Gigabyte UD3P or UD3R?

[DoubleHelix747]

Could someone please tell me what is the difference between these two motherboards and why would one buy one over the other. I want to buy a mobo tonight using the 15% off Paypal deal but cannot decide which one of the two by just reading the specs (they seem identical to me).


GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128358
$117

and

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128359
$100

Would really appreciate some fast help here.

TIA.

 

[Udgnim]

I think P has SLI and more sound options

 

[MTDEW]

The 'P" has crossfire (two pci-e slots), better onboard audio and dual lan ports.
(no SLi at all, its an Intel p45 chipset mobo, so SLi is not supported.)

 

[MTDEW]

Just thought i'd add.
Both boards will overclock the same, so if you dont need crossfire and dont use onboard sound, then you dont need the "p" version.

Also, these are GREAT overclocking mobos!
There is a Load-Line-calibration setting in the bios that virtually eliminates V-droop so you dont have to run a higher voltage on your cpu all the time just so it it has enough voltage under load. (most mobos the voltage "droops" under load which forces you to run a higher voltage at idle to compensate)

And the rest of the bios settings are an overclockers dream, you have control over all the settings you'd want.

I have the UD3P and i'd reccomend this mobo to ANYONE without hesitation.

It runs cool, and overclocks very very well.

 

[DoubleHelix747]

Thank you so much.

I got the "R" for $79.58 after MIR, Live.com and Paypal 15% off. "P" would have been $13 more. Uhmm, may be that was not the greatest savings. But I doubt I am going to be using crossfire for this build, so that's probably OK.

I wonder what does one use dual LAN ports for (yes, I am showing my ignorance here, so go head chuckle ;-).

Re: sound - now that is disappointing. I don't get it why two boards are different in this regard as both use the Realtek ALC889A onboard audio chipset with 8 channels. Any one care to educate me on this? TIA.

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: DoubleHelix747
Thank you so much.

I got the "R" for $79.58 after MIR, Live.com and Paypal 15% off. "P" would have been $13 more. Uhmm, may be that was not the greatest savings. But I doubt I am going to be using crossfire for this build, so that's probably OK.

I wonder what does one use dual LAN ports for (yes, I am showing my ignorance here, so go head chuckle ;-).

Re: sound - now that is disappointing. I don't get it why two boards are different in this regard as both use the Realtek ALC889A onboard audio chipset with 8 channels. Any one care to educate me on this? TIA.

LOL, i have no clue of the use for two lan ports either!
And i have an X-fi so i never really looked into the onboard sound differences, i just know the "P" has better sound from skimming past that part of the reviews.
So i cant give details.

I went with the "P" although i have no plans on going SLi either.
But i figured i'd like to have the extra PCI-E slot , just in case Nvidia PhysX takes off, then i can add my 8800GT for dedicated physx along with my current GTX 280.

I paid $139.00 for mine just two weeks ago, so you got a good price. :thumbsup:

 

[DoubleHelix747]

Thank you - you made me smile! It feels so good to engineer and consummate a deal! I guess I am never going to grow up ;-)

 

[MTDEW]

Ahhh...heres a link with a chart to the differences.
Seems the "P" has dolby Home Theater and the "R" doesnt.
I still dont care because i never cared for any realtek onboard anyway.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/f...howthread.php?t=205132

And i missed the "P" has TPM which is way of encrypting files for security. (again, im not using this either!)

I just wanted that extra PCI-E slot!

 

[Ravynmagi]

Also the UD3P seems to use a different BIOS and Gigabyte seems to be updating it more often.

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: DoubleHelix747

I wonder what does one use dual LAN ports for (yes, I am showing my ignorance here, so go head chuckle ;-).

I use 2 built in LAN ports on my filserver which also acts as a router. One port is for the oustide world (goes to modem) and the other is for the home network (goes to 16 port gigabit switch.)

It's not a very common application, and doesn't need much in terms of performance (I use an old 1.8 GHz S939), but that's one possible application of two LAN ports on one board.

