Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6: DDR3 comes a knocking, again
by Gary Key on May 30, 2007 2:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
First Thoughts
Looking at the initial results from the Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6, it is clear we can answer one important question about the board: it does offer performance on par with the ASUS P5K3 Deluxe. In memory bandwidth or latency sensitive applications, it is every bit equal to or better than the ASUS board and any differences are minor. However, when we utilize an application that is clearly CPU limited, we find the ASUS performing slightly better.
We found the feature set on the Gigabyte board to be very competitive with the ASUS board although we would give the edge to ASUS for including eSATA, an additional Gigabit Ethernet port, and we still consider the ADI 1988B HD codec to be superior to the Realtek ALC-889A in gaming, though under Vista they seem to be equals now in preliminary testing. The enthusiast level BIOS options included in the ASUS P5K3 offer a higher degree of fine tuning compared to the Gigabyte P35T-DQ6. However, we have to say that except for memory overclocking we were able to extract the same or better performance with the Gigabyte board.
That brings us to our main concern about this board. We just had a very difficult time getting the board to overclock our current, albeit small, supply of DDR3 memory. The board generated excellent memory performance at or near the stock 1333 memory speeds. However, any chance at overclocking our memory in the same fashion we have on the ASUS board was generally met with frustration or failure. We know Gigabyte is addressing this issue and we expect a new BIOS spin in the next day or so to try. This issue will be chalked up to an early BIOS design unless it lingers on in the final BIOS release before general public availability of the board. For now the ASUS P5K3 is generally more polished in its implementation of memory ratios and overclocking capability.
Besides the memory performance problem when overclocking we did have a couple of niggles with the board. Gigabyte utilizes ICH9 firmware for RAID that appears to be a couple of releases down from the current version and the board is slower than normal in our opinion to POST if AHCI or RAID is enabled. We still do not like the Crtl-F1 sequence for the expanding the BIOS options in the performance section. While we are at it, you cannot change out memory without first removing the video card, the CPU area cooling backplate will have to be removed or modifications made to most coolers that require backplate mounting, and the color scheme is getting a little old (though the pink memory slots will grab your attention). You will not, however, be disappointed in any other aspect of the Gigabyte's P35T-DQ6 performance or features.
With that said, BIOS tuning is paramount to extracting the best possible performance from this board - as it is with the other P35 offerings and most other chipsets. The P35T-DQ6 provides excellent performance and rock solid stability for a new system, performing better than just about any board we have tested to date. We are still learning a lot about the board, chipset straps, timings, DDR3 memory, and how they all interact with each other during overclocking. However, our initial glimpse of the board shows it be a winner right now if DDR3 support is your goal.
That brings us to the $64,000 question: is DDR3 worth the additional 2x cost premium over DDR2 in current market prices? Based on our performance results, the answer would be a qualified no for the time being. This very well could change in the near future as DDR3 pricing falls and performance further improves, but for now DDR3 is probably best suited for those who have a love for new technology. If this is you, then Gigabyte has a board that you just might want to take home today.
Looking at the initial results from the Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6, it is clear we can answer one important question about the board: it does offer performance on par with the ASUS P5K3 Deluxe. In memory bandwidth or latency sensitive applications, it is every bit equal to or better than the ASUS board and any differences are minor. However, when we utilize an application that is clearly CPU limited, we find the ASUS performing slightly better.
We found the feature set on the Gigabyte board to be very competitive with the ASUS board although we would give the edge to ASUS for including eSATA, an additional Gigabit Ethernet port, and we still consider the ADI 1988B HD codec to be superior to the Realtek ALC-889A in gaming, though under Vista they seem to be equals now in preliminary testing. The enthusiast level BIOS options included in the ASUS P5K3 offer a higher degree of fine tuning compared to the Gigabyte P35T-DQ6. However, we have to say that except for memory overclocking we were able to extract the same or better performance with the Gigabyte board.
That brings us to our main concern about this board. We just had a very difficult time getting the board to overclock our current, albeit small, supply of DDR3 memory. The board generated excellent memory performance at or near the stock 1333 memory speeds. However, any chance at overclocking our memory in the same fashion we have on the ASUS board was generally met with frustration or failure. We know Gigabyte is addressing this issue and we expect a new BIOS spin in the next day or so to try. This issue will be chalked up to an early BIOS design unless it lingers on in the final BIOS release before general public availability of the board. For now the ASUS P5K3 is generally more polished in its implementation of memory ratios and overclocking capability.
Besides the memory performance problem when overclocking we did have a couple of niggles with the board. Gigabyte utilizes ICH9 firmware for RAID that appears to be a couple of releases down from the current version and the board is slower than normal in our opinion to POST if AHCI or RAID is enabled. We still do not like the Crtl-F1 sequence for the expanding the BIOS options in the performance section. While we are at it, you cannot change out memory without first removing the video card, the CPU area cooling backplate will have to be removed or modifications made to most coolers that require backplate mounting, and the color scheme is getting a little old (though the pink memory slots will grab your attention). You will not, however, be disappointed in any other aspect of the Gigabyte's P35T-DQ6 performance or features.
