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Gigabyte G1 Assassin Review

Test Setups and Overclocking

Published: 21st February 2011 | Source: Gigabyte | Price: £419.99 | Author: Tom Logan

Gigabyte G1 Assassin

Test Setup

Both of our test setups were identical except for a CPU and a GPU change which I'll get to in a second.

Gigabyte G1-Assassin X58 Motherboard
Intel Core i7-950 @ stock and overclocked. Also Intel Core i7-980X @ 4.8GHz
12GB Corsair Vengeance. 3x4GB @ 1600 7-8-7-24
Zotac GTX580 AMP! Single card @ stock, SLI @ 900MHz Core
2x256GB Kingston V+ in Raid 0
XSPC Rasa 750 Water-cooling Kit
Mushkin Joule 1200w PSU

As you can see from our test specifications this is very different from our normal OC3D bench rig setup which has left us with a bit of a quandary as to what to compare it to. We really haven't run a similar specification system and so what we're gonna do is run the i7-950 tests like we normally do, but also dig the monster i7-980X and pair it up with the Zotac GTX580s in SLI to really see what you can do with almost unlimited cash.

Because of the rather unique nature of the testing today we aren't putting it against a single system throughout all the graphs, but against a few different things. So pay attention.

Overclocking

Starting off as we always do by seeking the highest BCLK available we find the Assassin is exceptionally good, giving us a 220MHz BCLK.

With a rather serious 1.55v on the vCore the Assassin helps our i7-950 up to a monstrous 4.6GHz.

Of course 1.55v is a bit high to run as a 24/7 overclock so backing things off to 1.44v on the CPU Core we end up with a clock speed of 4.5GHz.

This is all kept nice and cool with the XSPC water-cooling doing a sterling job. The maximum core temperature reached a relatively cool 78°C. Given that this is a Prime95 temperature it shows how well the XSPC Rasa 750 works.

The other CPU we're using today is the Core i7-980X, and the Gigabyte G1.Assassin gives us the highest overclock we've achieved from this processor of a spectacular 4.8MHz.

If it's processor records that the Assassin is aiming at then it's hitting nothing but bullseyes.

Most Recent Comments

21-02-2011, 06:03:06

tinytomlogan

It's been a while since we've seen a new X58 motherboard, and Gigabyte have just solved that with one of the highest spec models we've ever seen. The Assassin.

21-02-2011, 06:36:35

Taurus

Great review, nice to see x58 stuff. I'm sick to death of seeing sandy bridge reviews and all its problems. Not sure about the price though seen it on various sites for around £450. Looking forward to seeing reviews of the cheaper Sniper & Guerilla boards.

Love the Assassin build videos watched them all multiple times

21-02-2011, 06:44:26

ciksas

The board is immense so the price fits it quite right. I would have anything against if it would be cheaper so I could replace my ep43 ds3l with it

21-02-2011, 08:08:51

dugdiamond

i was looking forward to this review fella, and you didn't let us down - that board is a beast

21-02-2011, 08:41:52

JCBenton

Looks fantastic.

As for P67, it's still a viable option for noobs, I hope. Especially if we don't use the S2 ports.

21-02-2011, 08:44:39

SieB

Silly Magazine heatsink (IMHO) or not, this board is indeed a beast and well worth the money, if you can afford it

I missed out on X58 and went strait from 775 and P45 to P67 and 1155 but if I hadn't done that I probably would have gone for this board.

21-02-2011, 09:01:39

Filekutter

That rig hits my sweet spot in so many ways. First its pretty, its mean, its lean, and its black with green. Put it on the runway. The benchmarks were what I was waiting to see and I was happily grinning to see 'em, very nice. I mean, being able to run any of my games at those settings, with those framerates... that's LAN intimidating, friend smashing, and giggling like a maniac fun. The onboard sound was the final kicker for me. That just saves you a couple hundred bucks to turn around for SSDs or the watercooling etc etc. About the only thing I'd do if I were lucky enuff to be able to afford such a monster would be the case. I'd be pondering, and have been pondering on what I'd do to make the case even more match what's inside. And then I realized... I'd distress the paintjob and make it look like its been thru "heck". I do like the case, and the color scheme all told is very nice... but a little bit of stressing done with some imagination would really bring out something .. "else"? hehe. just my humble opinion, its just the green is sooo bright. I would prefer it a tad muted. so.. picky picky. But, just dreaming anyway.

21-02-2011, 09:50:43

CueBall

Great review and indeed green team all the way. Although the case you used not mine style but that board looks friggin awesome.

Now I have a Q for ya TinyTom, what would you prefer, this gigabyte board or a EVGA classified board ?.

I`ll take your advise thoug a 970, a couple of dominators and some green stuff.

21-02-2011, 09:53:03

GODuk

If only i had the money. Can't wait to see ehat Gigabyte come up with the 1155!