 

[arjoreich]

I do a lot of work in virtual machines so it's nice to be able to dedicate a NIC to the VMachine instead of it having to work through a bridged connection on the host.

 

[looper]

MTDEW...

Very happy w/ your GA-EP45-UD3P? Using 8 gig ram, and OC'ing? Any probs w/ that?

You said:
"I went with the "P" although i have no plans on going SLi either.
But i figured i'd like to have the extra PCI-E slot , just in case Nvidia PhysX takes off, then i can add my 8800GT for dedicated physx along with my current GTX 280."

So, based on that, with the GA-EP45-UD3P, if I get the GTX280, I could use my existing 8800GTS(G80-640mb) in another slot for better graphics under certain circumstances and w/ certain games, if the PhysX gets mainstream?

 

[MTDEW]

No issues at all using 8gb with this board.
Im running a Q6600 OC'ed to 3.4ghz.
I did have it at 3.6ghz with no issues also, until I bought GTA IV, and that particular game heated my Q6600 a bit too much so i backed it down a notch.
Im using G.Skill DDR2 1000.
4 sticks of these. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231145

And yes, you can use your 8800GTS for physx and your GTX280 for Graphics.
The Nvidia drivers will allow you to dedicate the 8800GTS to run physx.

And i'd have to say I'm MORE than happy with the board.
It overclocks just fine with all ram slots filled and runs cool.
Its easily the best board ive had for socket 775 cpus.
No quirks AT ALL, easy overclocks, runs cool, rock stable, stable voltages.
Of course that always seems to happen when we're at the end of a cpu sockets life cycle. (775)
I'd love to be able to go to i7 and keep this board.
Sux i cant, i'll definately miss this board WAY WAY more than the previous p965, 780i or p35 boards ive owned.

 

[looper]

Thx for input...

About to get the UD3P. Already have an E8400 cpu. The Giga MB to replace a P5B-D that's at Asus(RMA)...they may repair/replace the MB for me/ or not....

 

[imported_harlanpepper]

Regarding the dual LAN on the UD3P, you can supposedly use it for teaming to double the bandwidth? There's a page in the manual about it, but I think it's only useful on an intranet.

 

[n7]

I've changed my mind on the UD3P if you plan for 8 GB.

Get the P5Q Deluxe if you want 8 GB, UD3P for two DIMMs or less only.

This Gigashit is pissing me off more than i could have ever imagined with 8 GB.
My 10+ hour Blend stable overclock somehow is now unstable in minutes today.
This board is impossible to find actual non random/non flakey stability when heavily OCed with 8 GB...so insanely frustrated right now.

 

[looper]

n7...

Sorry to hear of those problems you're having...do you think it is just your particular board being "flaky", or is this the common thing you've heard on these forums from other guys?

Now, you've got me doubting myself again...

 

[FerrelGeek]

I'll vouch for the P. It runs nice and cool in my Antec P182 with an Intel E8500 at stock speed with the retail fan.

The only odd thing about the board is that the metal plate that covered part of the northbridge heatpipe popped off when I installed the CPU HSF. The spacing is so tight that I can't get it back on either. In case anyone's curious, it's the metal plate that says 'Ultra Durable' :laugh:, the one right by the rear I/O block. I talked to Gigabyte tech support and they confirmed that the plate is not vital for cooling.

One other item - I'm not sure if the R board comes with the eSATA adapter; the P does.

Now all I need is some board-specific advice on overclocking.

 

[MTDEW]

Originally posted by: n7
I've changed my mind on the UD3P if you plan for 8 GB.

Get the P5Q Deluxe if you want 8 GB, UD3P for two DIMMs or less only.

This Gigashit is pissing me off more than i could have ever imagined with 8 GB.
My 10+ hour Blend stable overclock somehow is now unstable in minutes today.
This board is impossible to find actual non random/non flakey stability when heavily OCed with 8 GB...so insanely frustrated right now.

