gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3

**k0NG0** · 08-19-2008, 12:57 PM

What's the general view of Gigabyte's Intel mobos? I've read several favorable reviews and seem to recall lots of satisfied users here at ABX.

I'm looking at the GA-EP45-DS3. It's gotten nice reviews.

Since I can't really use the P5E-VM HDMI I bought, I'm tossing the idea of inbuilt graphics since there aren't a lot of cards with that and seemingly straightforward PCIe slots.

Thoughts? I'm ordering this tomorrow unless someone tells me Gigabyte made them sterile.

johnrr6 · 08-19-2008, 01:43 PM

I've had two Gigabyte Intel boards over the years and they were excellent.

Solid features and implementation----especially on the power side----and their dual bios chips were nice.

Loads of people love the DS3 versions regardless of Intel chipset version used...

I'd say-----GO!

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0NG0

What's the general view of Gigabyte's Intel mobos? I've read several favorable reviews and seem to recall lots of satisfied users here at ABX.

I'm looking at the GA-EP45-DS3. It's gotten nice reviews.

Since I can't really use the P5E-VM HDMI I bought, I'm tossing the idea of inbuilt graphics since there aren't a lot of cards with that and seemingly straightforward PCIe slots.

Thoughts? I'm ordering this tomorrow unless someone tells me Gigabyte made them sterile.

ctal · 08-19-2008, 01:50 PM

Hi kONGO --

As you are recalling, I've been extremely pleased with recent builds using the GA-EX38-DQ6 (no longer available) and the GA-X48-DQ6, both of which are considerably more expensive than the P45 boards. When the P45's first came out recently, based on a cursory look at some reviews (I don't recall where) my reaction was mixed at best. The following review came out yesterday, which you'll want to look at if you haven't seen it already. While based on a quick glance it looks generally favorable, there are some significant caveats, for instance concerning overclockability:

X-bit labs - Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3: Extra-Ordinary Budget Mainboard

As you probably realize, there is both an L version (based on the ICH10 Southbridge), and a somewhat more expensive R version (based on the ICH10R). Among other things, it looks like the L version doesn't have firewire, which is an automatic disqualification in my book. The R version may be a reasonable choice, but I'd suggest taking into consideration that the E8500 is exceptionally overclockable, and a P45-based board may be the limiting factor in the performance you will be able to achieve. I'm not sure whether that would be inherent in the chipset itself, or just a reflection of the design compromises that go into the boards themselves (such as perhaps fewer layers) that make the relatively low price possible.

HTH,

-- Al

**k0NG0** · 08-19-2008, 02:13 PM

The GA-EP45-DS3 (ICH10 not R) does come with FireWire support hanging off a TI chip (as is evident from the X-bit Labs review).

Basically the savings from not choosing a -R card equal what the fanless Radeon HD3450 I'm getting costs ($35 with DVI-I + VGA). And I'm getting proper RAID with the Adaptec card.

I don't intend to overclock. It doesn't interest me the slightest, to be honest. It's so friggin' fast at stock compared to what I've been using the last couple of years it's plenty for my usage profile.

ctal · 08-19-2008, 02:21 PM

That's odd. Gigabyte's spec sheet for the L version (based on ICH10) indicates no firewire, and NewEgg only offers the L version and the R (ICH10R) version, not a "no suffix" version (whose existence I was unaware of).

GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-EP45-DS3L (rev. 1.0)

Regards,

-- Al

TQ · 08-19-2008, 02:30 PM

Hi helmet head...

You may or may not be aware that Mrs. TQ and I built a system some months back using a Gigabyte X48-DQ6. All I can say about it is that it was an easy build and the board was very nice to work with. The system runs slick and stable and I really need to get around to implementing the overclocking measures that Al schooled me on.

I'd go so far to say that this board has tempted me away from using Intel-manufactured boards on my workstations. It's been that good.

