7 motherboards for Core i7 processors to compare

[Golfert]

"Post 7 compares motherboards for enthusiasts users, combined with Intel Core i7: Asus Rampage II Extreme, Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P, Intel DX58SO, MSI Eclipse SLI, DFI LanParty UT T3eH8-x58, and x58 Biostar TPower
ECS X58B-A "

Introduction

In the month of November 2008, a period in which the economic crisis that is characterizing the international economy began to emerge clearly in the IT market, Intel presented its new generation of processors for desktop systems. Talking about the cpu Core i7 family, better known by the code name of Nehalem.

Intended to accompany the family of processors Core 2, presented with the first version in July 2006, the Core i7 solutions were immediately placed in the top segment of the range of the desktop processor market, despite prices that in some versions were fully comparable with those of Core 2 Quad cpu on the market. These are the first 3 versions of the Core i7 processor that Intel has entered the market in November, and currently represent the offering of Intel for this type of processors:

• Core i7 965 Extreme Edition: clock frequency of 3.2 GHz; QPI bus to 3.2 GHz (6.4 Gigatransfer / sec); L3 cache from 8 Mbytes; DDR3-1600 memory, 130 watts maximum TDP; Overspeed protection disabled;
  
• Core i7 940: clock frequency of 2.93 GHz; QPI bus to 2.4 GHz (4.8 Gigatransfer / sec); L3 cache from 8 Mbytes; DDR3-1066 memory, 130 watts maximum TDP; Overspeed protection enabled.
  
• Core i7 920: clock frequency of 2.66GHz, QPI bus to 2.4 GHz (4.8 Gigatransfer / sec); L3 cache from 8 Mbytes; DDR3-1066 memory, 130 watts maximum TDP; Overspeed protection enabled.

These cpu are characterized by the same basic type of architecture, distinguished by the clock frequency and some other elements. In particular processors Core i7 940 and Core i7 920 is offered by Intel with frequencies QPI and DDR3 memory, respectively, equal to 2.4 GHz (corresponding to 4.8 Giga transfer / sec) and 1066 MHz, while for the CPU Core i7 965 Extreme Edition these go up to 3.2 GHz (6.4 Gigatransfer / sec) and 1600 MHz, however, Intel has made available the appropriate frequency multipliers inside the cpu Core i7 940 and Core i7 920 for the retail channel, so that you can turn to these same specifications of the CPU Core i7 965 Extreme Edition.

During the second quarter Intel will update its range of processors Core i7 family, presenting two new versions of high-end. To replace the CPU Core i7 965 will model the Core i7 975, with a clock frequency of 3.33 GHz to 3.2 GHz processor which will take place. Moving down, the Core i7 940 processor with clock frequency of 2.83 GHz model will be replaced by Core i7 950, characterized by an increase in clock frequency up to 3.06 GHz remains unchanged in other specifications.

[Golfert]

In these pages we discuss technical and performance characteristics of 7 motherboards for Intel Core i7, with socket LGA 1366 and based all the only chipset compatible with these processors currently available on the market, Intel x58 model. The following table summarizes the technical features of the motherboard included in this comparison:

Notice as the technical specifications for these motherboards are very similar between them. Since the proposed top of the range of ancillary equipment are always very rich: the expandability in terms of PCI Express cards that use the same number of SATA devices connected over most of the configurations of desktop systems, although top of the range.

[Golfert]

Asus Rampage II Extreme

Characterized by abundant dimensions, the motherboard Asus Rampage II Extreme Asus is entered by users for most fans of overclocking and tweaking the system. The family of cards ROC stands for Republic of Gamers, was also developed by Taiwan with the aim to offer comprehensive products for the avid user, with a strong propensity to gaming, which implies the access to advanced features tweaking with your card.

The top card Asus is characterized by the presence of the massive cooling system: the passive heat sinks mounted on the power circuitry of the processor and the two bridge chipset are linked together through heatpipes, so that the heat can be easily dissipated through the combined radiator and fan cooling the processor. The memory expandability by side is ensured by the presence of 6 slots for DDR3 modules, while the 3 slot PCI Express video cards allow for the installation of cards with system 2-slot cooling of space.

[Golfert]

Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P

With the card GA-EX58-UD4P Gigabyte offers one of its solutions for Intel Core i7 processors, which currently includes no less than 7 models that share the basic design. The proposal being tested in these pages is one of the solutions of higher-end, characterized by a high flexibility of use and a complete envelope function. The card design includes a classical arrangement of components, with socket LGA 1366 and DDR3 memory slots 6 in the middle and upper slot PCI Express and PCI in the bottom. The presence of many components on the PCB has not created major problems of layout: the memory modules are easily accessible even with video cards installed in the system, while the two power connectors are not in the cooling system of a processor obstruction.

Gigabyte has implemented a wide range of accessories in the form GA-EX58-UD4P: we remind the subsystem Realtek ALC 889A audio to 7.1 channels with support for Dolby Home Theater is currently limited to Windows 32bit, 8 channel SATA divided into 6 of the south bridge Intel ICH10R and 2 supplementary Gigabyte SATA controller 2. Network Connectivity sees a single Gigabit adapter built into the system, compared with 2 that are typically provided on motherboards in this class.

Are 8 USB 2.0 ports accessible from the rear panel connections, but no E-Sata connector, clearly visible both PS / 2 ports for mouse and keyboard, in addition to the connectors on the audio subsystem is analog or digital. Near the door Firewire notice a button to reset the bios of the card, which is useful when you are unable longer to restart the PC to incorrect settings or excessively pushed the operating parameters selected by the system bios.

[Golfert]

ECS X58B-A

The motherboard X58B-A belongs to the family of the Black Series Taiwanese manufacturer ECS, gamma collecting all solutions to a targeted public. At present this is the only motherboard ECS Core i7 processor: given the cost of the cpu and the motherboard combination, the decision to have one card for this type of platform is more than justified for this company.

Good arrangement of components on the PCB: highlight the presence of 6 memory slots for DDR3 flanked by 2 PCI Express 16x slot, 1x slot 2, a 4x slot and a conventional PCI slot. Both power connectors that memory slots are easily accessible, while the cooling system of the chipset and power circuitry, although voluminous, is never likely to create problems in the installation of heat sinks outside dimensions as standard.

ECS has included a valuable ancillary equipment in your card X58B-A: there are two network cards Gigabit, Firewire controllers, subsystems audio chip Realtek ALC 888S-VC to 7.1 channels and up to 8 SATA devices that can be handled simultaneously by system, in the form of 6 traditional and 2 E-SATA connections on the way back.

The cooling system chipset and power circuitry is fully integrated with ECS indicated by the name of QoolTech II. The 3 heat sinks only connected to each other through the heatpipes, an approach that ensures a more efficient dissipation of heat in this exploiting the air blown by cooling heatsink mounted on the processor.