I recently purchased an GigaByte GA-8IEXP motherboard based on many reviews, which like the just released AnandTech review, have made this motherboard their editors choice.
Now this causes major problems for me. I don't see that this motherboard has a right to exist.
Because, as a standard motherboard, it just doesn't compare to the Intel 845EBT, which is better quality, cheaper and faster. And it also has RAID, Firewire and USB 2.0.
The 8IEXP, I found, is not overclockable at all because there is a major problem with the memory controller, which limits you to running the memory bus at about 140MHz DDR (or 280MHz doubled up). You can overclock the CPU quite high, but what use is this if you cripple the system with the poor memory performance. And my experience in this regard has been supported by many posts on various websites. Which means that the testing by AnandTech of this motherboard was seriously deficient.
So what value are these reviews if their sole function seems to be to mislead users into buying the wrong motherboards?
I am returning my 8IEXP and want to get an Asus P4B533E or V. At least user reports bear out that this board has some overclocking potential, even if it is not perfect (bad voltage regulation!).
And it appears that many CPU's (eg 1.8A) can easily handle a 33% overclock with standard cooling. So all you need is good memory and a non-Gigabyte motherboard and you can have a great system!
Now this causes major problems for me. I don't see that this motherboard has a right to exist.
Because, as a standard motherboard, it just doesn't compare to the Intel 845EBT, which is better quality, cheaper and faster. And it also has RAID, Firewire and USB 2.0.
The 8IEXP, I found, is not overclockable at all because there is a major problem with the memory controller, which limits you to running the memory bus at about 140MHz DDR (or 280MHz doubled up). You can overclock the CPU quite high, but what use is this if you cripple the system with the poor memory performance. And my experience in this regard has been supported by many posts on various websites. Which means that the testing by AnandTech of this motherboard was seriously deficient.
So what value are these reviews if their sole function seems to be to mislead users into buying the wrong motherboards?
I am returning my 8IEXP and want to get an Asus P4B533E or V. At least user reports bear out that this board has some overclocking potential, even if it is not perfect (bad voltage regulation!).
And it appears that many CPU's (eg 1.8A) can easily handle a 33% overclock with standard cooling. So all you need is good memory and a non-Gigabyte motherboard and you can have a great system!
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