**k0NG0** · 08-19-2008, 02:31 PM

It's the "no suffix" version I'm getting. Basically it seems to be the -DS3R with the ICH10 instead of the ICH10R. It has x16 + x8 PCIe slots.

**k0NG0** · 08-19-2008, 02:34 PM

Thanks for the input. I've pretty much made up my mind already, heh.

TQ · 08-19-2008, 02:37 PM

The EP45-DS4P looks interesting...

TQ · 08-19-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0NG0

Thanks for the input. I've pretty much made up my mind already, heh.

Oh, I wasn't suggesting the X48-DQ6 to you, just endorsing Gigabyte in general.
This is actually the second Gigabyte system we've built...last year ago we put together a system for a nephew using a Gigabyte board and it runs well and was an easy build, too.

**k0NG0** · 08-19-2008, 03:10 PM

Oh, I know, I just meant that I'd pretty much decided on going with the EP45-DS3 even before posting this thread

.

The DS4P does look interesting but it doesn't offer anything over the -DS3 that smells must-have for me.

08-19-2008, 12:57 PM	#1
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 What's the general view of Gigabyte's Intel mobos? I've read several favorable reviews and seem to recall lots of satisfied users here at ABX. I'm looking at the GA-EP45-DS3. It's gotten nice reviews. Since I can't really use the P5E-VM HDMI I bought, I'm tossing the idea of inbuilt graphics since there aren't a lot of cards with that and seemingly straightforward PCIe slots. Thoughts? I'm ordering this tomorrow unless someone tells me Gigabyte made them sterile. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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08-19-2008, 01:50 PM	#3
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,317	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 Hi kONGO -- As you are recalling, I've been extremely pleased with recent builds using the GA-EX38-DQ6 (no longer available) and the GA-X48-DQ6, both of which are considerably more expensive than the P45 boards. When the P45's first came out recently, based on a cursory look at some reviews (I don't recall where) my reaction was mixed at best. The following review came out yesterday, which you'll want to look at if you haven't seen it already. While based on a quick glance it looks generally favorable, there are some significant caveats, for instance concerning overclockability: X-bit labs - Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3: Extra-Ordinary Budget Mainboard As you probably realize, there is both an L version (based on the ICH10 Southbridge), and a somewhat more expensive R version (based on the ICH10R). Among other things, it looks like the L version doesn't have firewire, which is an automatic disqualification in my book. The R version may be a reasonable choice, but I'd suggest taking into consideration that the E8500 is exceptionally overclockable, and a P45-based board may be the limiting factor in the performance you will be able to achieve. I'm not sure whether that would be inherent in the chipset itself, or just a reflection of the design compromises that go into the boards themselves (such as perhaps fewer layers) that make the relatively low price possible. HTH, -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
(Online)

08-19-2008, 02:13 PM	#4
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 The GA-EP45-DS3 (ICH10 not R) does come with FireWire support hanging off a TI chip (as is evident from the X-bit Labs review). Basically the savings from not choosing a -R card equal what the fanless Radeon HD3450 I'm getting costs ($35 with DVI-I + VGA). And I'm getting proper RAID with the Adaptec card. I don't intend to overclock. It doesn't interest me the slightest, to be honest. It's so friggin' fast at stock compared to what I've been using the last couple of years it's plenty for my usage profile. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

08-19-2008, 02:21 PM	#5
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,317	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 That's odd. Gigabyte's spec sheet for the L version (based on ICH10) indicates no firewire, and NewEgg only offers the L version and the R (ICH10R) version, not a "no suffix" version (whose existence I was unaware of). GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-EP45-DS3L (rev. 1.0) Regards, -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
(Online)

