Motherboard options: PCIe 16, 8x or 16, 4x
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From: Frustrated on 2 Jan 2010 03:54 I'm looking at mobo longevity here as well as video and peripheral upgradability (future proof). Should one spend the extra money and buy a mobo that has PCIe running x16,x8 vs 16,x4? Basically, I am considering the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P or GA-P55A-UD3P.
From: Bill on 2 Jan 2010 06:38 "Frustrated" <nospam(a)nospam.com> wrote in message news:4RD%m.1000$ay.994(a)newsfe02.iad... > I'm looking at mobo longevity here as well as video and peripheral > upgradability (future proof). Should one spend the extra money and buy > a mobo that has PCIe running x16,x8 vs 16,x4? If you're like me, and usually keeps your computer for 3 years or more then I think it's cheap insurance to spend the extra $30. If you're not like me, it's probably easily worth the $30 so you won't be disappointed when you start running USB 3.0. If the $30 seems like alot, you should probably be looking at a different system. This IS ONLY MY OPINION, I am not an expert, but I am planning to buy the UP4P motherboard too. Good luck! Bill Basically, I am > considering the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P or GA-P55A-UD3P. > >
From: Paul on 2 Jan 2010 12:30 Frustrated wrote: > I'm looking at mobo longevity here as well as video and peripheral > upgradability (future proof). Should one spend the extra money and buy > a mobo that has PCIe running x16,x8 vs 16,x4? Basically, I am > considering the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P or GA-P55A-UD3P. > On the P55, the "good" PCI Express interfaces are on the processor itself. The rest come from the Southbridge chip. Make sure you understand the limitations of a P55 (LGA1156) implementation before buying. Download the P55 motherboard manual, and read about any restrictions on usage. The X58 has the PCI Express lanes on the Northbridge, and there are more of them to work with. There are a few more options as to how they can be distributed to the motherboard. http://media.bestofmicro.com/3/T/166025/original/X58-blockdiagram.gif The fun begins on the P55, when they try to run the Southbridge lanes at PCI Express Rev.2 rates. Some boards do that, to help an onboard USB3 or SATA3 chip. http://www.pcgameshardware.com/screenshots/medium/2009/09/P55-blockdiagram.gif If you're concerned about future proofing, you really have to do a lot of careful analysis for yourself. Do the lane counts add up ? Is the board cutting corners somewhere ? It isn't something you get an answer to in 30 seconds. An advert on Newegg isn't enough to figure it all out. The manual is a bit more informative. Paul
From: peter on 4 Jan 2010 18:41 Have you looked at the Asus versions of that chipset with SATA3 and USB3 They took a different route and left the PCIe alone peter -- If you find a posting or message from me offensive,inappropriate or disruptive,please ignore it. If you dont know how to ignore a posting complain to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate :-) "Frustrated" <nospam(a)nospam.com> wrote in message news:4RD%m.1000$ay.994(a)newsfe02.iad... > I'm looking at mobo longevity here as well as video and peripheral > upgradability (future proof). Should one spend the extra money and buy > a mobo that has PCIe running x16,x8 vs 16,x4? Basically, I am > considering the Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P or GA-P55A-UD3P. > >
From: CCR on 4 Jan 2010 23:05
Bill wrote: : "Frustrated" <nospam(a)nospam.com> wrote in message : news:4RD%m.1000$ay.994(a)newsfe02.iad... :: I'm looking at mobo longevity here as well as video and peripheral :: upgradability (future proof). Should one spend the extra money and :: buy a mobo that has PCIe running x16,x8 vs 16,x4? : : If you're like me, and usually keeps your computer for 3 years or : more then I think it's cheap insurance to spend the extra $30. If : you're not like me, it's probably easily worth the $30 so you won't : be disappointed when you start running USB 3.0. If the $30 seems : like alot, you should probably be looking at a different system. : This IS ONLY MY OPINION, I am not an expert, but I am planning to buy : the UP4P motherboard too. Good luck! Hi Bill, Yes, I am like you. I tend to keep a PC for 3 years. We're on the same page here. However, the next post has me rethinking things and whether or not I should go with the i7 920 (X58) chipset. |