Corbell and MSI showcase latest X79 Big Bang-XPower II at annual Roadshow held at GV-Vivocity

Last Friday, MSI and it’s local distributor Corbell Technologies showcased their latest flagship X79 board the Big Bang-XPower II board and AMD Radeon 7970 cards at their annual road show at GV-Vivocity.

The Big Bang-XPowerII is a Intel LGA2011 board for the Sandy Bridge-E processor. Powered by the Intel X79 chipset, itt features a 7 PCIe lanes in total with 4 PCI Express gen3 x16 slots, PCI_E1 supports up to PCIE x16 speed, PCI_E5 supports up to PCIE x16 speed when PCI_E3 is empty, or supports x8 speed when PCI_E3 is occupied, PCI_E3 & PCI_E7 support up to PCIE x8 speed, 3 PCI Express gen2 x16 slots and PCI_E2, PCU_E4 & PCI_E6 support up to PCIE x1 speed. It supports both  Quad SLI or QUad CrossFire.

It has 8 DIMM slots supporting up to 8 DIMMs of DDR3-1066 to DDR3-2400 (OC) with a max of 128MB of RAM.

Not only that, it has 4 SATA II ports (X79), 2 SATA III ports (X79) and 4 SATA III by ASMedia chipset. There are also 5 USB 3.0 ports, 4 rear and 1 front supported by NEC D720200 chipsets.Audio is supported by Realtek ALC892, LAN by Intel 82579V and 82574L. 1394 is supported by VIA VT6315N chipset.

Similar to the X79-GD45 we reviewed before, this board uses military class components. DrMOS II, SFC, Hi-c CAP and Solid CAP are just some of the features of this board that ensure longer lifespan and stability.

Other features of this board include PCI Gen 3 support that has up to 32GB/s of bandwidth , 2X more than PCIe 2.0. When matched with PCIe 3.0 graphics card, it is able to take advantage of the extra bandwidth for better performance.

Other featuers include ClickBIOS II, OC GenieII, Gaming Device port, Super Charger, Active Phase Switching (power saving), Winki 3 (linux based OS during bootup), Instant OC, V Check points, Direct OC etc.

In the demo system, the board is paired up with 4 NVIDIA card running in Quad SLI mode.

Core i7-3960X
MSI BigBang XPower II
G.Skill RigjawsZ 2133C9 4GBx4
MSI N580GTX TFII/OC in 4 way SLI
Thortech Thunderbolt Plus 1200W gold PSU
Xigmatek Colosseum Heatsink

ASUS Launches ROG Rampage IV GENE X79 mATX Gaming Board

The power of Intel® Socket LGA 2011/X79 Express Chipset CPUs joins game-optimized sound, better online performance, and digital power

Singapore (January 16, 2012) ― Rampage IV GENE continues the legacy of Republic of Gamers motherboards by delivering gamers with enhanced performance that places a premium on fidelity and speed. SupremeFX III™ EMI-shielded audio guarantees better in-game sound, Intel® Ethernet LAN and ROG GameFirst technology boost online multiplayer performance, while ROG Extreme Engine Digi+ II digital voltage regulation promotes improved overclocking. The board further uses Black Metallic capacitors and NexFET™ Power Block MOSFETs for added durability and heat resistance. Unlike budget micro ATX boards, it supports 2-way NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™.

SupremeFX III™ audio

Electromagnetic interference (EMI) remains a detriment to quality sound, causing distortion and loss unless properly mitigated. Rampage IV GENE uses a custom PCB “red line” layout which physically isolates SupremeFX III™ hardware from the rest of the motherboard to eliminate interference and generate clearer, more precise, and deeper audio. Better sound helps competitive gamers with improved positioning and spatial awareness, in addition to promoting greater immersion. SupremeFX III™ comes with its own steel shield, a 1500uF capacitor for stable audio power delivery, plus gold-plated audio jacks. The setup has been tested to 110dB SNR, ensuring lossless performance. EAX® Advanced HD 5.0, Creative® Alchemy, and THX® TruStudio™ PRO are all fully supported. Rampage IV GENE comes bundled with a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB2 suite, providing the finest game audio of any micro ATX board, with realistic sound effect reproduction, lifelike music, and theater-grade movie sound.

