Key Specs
ATXIntel X58 Express
Socket 1366
Two PCIe x16, one PCIe x4, two PCIe x1
Two
Four/triple channel
16GB
No
The Intel Core i7 CPU offers a lot of value, starting at under $300 for performance-beating chips that used to cost over $1,000. But it's the cost of the supplemental hardware that has kept it out of most mainstream PCs so far. Compatible motherboards have cost upward of $300, and the DDR3 RAM needed to flesh out a Core i7 setup is pricey, too. Together, that has made for a significantly higher investment than with a Core 2 or AMD board. Now, however, DDR3 RAM prices have dropped significantly, and Gigabyte's GA-EX58-UD3R motherboard finally lowers Core i7 motherboards into the $200 range.
The GA-EX58-UD3R doesn't skimp on basic functionality. It's built on the same Intel X58 Express chipset and Socket 1366 as its pricier cousins, and, with its QuickPath Interconnect technology (Intel's answer to AMD's HyperTransport, the successor to front-side-bus technology), it supports both the less-expensive Core i7 models and the Core i7-965 Extreme. The main difference between the GA-EX58-UD3R and Gigabyte's pricier X58 boards is the inclusion of only four DDR3 memory slots instead of the six found on higher-end boards. With the triple-channel nature of Core i7 systems, that means you're limited to using three memory DIMMs if you want to maintain optimal performance; adding a fourth DIMM will slow memory access. Edition
Although the GA-EX58-UD3R has a pair of PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slots for video, it doesn't support Nvidia's Scalable Link Interface (SLI) dual-card technology—just AMD's CrossFireX. Adding SLI support to an X58 board is just a matter of getting the proper licensing from Nvidia, so Gigabyte must have chosen to omit SLI to keep costs down. (In fact, Gigabyte's Web site lists a GA-EX58-UD3R-SLI board that's identical to this one other than the added SLI support, but it wasn't yet available at press time.) You'll also find one PCIe x4 slot, a pair of PCIe x1 slots, and two regular PCI slots.
For the most part, the layout of this ATX board is easy to work with, but the uppermost PCIe x1 slot edges right up against the large chipset heat sink, which means you'll only be able to use those rare tiny cards that don't extend back behind the slot itself. Another questionable placement is the floppy connector, which ends up near the bottom-front of the of the case. Gigabyte should have included an extra-long floppy cable; in many case setups, the included cable won't be long enough to connect the port and the floppy drive.
The floppy port isn't the only legacy hardware support here. You'll also find PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports, an IDE connector, and a serial port header. Along with Realtek ALC888 HD audio, Gigabit LAN, dual FireWire, eight SATA, and eight USB ports, there are headers on the motherboard for four additional USB ports and an additional FireWire connector. No bracket cables are included for any of the motherboard connectors or for adding an external SATA (eSATA) connection, so you'll have to shell out a few more bucks if you don't have extras lying around.