With that said, BIOS tuning is paramount to extracting the best possible performance from this board - as it is with the other P35 offerings and most other chipsets. The P35T-DQ6 provides excellent performance and rock solid stability for a new system, performing better than just about any board we have tested to date. We are still learning a lot about the board, chipset straps, timings, DDR3 memory, and how they all interact with each other during overclocking. However, our initial glimpse of the board shows it be a winner right now if DDR3 support is your goal.
That brings us to the $64,000 question: is DDR3 worth the additional 2x cost premium over DDR2 in current market prices? Based on our performance results, the answer would be a qualified no for the time being. This very well could change in the near future as DDR3 pricing falls and performance further improves, but for now DDR3 is probably best suited for those who have a love for new technology. If this is you, then Gigabyte has a board that you just might want to take home today.
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SirJoe - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - link
this is cool for you computer buffsGooger - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - link
I just did a google search for XMS3 and the only merchant to have it in stock at the bargain price of $599 is Tiger Direct! Yikes, I think I will wait a while untill the price of DDR3 becomes competitive with DDR2.AdamK47 - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
Sorry Gigabyte, I just can't see myself ever buying a board with pink memory slots. Shoulda stuck with the blue.Stele - Friday, June 1, 2007 - link
"Pink it's my new obsessionPink it's not even a question..."
:D Sorry, couldn't resist the temptation :P
yacoub - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
Thank you especially for the note about larger heatsinks being very difficult to mount and the associated image of the back of the motherboard so folks can see what they face if they have a heatsink that requires connecting a backing plate (as most of the larger ones do).yyrkoon - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
What annoys me, is that every Gigabyte motherbord review has this same 'annoyance' written in. Come now fellas, you can only say it about 500 times, beore it starts getting old, and how hard is it really to press two keys in combination ? Gigabyte obviously is doing this for a reason, and if it takes me writting this comment to point that out, well, I just dont know . . .
Saying something like: 'You will need to press cntl + F1 to access the 'protected' portion of the BIOS . . .' Would sounds less critical, would not come off as negativity, and would keep you guys from sounding lazy . . .
TA152H - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
It's not hitting the keys that is the problem, it's remembering to do it. When you have loads of computers with motherboards, it's nice if they have a standard way to access features, instead of adding an inane key sequence like CTRL-F1. It is annoying, because four years down the road if you have to work on this motherboard, for whatever reason, you have to try to remember this bizarre and otherwise trivial detail. Standards are nice, especially when following them doesn't involve a tradeoff.yyrkoon - Thursday, May 31, 2007 - link
Yeah, well I personally have a bad memory, but after reading countless Gigabyte motherboard reviews from AT here, I do not think I will ever forget this key combination.Anyhow, this is one reason why when given the chance I always opt for ABIT boards, while other may opt for Asus, Gigabyte, whatever. Once you become used to a given OEM BIOS Layout, it is hard to make a change in OEMs without suffering a bit in the knowledge department(at least temporarily).
*yyrkoon hugs his NF-M2 nView . . .
TA152H - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - link
Keep in mind, not everyone buying a motherboard from Gigabyte is going to be reading these articles, and proper journalism dictates they don't depend on people knowing every previous article, so they appropriately bring it up. Before you remark what's the point in them mentioning it for people that don't read it, it's certainly going to be read by Gigabyte and by complaining enough times, they may take notice.I agree that it is often best to just buy from one maker, or limit the number. Unfortunately, I'm an idiot and I end up with stuff from too many makers. I try to buy only Intel and Supermicro, but they are too expensive sometimes, so I've ended up buying a lot of Taiwanese junk before finally finding a company from there I have had success with (don't ask me why, but Epox seems to work best for me). So, I've got all this Asus, Soyo, Aopen, MSI, Gigabyte, Tyan and a few I don't even remember running and it's difficult to deal with all the different BIOS settings when they get cute and try to be different. On the plus side, these motherboards tend to break pretty regularly so I have less and less of the inferior brands. Well, except for Epox. I have no idea why these things never break on me, but I have a feeling it's just random luck :P .
Frumious1 - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - link
I won't forget, but I'm still annoyed by this, just like I'm annoyed by a BIOS that moves certain features into odd areas. I hate that there are about 20 ways to manage memory timings, voltages, bus speeds, etc. (and that's just picking either an AMD or an Intel platform). What's really stupid about Gigabyte's method of hiding settings is that it's not even all of the settings that get hidden. The major area lately that doesn't show up is memory timings. You can tweak voltages and fry your RAM, but GOD FORBID you play with memory timings! (There are some other things that get hidden as well, but I don't recall exactly what. I base this off my DS3 system.)