Gigabyte P67A-UD7 Review
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Published: 14th January 2011 | Source: Gigabyte | Price: £276 |
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The box for the UD7 is as amazing as the board is. A clear black top and back, with shiny gold sides.
This is such a large departure from the blue and light-blue Gigabyte colour-scheme that they deserve huge praise for trying something new, and succeeding in such a comprehensive manner.
Within the exterior we have a huge window that allows you to spend ages looking at the board and the clear plastic cover helpfully protects the motherboard from your drool.
Within the accessories package we have the standard selection of SATA cables, Crossfire bridge, manuals and driver disk.
The simple fact of the matter is this. This is the most beautiful motherboard we've ever laid eyes on. No different colours for the various PCIe slots. No variances in the the RAM pairings. In a Spinal Tap fashion, none more black.
It seems a small thing that all the slots are the same colour, but actually there is more to it than meets the eye. This is a UD7 motherboard. It's the absolute premium motherboard Gigabyte do for this chipset and is targeted squarely at enthusiasts. We don't need different colours to be able to tell the difference between a PCIe x16 slot and a legacy PCI slot. We can cope with understanding the DIMM numbering scheme.
It's like Gigabyte are treating us as adults. Given that they once rivalled DFI for the "Crayola factory" style motherboards this is a massive leap forwards and one that cannot be overstated how pleasing it is to see.
Even the heatsinks have a level of class about them and the design. The gold on the UD7 is no mere cheapo dull gold effect, but rather so fine we'd think it was plated. The heatsink design shows that some of the more outre ones we've come across lately are needlessly esoteric.
Most Recent Comments
1.044v to get 4.9GHz???? HOLY S****!!!!
Very nice review, the UD7 is one hell of a board to look at.
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Originally Posted by Zeals
1.044v to get 4.9GHz???? HOLY S****!!!! |
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Originally Posted by Zeals
1.044v to get 4.9GHz???? HOLY S****!!!! |
yeah just watched the vid and he says its wrong its set at 1.4v
On another note, Tom do you think you would be able to go over 5GHz on this board when the bios are fully matured?
EDIT: But the pictures are so pretty
EDIT: But the pictures are so pretty
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Originally Posted by Zeals
On another note, Tom do you think you would be able to go over 5GHz on this board when the bios are fully matured? EDIT: But the pictures are so pretty |
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
You can now, if you bother to read the review or watch the video youll know why mate. |
I wonder if all the gigabyte boards will be as gd as this one
hi tom. Uhmm can you help me with one quesiton.
I am planning to buy this board but due to the height of the NF200 heatsink, I know
that my X-Fi Titanium HD Soundcard will not fit.
Can I use the other PCIx16 or PCIx8 slots for my soundcard? Will it still be compatible?
I am planning to buy this board but due to the height of the NF200 heatsink, I know
that my X-Fi Titanium HD Soundcard will not fit.
Can I use the other PCIx16 or PCIx8 slots for my soundcard? Will it still be compatible?
any pcie slot is fine.
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Originally Posted by jsy982002
hi tom. Uhmm can you help me with one quesiton. I am planning to buy this board but due to the height of the NF200 heatsink, I know that my X-Fi Titanium HD Soundcard will not fit. Can I use the other PCIx16 or PCIx8 slots for my soundcard? Will it still be compatible? |
Such an AMAZING board. Wow.
have to fight the urge! i fear i am loosing tho! 
Tom, do you know if Gigabyte will add UEFI to the board later?
The improved boot times over standard BIOS seems to make it a must have on such a high end board.
It seems they can fit one on the bios chips are they are 4mb, or is it totally out there beliving they will add it later on.
The improved boot times over standard BIOS seems to make it a must have on such a high end board.
It seems they can fit one on the bios chips are they are 4mb, or is it totally out there beliving they will add it later on.
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Originally Posted by khorngor
Tom, do you know if Gigabyte will add UEFI to the board later? The improved boot times over standard BIOS seems to make it a must have on such a high end board. It seems they can fit one on the bios chips are they are 4mb, or is it totally out there beliving they will add it later on. |
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
The Asus didnt boot any quicker but I have heard they will update it as a downloadable upgrade down the line |
Sounds awesome, was having second thoughts since i really wanted UEFI, but ill go ahead and buy it and hope they do that down the line.
Judging from your review i wont regret my decision
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Originally Posted by Zeals
Your soundcard will fit and work in any PCIe slot. |
Was just scared for a moment as i tried it on my Asus Rampage III extreme but failed to work. After goind around a bit, realized that the drivers were messed up due to my previous sound card.
