Help me choose a Gigabyte Motherboard please!

[timtom33]

Hi,

I am trying to decide on which is best for me, the GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 or GA-Z68X-UD4-B3

So far the differences i can see are:

- UD4-B3 has 2X rear eSata (not really bothered about this)
- UD4-B3 has 16 phase power and a bigger heatsink (not sure this matters hugely)

- UD3P-B3 has one extra PCIe x1 slot (seems good for future expansion)
- UD3P-B3 has 12 phase power (hoping this will be plenty)

So i have two questions:

• All in all i am thinking the UD3P-B3 is better, as i would like the extra PCIe x1 slot as i plan to go Cross fire later which will block out some of the other slots.. Will two PICe x1 slots work with two PCIe x8 graphics cards installed? (I want to have a PCIe x1 sound card and PCIe x1 TV card installed)
  
  
• Will i be ok with 12 phase power on a i7 2600k Quad probably OC'd to 4.5 Ghz.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

There is not a lot to choose between the two boards as you have noticed for yourself. You ask about the two PCIEx1 slots being able to run PCIEx8 graphics cards, well this is not an option. The graphics cards are normally x8 or x16 and there is no way they will fit an x1 slot. PCIE cards will fit in a slot that is bigger than themselves but not smaller. Generally you will need x8 slots as a minimum for GPUs.

I can't see a problem with running the 2600K CPU with a 12 phase power setup.

[timtom33]

Thanks for your response, good to know 12 phase power is enough for my needs.


With regards to pcie x1, i wasn't very clear in my question. what i meant was if i have two graphics cards in cross fire (both in the x16 slots running at 8x8) can i populate the spare two pcie x1 slots with something? Heck, could i populate every slot on the board? can the pcie bus handle it?

[Dark Mantis]

I have already answered this question when you PM'd me with it. Please keep to using the forum as it can get confusing otherwise.

You will have more problem actually physically fitting cards into the x1 slots if you have more than one GPU installed as they tend to take up two to two and a half slot widths. The GPUs will actually require a maximum of x8 speed each so there is plenty of bandwidth left for anything else you can fit in.

[timtom33]

Ok thanks, and sorry about the double posting.

i am installing a XFX 6970, so that just takes up two slots. So i should be able to fit in something else if i have two in cross fire down the line.

Just trying to weigh up the pros and cons between the two mobo's i mentioned, and if its the choice between 2 eSata ports or an extra PCIe slot, i think for me, the PCIe slot might be more handy.

[Dark Mantis]

As you say if you don't intend to use ESATA then maybe that PCIE slot would be more use to you. It is always a toss up of which thing to choose.