Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6: P55 vs X58

For computer enthusiasts, the last Intel milestone was the Core i7 processor launch that paralleled the X58-Express motherboard chipset launch back in November of 2008. Ten months later and well into September of 2009, Intel has returned with the P55-Express chipset for mainstream users who pair it with the new LGA1156 socket. On the outside little more than the processor socket and memory configuration has changed, replacing dual-channel for triple. PCI-Express now offers only one 16x lane instead of two, while the number of SATA and USB ports continues to give more expansion room than the average user might need. The consumer might not know what to expect when choosing between the two products, other than one is mainstream (P55) and the other is for extreme enthusiasts (X58). In this article, Benchmark Reviews directly compares the Intel Core i7-860 equipped Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 motherboard against the GA-EX58-UD4P with Intel Core i7-920. Testing a Core i7-860 against an i7-920 might not seem fair, and it's a little biased to compare P55 against X58, but the final outcome might just surprise you.

Benchmark Reviews has tested the Lynnfield Core i7-870 and Core i5-750 processors, and we've also inspected Intel's P55-Express motherboard chipset in other articles, but we've yet to have a good apples-for-apples look at P55 versus X58. Comparing the 2.8GHz Core i7-860 LGA1156 Lynnfield CPU against Intel's 2.67GHz Core i7-920 LGA1366 Nehalem processor looks doesn't seem very fair on paper, even more so when you pair them to their rightful P55-Express mainstream or X58-Express enthusiast motherboards. While the basis of this article revolves around a review of the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 LGA1156 motherboard, the real story here is how one 'mainstream' platform can compete with the premium 'extreme' platform for enthusiasts. One costs a lot less than the other and Benchmark Reviews puts Intel on the spot to answer the question: are you really getting for your money with 'extreme' motherboards?

The new Core i7 and i5 processors are the first Intel processors to integrate both a 16-lane PCI Express 2.0 graphics and a dual-channel memory controller, enabling all input/output and manageability functions to be handled by the single-chip Intel P55 Express. Previous Intel chipsets required two separate chips (hence the 'set'). A new Direct Media Interface (DMI) connects between the processor and chipset, allowing P55 motherboards to support 8 PCI Express 2.0 x1 Ports (2.5GT/s) for flexible device support. Dual graphics cards are supported in a "2x8" configuration. The chipset also supports 6 SATA 3Gb/s Ports with Intel Matrix Storage Technology providing RAID levels 0/1/5/10. Up to 14 USB 2.0 Ports can be supported with the chipset's integrated USB 2.0 Rate Matching Hub, along with Intel High Definition Audio for premium digital sound. The new processors are the first to be supported by the new Land Grid Array (LGA) 1156 package and socket technology.

The Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 was designed specifically to take advantage of the new socket LGA1156-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors using the Intel P55-Express chipset. Similar to X58-Express motherboard, Quick Path Interconnect, or QPI, replaces the Front Side Bus and is meant to eliminate the communication bottleneck between the processor and chipset. Beginning with the P55 'Ibexpeak' platform, Intel ditches the term 'chipset' in place of Platform Controller Hub (PCH).

Intel's Core i5 and i7-series processors feature an integrated memory controller inside the processor die and supports 1333Mhz (up from 1066MHz in X58) dual-channel DDR3 memory that delivers impressive bandwidth and lower memory latency for incredibly fast memory access. Additionally, the Gigabyte GA-P55-UD6 motherboard features Intel Turbo Boost Technology, which is able to power down idle processor cores and dynamically reroute the power to the active cores for significant performance boosts, and at the same time, maintain greater energy efficiency.

About Gigabyte United Inc. (G.B.T. Inc. USA)

Gigabyte United Inc., established in December 2006, is assuming the Gigabyte TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd. Brand, which for the past 20 years has been a world-renowned leader in the motherboard industry. Continuing to focus on its core businesses of Gigabyte branded motherboards and graphics cards, Gigabyte United Inc. is committed to providing our valued customers with the highest quality products and services featuring the industry's most innovative design.

In order to meet the challenges of today's intensely competitive channel market, Gigabyte United Inc. fully utilizes its key assets including its cutting-edge research and development team as well as its professional sales and marketing resources to continue to develop technologies to fit a complete range of digital life solutions. Now and for the future, Gigabyte United Inc. will continue to embody the unique spirit and culture, which has made Gigabyte one of the foremost brands in the industry.

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