Gigabyte X58 UD7 vs UD5?

[carage]

I am considering to build a new Intel X58 based rig.
Can anyone tell me what are the main differences between the Gigabyte X58 UD5 and UD7 offerings?

I've looked long and hard, but I still can't figure out what's the primary difference between the two to warrant a $70 difference in the price tag. So far, the only thing I can detect is that Gigabyte advertises "24 phase" power for the UD7, but that alone does not seem to warrant the price gap.

Also, I noticed on Gigabyte's site that both boards have two hardware revisions Rev 1.0 and Rev 2.0. Does anyone know the story behind this? I would tend to (or want to) believe that the newer hardware revision is better, but I am afraid what I get is just another cost-down revision with a few corners cut which the manufacturer hopes we wouldn't even notice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Just looking at the pictures tells me rev. 2.0 is the corners cut revision you fear. No more 24 phases, but same 16 as UD5. Rev 1.0 UD7 also had watercooling ready nb cooling, seems to have gone out the window on rev. 2.0. Shame on you GB. I guess they want to make you go UD9.

 

[carage]

Just looking at the pictures tells me rev. 2.0 is the corners cut revision you fear. No more 24 phases, but same 16 as UD5. Rev 1.0 UD7 also had watercooling ready nb cooling, seems to have gone out the window on rev. 2.0. Shame on you GB. I guess they want to make you go UD9.

I see, but UD9 is ridicously expensive, $699?!?!
Who would want to buy that over the other crazy EVGA board that comes with not one but two CPU sockets??

 

[coffeejunkee]

Yep, that's why they want you to buy it.

But why the UD5? Does it have anything you need that the UD3 doesn't?

 

[carage]

Yep, that's why the want you to buy it.

But why the UD5? Does it have anything you need that the UD3 doesn't?

Well, it has an extra RJ45 jack, which I may have handy occasionally in the past.
Other than that, I think it is just a psychological thing.
Personally, when given the choice I just don't buy low end.

 

[ComputerGuy2006]

gygabyte actual has a product compare:
http://www.gigabyte.com/service/comparison/comparison.aspx#p=2

But its useless, it does not show any useful data. Its hard to use. And all three mobos show same specs on that compare.

I got the GA-X58A-UD5. It not only has dual lan, but also a power/rest button on the mobo. The dual lan made it worth getting it over the GA-X58A-UD3R.

At once point the second port had a Gb connection to another PC. Made stranfering files VERY fast, no router needed. The speeds were so nice, I am thinking of setting up a SAN some time down the road.

 

[coffeejunkee]

Well, it has an extra RJ45 jack, which I may have handy occasionally in the past.

I got the GA-X58A-UD5. It not only has dual lan, but also a power/rest button on the mobo. The dual lan made it worth getting it over the GA-X58A-UD3R.

Ok, good reason.

 

[carage]

Yeah, I hate the product compare function on Gigabyte's website.
They should totally redesign it to make it actually useful.

 

[carage]

I just got confirmation from the system builder, both boards are hardware rev 2.0
Hmm...not sure what got cut in the cost-down version...

 

[carage]

Judging from the pictures, it appears the heatsink/heat pipe on the UD5 will obstruct one of the PCI-E X1 slots, while the UD7 does not seem to have this problem. Can anyone confirm this?