Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3P Versus ASUS P7P55D-E for a i7-860 Buil

[cycleback]

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3P Versus ASUS P7P55D-E for a i7-860 Build

I am trying to decide between two motherboards for an i7-860 build with 2x2GB G.Skill Ripjaws and Windows 7 x64. The two motherboards I am considering are the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3P and the ASUS P7P55D-E.

Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3P
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -p55a-ud3p

ASUS P7P55D-E
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131620

The major differences between these motherboards seem to be the implementation of SATA-6G and USB3. It seems like the ASUS implementation may be preferred is this true? I tend to keep computer hardware for a very long time so I want to be somewhat ready for a SSD and USB3.

Which is a better on-board sound chip? Gigabyte with Realtek ALC889 or ASUS with VIA VT1828S?

Which is a better LAN chip? Gigabyte with Realtek 8111D or ASUS with Realtek 8112L

The only other differences that I see are that the Gigabyte has a coaxial out and the ASUS has firewire.

Are there any gotchas with either of these motherboards or reasons for a strong preference?

[maalitehdas]

Why do you choose P55 insted of H55, P55 does not support i7 integrated graphics.

[Tephras]

i7-860 doesn't have integrated graphics (nor does any other i7 CPU) so there's no reason using a motherboard with H55 chipset.

[b_rubenstein]

I tend to keep computer hardware for a very long time so I want to be somewhat ready for a SSD and USB3.

Unless there is a pressing need to get a system now, wait until the SATA & USB implementations (MB, devices and OS) become more mature. Around the time that those interfaces become mature Intel shouls have out the 32nm versions of the quad core i5 & i7 chips.

[maalitehdas]

The 32nm Westmere-based successor to Core i9 will be codenamed "Gulftown". Not published quite yet.


Intel® Core™ i7-610E Processor should be available 1'st quarter of 2010
(with integrated graphics)

And these mobile ones are already with us:
Intel® Processor Processor Frequency Intel® HD Graphics Graphics Frequency
Intel® Core™ i7-620M 2.66 GHz Yes 500 MHz
Intel® Core™ i7-620LM 2 GHz Yes 266 MHz
Intel® Core™ i7-620UM 1.06 GHz Yes 166 MHz
Intel® Core™ i7-640LM 2.13 GHz Yes 266 MHz
Intel® Core™ i7-640UM 1.20 GHz Yes 166 MHz
Intel® Core™ i5-540M 2.53 GHz Yes 500 MHz
Intel® Core™ i5-520M 2.40 GHz Yes 500 MHz
Intel® Core™ i3-350M 2.26 GHz Yes 500 MHz
Intel® Core™ i3-330M 2.13 GHz Yes 500 MHz

[cycleback]

I tend to keep computer hardware for a very long time so I want to be somewhat ready for a SSD and USB3.

Unless there is a pressing need to get a system now, wait until the SATA & USB implementations (MB, devices and OS) become more mature. Around the time that those interfaces become mature Intel shouls have out the 32nm versions of the quad core i5 & i7 chips.

My current system is ancient (Athlon 1.3 GHz) and the motherboard caps are leaking so I need to upgrade sooner rather than later. I have heard it will be at least a year before SATA-6G and USB3 are in the chipset.

[CA_Steve]

Realtek owns the onboard audio market and I have been pleased with ALC889A on my mobo...I don't have a good feeling about VIA providing decent drivers.

I'd opt for a mature USB2/SATA 3Gb/s solution and save money on the mobo. When you decide to get a peripheral that needs the newer interface sometime down the road, then you can buy a pci-e add on card for $20. (They are $30 now and will probably be $10 in 2 years).

[jtcb]

Both solutions will bottleneck.

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3079/ ... index.html