Can I disable Secure Boot on X79 boards

[tomast]

I really want to get one of the new X79 MB but...
I want to run Linux and I'm afraid the UEFI Secure Boot is gonna be a problem.
I don't want Win8 and will never want Win8.
I just want to be able to install Linux (and possibly WinXPx64)

Does anyone have one of the X79 boards and can I disable Secure boot in the Bios ?

[tomast]

I really want to get the GA-X79-UD7 MB but I can't seem to find out if the
Bios will allow me to disable "secure boot" so I can install Linux.
I'd sure hate to buy the board just to find that I can't use it....
 Does anyone have the X79 board and can tell me if the bios has that option ?
And/or where might I find a breakdown of the new bios that details the options ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

I have now two X58 UD7 MBs (one V1 and one V2)
and a X58A UD3R , all great boards but I want to move up to the X79

[tomast]

Well I guess I have been worried about nothing...
As someone apparently smarter than me has told me ...
If it has "Support for Microsoft® Windows 7/Vista/XP" then it should be fine for Linux too.   
I just keep hearing so much about UEFI and Secure Boot I didn't want to take the plunge till I was sure. 
Now I wonder if the Gigabyte bios has even implemented the Secure Boot feature yet    
Oh well , live and learn.

[Rolo42]

The motherboard manual is the only way to check for certain.

[Aussie Allan]

  Here's a good in-depth read to alleviate your worries ....   http://www.elpauer.org/?p=1056

         "I don't want Win8 and will never want Win8." .... That's what I said 3 years ago (about windows 7) with millions of other converts  

  Aussie Allan

[Lsdmeasap]

If it does not properly support it right now, I'm certain they will get that corrected in the future because they know many users will want to use Linux and MAC too.

If you want to be 1005 sure before buying ask them directly here, you'll need to wait until Feb 1 or so for a reply most likely due to Chinese New Year.
http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/technical-support.aspx

[Rolo42]

        "I don't want Win8 and will never want Win8." .... That's what I said 3 years ago (about windows 7) with millions of other converts  

Why?  Win7 is nice.  Vista, on the other hand, is an abomination.  I never ran it at home and almost never ran it at work (they kicked me off the network, banned xp).

My next tablet will be Win8; I don't see changing the desktops, laptop.

[Aussie Allan]

  Totally agree Lsdmeasap Advanced BIOS support through updates is a progressive thing (thank God!)..... Just like the OS Rolo42 ..... if you played "rumpled Stiltskin" and woke up two years later ..... Windows8 would be the rave and windows9 sucks.....why would you ever want "9" anyway 

  Aussie Allan

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi all, 

Just add this infos...

Microsoft responds to Windows 8's secure boot requirement concerns
http://www.techspot.com/news/45605-microsoft-responds-to-windows-8s-secure-boot-requirement-concerns.html

This is again right or there have been changes?

Gloup_Gloup

[Lsdmeasap]

Yep Allan, Gigabyte is constantly working on BIOS improvements, and does listen directly to end users comments and requests, even though to some it may not seem like it or may not be fast enough.

They are always improving BIOSes thankfully, we just have to keep in mind that takes time due to testing, replication of errors, more testing, confirmation of fixes, new features, ect.

[Rolo42]

Allan...umm...what?  XP was awesome (it was faster and more compatible with gaming than 2000 and it looked better); 7 is very nice (hard to be 'awesome' when its replacing an awesome OS that's been reliable and tuned for 9 years, in my case) and have no complaints.  Vista just sucked and a year after Vista was released, XP was still outselling it, that's how bad it was.  How will 8 be?  We'll see by its own merits, not the novelty of it.

Now, re: secure boot.  Are they not learning from their prior anti-trust lawsuits?  "We're just protecting against viruses"...BS!  Having it enabled by default is protection, removing the option is just forcing your product.  "In Soviet Russia, operating systems use you!"  

[tomast]

Well I have nothing against Windows 8 but I really don't use "Windows" much.
I use Linux almost exclusively.  The only thing I ever log onto Windows for is
to run some CAD programs and once in a while some  Games 
If I can't run the OS of my own choice then I don't want or need the new hardware.

I have heard all the arguments and excuses for Secure Boot but it's pretty
obvious to me that it has nothing to do with Security etc...
It's all about $
Every OS since DOS has served me just fine without it.
I still have 98SE on one old computer and IF I use Windows at all now it's XP x64...

I don't know if I'm gonna get the X79 board or not , still undecided. 
I just wish Gigabyte would do another run of the X58 UD7 boards.
Should have got a couple of extra UD7's while they were available. 

[Dark Mantis]

I just wish Gigabyte would do another run of the X58 UD7 boards.
Should have got a couple of extra UD7's while they were available. 

Yes, apart from the Marvell 9128 controller fiasco that was a very good motherboard, in fact it is what I am using right now. It has been in use for the past 18 months or so without a rest and behaves impeccably. I am using the revision1.0 board and it was the best they made. The later boards were cut down versions in my opinion. Just a shame as I said about the SATA3 capability.