Lag-resistant online gaming and multi-GPU support

Intel® Ethernet reduces CPU utilization by as much as 35% when processing online activity compared to systems using standard LAN, which combats latency and boosts packet transmission. Better network performance presents an edge for gamers, with the overwhelming importance of global online multiplayer gaming requiring faster connections for a smooth and competitive experience. ROG-exclusive GameFirst contributes to achieving this goal, working as a connection supervisor to prioritize bandwidth availability and ensure games receive sufficient resources, even when downloading occurs in the background. To further accommodate gamers, Rampage IV GENE supports PCI Express 3.0 and 2-way SLI™/CrossFireX™ for increased future proofing and flexibility.

Greater overclocking through improved endurance and stability

Rampage IV GENE ships with the exclusive ROG Extreme Engine Digi+ II design, consisting of digital voltage regulators for refined tuning and higher power efficiency. Gamers can adjust voltages in more precise increments, which aids in overclocking. Supporting this, Black Metallic capacitors and NexFET™ Power Block MOSFETs easily surpass the capabilities of generic parts. They resist heat better, last up to five times longer, and can take up to 20% higher temperatures than generic components, culminating in a highly durable and long lasting board that reduces the likelihood of instability even when running high intensity applications.

First X79 board officially certified by the USB-IF

In addition to its many advantages, the Rampage IV GENE has also secured the honor of being the first Intel® X79-based motherboard formally authorized and certified USB 3.0-ready by the USB Implementers Forum. Certification speaks of the extensive testing and compatibility assurance ASUS puts into every board from early development to shipping. Always committed to advancing technology and giving consumers the best performance possible, ASUS has gone further and self-developed USB 3.0 Boost to accelerate data speeds beyond reference requirements. The multi-mode design of USB 3.0 Boost increases device connectivity for both the traditional BOT protocol and the newer UASP, and its inclusion on ROG boards offers gamers even better value than before.

Complete range of X79 gaming boards

The release of Rampage IV GENE follows the previous launch of Rampage IV Extreme and Rampage IV Formula Intel® Socket LGA 2011/X79 Express Chipset-based models. The three maintain ROG leadership in the gaming and overclocking motherboard segments, providing consumers with superior performance and the finest quality in a vibrant PC gaming scene where technical excellence is critical.

– GIGABYTE Unveils Next Gen Motherboard Digital Power Engine at CES 2012 –

– Demonstrates New GIGABYTE 3D Power Design, 3D BIOS, and Other Exclusive Future Motherboard Technologies –

Las Vegas, USA, January, 10th 2012 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced its participation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas where it is debuting a number of new and exciting motherboard technologies that will be central to it’s motherboard design in 2012 and beyond. International media and customers will get a sneak peak ofGIGABYTE’s new technologies at their suite in The Venetian Hotel,Las Vegas, from January 10-13.

3D Power: Frequency, Voltage and Phase Control

GIGABYTE is showing forthcoming 7 series motherboards featuring the very latest in CPU power delivery with GIGABYTE’s unique Digital Power Engine called 3D Power. Offering digital control over all the main onboard power zones, this new digital PWM design allows users to manipulate and monitor the power provided to 2nd Gen Intel® Core™ and Next Gen processors for the LGA 1155 socket.

“We are very excited about the new technologies that will feature on our 7 series motherboards, and are confident that our customers will find them, together with the performance and feature improvements on Intel’s future platform, extremely appealing,” commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “Product development and debugging for the new features is progressing really well, and we expect to have a full range of products available globally by launch day.”

GIGABYTE 3D BIOS (Dual UEFI)

Visitors to CES 2012 will be able to see the 2nd iteration of GIGABYTE’s revolutionary 3D BIOS that is based on GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS™

technology. 3D BIOS offers two distinct modes of interaction in a BIOS environment, 3D Mode and Advanced Mode, that re-draw the traditional

BIOS user experience with a far more intuitive and graphical interface.

