Lab Update - Gigabyte GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H
by Gary Key on July 11, 2009 12:09 AM EST- Posted in
- Gary's First Looks
Gigabyte dropped off their GA-MA785GPMT-UD2H motherboard today that is based on the AMD 785G/SB710 chipsets. This is a chipset that we have had our sights set on for long time now as it addresses the lack of multi-channel LPCM audio out lacking in the 690G/780G/790GX chipsets along with other video playback enhancements. The additional bonus with this chipset is improved integrated graphics performance and full support for the AM3 processors. In fact, we just found the perfect home for our new AMD Phenom II X3 705e processor.
In early testing, this board has performed superbly, so much so, that we will be running it around the clock to get a performance preview up for you this weekend. Sorry about the short post and lack of pictures tonight, but we need to complete testing before showing the board off properly. In the meantime, we have a couple of early photo shots for your viewing pleasure. We will be back shortly with our initial thoughts on the chipset and why Gigabyte's particular board design has already impressed us.
7/12 Update - We need to discuss a couple of items with AMD on Monday morning concerning the beta driver set we received before publishing preliminary results. Gigabyte has done a masterful job with the 785G/SB710 chipsets on this board. However, the early video drivers are generating a few strange results in HD playback and PCMark Vantage. We also believe our Sims3 game scores are a bit low based on the new hardware although they are better than the 780G.
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dingetje - Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - link
"we will be running it around the clock to get a performance preview up for you this weekend"so....you meant next weekend?
or will it be like the promise you made about the ASRock A780GMH/128M review that never happened:
http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=59...">http://www.anandtech.com/weblog/showpost.aspx?i=59...
NoobyDoo - Monday, July 13, 2009 - link
Let us know if the NB heats up as much as the 780G does. 780G gets really hot.loimlo - Monday, July 13, 2009 - link
Long VGA card would block almost three valuable SATA ports on Giga's 780/785G boards! Please! Somebody to get Gigabyte to fix the awkward SATA placements. Even their own budget model, 740G, is better than 780G/785G's in this regard.haplo602 - Monday, July 13, 2009 - link
- PCIe x1 slot blocked by chipset heatsink- dimm slots too close to CPU socket/HSF retention frame
so not a board for me ...
Myrandex - Tuesday, July 14, 2009 - link
Unintelligence?The PCIe 1x slot isn't blocked. PCIe 1x cards (at least the ones I'm familiar with, including the one I'm using in my Giga-byte board with a similar design) fit just fine. They go ON TOP OF the heatsink, where in the picture it is clearly cut away to allow the cards to pass. Dimm slots being blocked don't matter to me either, as my CPU heatsink & fan isn't a huge monstrosity which causes close DIMMs to be a problem. It isn't stock, but it still isn't bad.
Jason
yyrkoon - Sunday, July 12, 2009 - link
It is unfortunate that Gigabyte placed the (Northbridge?) chipset heat sink right in the way of the only PCI-E 1x slot. I for one, would/could have a use for it, since I prefer Intel GbE NiCs, I would would want to put one there. I would assume though, if it is there, it *must* be usable. Good placement for a reverse ATX design case, which I also happen to own. Well, I guess that could be considered subjective, but I prefer any other cards around my video cards to be under, rather than over. It may trap some heat in some cases, but mine happens to have a side venting 120mm fan there :)However I would like to point out to those who have commented already on this; After market heatsinks are still a possibility. Especially if the price is at or under $100. Also, the cooling is all passive it seems, which is a plus on several fronts.
Sake - Sunday, July 12, 2009 - link
This board will probably be powering my HTPC too (AM3, mATX, LPCM audio, internal 1394 connector) and I will certainly read the review.For now I'm wondering:
- will Scythe Mini Ninja fit?
- will the eSATA connection be powered?
cghebert - Sunday, July 12, 2009 - link
Gary, do you know if this will work with older socket AM2 Athlon X2s?Looking forward to the review.
cghebert - Sunday, July 12, 2009 - link
To answer my own question, according to Gigabyte's website for the GA-MA785GPM-UD2H, it should support them.http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPU...">http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Moth...rt_Model...
ET - Sunday, July 12, 2009 - link
Thanks for the link. Although it's not the same motherboard, it's the AM2+ version of it, and I'd assume that most of the review would be applicable to it. From Gary's first comments it sounds like this could be a good board for non-enthusiasts, as Spoelie said. AMD has good CPU's at the low end, and coupled with a well specced board with good integrated graphics it could be a winner.