| Tuesday, November 24 2009 |
Gigabyte is readying the industry's first socket AM3 motherboard that offers the new connectivity features combo that is turning out to be quite a selling point in itself: USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps. Enter GA-790FXTA-UD5P, a high-end socket AM3 motherboard based on the AMD 790FX + SB750 chipset, that isn't just a revised GA-MA790FXT-UD5P. Apart from the star attractions of USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps, the board features a redesigned expansion slot layout, among other new features. The socket AM3 motherboard supports AMD Phenom II AM3 and Athlon II series processors with support for dual-channel DDR3 memory.
To begin with, the CPU is powered by a 8+2 phase VRM supporting 140W processors, with a 2 phase VRM powering the four DDR3 DIMM slots. The board supports DDR3-1866 by overclocking, while DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1066 are naturally supported. A Precision OV controller provides fine (small step) voltage control for the CPU, memory and chipset voltages. Instead of two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots on the MA-790FXT-UD5P, this board features three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (electrical x16, x16, NC, or x16, x8, x8, depending on how they're populated). Each x16 slot as one slot spacing which is occupied by a PCI slot. A lone PCI-E x1 slot heads the pack.
The component cooling is similar to its predecessor, heatsinks that are interconnected by a heatpipe, cover the CPU VRM, northbridge, and southbridge. All six SATA 3 Gbps ports the SB750 provides are assigned as internal, while an additional controller (usual suspect being the Marvell 88SE9123-NAA2) provides two internal SATA 6 Gbps ports color-coded white. Another additional controller (suspected to be NEC µPD720200), provides two USB 3.0 ports on the rear-panel. 8-channel audio with optical and co-axial SPDIF outputs, eSATA/USB Combo connectors that eliminate need for additional power input on some eSATA thumb drives, a number of more USB 2.0 ports and two gigabit Ethernet connections make for the rest of the rear-panel. Gigabyte is planning more models that feature USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps, namely GA-790XTA-UD4, and GA-770TA-UD3.
Source: The Tech Report
To begin with, the CPU is powered by a 8+2 phase VRM supporting 140W processors, with a 2 phase VRM powering the four DDR3 DIMM slots. The board supports DDR3-1866 by overclocking, while DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1066 are naturally supported. A Precision OV controller provides fine (small step) voltage control for the CPU, memory and chipset voltages. Instead of two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots on the MA-790FXT-UD5P, this board features three PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (electrical x16, x16, NC, or x16, x8, x8, depending on how they're populated). Each x16 slot as one slot spacing which is occupied by a PCI slot. A lone PCI-E x1 slot heads the pack.
The component cooling is similar to its predecessor, heatsinks that are interconnected by a heatpipe, cover the CPU VRM, northbridge, and southbridge. All six SATA 3 Gbps ports the SB750 provides are assigned as internal, while an additional controller (usual suspect being the Marvell 88SE9123-NAA2) provides two internal SATA 6 Gbps ports color-coded white. Another additional controller (suspected to be NEC µPD720200), provides two USB 3.0 ports on the rear-panel. 8-channel audio with optical and co-axial SPDIF outputs, eSATA/USB Combo connectors that eliminate need for additional power input on some eSATA thumb drives, a number of more USB 2.0 ports and two gigabit Ethernet connections make for the rest of the rear-panel. Gigabyte is planning more models that feature USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps, namely GA-790XTA-UD4, and GA-770TA-UD3.
Source: The Tech Report
User comments
The price will probably be in the 200-250$ area?
I'm expecting less than $230.
by: btarunr
I'm expecting less than $230.
It this is so, this is gonna be my new target :laugh:
I think I'll just wait to see what SB800 brings to the table for SATA III. Nice looking board though, no more of that umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte!?
by: kenkickr
I think I'll just wait to see what SB800 brings to the table for SATA III. Nice looking board though, no more of that umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte!?
As far as I know most umpa-loompa shit comes from Asus.:roll:
I like the board, the color scheme, the layout and the inclusion of sata 6.0 and Usb 3.0 IF I hadnt gotten this awesome mobo I have now, I would jump all over this. Considering my board came out at 199.99 on the egg, I wonder if Gigabyte will follow suit. They usually are pretty good on prices.
why only two SATA3 ports and two USB 3.0 ports? I think I'll wait for a little while longer.
At least this time no salmon colored slots.
And: Umpa-Loompa shit, wtf :roll.
And: Umpa-Loompa shit, wtf :roll.
by: kenkickr
No more of that umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte!?
Yes, the Marvell controller takes the place of Gigabyte's GSATA2 controller, if that's what you were referring to as "umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte".
by: AsphyxiAPossibly due to the lack of parts that will take full advantage of the speed? That's my guess.
why only two SATA3 ports and two USB 3.0 ports? I think I'll wait for a little while longer.
But I agree though, I may wait for others to release boards with more of these options.
Although, if the price is right...maybe...:rolleyes:
by: A Cheese DanishOr because of limitations in the controlers they used.
Possibly due to the lack of parts that will take full advantage of the speed? That's my guess.
But I agree though, I may wait for others to release boards with more of these options.
Although, if the price is right...maybe...:rolleyes:
by: HalfAHertz
Or because of limitations in the controlers they used.