G1.Sniper 3 Debuts with Dual LAN

The G1.Killer gaming motherboard series continues to evolve with two new GIGABYTE 7 series models planned for launch later this year. The

G1.Sniper 3 motherboard features onboard Creative gaming audio together with a dual LAN configuration of Intel®Gigabit and Killer™ Game

Networking controllers. Visitors toLas Vegas will also be among the first to see the G1.Sniper M3, a gaming motherboard with signature G1.Killer

DNA in a compact Micro-ATX form factor.

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 3 (ATX) and G1.Sniper M3 (Micro ATX) Gaming Motherboards

Powering the Personal Cloud: Bluetooth 4.0/Wi-Fi PCIe Card

Selected GIGABYTE motherboards will come with an exclusive PCIe expansion card that offers support for the latest Bluetooth 4.0 (Smart Ready) and Wi-Fi connectivity standards. With the growing availability of affordable or free remote PC operation software, such asSplashtop and VLC Remote, GIGABYTE believes that now is the time to explore and enjoy the home cloud: a personal cloud within the secure environment of a home network where the performance and functionality of desktop PCs can be utilized and controlled by portable cloud devices. With this in mind GIGABYTE has introduced their CloudStation utility that will help future GIGABYTE Apps to communicate, share resources and control desktop PC systems.

Onboard mSATA Support

Most ATX form factor GIGABYTE 7 series motherboards will enjoy an onboard mSATA connector that, together with GIGABYTE’s EZ Smart Response technology, will allow users to simply and cost effectively enjoy better responsiveness from their PCs. mSATA solid state drives have been made popular by the rapid growth of tablet PCs, and provide a cheaper solution for smart chaching because they are available in smaller capacities than traditional SSDs.

Small Business Solutions

GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H Motherboard with Onboard mSATA Connector

Setting its sights on the small business market, GIGABYTE will demonstrate the B75M-D3H motherboard that represents a new product range featuring the ability to monitor and manage PC health, installed software, data

backup, energy saving and connectivity. This allows system integrators to add value to their products by

offering these services to small businesses. Key features and selling points for these models will be

manageability, affordability and GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable design quality.

A few weeks ago, we attended an event by Promise technology, showing off it’s Thunderbolt NAS devices. As Apple is the only company that builds Thunderbolt capable notebooks, PC which is based on Intel processors and chipsets do not have motherboards which cater to this new transmission standard. According to Digitimes, Intel has recently notified its partners that the company will fully release its Thunderbolt technology in April of 2012 with several first-tier PC players already preparing to launch Thunderbolt-supported motherboards, notebooks and desktop PCs, according to sources from PC players.

Most board makers are still using third party USB 3.0 solutions while the Apple has it adopted into its products such as monitor, MacBook Pro, iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Mini, it has strongly boosted demand. With the price of Thunderbolt technology dropping in 2H 2012, it is expected that board makers and notebook makers will adopt this technology onto to PC platform.

Currently Sony is expected to adopt Thunderbolt technology into its product lines with players such as Asustek Computer also expected to adopt the technology into their high-end notebook products. Gigabyte Technology, which has been aggressively adopting new transmission technology into its product line, is also expected to launch Thunderbolt-featured motherboard by April 2012 to compete against other brands.

Here is a link to the Promise SmartStor products which feature the Thunderbolt technology.

First X79 Motherboard CertifiedIntel® XMP with DDR3 2400MHz Memory

ASUS P9X79 DELUXE awarded Extreme MemoryProfile classification for exemplary RAM optimization, reliability, andproven overclocking potential

Singapore (December 13, 2011) ― following the successful launch of a complete range of ASUS X79-based motherboards, the brand has scoredanother accolade in the form of its first Intel® Extreme Memory Profile(XMP) certified Socket LGA 2011 board, the P9X79 DELUXE, which features2400MHz RAM. The ROG Rampage IV Extreme also hosts the current X79 RAMspeed record at 2700MHz, made possible thanks to exhaustive development andtesting, as well as focused investment in exclusive power delivery andoverclocking technologies.

