P35 MB: Gigabyte P35-DS4 or ASUS P5K-E/WiFi?

[NoelS]

Originally posted by: isandu
Sorry to reopen this thread... I want to ask you, what is ASUS Memspeed technology, and does it really make any difference?

I'm waiting for revision 2 of P35-DS4 to become available where I live, wich I was told should happen this week; but I still don't know which of the two is the best board.

isandu,

Wasn't sure myself, so looked it up on the ASUS web site... here is what they say:

" ASUS Super Memspeed Technology
Surpass the Limit with Easy Overclocking Automatically
To attain top performance, ASUS has managed to break through current FSB and DRAM ratio proportions by utilizing Super Memspeed Technology - the latest technology that provides even more precise overclocking options to unleash the true potential of DDR3 memory. Native DDR3 1333 maximizes system performance by eliminating the bottleneck when overclocking both the CPU and memory - providing great performance for 3D graphics and other memory demanding applications."

Not exactly sure what that means, but if I do any overclocking on my new ASUS P5K-E build, I'll let you know

Whoop, had to edit - only good for DDR3, I use DDR2 in my build. So I won't find out this time around...

Anyhow, I hope this helps some, Noel

 

[isandu]

NoelS,

How do you like your new P5K-E motherboard? Do you have any ideea if it supports command rate 1T? I've read that Gigabyte boards don't support that.
The P5K-E looks really good on paper: three PCI slots instead of two, WiFi, onboard leds (I have a case with a transparent window), better sound chip than Realtek, vdroop protection etc. But so many users are complaining about various problems, boot problems, sata problems, the fact that it seems to consume more power than other boards (might be because of WiFi, or it's sound chip? ), or that after some time it doesn't overclock as well or it stops to post at all. It would have been a really nice board if it wasn't for all of these issues.

 

[NoelS]

Originally posted by: isandu
NoelS,

How do you like your new P5K-E motherboard? Do you have any ideea if it supports command rate 1T? I've read that Gigabyte boards don't support that.
The P5K-E looks really good on paper: three PCI slots instead of two, WiFi, onboard leds (I have a case with a transparent window), better sound chip than Realtek, vdroop protection etc. But so many users are complaining about various problems, boot problems, sata problems, the fact that it seems to consume more power than other boards (might be because of WiFi, or it's sound chip? ), or that after some time it doesn't overclock as well or it stops to post at all. It would have been a really nice board if it wasn't for all of these issues.

isandu,

I'm really happy with the board so far. The audio is Soundmax and I've had that on 2 other ASUS boards, the Crosshair and the Commando. Boffo sound as far as I'm concerned. I have an X-Fi sitting on a shelf and don't even bother to use it...

Not sure what Command Rate 1T is - I've seen it mentioned but haven't looked into it. What does it do?

Of course 3 PCI slots is really only 2 after you use an 8800 GTS in PCI-E.. but that's better than 1 left, isn't it? I only use one PCI slot but I like to have the option for more...

I like the back plane with 2 eSATA slots. I use eSATA backup exclusively and man, is it FAST! I haven't tried the wireless yet, either. Absolutely NO problems booting. I'm using 2 Samsung S203B SATA DVD-RWs and so far, only used one, but no problem there either. I have an empty IDE connector on the mobo!

The Intel Speedstep keeps the VCore very low when idling, so the power is low then, too. With a combo of low VCore, GO stepping and a Tuniq Tower HSF, my Probe II software is reporting CPU temps of 8C, believe it or not... probably not accurate, but the same software gave me 20-22 on my previous E6600 chip.

Noel

 

[isandu]

Thanks, NoelS.

Command rate 1T is a setting for memory timings, it means faster memory access (if the memory modules support it, of course). But Gigabyte P35 motherboards generally don't support this from what I read, they only support 2T. I was wondering if this is a limitation of the P35 chipset, or just a limitation of some motherboards. Since ASUS were bragging about their memspeed technology which they claim improves memory speed, I was wondering if they support this memory setting.

And I don't know think ASUS eSata is any better than Gigabyte eSata (which is not available from the back panel directly, but through an extension bracket if you didn't know this), but I don't think so. From what I know they're both cotrolled by the same chipset, jMicron, which many people have had trouble with and is generally considered something to avoid

Also, I really doubt that temperature is accurate, especially with air cooling . If you have a G0 revision processor, which I understand you do, then older temperature monitoring applications or older bios versions don't repport the temperature corretly (this is because G0 processors report temperature parameters differently from older revisions).

 

[NoelS]

Originally posted by: isandu
Thanks, NoelS.

And I don't know think ASUS eSata is any better than Gigabyte eSata (which is not available from the back panel directly, but through an extension bracket if you didn't know this), but I don't think so. From what I know they're both cotrolled by the same chipset, jMicron, which many people have had trouble with and is generally considered something to avoid

isandu,

Thanks for the info on Command Rate 1T. I'll check it out soon - not near my rig ow, on laptop...

About the eSATA, I've used it via bracket with my Commando mobo and I have to re-boot after I turn the eSATA HDD enclosure on to get it recognized. It won't hot-connect like the back plane eSATAs... not sure why, but that's the problem I've had using brackets. Haven't had that problem with my Crosshair eSATAs which are on the back plane. Haven't tried the P5K-Es eSATAs yet...

The temps probably are in error. I'll try Everest next, see if results are any better

Thanks, Noel

 

[SantaAna]

I think the Gigabyte DS4 Rev. 2 does have esata Noels.

 

[4x4expy]

It doesn't have eSata built into the I/O panel, but does include a rear slot eSata 2 port panel that cable connects to 2 of your MB's Sata ports. It also has a power port for the eSata drive to go along with the 2 drive connectors. Mine is still in the box as I don't need it now but can pop it in in a minute if I decide to go with an eSata drive later. I had to decide between the Abit IP35 pro and the DS4. I felt that neither really had a strong edge over the other. I preferred the I/O panel of the DS4 having 8 usb ports over having eSata. No regrets here with buying the Gigabyte board. Had I chose the Abit, I'm sure I would be just as satisfied... Not really a wrong choice to make.

 

[tjaisv]

Guys, lately these Gigabyte boards have been getting terrible reviews on newegg. Apparently, Gigabyte has been shipping batches of bad mobos.