08-19-2008, 02:30 PM	#6
TQ You gonna throw that? Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 8,442	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 Hi helmet head... You may or may not be aware that Mrs. TQ and I built a system some months back using a Gigabyte X48-DQ6. All I can say about it is that it was an easy build and the board was very nice to work with. The system runs slick and stable and I really need to get around to implementing the overclocking measures that Al schooled me on. I'd go so far to say that this board has tempted me away from using Intel-manufactured boards on my workstations. It's been that good. __________________ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me - Psalm 51:10 My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dogs already think I am... Daywalker Studio: Software: Adobe Audition 3.0/Pro Tools LE 7.4/Acid Pro 6.0/Multiple VST, DirectX and RTAS plugins/Kontakt 3 Sampler/Windows XP Professional PC Hardware: D975XBX2-504/E6600/4x2GB Mushkin XP2-6400/eVGA 800GTX/HP f1905 19" flat panel/Echo Audio Gina24 Sound Card/2 Maxtor 6B300SO's/1 Maxtor STM500AS/1 Western Digital WD2500JD/PleXwriter Premium/Plextor 716A/Samsung LightScribe DVD burner/Logitech Revolution MX/Antec P-180b/PPC&C Silencer 610/Zalman CNPS9500 HSF Recording Hardware: Mbox 2 Factory Pro/Mackie SR24.4VLZ Pro Console/M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Controller/Audio-Technica 4033a microphone/Symetrix 528E/PreSonus Eureka/Mackie MR8 active monitors Game Machine: Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6/E8400/4x2GB Mushkin XP2-8500/BFG GTX280/HP f2105 21" flat panel/Creative Labs X-Fi Elite Pro/Maxtor 6H500F0/Maxtor STM3320/Western Digital WD4000KD/Plextor 760A/Toshiba DVD-ROM/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec P-180/PPC&C Silencer 610/Ideazon Merc Stealth keyboard/Vista Business64 SP1
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08-19-2008, 02:31 PM	#7
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 It's the "no suffix" version I'm getting. Basically it seems to be the -DS3R with the ICH10 instead of the ICH10R. It has x16 + x8 PCIe slots. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

08-19-2008, 02:34 PM	#8
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 Thanks for the input. I've pretty much made up my mind already, heh. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
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08-19-2008, 02:37 PM	#9
TQ You gonna throw that? Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 8,442	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 The EP45-DS4P looks interesting... __________________ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me - Psalm 51:10 My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dogs already think I am... Daywalker Studio: Software: Adobe Audition 3.0/Pro Tools LE 7.4/Acid Pro 6.0/Multiple VST, DirectX and RTAS plugins/Kontakt 3 Sampler/Windows XP Professional PC Hardware: D975XBX2-504/E6600/4x2GB Mushkin XP2-6400/eVGA 800GTX/HP f1905 19" flat panel/Echo Audio Gina24 Sound Card/2 Maxtor 6B300SO's/1 Maxtor STM500AS/1 Western Digital WD2500JD/PleXwriter Premium/Plextor 716A/Samsung LightScribe DVD burner/Logitech Revolution MX/Antec P-180b/PPC&C Silencer 610/Zalman CNPS9500 HSF Recording Hardware: Mbox 2 Factory Pro/Mackie SR24.4VLZ Pro Console/M-Audio Axiom 25 MIDI Controller/Audio-Technica 4033a microphone/Symetrix 528E/PreSonus Eureka/Mackie MR8 active monitors Game Machine: Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6/E8400/4x2GB Mushkin XP2-8500/BFG GTX280/HP f2105 21" flat panel/Creative Labs X-Fi Elite Pro/Maxtor 6H500F0/Maxtor STM3320/Western Digital WD4000KD/Plextor 760A/Toshiba DVD-ROM/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec P-180/PPC&C Silencer 610/Ideazon Merc Stealth keyboard/Vista Business64 SP1
(Offline)

08-19-2008, 03:10 PM	#11
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Re: gigabyte ga-ep45-ds3 Oh, I know, I just meant that I'd pretty much decided on going with the EP45-DS3 even before posting this thread . The DS4P does look interesting but it doesn't offer anything over the -DS3 that smells must-have for me. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

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