Need feedback/comments on GIGABYTE GA-G33M-DS2R

[Rainstorm]

Hi


what do you'll think of the GIGABYTE GA-G33M-DS2R
..am searching for a board to use with a 1333mhz core2duo E6750

http://www.gigabyte.us/Product...ew.aspx?ProductID=2507

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128053

(seems it needs a BIOS update)

one review says "Some operating systems have problems running IDE drives on the motherboard so be sure to do your research"

I'll be hooking up older IDE hard-disks from other machines off & on, so I would need the
PATA slot to work proper. - though my OS will be on a SATA drive.

I was looking for a strong, stable board that would work out of the box withot any hassels. - of course am open to other suggestions.. one reason am looking at the G33 chipset is cause it has onboard graphics.. & I could go with that.
It has ICH9R & am not using raid.. so dunno how much use that is for me (ICH9R is mainly for a Raid config.. am I right ?...Or does it have other advantages..?)
Would really appreciate feedback from people that own this mobo ...

Finally how does this board compare to the Asus P5K-V ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131184

Any comments ? opinions ?


Thankyou!

Edit: corrected the part saying the Asus P5K-V is a P35 when talikng about comparing the 2 boards.. since its a G33 too.

-
Rainstorm

 

[TheBeagle]

Hello Mr. Rainstorm.

I recently installed that Gigabyte board in an Aspire X-QPACK case (older model). The newer X-QPACK2 case, with the 500 watt PSU, and some nice case enhancements, is an even better case choice (wish I had one of those). I installed an E6600 CPU, 4 x 1GB Ballistix 800 memory, and used a Zalman 8700 cooler. It's running Vista 64 Business, and is flawless in its operation. The rig runs just fine at 3.25 GHz (361 x 9), at stock voltage settings. The only modification that I had to make in order to get everything to fit properly, was to nip a few of the inside fin tops off the stock Northbridge cooling unit, so that the Zalman 8700 had enough clearance to sit properly atop the CPU. However, that was a very easy process with a mini-sniper.

If you contact Mr. Gary Key (AnandTech Editor) he might be able to provide you a source for a newer BIOS revision for that board, which may enhance the Quad-Core performance and stability. That particular mATX board is very well engineered, and has been performing quite satisfactorily since I installed it. I hope that's some help to you. TheBeagle :beer:

 

[Rainstorm]

TheBeagle,
Thanks a lot for the detailed feedback. - That was a great help coming from someone actually owning the board. - kinda put my mind at ease some : ) . I take it from your post that you didn't need to update the BIOS.
I won't be using a quad processor, will be getting the E6750..

About the custom zalman cooler,.. ..yes i had read some stuff that the poitioning was such that installing a custom cooler might be a prob.
- Nice rig you have there : )

Rainstorm
-

 

[TheBeagle]

Hello Again Mr. Rain Man.

May I suggest that you obtain an E6850 proc. It is just about the same money, and it will perform a whole lot better than the E6750. You ought to be able to run that proc at 400 x 9 = 3.6 GHz all day, every day, with only a bump in the DDR2 voltage to +.4250 and the CPU set at 1.400V. Enjoy. You'll have a great rig to enjoy. TheBeagle :beer:

 

[Rainstorm]

hi TheBeagle.

(from newegg)
The E6750 is 211 the E6850 (3Ghz one) is 319 bucks.
The E6700 2.66ghz (1066mhz FSB) is 317.

The 1333mhz FSB ones are much cheaper than the 1066 Mhz ones (having the same clock speed)

About the motherboards.. I really am thinking of going with the Gigabyte.
Compared with the ASUS ones for the G33 chipset, the gigabyte does have more features.
The Asus ones don't even have the similar sound as the p35 ones have. - & the gigabye realtek sound model seems to be a more recent model than those on the Asus.
The Gigabyte has those new solid capacitors too : )
It seems to win out again compared to the intel boards with the G33 chipset.
Here's a link to the diff G33 boards at Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&name=Intel+G33+series

Thank you

regards.

Rainstorm.

 

[Skott]

The most detailed info about this mobo that I have seen comes from two websites. HF (SFF section) and XS (Intel section). I suggest reading the threads at those two places devoted exclusively to the DS2R. Those two sites also have threads devoted to the P5K-VM as well. Much more detailed info than anything the NE posters write about.