Intel® Extreme Memory Profile initiative

To promote better-performing memory designs that cater to the needs ofhigh-end gaming applications and other areas where overclocking may be desirable, Intel® and partners ASUS and Kingston® have beenactively encouraging the implementation of XMP standards. These require motherboards support higher memory voltages, more flexible timing andtuning options, plus improved clock speeds and the highest efficiency indesign. The P9X79 DELUXE is the first X79 board certified XMP to offerusers 2400MHz memory, opening up new performance avenues with confidence and improved stability. As an official Intel® program, XMP mandatesmotherboard evaluation and certification, offering consumers further assurance that a board enables greater reliability, safe and stableoverclocking, and increased performance. Certification indicates designst hat go beyond basic reference specifications, and in the case of the P9X79DELUXE, maintains the ASUS belief that consumers should always have the best possible hardware, without compromise. XMP certification for the P9X79DELUXE was attained using Kingston® HyperX quad-channel memory kits, aresult of the long-standing relationship ASUS has with major memory makers.

“Kingston is very excited that the ASUS P9X79 DELUXE is the firstX79 board certified XMP by Intel, which was achieved using Kingston HyperXquad-channel kits. We are very happy to partner with Intel and ASUS againto bring this new high performance solution to market”, said Ann Bai,Kingston DRAM Memory Sales Director ― APAC Region, when speaking on theP9X79 DELUXE.

More information on the Intel® XMP program can be found at thislink:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/gaming-computers/core-i7-extreme-memory-suppliers-1111-datasheet.html

Rampage IV Extreme achieves new memory speed records at2700MHz

With its support for faster memory speeds and more stable overclocking,the Rampage IV Extreme has also played an important role in demonstratinghow far RAM speeds can be pushed on the Intel® X79 platform. It hasrecently served as the core of a system that clocked 2700MHz DDR3,configured with 16GB of G.Skill Ripjaws Z DDR3-2400 (4GB x4) at 1.65V. ASUSengineers also used 64GB of G.Skill Ripjaws Z DDR3-2133 (8GB x at 1.5Von the P9X79 DELUXE, reaching RAM speeds of 2133MHz, showing its highlystable overclocking potential when running the full amount of memory. Asthe development cycle of any ASUS motherboard involves meticulous testingwith hundreds of memory modules from all major RAM producers, consumers canrely on the highest compatibility in the industry when using ASUS boards.Pre-launch testing also includes rigorous overclocking trials, ensuringthat each model can sustain performance well beyond reference levels.

Built for ultimate flexibility and better performance with an 8-DIMMdesign

ASUS P9X79 Series motherboards and the Rampage IV Extreme offer the verybest of flexible and control-focused Intel® X79 implementation. Theyarrive loaded with the enabling features consumers expect for high output2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors, and offer an8-DIMM design that supports up to 64GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory. Thisallows users to choose the module size that best suits their budget andneeds, for example eight 4GB kits, as the design offers much greater roomfor different options. However, the main enabler of overclocking is themeticulously designed and implemented total board layout, which usesexclusive ASUS New DIGI+ Power Control all-digital voltage regulationarchitecture for both the CPU and DRAM. It opens up added flexibility andgreater efficiency, driving a much-improved overclocking posture. The P9X79DELUXE becoming the first XMP-certified X79 motherboard with 2400MHz RAMindicates the ASUS focus on unmatched overclocking and tuning optionscontinues to reap many rewards for consumers and the industry as awhole.

MSI X79A-GD45 Intel X79 Mainboard Review
Bluetooth 2 Dec 2011

The MSI X79A-GD45 is the first 4 models of Intel X79 Express chipset mainboard released by MSI in NOV 2011 just in time for the launch of the new Intel LGA2011 processor.