Whats your strap at?
I'd set the sys mem multiplier (SPD) to 2.00b just to see if that gets it stable, then go from there.

 

[imported_harlanpepper]

Originally posted by: FerrelGeek
...Now all I need is some board-specific advice on overclocking.

For the UD3P? This is worth reading:

http://www.overclock.net/intel...verclocking-guide.html

Edit: You should be able to hit 3.5GHz+ stable on your stock HSF with stock settings without much of a temp increase.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: n7
I've changed my mind on the UD3P if you plan for 8 GB.

Get the P5Q Deluxe if you want 8 GB, UD3P for two DIMMs or less only.

This Gigashit is pissing me off more than i could have ever imagined with 8 GB.
My 10+ hour Blend stable overclock somehow is now unstable in minutes today.
This board is impossible to find actual non random/non flakey stability when heavily OCed with 8 GB...so insanely frustrated right now.

Ever think it's might be your memory? I've seen nothing but great responses about the UD3P/R boards on every forum I've been to.

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: FerrelGeek
I'll vouch for the P. It runs nice and cool in my Antec P182 with an Intel E8500 at stock speed with the retail fan.

The only odd thing about the board is that the metal plate that covered part of the northbridge heatpipe popped off when I installed the CPU HSF. The spacing is so tight that I can't get it back on either. In case anyone's curious, it's the metal plate that says 'Ultra Durable' :laugh:, the one right by the rear I/O block. I talked to Gigabyte tech support and they confirmed that the plate is not vital for cooling.

One other item - I'm not sure if the R board comes with the eSATA adapter; the P does.

Now all I need is some board-specific advice on overclocking.

Consider yourself lucky...removing those plates will increase airflow across the heat sinks...cooler is better...

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

Whats your strap at?
I'd set the sys mem multiplier (SPD) to 2.00b just to see if that gets it stable, then go from there.

Already there.
2.00D (400) doesn't POST past ~ 465 with 8 GB, & sometimes not even at 465.
2.00B (333) does, but it needs a lot more VTT/MCH to get close to stable, & apparently the board changes its mind somedays about whether it's going to be stable or not.

Originally posted by: Tweakin

Ever think it's might be your memory? I've seen nothing but great responses about the UD3P/R boards on every forum I've been to.

Sure.
That's why i've run Memtest86+ a bunch of times just to be sure.
My RAM in 8 GB did over DDR2-1050 stably on my P5Q-D, & when i've tested the DIMMs separately, the worst one does around DDR2-1080.
Under DDR2-1000 (what i'm running on this Gigabyte) is a piece of cake for my Mushkin.
I've loosened tRD, all main subtimings, upped & lowered vDIMM, increased & lowered VTT/MCH + GTLs as well as DRAM termination/reference voltages, & MCH/DRAM reference voltage.

I wish it was RAM; that'd be an easy fix...

 

[looper]

Harlanpepper...

Thx for link to OC'ing the UD3P...I will need help, as I tend to get impatient and then get crazy & carried away.....that's how I "blew-up" my asus P5B-D last month (ouch)....

I'll prob get the UD3P or DQ6, and hope to get an OC around 4.0 on air w/ Xigmatek S1283. Also, just bought 4 replacement 120x25 fans: Minebea KL4710's- @ 31dba/74cfm/1900rpm I believe... 3 for replacing existing weak case fans, 1 to replace the stock xigmatek fan. Bought a Sunbeam fan controller to stop hearing loss...

Hope to get a VRaptor 300gig HD too...

 

[FerrelGeek]

Originally posted by: harlanpepper

Originally posted by: FerrelGeek
...Now all I need is some board-specific advice on overclocking.

For the UD3P? This is worth reading:

http://www.overclock.net/intel...verclocking-guide.html

Edit: You should be able to hit 3.5GHz+ stable on your stock HSF with stock settings without much of a temp increase.

Good deal! Thanks much for the link. :beer: