Official Intel Ivy Bridge Discussion

[josejones]

Gigabyte's Hardcore Thunderbolt Demo with GA-Z77Z-UP5 TH Motherboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deImUH8aUHQ

Gigabyte Ultra Durable 5 at Computex, shows much lower temperatures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLggGetNR14

So in the videos above discussing the new Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH, which is claimed to reduce mobo temps by up to 60C. They said it would be out by the end of June. I e-mailed Gigabyte yesterday and asked them a few questions and they responded today saying they have no idea when it will be out and didn't give me any prices. I also asked if there'd be a Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 version without the "TH" Thunderbolt ports - no answer:

I saw the videos from Computex 2012 from early June mentioning the new Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH. Now it's July and I've not heard anything at all. So, I wanted to find out a few things:

What's the price (US $) of the "Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH"?

I'd also like to know if there will be a version without the Thunderbolt ports and if so, what price and when will it be available?

I'd prefer a Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 without the Thunderbolt ports since I can easily buy a PCIe card in the near future. I'd also prefer all USB 3, PCIe 3 and SATA 3 since they're all backwards compatible.

I've heard that the Thunderbolt ports add $50 per port to the cost of the motherboard - is that true? How much does the new IR3550 PowIRstage add to the cost of the board?

I'm getting tired of waiting & may have to settle for the older Gigabyte z77 UD5.

Any thoughts?

New Ivy Build in July
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/350913-31-build-july

 

[gamerk316]

However, I've at least managed to resolve all my issues such as the HD4K igp overscanning to a plasma TV (indeed have to set the TV to "dot by dot" and then save that setting), and no audio to the TV - turns out that Win7, while supporting multiple audio devices, will only let you select one active output device at a time. I have a SB Recon soundcard connected to the external audio as well as the Asus onboard audio connected to a 5.1 gaming headset, so if I want to use the headset I have to right-click the speaker icon and choose the headset as output device. Kinda annoying IMO as I have about 8 different choices - audio over the HD4K HDMI output, over the 7970 HDMI output, front panel output, etc etc. My Asus P8Z77 deluxe mobo includes onboard wifi & bluetooth, so if I want to play music over my stereo system in the next room that has a bluetooth stereo adapter, I can only use that output device and not be able to listen in both rooms at the same time. When I get time I'll look around to see if any utilities out there that can support simultaneous outputs..

It can be done actually; the problem is that 99% of all windows programs simply route their audio to whatever audio device is set as the "default audio output device" in the windows control panel. If a program in question [WMP, or most other audio playback software] allows the manual selection of an audio output device, windows is quite capable of streaming two different audio streams to two different audio output devices [say, a soundcard and onboard chipset]. I've been nagging MS for years to add a program switch to allow the selection of a specific audio device [by number]...

That being said, I don't know any easy way to duplicate an output over two separate devices without copying the signal through another program...

 

[josejones]

I wonder if there will be a z78 motherboard version as an upgraded z77 similar to the 67/68 mobos? What features on a z78 might be upgraded?

 

[ddan49]

However, I do have to say that IGP is an important diagnostic tool. I would not discard it completely. Motherboards offer mediocre performance boosts at best, anyway... 1% or less. With OCing I'm not so sure, but overall I'd say don't switch from P67 to Z77/68 or whatever, and vice versa. Unless you have a different reason (PCI slots, etc.)

 

[earl45]

they have to get the Z77 right first... 😛
the P67 is still the better overclocking board out there..

Very True!

 

[josejones]

Ah, interesting ... please explain what you guys mean by "they have to get the Z77 right first..."

I'd love to hear what all you guys feel is wrong with the z77's.

 

[earl45]

maybe I should go into more detail.
I'm speaking primarily on overclocking abilities only, the ability and stability of obtaining higher overclocks are better on P67 boards.
is it because of the chipset and lack of IGP giving it more control, one possibility to look into....?
I'm also talking about higher end boards with the (VRM) advance phase control, I'm not speaking about every P67 board in general.
yes Z77 boards (higher end) also have (VRM) advanced phase control but it seems a little buggy still from what I have seen.
motherboard makers are getting too 'packed full of options' these days and are forgetting keeping it RAW..
Z77 is not as seasoned as the P67, the now discontinued P67 going out with guns blazing..

I just bought another Z68 Gen3 and not a Z77, (to me) not worth the extra $20.
I am on my last P67 though and if and when it goes I probably will look at Z77 because will have a few revisions by then.

one last thing:
I have updated all my BIOS to the latest versions so I have the latest fixes and enhancements and on my P76 board specifically,
it's amazing..

*disclaimer*
my opinions from mostly playing around with a few motherboards and a little internet reading.

My experience with the P67,Z68 and Z77 all Asus high end MB has been the same.
For overclocking and playing game the P67 is all you need, now if encoding the 2600k,
3770k, Z68 and Z77 would be better suited for this.

 

[josejones]

So, if motherboard manufacturers were able to make them customized per order, what features would your mobo have?

For me, I only need a "raw" mobo geared towards long life-span and reliability. I'd prefer all gen 3 too i.e. 6 USB 3.0 ports in the rear & two in the front; all PCIe 3, all sata 3 since they're all backwards compatible. I like what Gigabyte's doing with their Ultra Durable 4 and now 5 trying to keep mobo temps low explained more here - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/308664-30-gigabyte-claims-world-spot-motherboard-durability

Any more thoughts on mobos - feel free to post in this thread:

z77 Motherboard Discussion
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/308058-30-motherboard-discussion

 

[amdfangirl]

I'd cheap motherboards with few features, but with Ultra Durable 5 etc.

Super reliable, moderately priced, otherwise low-end.

 

[daysyang]

agree with josejones... mobo should be all gen3, usb 3.0, pci-e 3.0, sata 3

 

[amdfangirl]

I don't get why all except 2 ports of USB 2.0 (compatibility?) wasn't just replaced by 3.0...

 

[gamerk316]

Heck, I'm using a 2.0 device in a 3.0 port simply because my other two hubs have too many devices on them to keep all my stuff powered! I could care less about the extra bandwidth, quite frankly.

 

[josejones]

For those who may be interested, I couldn't take it anymore so, I called Gigabyte. They said that the Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH will come out at the end of July not June (obviously) and it will cost over $300 (US) and the UP7 will probably be over $400. There will be no "UP" versions without the "TH" Thunderbolt ports either. There will be no z78 versions. This is pretty much it until Haswell comes out. So, forget it - looks like I'll be going with the z77 UD5 not the UP5 for about half price.

Ivy Build
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/350913-31-build-july

 

[Lucem Ferre]

For those who may be interested, I couldn't take it anymore so, I called Gigabyte. They said that the Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH will come out at the end of July not June (obviously) and it will cost over $300 (US) and the UP7 will probably be over $400. There will be no "UP" versions without the "TH" Thunderbolt ports either. There will be no z78 versions. This is pretty much it until Haswell comes out. So, forget it - looks like I'll be going with the z77 UD5 not the UP5 for about half price.

Ivy Build
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/350913-31-build-july

If you're not going to overclock why would you buy an expensive board?

 

[ddan49]

@ josejones -
were interested but just not taking it to your extremes or obsession with Giggle-bytes including your thread dedicated to them.

just not that serious dude..

Although generally not used outside of the comments for tomshardware's news, that deserves a "thumbs up"

 

[ctbaars]

Spoiler

I understand what you're saying but the use of the thumbs is bad precedence. josejones has his/her own angle to persue and that's perfectly fine. I really don't like that posts get collapsed. Esp in this case where you just don't like the direction of the thread.
I don't like internet justice. It's not just. There is no room for redemption. I am going to demonstate a way out example. Those kids that picked on the women on the bus. What I don't like is that the internet makes that record permanant. I've done some really bad things in my life that I'm not proud of but maturity on my part even if not forgiven came through from the citizens effected. @Fireonthekeyboard from Kalamazoo in the Trains.com board can go *** himself.

Did I just get side tracked? ... :lol:

Edit: Yes I did :lol:

 

[ddan49]

...internet justice? ALL I DID WAS A THUMBS UP! D:

 

[ctbaars]

...internet justice? ALL I DID WAS A THUMBS UP! D:

I'm feeling much better now; that I had lunch away from my office.
:arry:

 

[josejones]

I sense gamer prejudice. I did say: "For those who may be interested..."

"If you're not going to overclock why would you buy an expensive board? "

The UD3's use some cheaper parts on some things and simply don't give me what I need and the UD5 does. I like Asus & MSI too but, they were missing a few things I needed too.

No need to get nasty, urban legend, I've simply never had a Gigabyte mobo before so, I wanted to know if their claims passed the tests. If you hate Gigabyte, non-overclockers and non-obsessive gamers, that's fine by me. Live and let live, no prejudice from me.

 

[josejones]

^ Ahh, when was the last time you had a 'Giggle-Bytes' mobo? I've never had one before so I wanted to find out as much as I could. Otherwise, I would've gone with Asus or MSI.

 

[josejones]

^ I'll have the z77 UD5 sometime next week. Just ordered everything so, whenever it all gets in etc.

 

[ddan49]

I'm sorry, but does anyone else love the term "Giggle-byte" as much as I do?

 

[Guest]

almost as much as a55rock.



(its just a joke!)

 

[ddan49]

Really? Not A55us?

 

[Guest]

a lot of giggling a55es!