Today, we take a look at the MSI X79A-GD45. The board spots 3 full length Gen 3 PCIe x 16 slots with  PCI_E1 & PCI_E4 support up to PCIE x16 speed and PCI_E6 supports up to PCIE x8 speed. It supports both CrossFire X and SLI. There is another 4 PCIe x1 slots. It supports four unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 1066/1333/1600/1800*/2133*/2400* (OC) DRAM, 64GB Max.

There a 6 SATA ports on the board which

• SATAII controller integrated in Intel® X79 chipset
- Up to 3Gb/s transfer speed.
- Supports four SATAII ports (SATA3~6) by X79

• SATAIII controller integrated in Intel® X79 chipset
- Up to 6Gb/s transfer speed.
- Supports two SATAIII ports (SATA1~2) by X79
- SATA1~6 ports support Intel Rapid Storage Technology enterprise (AHCI / RAID 0/1/5/10) by Intel X79

There are 2 USB 3.0 chipset by NEC supporting the internet and rear I/O USB 3.0 ports.

Audio wise, it uses Realtek ALC892 8ch audio chip, It also comes with Realtek 8111E GbE and 1394 by VIA VT6315N.

Specifications are usually quite similar but the features and components used differs from one to another.

The MSI X79A-GD45 uses Military Class III components.In addition to the use of Hi-c CAP, SFC, and Solid CAP, MSI now incorporates DrMOS II, the next-generation DrMOS that provides an integrated Double Thermal Protection to maximize the lifespan of components. All Military Class III components have passed MIL-STD-810G certification, making MSI’s Military Class III components synonymous with premium quality and ultimate stability.

Instead of the boring UEFI BIOS, MSI introduces ClickBIOS II, providing a consistent interface between BIOS and in WIndows with touch screen support.

MSI incorporates a  gold-plated layer in the 2-in-1 PS2 and optimized USB ports to 30um to meet the demand of professional gamers. Besides enhancing mouse sensitivity in games, these improved interfaces deliver a longer lifespan and better stability of connectors and total solution for e-sports mouse control in UEFI BIOS.

Other features include SuperCharger, M-Flash, APS (active phase switching), Winki 3, Liveupdate 5, USB Safeguard, Instant OC, 3TB+ Infinity.

The package also comes with a Overclocking Guide which is very useful even for long time overclockers. It is a must read for everyone.

On the next page, we take a look at the mainboard layout followed by the BIOS.

3D view of MSI X79A-GD45 Intel X79 Express Sandy Bridge-E motherboard

When it comes to AMD CPU vs Intel CPU, fan boys will sure be siding their favourite. In our review of the Gigabyte X79-UD7, we compared the Intel Core i7 3960X against the Core i5 2500K.

In addition, we would like to know how the new 6 core processor Core i7 3960X will fare against the Phenom II X6 1100 which sells for only 1/4 of the price of the 3960X.

Would it be worth paying 4X the price for the processor for just that performance ? Read our review with benchmarks and judge for yourself.

Read review here.

ASUS, ASRock and MSI Intel X79 board pricing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is known for it’s cheap and good electronic products. Of course that would include the latest Intel X79 boards and CPUs.

To date, only three brands are available in the market. They are ASRock, ASUS and MSI. The only model that is mATX form factor is from ASRock.  Pricing ranges from HKD 1799 to HKD 3790. Below is a chart that shows the different models and pricing. (1 USD = 7.7915 HKD, 1 SGD = HKD 5.98).

Source

Introduction to Gigabyte X79-UD7
Bluetooth 22 Nov 2011

Last week, Intel launches it’s new series of processors based on the LGA 2011 Socket type. WE have already previewed the performance on launch date last week. Today, we will take at the the Gigabyte X79-UD7 motherboard. This new board features some interesting features that were never seen before on previous generation boards.

The X79-UD7 is based on Intel X79 Express chipset. It supports the Intel® Core™ i7 processors in the LGA2011 package. It has 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory. It employs a 4 channel memory architecture that supports DDR3 2133/1866/1600/1333/1066 MHz memory modules (DDR3-2400 is possible with OC). It supports non-ECC and XMP memory modules.

The board consists of 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1, PCIEX16_2); 2 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1, PCIEX8_2)
* The PCIEX8_2 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16_2 slot. When the PCIEX8_2 slot is populated, the PCIEX16_2 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.
(All PCI Express x16 slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.). There are 3 x PCI Express x1 slots (All PCI Express x1 slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)

The board support 4-Way/3-Way/2-Way AMD CrossFireX™/NVIDIA SLI technology and the PCIEX16 slots operate at up to x8 mode when 4-Way/3-Way AMD CrossFireX™/NVIDIA SLI is enabled.

In terms of expandability, the board has 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (SATA3 0/1) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices; 4 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2 2/3/4/5) supporting up to 4 SATA 3Gb/s devices which support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10. In addition, there are 2 x Marvell 88SE9172 chips that supports 4 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3 6/7/8/9) supporting up to 4 SATA 6Gb/s devices.

The Intel X79 Express chipset also support Up to 14 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 ports on the back panel, 6 ports available through the internal USB headers). There are 2 x Fresco FL1009 chips which supports Up to 4 USB 3.0/2.0 ports (2 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header).

The audio on board is based on the Realtek ALC898 codec HDA and supports 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel, Dolby® Home Theater, S/PDIF Out. There is also a Intel GbE LAN (10/100/1000 Mbit) network port on board.

In addition, this new board features GIGABYTE 3D Power (patent pending)

GIGABYTE X79 series motherboards are the first to take advantage of the exclusive GIGABYTE 3D Power, an all new hardware and software-based Digital Power Engine for both the PWM and Memory that delivers unprecedented power delivery control.

All New Digital Power Control for the CPU and Memory
Utilizing a brand new Digital PWM controller, GIGABYTE’s 3D Power features precise Auto Voltage Compensation to deliver a steady flow of power to the CPU and memory no matter the loading. This all new, all digital power system provides enthusiast users with exceptional control over the overclocking potential of their GIGABYTE X79 motherboard.
GIGABYTE is the first in the industry to utilize digital memory controllers for not only the Memory, but VTT and VSA, for real-time monitoring and adjusting. Digital memory control allows users to monitor and record DDR power and current in real-time while gaming, overclocking or at idle. Users can also set OVP (Over Voltage Protection) to safeguard your memory, adjust memory Load-line Calibration to fix memory vdrooping for a quicker response time and adjust memory PWM frequency on-the-fly.

GIGABYTE 3D Power(patent pending) Utility

	Users can now enjoy a fully interactive 3D utility that facilitates adjustment of the 3 dimensions that control the power delivery to your CPU and Memory: Voltage, Phase and Frequency. These parameters are crucial to how the digital PWM supplies power to critical areas of the motherboard and can help users quickly obtain the highest, most stable overclock.
	3D Power: Voltage Control Voltage parameters can be modified within 3D Power, including load line calibration the of CPU. By adjusting load line calibration, Vdrooping can be avoided, maintaining optimal voltages levels despite increasing current levels. OVP (over voltage protection) can also be adjusted to change default protection range of the CPU, memory controller, VTT and system memory.
	3D Power: Phase Control Users can calibrate OCP (Over Current Protection) for the CPU, integrated memory controller and system memory power levels. This allows the Phase control to deliver even more power to the system when needed.
	3D Power: Frequency Control GIGABYTE’s digital PWM allows for adjustable frequency control via the International Rectifier (IR3567) PWM controller. 3D Power frequency control allows users to change the PWM controller frequency so that the CPU VRM can adjust power delivery speeds more quickly. Users can also adjust the PWM spectrum or maximum and minimum overall frequencies.

It also comes bundled with GIGABYTE Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi Card

With 2 kinds data transfer mode, GIGABYTE Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi Card providing spec 300 Mbps transfer rates, 802.11n supports the latest WiFi specifications for better signal coverage, and featuring the newest Bluetooth 4.0, you will not suffer from signal loss like before.

