Gigabyte Outs First Dual-Thunderbolt Micro-ATX Motherboard

btarunr · Aug 10, 2012, 08:12 AM

Gigabyte released the first motherboard in the micro-ATX form-factor to feature two Thunderbolt interfaces. The Z77MX-D3H-TH from Gigabyte is built in the standard 240 x 240 mm micro-ATX form-factor, and based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting socket LGA1155 Core "Sandy Bridge" and "Ivy Bridge" processors. The board uses an Intel DSL3510L dual channel Thunderbolt controller to drive its two ports.

The two ports, electrically-compatible with mini-DisplayPort, double up as display outputs that are routed to the Flexible Display Interface (FDI) taking display from the processor's integrated graphics core. With the included Lucid Virtu MVP software, graphics processed by discrete graphics cards can be output though the FDI, and hence these Thunderbolt ports.

The LGA1155 socket on the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH is powered by a 6-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz memory; and two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated). Other expansion slots include a couple of PCI-Express 2.0 x1, wired to the PCH. All six SATA ports from the Z77 PCH (two SATA 6 Gb/s and four SATA 3 Gb/s) are assigned as internal ports.

Display connectivity, apart from the two Thunderbolt ports, includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. Other connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two by headers), 8+2 channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, a number of USB 2.0 ports, and PS/2 mouse/keyboard combo port. The board is driven by dual-UEFI BIOS. Expect the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH to cost around US $150-$170.

IvTK · Aug 10, 2012, 09:11 AM

Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H - 100 EUR (108.50 EUR at Mix-Computer)
Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H TH - 150 EUR (at Mix-Computer)
Numbers from buy.fudzilla.com

Ridiculous

TheLostSwede · Aug 10, 2012, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvTK

Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H - 100 EUR (108.50 EUR at Mix-Computer)
Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H TH - 150 EUR (at Mix-Computer)
Numbers from buy.fudzilla.com

Ridiculous

Considering the TB chip alone is $15-20, not taking into account the connectors, extra power regulation components etc. it's not really ridiculous.

If you need it or not is an entirely different matter though.

lolsop · Aug 10, 2012, 10:34 AM

Nobody in this world needs 2 Thunderbolt ports, one is more than enough (can already daisychain already up to 6 devices, incl montitors). Thunderbolt is still really expensive and this 2 port TB chip adds for sure 30 USD. Better save half that money and go for a solution with 1 TB port and more USB3 devices.

Octavean · Aug 10, 2012, 12:33 PM

I'm more interested in the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH or GA-Z77X-UP4 TH. Good to see though,...

iO · Aug 10, 2012, 01:04 PM

One connector for each of the two existent TB devices on the market...

cadaveca · Aug 10, 2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octavean

I'm more interested in the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH

Review will be live by next friday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iO

One connector for each of the two existent TB devices on the market...

There is actually about 35 devices available right now when I looked into getting one for reviews, not including Apple displays. However, each is quite expensive, for sure. Nearly $200 for an HDD dock is kinda unreal!

TheLostSwede · Aug 10, 2012, 07:03 PM

Seems like Gigabyte has no plans on selling this board in the US http://www.tonymacx86.com/132-worlds...onable-us.html

Also, keep in mind that the cables are still $50 a pop...

Here's hoping for external PCI Express...

Qtech · Aug 10, 2012, 07:52 PM

Look at this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foXaRSSQ8rk

hsew · Aug 10, 2012, 09:03 PM

I can't stand Gigabyte's dysfunctional PCIe slot spacing. Building any decent Multi-GPU rig with their M-ATX boards blocks off your front panel headers... and it's not like there are many 5 slot cases on the market to begin with. What were they thinking? When will they get it right like ASUS, MSI, and ASRock?

Syborfical · Aug 11, 2012, 03:29 AM

awesome 2 ports that 0.00001% of people might use..

Remember fire-wire ????

Dj-ElectriC · Aug 12, 2012, 09:49 AM

This board has a sad resemblance to the Sniper 3M

TheLostSwede · Aug 12, 2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qtech

Look at this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foXaRSSQ8rk

That doesn't mean it's available for sale there... and it's sighted

tigger · Aug 12, 2012, 08:14 PM

Whats the use of thunderbolt? surely the built in display connectors are enough, waste imo.

