 X SUper PI 32M

CPU 520 X 8.5=>4420Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1030 CL5 5-5-18
2 X SUper PI 32M

CPU 595 X 7.5=>4462.5Mhz
SUper PI 1M

If the all chipset voltage set as Auto, the good Dual core CPU can OC to 580~610Mhz in air cooling.
However, it’s stable at 550Mhz can be improved.

Q8200 M1
CPU 500 X 7=>3500Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-18
Hyper PI 32M

517Mhz
SUper PI 1M

Quad core clock is very good. It’s top in P45 boards.
Especially 500Mhz stable is rare in P45 MB. 517Mhz is almost the Q8200 limitation as well.


DRAM part
2GBX2 CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X4096-8500C5D

CPU: 500X8=>4000Mhz
DRAM: DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-15 2.1V
SP2004 3 X Blend mode,2.95GB stable

DDR2 1240 CL5 5-5-15 2.1V
EVEREST Memory Benchmark

1GBX2 CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-10000C5D
DDR2 1433 CL5 5-5-15 2T 2.5V
2 X SP2004 Blend mode stable

CPU 450 X 9=>4050Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1500 CL5 5-5-15 2T 2.5V
EVEREST 10237MB/s

 

[windwithme]

CPU/DRAM 500/1333
EVEREST 10810MB/s

UD3P is also very good at DDR2 OC. It can reach DDR2 1333-1500 at around 2.4~2.5V.
I can say this is never seen before to take DDR2 into such high frequency.

3D part
Test with MSI 4670 512MB OC
CPU 500 X 9=>4500Mhz
DRAM DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-15 2T
VGA 833/2250

3DMARK2003

3DMARK2005

3DMARK2006

Crysis Benchmark

4670 with 4.5G E8400 and DDR2 1200 DRAM makes the performance be higher.
Itfs worthy of highest C/P value VGA card at 100USD.


Conclude GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P
Advantage
1.UD3 series price are between 130~160USD. Itfs attractive price.
2.Full Japan-made solid capacitors and high quality also good looking heat pipe.
3.BIOS voltage range is wide and the BIOS item is also rich.
4.IO has Dual LAN, 1394, 8 USB 2.0, and support ATI CrossFireX X8+X8
5.For the OC, Quad core can reach 500Mhz and DDR2 can run stable at 1433.
6.6 phase PWM and support Intel latest VRD11.1 and DES advanced for enhanced energy saving.
7.EasyTune6 also provides many features in OS.

Disadvantage
1.Dual Core CPU stability can be improved in high frequency
2.DDR2 DIMM color is not match with blue PCB

Performance 8/10
Component 9/10
Outlook 8/10
C/P 9/10

GIGABYTE UD3 series is emphasize Ultra Durable3 2OZ technology.
I donft look deeply for the PCB temperature change.
But the price is not increase for the users is good.

GA-EP45-UD3P price is around 160USD.
As per the components, this is the best components usage in P45 boards.
The OC part is also simple that just all set as Auto, and adjust the voltage by your own CPU and RAM.

This board is very high standard at quad core and DDR2 OC, but the dual core is so so.

P45+DDR2 combination is the best value mainstream board atm.
GIGABYTE UD3 series owns good quality components, superb OC standard and reasonable price.
If your budget is only 130~160 USD, GIGABYTE UD3 can be considered.

 

[Adywebb]

Nice review windwithme - saw yours also at GameSpot too


Welcome to PCReview

 

[windwithme]

Nice review windwithme - saw yours also at GameSpot too


Welcome to PCReview

Thanks for your warm welcome...
Hope you all like my review.....

 

[Anon_F]

Nice pics.

 

[Abarbarian]

Very nice review.