Extreme cooling is something that we don’t usually do. Sometimes it is good to know how far one can push the processor. We had the opportunity to witness the latest LGA2011 processor on LN2.

The test was conducted at the Plug Fest event held at ParkRoyal Hotel in KL. The Indo team tested the ES processor from and was able to achieve 5.4GHz using LN2. The CPU vcore voltage was raised to 1.62v for the test. Cinbench 11.5 CPU result 15pts
More details can be seen at the link below :

Link

Gigabyte Plug Fest 2011 (ASEAN)
bluetooth 23 Nov 2011

Last Thursday, 17 Nov 2011, our Singapore overclockers were invited to the first Plug Fest event held in ASEAN. Despite the bad weather, representatives from ASEAN media and overclockers reached Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 17th on time.

The Plug Fest event in ASEAN is first of it’s kind. In the past, Gigabyte has held that in Taipei. Gigabyte invited two separate large groups of media and overclockers from around the world. They test out the boards and give feedback on issues faced during testing and overclocking using extreme methods such as LN2 cooling.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we took a rest before we proceed to a nearby local restaurant for our dinner together with representatives from Gigabyte, media and overclockers from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand.

Registration starts in the morning of 18th November. We were brought to a small ballroom where benches of equipment are laid out for our test. As there are 4 of us, 2 get to share a bench. I am delighted to be in the same “team” as SpyBoy.

Before testing and benchmarking takes place, we were given a presentation of the new X79 series of boards.

This morning, we sighted the Intel Core i7 3960X selling at Low Yat Plaza in Kuala Lumpur. There is no bundle (with board) pricing attached. This processor is priced at RM 3550 (~SGD1450, USD1122). The price is USD is definitely more than the suggested listed price of USD 990 by USD 132.

Gigabyte will soon release 3 new iOS apps for their motherboards.

THe first is a Picture Viewer. The 2nd is Cloud OC where you can now
access commonly used OC functions eg. Tuner, System INfo, Hardware Monitor etc.

Cloud BIOS is the third application and you can overclock, select boot disk, check PC status.

These few applications will be available once App Store approve it.

Android versions are on it’s way.

Hardware used:

GIGABYTE X79-UD7
Corsair GTX7 16GB (4x4GB)
Antec HCP1200
Corsair A70 air cooler (socket 1366 mount)
Kingston HyperX 2133 kit 8GB (4x2GB)
Kingston HyperX 120GB SSD & Corsair 90GB
GIGABYTE GTX470SOC GPU

GIGABYTE X79 OC Guide

G.Skill launches its new RipjawsZ!

Extreme Performance Quad-Channel Memory kits certified exclusively for Intel X79 platform.

The world’s fastest 64GB kit: DDR3 2,133MHz 64GB(8GBx8) 1.5V XMP 1.3

The world’s fastest 32GB kit: DDR3 2,400MHz 32GB(8GBx4) 1.65V XMP 1.3

The world’s fastest 16GB kit: DDR3 2,500MHz 16GB(4GBx4) 1.65V XMP 1.3

Taipei-Taiwan, 14st November 2011. G.Skill has announced the development of its brand new RipjawsZ series quad-channel memory modules, designed specifically for Intel LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E processors and X79 systems.

A World First in Super-Sized & Super-Speed

The new RipjawsZ builds on a history of Ripjaws world first performance boundaries and award-winning quality, by including extreme performance kits such as, DDR3 2,500MHz 16GB (4GBx4) 1.65V kit, and super size kits including DDR3 64GB (8GBx8) 2133MHz at only 1.5V, and the fastest ever 8GB DIMMs in the DDR3 2,400MHz 32GB(8GBx4) kit. The following screens show two RipjawsZ 2,400MHz 32GB(8GBx4) kits running together at 2400MHz 64GB and booting at breath-taking 2600MHz 64GB with ASUS Rampage IV Extreme motherboard.