Aug 10, 2012, 08:12 AM	#1
btarunr Editor & Senior Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hyderabad, India Posts: 14,981 (7.31/day) Thanks: 788 Thanked 12,895 Times in 5,647 Posts System Specs	Gigabyte Outs First Dual-Thunderbolt Micro-ATX Motherboard Gigabyte released the first motherboard in the micro-ATX form-factor to feature two Thunderbolt interfaces. The Z77MX-D3H-TH from Gigabyte is built in the standard 240 x 240 mm micro-ATX form-factor, and based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting socket LGA1155 Core "Sandy Bridge" and "Ivy Bridge" processors. The board uses an Intel DSL3510L dual channel Thunderbolt controller to drive its two ports. The two ports, electrically-compatible with mini-DisplayPort, double up as display outputs that are routed to the Flexible Display Interface (FDI) taking display from the processor's integrated graphics core. With the included Lucid Virtu MVP software, graphics processed by discrete graphics cards can be output though the FDI, and hence these Thunderbolt ports. The LGA1155 socket on the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH is powered by a 6-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz memory; and two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated). Other expansion slots include a couple of PCI-Express 2.0 x1, wired to the PCH. All six SATA ports from the Z77 PCH (two SATA 6 Gb/s and four SATA 3 Gb/s) are assigned as internal ports. Display connectivity, apart from the two Thunderbolt ports, includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. Other connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two by headers), 8+2 channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, a number of USB 2.0 ports, and PS/2 mouse/keyboard combo port. The board is driven by dual-UEFI BIOS. Expect the Gigabyte Z77MX-D3H-TH to cost around US $150-$170. Last edited by btarunr; Aug 10, 2012 at 09:36 AM.

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Aug 10, 2012, 09:11 AM	#2
IvTK Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 21 (0.04/day) Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H - 100 EUR (108.50 EUR at Mix-Computer) Gigabyte GA-Z77MX-D3H TH - 150 EUR (at Mix-Computer) Numbers from buy.fudzilla.com Ridiculous

Aug 10, 2012, 10:34 AM	#4
lolsop Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 11 (0.01/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nobody in this world needs 2 Thunderbolt ports, one is more than enough (can already daisychain already up to 6 devices, incl montitors). Thunderbolt is still really expensive and this 2 port TB chip adds for sure 30 USD. Better save half that money and go for a solution with 1 TB port and more USB3 devices.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:33 PM	#5
Octavean Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 451 (0.24/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 39 Times in 31 Posts System Specs	I'm more interested in the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH or GA-Z77X-UP4 TH. Good to see though,...

Aug 10, 2012, 01:04 PM	#6
iO Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Germany Posts: 47 (0.15/day) Thanks: 1 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts	One connector for each of the two existent TB devices on the market...

Aug 10, 2012, 07:03 PM	#8
TheLostSwede Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: A little green island far far away Posts: 842 (0.27/day) Thanks: 16 Thanked 152 Times in 113 Posts System Specs	Seems like Gigabyte has no plans on selling this board in the US http://www.tonymacx86.com/132-worlds...onable-us.html Also, keep in mind that the cables are still $50 a pop... Here's hoping for external PCI Express...

Aug 10, 2012, 07:52 PM	#9
Qtech Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1 (0.00/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Z77MX-D3H TH sited in U.S.A Look at this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foXaRSSQ8rk

Aug 10, 2012, 09:03 PM	#10
hsew Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 11 (0.02/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I can't stand Gigabyte's dysfunctional PCIe slot spacing. Building any decent Multi-GPU rig with their M-ATX boards blocks off your front panel headers... and it's not like there are many 5 slot cases on the market to begin with. What were they thinking? When will they get it right like ASUS, MSI, and ASRock?

Aug 11, 2012, 03:29 AM	#11
Syborfical Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 85 (0.04/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts	awesome 2 ports that 0.00001% of people might use.. Remember fire-wire ????

Aug 12, 2012, 09:49 AM	#12
Dj-ElectriC Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Trollithia Posts: 1,577 (1.56/day) Thanks: 141 Thanked 643 Times in 300 Posts System Specs	This board has a sad resemblance to the Sniper 3M __________________ Unreal Tournament mod - 85% progress Sponsored by MSI and Antec Battletag: HolyDiver#1664 Last edited by Dj-ElectriC; Aug 12, 2012 at 09:54 AM.

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Aug 12, 2012, 08:14 PM	#14
tigger I'm the only one Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HU5 1LL Posts: 7,189 (2.75/day) Thanks: 469 Thanked 940 Times in 773 Posts System Specs	Whats the use of thunderbolt? surely the built in display connectors are enough, waste imo. __________________ http://img.techpowerup.org/110324/v6351cpuzvalj197.jpg ]Monster E6300 oc http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2163.html

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