GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Pros: Burn tested the mobo for more than 48 hours and works like a charm. I should note that the mobo ships with the new EasyTune 6 software, a vast improvement over the prior version 5. EasyTune is designed as a Windows interface to overclock/overvoltage the CPU, memory and graphics card (yes, everything). Most ocr's say you are best to overclock directly by tweaking the BIOS, and they have been right (in the past). But it looks like Gigabyte got it right with EasyTune version 6. All BIOS voltage and other settings can be controlled and finely tuned with this new version, giving you total manual control. Think of it as a graphical interface to the system BIOS. New to overclocking (like me)? EasyTune 6 provides pre-defined "templates" to jump to three different overclock/overvoltage conditions. You can also easily jump back to the default settings.

Cons: Not being paid for marketing this mobo.

Overall Review: People criticized prior versions of EasyTune and they were probably correct. Version 6 is a game changer. Check it out.

Pros: Lots of I/O ports, BIOS is more advanced than ever. The temps are really low!

Cons: None so far

Overall Review: I assembled one unit for my farmhouse so that I can video chat with my relatives. For fun, in testing this board, I got one of my trusty q6600 and overclocked it to 4.0-Ghz with C1E enabled and EIST disabled and the heatsinks were not even hot after an hours prime torture test. Now for deployment I installed a e8400 and set it at 4.0Ghz on stock voltages with C1E enabled and EIST enabled so they can have the speed when needed and conserve power on less use. I am thinking now, why would I buy any of the high-end Gigabyte boards if this baby can overclock well without any temp issues? I am sure, those high-end boards will be faster in the benches BUT not that fast - It will be negligible is real world applications. I am saying, getting this board will be the smartest thing one will have ever done is his entire life :)

Pros: *Warning - Previous Asus Fan-boi.* Core 2 duo E8500, OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB DDR2 1066, BFG 8800 GT OC, SoundBlaster X-Fi Fatal1ty sound (onboard sound disabled) - Under Vista 64 Ultimate. (Realtek Vista LAN driver @ http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_DownloadFile.aspx?FileType=Driver&FileID=3067 No need for another NIC.) 8 USB 2.0 ports on the back & headers for 4 more (front panel, FP). Have 12 USB ports just because. 2 Firewire ports (mini & regular) on the back & a header for 1 FP one. 10 total SATA 3.0 ports. Unbelieveable expandibility. Booting from RAID 1. Simple to set up. Straightforward if you've ever set up a RAID array before. Easytune6 works great. Running @ QuickBoost level 1 (of 3). CPU @ 3.6 GHz (3.16 stock), FSB @ 1600 (1300 stock). Q-Flash can use USB flash drives instead of a floppy to update the BIOS. With Vista's ability to use USB flash drives to install RAID drivers during install, a floppy isn't needed any more. Easy/nice build

Cons: eSATA pigtail power connector should be longer - only other molex powered peripherals at the top of the case. This connector just reaches to the back of the board. Used a molex Y-adapter to get it to reach to the top. Floppy connector is at the bottom-middle of the board. Tall cases and/or short (round) floppy cables need not apply. Don't let Microsoft Window Update apply Realtek - Network - Realtek RTL8168B/8111B Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0) DriverUpdate: Realtek Network software update released in June, 2007 to Vista (64-bit) CPU fan, Pwr fan, and 2 system fan headers. Really wish it had 2-3 more fan headers for the side & top case fans. Only the front & one of the rears is being monitored. Others using Molex to 3-pin adapters. PCIe-x16 slot is located 1 slot position lower than most would be found (with 2 PCIe-x1 slots above). Had to move disk drive up to keep graphics card cables & HD cables from jamming into one another & cutting off all air flow.

Overall Review: Good thing I didn't need a floppy for this install since my round floppy cable didn't reach. A lot of them won't. The ribbon cable supplied probably would. Not sure why the previous reviewer couldn't get the Realtek 8111 LAN working under Vista. I have it working with Vista 64-bit using the drivers I downloaded from Gigabyte. I'm typing this review from my new build using that NIC. (I didn't use the enclosed CD at all. Downloaded all of the latest drivers and apps directly from Gigabyte instead.) This is my first non-Asus motherboard build in years. This board had all the features I needed at the right price. I'm not disappointed. Board is very well laid out and constructed. Weighs a ton though. Should be able to take a bullet.

Pros: Well designed board, solid construction, color coded connectors including for the front panel. Probably the easiest build I have done (out of dozens over the years). A lot of connections for disks, usb, firewire. More than I'll ever use. Lots, and I means LOTS of BIOS options for tuning the system. I am not much of an overclocker, but the options are there if I wanted to be.

