Omega on 7/2/2009 at 15:25
I'm sorry, I was distracted by that amazing t-shirt folding video... :sweat:
Just because you had a bad experience with 1 of the billions of Gigabyte motherboards doesn't mean that every single one is bad. It's funny how people always seem to do this.
Ulukai on 7/2/2009 at 15:54
I've had plenty of trouble with a Gigabyte board in the past, too.
And although you're right Omega - it doesn't necessarily reflect on every product in the range - this experience, coupled with the less than ideal Engrish documentation, would make me think long and hard before buying another one.
steo on 7/2/2009 at 16:55
Pinch 1? Pinch 2? crossover arms?!? flick?!!? aaaaaarghh, it's just too complicated, it'll never be done in two seconds, NEVER!!!!!
EDIT: OH GOD, I just got to the 'flop and fold'. Somebody make it stop! Make it stop!!!
...
Symmetry?!?!!!!
...
done.
ahhhhhh.
Painman on 7/2/2009 at 18:56
Gigabyte motherboards and t-shirts? Well, they both look like they belong in laundry detergent commecials, I suppose. :D
Anyway, a good alternative might be the ASUS P5Q series. They're not SLI boards, but neither is the EP43, so I'll assume you're not after that tech. I've been quite pleased with my P5Q Pro in the 2 months I've had it.
The standard and Pro models are quite reasonably priced -- the E and Deluxe are pricier but have lots of bells and whistles.
bikerdude on 7/2/2009 at 23:05
Quote Posted by Omega
€80-180? :confused:
I can get another GA-EP43-D3SL within a day. So maybe I should just stick with that.
Also, 1066Mhz seems like a really weird clockspeed. There's loads more boards that do 1333Mhz. Why's that? I'm guessing 1066Mhz is the highest you can get with DDR2 and 1333Mhz and up are for DDR3 memory.
Your board has a good chipset, but you currently have an AMD based system, and its not a bad motherboard by all accounts, good old nForce4. You could just upgrade the cpu to a used 4800+ X2 and upgrade the memory to DDR500 - which is what i did in my old DFI Lanparty.
But if your dead set on an upgrade than I suggest the following, that will be both efficient in price and speed:-
AMD:* AMD Phenom II X4 920 £160 -
quad core cpu thats as fast as a E8400, but with an extra 2 core for only £20 extra, and will overclock like a demon.* Foxconn A7DA-S £100 - good layout and has solid capacitors, which is good for overclocking - (
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/a7das/7.htm) review
intel:* Intel E8400 £140 - the most commonly used cpu in most mid/high range gaming pc's(inc mine), in the right board this chip will hit 4ghz on air.
*Asus P5Q Pro £100 - have a pick a mobo from the list and this one tick enough boxes.
Re-use:* Zalman CNPS9500 -
can be reused in the intel system.* XFX PCIe 7600GT 256 MB + Zalman VF900-Cu
* 2x WD HDD Caviar SE16 320 GB, 7200 Rpm, 16 MB, S-ATA II/300
1066mhz is a standard clock speed for some CPU's and is also a speed for DDR2 memory. The highest speed for DDR2 memory atm is 1200mhz.
Omega on 10/2/2009 at 18:38
The Gigabyte board I had sent for RMA returned today. Unfixed because bent socket pins are not covered by the warrenty. :erg:
So I decided to go with the Asus P5Q and try to bend the pins in the Gigabyte board straight, test it and then try to sell it again or something.
Shame they let me down on this one. I generally had good views of Gigabyte up until now I still think the boards are good, but I'll have to agree with Ulu that their manuals and product service aren't the best it can be.
Also, really curious about the Express Gate that Asus offers. =)
steo on 10/2/2009 at 23:01
Ah, the classic intel trick of moving the pins from the cpu to the motherboard socket so that they're not the ones dealing with RMAs for bent pins.
bikerdude on 10/2/2009 at 23:29
Quote Posted by Omega
try to bend the pins in the Gigabyte board straight, test it and then try to sell it again or something.
You have to be very very careful when doing this, Ive done it once but it was painful delicate work... if you want send it to me and I'll do it for you.
