Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Review

Installation

Test Rig:
Intel Core i7 920 CPU
Gigabyte EX58-UD4P
Kingston HyperX DDR3-2000 3GB Triple Channel kit
Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 Toxic VaporX video card
Silverstone Decathlon DA-800 800 watt PSU
Noctua NH-U12P Cooler (with LGA with LGA 1366 kit)
NZXT Tempest extended midtower
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

No real installation differences with the LGA 1366, just keep in mind your cooler has to be designed for it. Install the processor into the socket, prep with isopropyl alcohol, and apply thermal compound as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

Prep and install the CPU cooler and install the memory.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

Install optical drive and power supply into the case.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

Install the hard drive. Place the I/O shield that came with the mobo in the opening, install the motherboard offsets onto the motherboard tray, then install the motherboard.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

Wire things up, install the video card, double-check your work, and you’re done.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

Gigabyte Specific Features
I have already mentioned the fact that the EX58-UD4P has twice the copper as a typical motherboard, special MOSFETs, and Japanese-built solid capacitors (50,000 hours). These features along with the use of ferrite core chokes comprise Gigabyte’s “Ultra Durable 3”.

As always, this motherboard has so many features there are too many to mention individually, but I’d like to mention a few other features on this board specific to Gigabyte.

Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard Gigabyte EX58-UD4P Intel X58 Motherboard

This board has Gigabyte’s Ultra TPM security chip, and DES Advanced. Rather than go into detail, I have written an article about these features. See it here.

DualBIOS is one of Gigabyte’s crash free BIOS features, there are actually two separate BIOS ROMs on the motherboard. Even if a failed overclock trashes your BIOS.don’t laugh, it has happened to me.your BIOS is backed up and available.

Hardware OverVoltage Control IC:
GIGABYTE Hardware Overvoltage Control ICs featuring more voltage control options than before for the CPU, North Bridge, and memory. The overvoltage controllers also provide hardware linear real-time voltage control, which means there is no delay compared to the GPIO controller in past implementations. In addition, GIGABYTE’s Hardware Overvoltage Controller ICs also allow for much finer voltage control, allowing power users to adjust voltage in as little increments as 20mV for better overclocking performance.

4 sets of OV-Alert LEDs indicate the overvoltage level of the CPU, Memory, North Bridge and South Bridge to prevent component damage.

OC-Alert LED indicates the level of CPU overclock from low to high.

Visible Temperature Reminder – Two sets of Temperature Alert LEDs indicate the current temperature level of the CPU and North Bridge.