Cons: My Q6600 2.4GHz processor came up clocked at 2.1Ghz, because the clock ratio was 8 instead of 9. It was a one line change to the BIOS settings. As previous reviewers have pointed out, the multitudinous BIOS options could be better documented. After running Windows for a while, I started having applications crash. I finally tracked this done to EasyTune6, the performance tuning software that Gigabyte provides. It leaks windows handles at a rate of one per second and eventually exhausts them as a system resource. Not good for an application designed to reside in the system tray. It has been reported to Gigabyte and they say they'll look into it.

Overall Review: I was concerned about the 1.8v statements regarding the system memory slots on the Gigabyte website, wondering if other memory was compatible. In fact, many of the memory modules Gigabyte lists as compatible are not 1.8v. So I took a wee chance, and I am using GSkill 1066 and it works fine, passing MemTest86 for an extended run. It turns out there are a large range of voltage options for the memory. I highly recommend this board. It would be an excellent board for first time system builders provided they stay away from the more exotic BIOS options.

Pros: The board is good enough

Cons: I refuse to do repeat business with a company that rips off customers by never mailing a rebate. I've spent too much time trying to get Gigabyte to do the right thing and am sick of the old 'lost in the mail' excuse. I bought this in February and STILL no rebate. I give up on Gigabyte. Buyer beware. Don't expect to see a rebate

Pros: This board has been around for well over a year - I know since I did my first build using the EP45-UD3R a year ago. I was impress by how well made and complete the board was; 8 SATA, Firewire, 2 Serial, 1 ATA header, and even a floppy header for those of us who can't quite completely move into the Third Millennium. "Dynamic Energy Saver" software that I presume is responsible for my CPU (Q9550) being substantially underclocked when not being stressed, is included. Easytune software is included for those of us who are not really serious about overclocking, but like to play with it. The price of this board is remarkable considering all of the features it includes.

Cons: Cons, yes, I have a few, but almost, too few to mention... (sung to My Way) Anyway too few to remove an egg. Why in the world did they cover the beautiful bare copper fins of heatsinks on the board with blue covers shouting "GIGABYTE"? Don't they think we want to see the "2 oz Copper" they boast? And those fins have got to dissipate heat more efficiently than the medal covers. The BIOS on my Ver. 1.1 needed flashing right out of the box. Maybe this should be a Pro since they at least kept up the support for this board. The setup for the Intel ICH10R RAID driver is awkward, and just did not work for WinXP. Following the instructions in the manual during installation will provide you the dubious honor of seeing the dreaded BSOD. The fix was pretty easy though, not only must the necessary drivers be in the root directory, they must be copied two layers deep to $oem$\textmode\ for Windows installer to find them several minutes after the after the F6 install.

Overall Review: One more Con since I ran out of room above; the rebate process stinks. After you jump through all of their hoops you will wait at least 5 months for your $15. Real Other thoughts: This might be the last great LGA775 motherboard : > ( . It is solid and the bugs are out (or at least found and fixed on the Internet). The great 775 2-core and Quad core chips will soon be history. The overclocking potential is awesome, if you're in to that sort of thing. The i5 & i7 boards are being rushed into production, so arguably that should be your next build. Followers of the 6 month rule, (Wait at least 6 months before buying any new technology, mistakes will be found and prices will fall), should consider the 775 system.

Pros: Price (when purchased over 3 years ago from the egg). Build quality. Extremely durable. Well laid out.

Cons: Released when the 775 socket was already peaked and ready for decline.

Overall Review: I felt this board deserved a review even though it's now extinct and obsolete. I'm still rocking my UD3R I bought here from the egg. And, over the years, it has taken every single form of over voltage I have thrown at it like a champ. This board was Gigabyte's masterpiece, their 9th Symphony. Even now this board is running an old Q6600 at 3.85 GHz with 1.532v BIOS/1.508v CPU-Z and running strong--knock on wood. This board took my old E7400 to a 500+ fsb and my RAM to insanely high speeds well beyond what it's rated for. This board is the only reason I have been able to buy the pieces for my new build slowly (saving money along the way) as I am absolutely no hurry to upgrade--this thing takes obsolete old hardware/components and makes them into beasts! Out of respect for you, my trusty old UD3R, I am writing this review and I hope newegg posts it. This is one piece of hardware that truly deserves the respect of the overclocking community. Inv #45266342 Order #14776599

Pros: This board works very well for overclocking quad core intel chips. I have been able to get my q9650 prime blend stable at 4500mhz (500 fsb) with only 1.344v in windows. The bios is very easy to understand and modulate. SATA headers are easily accessible, even with a GPU installed. One of the least expensive, best overclocking, boards i've owned.

Cons: No nb temp sensor. Ram slots are a little close to the pcie slot, so it can be tricky to remove ram with a video card installed.

Overall Review: If you're deliberating between this and the ud3p, just decide whether or not you need the second pcie slot for crossfire. They both overclock the same.