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Gigabyte GA-G1975X (i975X)

Date: 15.03.2006

- Contents -Package bundle, layoutOperation, performance, final words

Using Gigabyte G1975X

The BIOS is traditional Award of version 6. As is always the case with using motherboards by Gigabyte, you can explore the fine settings only by pressing the key combination Ctrl+F1 on entering the BIOS Setup. The board offers the following overclocking options:

Also here is all what the overclocker needs. Besides, with Easy Tune 5 you can change practically the same parameters from within Windows without having to reboot the computer.

The system monitoring facilities in the BIOS allow controlling the CPU temperature, voltages applied to the processor, memory, the +3.3 and +12 V lines, as well as the rotational speeds of the 3 fans. Gigabyte has also provided the technology which automatically decelerates rotation of the processor cooler when load on the processor drops.

We now move on right to testing the performance.

Test configuration

Test-bench configuration:

Immediately upon the start-up, we load the CPU-Z utility and find that Gigabyte originally cycles the system bus at 274 MHz instead of the nominal 266! As a result, the processor's clock speed amounts to as many as 3836 MHz in the nominal. In this case, it is no wonder if G1 Turbo starts slightly overtaking all the other boards built on the i975X chipset. For better precision, we ran tests with both overstated FSB and with that forcedly set to 266 MHz (the factual frequency amounts to 265.6 MHz, which is very close to the nominal).

We decided to make comparisons versus Foxconn 955X7AA built on the kindred chipset Intel 955X which has already been to our test lab.

Performance

We used our standard pack of benchmarks in order to give an impartial comparison of results versus those for the Foxconn motherboard.

FSB = 274 MHz, Memory = 533 MHz

FSB = 266 MHz, Memory = 533 MHz

FSB = 266 MHz, Memory = 667 MHz

In the "standard mode", i.e. with the overstated FSB, the G1 Turbo certainly surpasses Foxconn 955X7AA. But with the FSB forcedly set to 266 MHz, the Foxconn board acquires some small advantage (within the measurement error) which is most likely caused by the specifics of the motherboard's wiring.

Final Words

On the whole, Gigabyte G1975X left a positive impression. The board reveals the capabilities of the i975X chipset, demonstrates a good performance level and uses all the latest technological novelties by Intel (including the licensed CrossFire).

Pros:

• Operational stability;
• Wide overclocking potentials;
• Well thought-out wiring;
• Integrated Creative Sound Blaster 24-bit;
• Numerous nice proprietary technologies "included".

Cons:

• Overall dimensions and noise from the Turbojet cooling system;
• Unjustifiably high price, at least on the date of publication.

Title

	Content:
	Package bundle, layout Operation, performance, final words

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