*DDR3 2600MHz 64GB *DDR3 2400MHz 64GB Pi 32m 12P

XMP 1.3 Ready

Working closely with Intel and leading motherboard manufacturers, all high-end RipjawsZ memory kits (1866MHz and above) come with the latest Intel XMP 1.3 standard developed for the X79 platform. It provides PC enthusiasts an entirely trouble free overclocking experience to boost their X79 systems to extreme levels of performance, while retaining system stability.

Hand-tested in real-world PC setups

The G.Skill engineering team has closely worked with leading motherboard manufacturers, to qualify compatibility and performance reliability under these extreme conditions. It continues to strive to develop the best quad channel memory kits for Intel X79 platforms. All RipjawsZ memory kits are hand tested in a range of X79 motherboards according to G.Skill’s rigorous qualification procedure to ensure the maximum quality product.

The following is a specifications list for G.Skill RipjawsZ family. Specifications are subject to change without notice. For further details please check the G.Skill website at www.gskill.com.

All G.Skill memory products come with a lifetime warranty and the G.Skill technical team is always ready to provide consumers with complete technical support via online forums, telephone and email.

Intel Core i7-3960X LGA2011 and intel X79 Express chipset
bluetooth 14 Nov 2011

Today, Intel introduces it’s new Intel X79 chipset and Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge-E processors. This new generation of processors and chipsets takes over the previous generation of Core i5/i7 as the highest end Intel 32nm architecture platform.

One of the most formiddable change on this new architecture is the introduction of quad channel memory support, supporting up to 256bits.

The Intel Core i7-3960X features 6 Cores, 12 therads. It is spotted in a Intel LGA2011 socket which is larger than existing Intel processors. It supports Intel Turbo Boost technology 2.0, Hyper threading, 15MB intel Smart Cache. It also has an integrated memory controller supporting 4 channels of DDR3-1600 (mostly overclockable to DDR3-2400/2500). Intel AVX, AES, SSE 4.1 and SSE 4.2 instructions are supported as well.

The Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme edition has an unlocked multiplier and has a base clock of 3.3GHz with Turbo Cache to 3.9GHz. It has 6 cores 12 threads, with 15MB Cache. TDP is 130W and it is priced at USD 990.

The Intel X79 Express chipset supports 14 hi-speed USB 2.0 ports, dual EHCI, GbE MAC, HDA, 8 PCIe 2.0 express lanes, 6 SATA ports (esata), Intel Rapid storage technology enterprise is optional.

As for the 2nd generation core i7 LGA2011 processor, it supports 40 lanes of PCIe 2.0. It supports different combinations including 2 x 16 + 1 x 8 or 1 x 16 + 3 x 8 or 1 x16 + 2 x 8 + 2 x 4. Although it is still indicated as PCIe 2.0, it actually will support PCIe 3.0 in future.

The X79 chipset does not have native USB 3.0 support. As for overclocking, previous generation calls it BCLK. On the Sandy Bridge-E it is renamed as DMICLK.

IN a few days time, end users will be able to purchase the new Intel Sandy bridge E processors from retail stores to pair them with their Intel X79 mainboards.

While waiting, let’s take a look at what MSI has in store with their MSI X79A-GD45 motherboard with this unboxing video.

The MSI X79 Big Bang-XpowerII is the board that will be well liked by overclockers, power users and gamers. Featuring 6 full length PCIe 3.0 slots, it offers the maximum expandability for graphics cards, supporting both Quad NVIDIA SLI or AMD Quad CrossFire X. It supports the next generation LGA2011 processor with quad channel memory architecture. The board also has 8 DIMM slots capable of supporting up to DDR3-2400(OC).

Multimedia capabilities wise, it supports X-Fi sound Loseless HD audio. It also has dual GbE LAN, USB Safeguard feature.

On board you will also find OC Genie, the auto overclocking button. There is also MultiBios, Debug LED on the left bottom corner of the board.

The components are Military class certified to last longer than others under extreme conditions.