Introduction
Contents
Gigabyte has released four motherboard models for the new socket LGA2011 platform, the X79-UD3, the X79-UD5, the X79-UD7, and the G1.Assassin2, targeted to the most high-end processors Intel offer for desktops today, the Core i7 “Sandy Bridge-E” models. Let’s take a look at the X79-UD3, which is the only ATX model Gigabyte is offering right now.
To better understand the Gigabyte socket LGA2011 motherboard line-up, we compiled the table below.
| X79-UD3 | X79-UD5 | X79-UD7 | G1.Assassin2 | |
| Form Factor | ATX | E-ATX | XL-ATX | E-ATX |
| Memory Sockets | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| PCI Express x16 | 4 (x16/x16/x8 or x16/x8/x8/x8) | 3 (x16/x16/x8) | 4 (x16/x16/x8 or x16/x8/x8/x8) | 3 (x16/x16/x8) |
| PCI Express x1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Standard PCI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| SATA-300 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| SATA-600 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| eSATA-600 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| USB 2.0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| USB 3.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Network Chip | Intel WG82579V | Intel WG82579V | Intel WG82579V | Bigfoot Killer E2100 |
| Audio Codec | Realtek ALC898 | Realtek ALC898 | Realtek ALC898 | Creative CA20K2 |
| Price | USD 270 | USD 325 | USD 370 | USD 400 |
In Figure 1, you see the Gigabyte X79-UD3 motherboard.
Figure 1: Gigabyte X79-UD3 motherboard