Gigabyte GA-7VRXP Users

[jmetcalf]

I am about to purchase this board, but because it is so new I am a bit aprehensive. Anyhow, could I get some feedback from some current owners? Perhaps you could list your configs.

I am planing for now (keep in mind that I am using some spare parts to get this thing started) on using:

VooDoo 3 2x AGP <-- Little bit worried that this is going to cause some issues.
Samsung DDR2700 333 256 meg RAM
WD 15 gig harddrive
AMD XP 1700 or 1800 with Coolmaster Heatsink/Fan
Soundblaster Live Sound Card
Us Robotics Modem

Opinions?

 

[dmhinz]

I had the board for 1 day and RMA'd it. It wouldn't work w/ SCSI drives and had real issues w/ my ATI RAdeon 8500DV. I did get the board to run w/ IDE drives and it seemed fine. I was dissapointed that their is no CMOS clear jummper, to clear the BIOS you have to pull the battery.

The onboard audio was weak, only has front out.

I'm replacing this board w/ the MSI KT3-ARU...hopefully that will run w/ SCSI disks. The Gigabyte will probably work fine for you (using IDE) but, I don't reccomend it given my problems.

-D

 

[jpetermann]

My experience has been quite the opposite. I love this board. I have an 8500 and it works just fine. The no bios clear jumper thing is a pain. I believe the sound on this board though is 5.1. I am not using it though, as I have an audigy.

 

[dmhinz]

5.1 sound? Maybe the board I got WAS crap... I didn't get any expansion card only the 3 plug (in/out/mic) connection above the game port.....interesting

 

[dmhinz]

No, just checked Giga-byte's site only 1 channel audio "Audio (1 x Line-in / 1 x Line-out / 1 x Mic) connector"

 

[CoasterGuy]

Actually dmhinz, the line in mini-plug can be used as a line out to rear speakers.

 

[CoasterGuy]

 

[Insane3D]

The Creative sound chip on the Gigabyte boards is a 4.1 solution. It's essentially a Creative SB PCI 128 and the drivers are the same. The CMI chip is much better quality and more powerful but GB seems to love those Creative chips. AFAIK, they are the only manufacturer that uses them. They are a hardware solution, so they are a bit better than software based AC97 solutions, but not as good as the more powerful CMI 8738 chip. And it bugs me to no end how GB feels a clear CMOS jumper is not needed. I mean how much can those three little pins and a jumper add to the cost of the mobo?

 

[rute]

"No, just checked Giga-byte's site only 1 channel audio "Audio (1 x Line-in / 1 x Line-out / 1 x Mic) connector" "

From the User Manual: (I know only Wimps read the manual.

Page 68: "Recommend you to select "Autosense", It will automatically detect the type (mono or Stereo) of the audio connector that plug into the Line Out audio jack, then configure Line Out to either SPDIF or SPeaker accordingly."

Page 67: "The SPDIF output is capable of providing digital signal to AC# decoder which can support upto 5.1 speakers."

Page 25: "If you want to us Front Audio connector you must remove 5-6 ,9-10 Jumper. In order to utilize the front audio header, your chassis must have front audio connector. Also please make sure the pin assignment on the cable is the same as the pin assignment on the MB header."

So,

1. The 7vrxp does support 5.1 sound.
2. The 7vrxp has both rear and front audio connectors. However, the front connector must utilize your current case cable. A cable is not included. If your case doesn't have a front audio connector, you can check www.pricewatch.com and find a case plate with an audio connector on it.

Note: Most of this applies only to the 7vrxp and not to the 7vrx

Steve

 

[dmhinz]

Excellent research! Talk about "RTFM"...

 

[Insane3D]

"1. The 7vrxp does support 5.1 sound."

Sort of, it can passthrough a digital signal to a seperate decoder/reciever that can output to 5.1 channels, but the sound chip itself can't support 5.1 audio. The CT 5880 chip is a four channel solution, and is the exact same chip as is in the Creative SB PCI128 cards. You can only connect and output to four speakers to this chip via a front and rear connection. It is not a full 6 channel solution like the Cmedia 8738 chip.

 

[mechBgon]

Does anyone have feedback on using an Alpha PAL8045 heatsink with this board? From the pictures I've seen, the bottom rear mounting hole appears to have some surface-mounted devices close to the hole. However, so does the KT266A predecessor, and it's on Alpha's "fit list" as a board which the 8045 does fit.

 

[jpetermann]

I have an Alpha PAL8045 on my board. Fits fine.

 

[mechBgon]

Cool, thanks pastorjay!

One of the things I like is the layout they used, seems very sensible. And look at all those USB connectors! Speaking of USB, I'd be interested to know if USB scanners scan any faster when hooked up to the USB 2.0 ports. I know the scanner is going to scan at its usual speed, but does the data transfer go any quicker?

 

[Sandos]

One of the reviews i read mentioned that you can reset the cmos by holding down the insert key upon booting.

USB2 only makes a speed difference with scanners while using insane resolutions like 2400dpi