Wow

21-02-2011, 10:15:23

VSOP

This is availabe for purchasing now?

21-02-2011, 10:27:17

tinytomlogan

Quote:

Originally Posted by VSOP

This is availabe for purchasing now?

Pre Order only atm.

21-02-2011, 11:11:08

Scubasage

Damn, that's one hefty price tag. I'd love to get it, but I'm too poor

Here's hoping the Sniper is affordable for me xD

21-02-2011, 11:14:36

Aurus_OC

Great board and great review

. Love the content that you were putting on YouTube aswell.

21-02-2011, 12:09:57

Jerome

Nice gear, nice review. I did a comparison. I know that rig'll eat multimedia, 3D animation and stuff. My test was for FPS today gaming AvP benchmark. 1920x1080p, i5 750 @ 4Ghz and 2 480's @ 850mhz the difference was 2-18 FPS i think. FPS gain was slower. I enjoy overclocking and when the PC buzz'd and froze

A good overclocker motherboard is necessary, the root of the computer.

+???? lots of points for that ASSASSIN G1

Thanks OC3D my overclocks are OC3D enhanced

21-02-2011, 12:56:18

Mark26

If they removed the stanag mag and the network adaptor and put a standard one on too drop the price a bit I would be much more interested in it

21-02-2011, 13:28:29

MichaelH

do want.

21-02-2011, 17:22:06

murphy7801

Think stick to the rampage extreme 3 at that price point and spend my cash on the new priced dropped i7 970!

21-02-2011, 23:03:51

Jerome

Them Metro 2033 results are excellent. Is it tested with Advanced DOF?

22-02-2011, 05:49:16

coolgame

@tomlogan:u said that the zotac cards were noisy in ur exclusive gtx 580 review.how is the msi reference one compared to that?can u review the 560ti sli in stock/oc vs a single gtx 580?

22-02-2011, 06:26:00

tinytomlogan

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolgame

@tomlogan:u said that the zotac cards were noisy in ur exclusive gtx 580 review.how is the msi reference one compared to that?can u review the 560ti sli in stock/oc vs a single gtx 580?

These are the AMP! Models dude. We think now the original 580 I had, had a faulty vapor chamber causing the fans to spin up.

22-02-2011, 09:40:33

SilentTyrant

that is one hell of a price tag indeed... but when you take away the cost of a high end sound card off it..then its not looking so bad

22-02-2011, 09:42:36

I Hunta x

Link on the picture in your first prost is borked tom, http://http:// is how it starts, redirects to somewere offsite in firefox atleast.

22-02-2011, 15:55:33

MichaelH

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Hunta x

Link on the picture in your first prost is borked tom, http://http:// is how it starts, redirects to somewere offsite in firefox atleast.

Yeah all it is is an unneeded "http//" (if you hover over the link, the link location is http://http//)

22-02-2011, 17:25:00

Jerome

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytomlogan

These are the AMP! Models dude. We think now the original 580 I had, had a faulty vapor chamber causing the fans to spin up.

Hi. Is the cards with personal custom fan settings to go with 900mhz core frequency or Zotac's standard? Thanks

Excellent scores and Crysis play

well done

I'm surprised with CPU Crysis results as my temps are alot lower @4Ghz than BFBC 2 @3.8Ghz

25-02-2011, 10:59:16

crimson2404

For £450 it’s just an over hyped rip off, for that money you could get a 2600k and an asus p8p67 deluxe.

25-02-2011, 11:58:43

tinytomlogan

Quote:

Originally Posted by crimson2404

For £450 it’s just an over hyped rip off, for that money you could get a 2600k and an asus p8p67 deluxe.

How narrow minded are you!

27-02-2011, 21:59:10

Jerome

Linus' unboxing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgDXouvW424&feature=feedu

01-03-2011, 05:38:42

murphy7801

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytomlogan

How narrow minded are you!

It is quite a pricey mother board though You could get a rampage 3 with 970 for the same price of this with a 950 I know what Id choose. Is this motherboard worth it for how much more power its gives per cost I don't think does then again you have both boards so I cant really judge.

02-03-2011, 14:25:44

Sheppy

Thanks to your great review of the G1 Assasin. I am now looking to upgrade my curremt MOBO to the G1 Sniper. Also looking at the corsair vengance, silverstone HDDboost and the coolermaster haf x nvidia.

Current system:-

case Antec 1200

ram OCZ 2000MHZ Gold

cpu I7 930

cooling Corsair h50

MOBO Gigabyte ga-x58a-ud7 rev2

gpu Gigabyte GTX460 oc

Gigabyte G1 Assassin Review

Test Setups and Overclocking

Published: 21st February 2011 | Source: Gigabyte | Price: £419.99 | Author: Tom Logan

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