I have just bought an ASUS P8P67 Deluxe, as I thought it was the best bang for my buck @ £180. I did contemplate this board but thought it a little pricey. Then having heard you rave about it so much, almost as much as the Noctua, it started me thinking. In your opinion, is this board worth the additional £75 over the ASUS? I'm still waiting on my chip, so could send it back as I haven't played with it yet?
I will probably have this board for 3-4 years. I hate making the wrong h/w purchase - it kinda drives me nuts...
I will probably have this board for 3-4 years. I hate making the wrong h/w purchase - it kinda drives me nuts...
Just looking at the board makes me say wow.
I just wanted to say thanks to TTL and the support crew for the Youtube vid, and subsequent review. I had picked the UD7 as my preferred board for 2 x GTX570 SLI by Wednesaday evening and was in the process of trying to talk myself down. But the YT vid removed the final doubts and I ordered last night.
Today's review just puts it in black and white. It all takes time. It's hard work. Appreciated.
I still think it's an expensive board and if I were buying 1366/X58 I'd probably go Sabretooth. (The 1155 Sabretooth looks like a dust trap ugh.) And if I already had an 1366/X58 system I'd undoubtedly stick and wait for 2011. But that's not where I am, so this is the board for me.
If I had to nit pick, it's going to be a tight fit for 2xSLI at X16 - right up against each-other, but I'm not losing sleep over it with th HAF-X.
Thanks guys.
Today's review just puts it in black and white. It all takes time. It's hard work. Appreciated.
I still think it's an expensive board and if I were buying 1366/X58 I'd probably go Sabretooth. (The 1155 Sabretooth looks like a dust trap ugh.) And if I already had an 1366/X58 system I'd undoubtedly stick and wait for 2011. But that's not where I am, so this is the board for me.
If I had to nit pick, it's going to be a tight fit for 2xSLI at X16 - right up against each-other, but I'm not losing sleep over it with th HAF-X.
Thanks guys.
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Originally Posted by sotonswan
The 1155 Sabretooth looks like a dust trap ugh. |
by the way, does it not include brackets or connectors for the USB 3.0 mid board pins? Kind of dissapointing for them not to include this accessory. Does anyone know where to buy one of these?
Such pretty board but think I will stick with my rampage 3 extreme
The only problem with this board is that its beauty is hidden underneath that ugly ass Noctua, I hope that the new H60 due out in March is a real performer, because they would compliment each other perfectly.
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Originally Posted by jsy982002
by the way, does it not include brackets or connectors for the USB 3.0 mid board pins? Kind of dissapointing for them not to include this accessory. Does anyone know where to buy one of these? |
Great review! You mention that there seems to be some sort of cap at 4.9. I seen talk on even lower caps and argued that it could be due to the bios. You guys think that could be valid or is it much more likely the cpu itself (as you mentioned in the vid) ?
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Originally Posted by THD
Great review! You mention that there seems to be some sort of cap at 4.9. I seen talk on even lower caps and argued that it could be due to the bios. You guys think that could be valid or is it much more likely the cpu itself (as you mentioned in the vid) ? |
Some other sites are saying they have lower limits but from what Ive seen its just uneducated overclockers.
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Originally Posted by tinytomlogan
Our sample was a very early release and we had none of the accessories that a normal retail model would have sadly, so we reported what we could which was the performance |
Yet, even with the retail version of the board, USB 3.0 brackets were not included
this was really a let down as it's currently almost impossible to find a separate bracket that would fit the headers. I understand that currently there's still no standard setting for the pin headers and as such, mobo manufacturers have
been developing there own unique assignments. such a small flaw for a flagship board of this caliber
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Originally Posted by sheroo
The only problem with this board is that its beauty is hidden underneath that ugly ass Noctua, I hope that the new H60 due out in March is a real performer, because they would compliment each other perfectly. |
You can buy it in the UK for £36.98 inc. VAT at Aria. Take a look. The only thing it leaves you wishing for is a set of black and gold LED case fans.
One other comment on that: the idea of a black anodized finish on the cooling fins themselves is a really good one. Any physicist will tell you that black bodies radiate heat much more efficiently.
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Originally Posted by SadButTrue
I saw a cooler recently called the Titan EVO, that was in a black and gold colour scheme. |
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Originally Posted by sheroo
noooo, that's just too blingy, its like pimp my ride on steroids. 2 images pop into my head, a duracell battery and James Bond - Goldfinger. |
On a more serious note, I was just kidding about the black LEDs, but it turns out -- they make them!
Who'd a thunk it?Nice Review and a great mobo by the looks of things.
im leaning more to get this than the maximus iv for my i7 2600k. but seemed like its best paired with the i5 2600k?
Nice review, awesome bord, i wanted to ask about pcie lanes, how they wil operate when 2xGPU + pcie sound card installed, x16/x8/x8 or x8/x8/x8?
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