Most likely the PCi-E bus that is used for the onboard controller ;)
im waiting at 890FX UD6....
by: btarunr
Yes, the Marvell controller takes the place of Gigabyte's GSATA2 controller, if that's what you were referring to as "umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte".
the GSATA2 isnt shit its a jmicron and i found out that its actually good
but i prefer my 790FXT-UD5P, it has 10 SATA and a eSATA bracket, Dual x16 slots and three x1 slots ;P
I like that slot layout. Like anyone is going to actually run Quad Fire with four separate cards... I don't know why ASUS put 4 pcie x16 (x8) slots on the M4A79/T boards. Then, on the crosshair 3, they only put 6 slots (and one only works with the SupremeFX card- which sucks if you already have something better) on the board.
Gigabyte leads the pack for best slot configurations IMHO. That top pcie 1x slot is absolutely perfect for tiny pcie wireless cards or NICs (although I'd avoid putting a long card there- right above a hot GPU slot).
Gigabyte leads the pack for best slot configurations IMHO. That top pcie 1x slot is absolutely perfect for tiny pcie wireless cards or NICs (although I'd avoid putting a long card there- right above a hot GPU slot).
doh waiting a little longer for all USB ports to be USB3
and you can allways buy a USB3 and a SATA3 PCIe addon card, heck both the USB3 and SATA3 on this board use x1 PCIe 2.0 lanes as the 790FX only gives 6 x1 2.0 lanes for expansion slots, and the rest is 2x x16 lanes for graphics and 4x lanes to SB750
AMD realy hit this off, heck intel P55 with USB3/SATA 6Gbps still has to use PCIe 1.1 slots LOLz
AMD realy hit this off, heck intel P55 with USB3/SATA 6Gbps still has to use PCIe 1.1 slots LOLz
Hmmmmmm :respect: I think it's time for some more 3d benching + ln2 :D
chew* you dirty boy :D
good luck :P
good luck :P
Isnt USB 3.0 going to be backward compatible?? If so, wouldnt it make sense to make them all USB 3.0?
by: RaidermanThe system probably doesn't have enough PCIe lanes to drive a bunch of USB 3.0 chips. You'll probably have to wait for a chipset with USB 3.0 controllers inside the southbridge chip.
Isnt USB 3.0 going to be backward compatible?? If so, wouldnt it make sense to make them all USB 3.0?
by: btarunrNo, I was referring to the color scheme of the board. Gigabyte boards use to look like a mix of Crayola crayons or "Umpa-Loompa" shit.
Yes, the Marvell controller takes the place of Gigabyte's GSATA2 controller, if that's what you were referring to as "umpa-loompa shit from gigabyte".
by: HalfAHertz
The price will probably be in the 200-250$ area?
by: btarunr
I'm expecting less than $230.
by: Zubasamaybe in first say release we see 230$ , but there is cheap core i5 mobo's and there is new SB800 so after month drop under 200$
It this is so, this is gonna be my new target :laugh:
"Hell, it's about time", but I will wait for GA-790XTA-UD4, because I'm not gonna oc.
AMD 790FX has 42 PCIe 2.0 lanes
x32 goes to graphics card slots (x16/x8/x8)
x4 PCIe 2.0 goes to SB750 (6 blue SATA, 6 USB?)
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek Gigabit Ethernet
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek Gigabit Ethernet
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek ALC889A HD Audio Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to NEC USB3 Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Marvell SATA 6Gbps Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to x1 slot on motherboard
am not 100% sure but i think this is how the mb is setup
to bad they put eSATA back again :O
brackets are way better!!!! alot more flexible than having it hardsoldered to back of your case, i now have eSATA in my case on my mb, or i can remove the bracket and have 10 SATA instead of 8 SATA + 2 eSATA (that never gets used 99% of the time)
here is from bit-tech on P55, talk about bottlenecked
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/storage/2009/11/16/investigating-sata-6gbps-performance/
this shouldnt be a big problem with 790FX because its PCIe 2.0 all around
x32 goes to graphics card slots (x16/x8/x8)
x4 PCIe 2.0 goes to SB750 (6 blue SATA, 6 USB?)
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek Gigabit Ethernet
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek Gigabit Ethernet
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Realtek ALC889A HD Audio Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to NEC USB3 Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to Marvell SATA 6Gbps Controller
x1 PCIe 2.0 goes to x1 slot on motherboard
am not 100% sure but i think this is how the mb is setup
to bad they put eSATA back again :O
brackets are way better!!!! alot more flexible than having it hardsoldered to back of your case, i now have eSATA in my case on my mb, or i can remove the bracket and have 10 SATA instead of 8 SATA + 2 eSATA (that never gets used 99% of the time)
here is from bit-tech on P55, talk about bottlenecked
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/storage/2009/11/16/investigating-sata-6gbps-performance/
The bandwidth is key to this chipset, and supporting PCIe 2.0 allows a "true" SATA 6Gbps bandwidth. We say "true" because even the 500MB/s from a Gen 2.0 PCI-Express x1 lane is only 65 per cent of the theoretical maximum 768MB/s enabled by the new standard. If we bolt the Marvell chip directly onto a P55 chipset, it gets Gen 1.1 bandwidth (as Intel claims P55 is Gen 2.0 "compatible", which it needs to be anyway to adhere to the PCI-Express standard), offering only one third the bandwidth potential: a clear bottleneck. In fact, current SATA 3Gbps chipsets saturate a Gen 1.1 PCI-Express x1 bus in the same way: with a 384MB/s SATA standard forced through a 250MB/s bus.
this shouldnt be a big problem with 790FX because its PCIe 2.0 all around