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Is this a good C2D upgrade board? (Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P)

Its probably one of the best motherboards out there for 755.

Though if you don't need crossfire, just get the EP54-UD3R for a tad bit cheaper.
 
After rebate, the UD3P @ Newegg is actually less than the UD3R here:
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-E45-U3R

There's no overclocking advantage, AFAIK, in switching to a DDR3 board. Unless the plan was to buy a socket 755 board & DDR3 now, and later re-use on an i5/i7 board. I recommend the G.Skill "Pi" DDR2 for the UD3P.
 
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This is what I bought to replace my old Abit IP35-E that was getting finicky.

Havn't had a single issue with it.
 
I am upgrading from an Abit P35 pro. I just purchased this board and it is great so far but there is one issue and it is widespread! This board does not like to resume from S3 sleep. Apparently it is common on the UD3 boards with varying degrees of resolution. Revision 1.6 (the one if have) is on sale at Newegg and is the newest. (and therefore the one with the least number of fixes)
This problem may be resolved with a BIOS update or not. I'm kind of bummed but.... it is what it is.
If you never use sleep mode then it is a great board.
 
my UD3P works fine with S3 sleep, but it's either rev 1.0 or 1.1 with a F5 BIOS.
 
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$90 board has cheaper components, or at least not as robust power circuitry and also doesn't have the ICH10R chip. You won't be able to do intel matrix raid with the board.

the $100 board is inbetween the UD3R and UD3L - L boards tend to be cheaper (see above). R boards tend to be just like P boards (UD3P) but without two 16xPCI-E slots.
It also uses DDR3 instead of DDR2, these boards are denoted by the EP45T (with DDR2 boards missing the T). With DDR3 prices equal to that of DDR2 prices, it wouldn't be the worst idea to get that board.

The UD3P has more advanced power circuitry and has support for crossfire and features the ICH10R IO controller for intel matrix raid. I also know it comes with a TPM chip for HD encryption. It also has 2 NICs. I know for a fact also, that this board has a digital dolby 5.1 encoder onboard.


In short: the $100 board is probably what you should get, only because DDR3 will resell better than DDR2 whenever you get rid of the system, or at least you can put it in a somewhat newer system. You don't seem like you're going to do any overclocking or crossfire and probably don't need a TPM.

here is a basic chart for the gigabyte ep45 series - there is a much larger/better one, but I can't find it.
http://benchmarkreviews.com/images/reviews/motherboards/GA-EP45-UD3P/GA-EP45-UD3P_ud3series.jpg

Sorry for the poor spelling - its late and I don't care 😛
 
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Thanks for the explanation, the DDR3 board will probably be a better choice, though I'm not sure I can get DDR3 discounted so I may have to go with the $130 DDR2 board. I do plan on a moderate overclock eventually, but probably not for a year+.
 
Maverick2002 said:
Thanks for the explanation, the DDR3 board will probably be a better choice, though I'm not sure I can get DDR3 discounted so I may have to go with the $130 DDR2 board. I do plan on a moderate overclock eventually, but probably not for a year+.
Click to expand...

I think that's a good option
 
i got one for sale if the ud3p is the board you plan on getting. its probably the best board for core 2's.
 
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