GIGABYTE brings HDMI and DVI to value segment motherboards

HDMI has been around for ages, but it is still not found on entry level systems – until now that is. Yesterday we announced the new HD series of motherboards featuring HDMI with an entry level price tag. You could see this as a sign that HDMI has finally become mainstream, and of course we’d like you to see it as GIGABYTE adding value to our higher volume products.

Some models include HDMI, DVI and DisplayPort connectors while others have only HDMI and DVI, plus of course the standard DSub (aka VGA or RGB) connector that is normally found on entry level boards. The main benefits of having digital video out connectors like HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI are that they allow for higher resolution signals and of course HDMI and DisplayPort combine hi-def audio so that you only need one cable between your system and TV/monitor.

Here is what the new HD motherboard series I/O panels look like:

If you’re interested in learning more about the new HD series of GIGABYTE mobos be sure to check out our microsite or the product launch announcement.

GIGABYTE Attends AMD OC Event, Takes Records Home

I’m proud to say that last week I took part my first ever live overclocking event. AMD invited us to the AMD Extreme OC Show in Taipei, an overclocking demonstration event to officially launch their new Piledriver and Trinity platforms. As a relatively novice overclocker, this was my first taste of a live OC event and I can honestly say that thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Several other motherboard vendors were also in attendance. Although the OC teams were not officially representing their respective companies, touting names such as ‘OC Style’ and ‘Boundless OCer’. HiCookie, John Lam and myself (a.k.a. S.Dougal) used the moniker ‘The Killers’ in homage to the GIGABYTE G1.Killer gaming motherboard series.

AMD had made efforts to stress that the event was an OC demonstration, not a competition. However the presence of several motherboard vendors under one roof inevitably ensured plenty of good natured rivalry and a thoroughly competitive atmosphere. The idea was simple; each team had both AM3+ and FM2 platforms on the bench, tasked with pushing the clock speed as high as possible. In terms of motherboards we came equipped with GIGABYTE F2A85X-UP4 and GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD3 motherboards.

HiCookie and John, as you might expect, pulled out all their expertise and experience to achieve the absolute highest clocks possible, but I admit that even I was surprised when we walked away with no less than two AMD world records!

Those records were officially announced yesterday in a press release which you can find on the GIGABYTE website here.

Here’s Cookie’s HWBOT.org submission for a 7.86GHz on the AMD 5800K APU:

Here’s the submission of 8.47GHz the AMD FX-8350 processor using a GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD3 board.

Massman from HWBot.org has posted a full and detailed report on the event which you can read here.

AMD FX-4320 CPUs hit over 8GHz with GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7

Looks like AMD is coming out with some hot new entry level CPUs called FX-4320. There is nothing overclockers like more than an entry level CPU (reads INEXPENSIVE) with monster overclocking potential and that is exactly what these new FX-4320 CPUs are all about.

AMD has just put out a monster and I have no doubt people will buy large quantities to find the golden silicone capable of the magic 9GHz barrier. Only time will tell but judging by the latest couple of overclockers from some German enthusiasts, the CPUs are already hitting past 8GHz. Motherboard of choice for top 2 scores is GIGABYTE 990FXA-UD7.

Can’t wait to try a few myself on LN2!

Congrats on first place HIBBLE!

GIGABYTE leads 4K Ultra HD revolution - First to support 4K displays with Dual Thunderbolt ports

When we first showed off our Dual Thunderbolt motherboards several months ago, the message was pretty simple. Two ports are better than one, allowing you to connect double the number of devices you can daisy chain as well as giving you the option of dual DisplayPort monitors at the end of each chain. Pretty neat.

However, yesterday we announced one other major advantage of packing dual TBT ports, and is that it also gives you enough raw bandwidth to pump out enough pixels for 4K displays – the next revolution in HD entertainment.

Although 4K resolution content and displays are still some way off in the consumer segment, the technology is gaining momentum and will eventually become the defacto HD standard – branded Ultra HD for consumers. Right now of course 4K capable screens are still very expensive, but rest assured, the technology is destined for eventual ubiquity.

We currently have three ‘Thunderbolt’ capable motherboards – aptly featuring a TH suffix. Two full ATX boards in the form of the Z77X-UP4 TH and Z77X-UP5 TH, plus the Micro-ATX sized Z77MX-D3H TH. All three boards support our dual Thunderbolt implementation, a GIGABYTE exclusive as we currently are the only board vendor that has passed Intel certification for dual ports.

  

Each port is capable of carrying up to 2K of streaming media content, which combines together to output the full 4K to a compatible display. Our Japanese office are fortunate to have access to a 4K display and you can see that the two DisplayPorts are hooked up around the back in our test setup.

Click here for the full press release from yesterday.

You can learn more about our Thunderbolt boards here.

TeamAU take 3DMARK03 world record with Z77X-UP7

TeamAU guys from Australia put up a new world record in 3DMARK03 today with a GIGABYTE Z77X-UP7 and 4WAY 7970 ATI Crossfire. Slick looking setup this one, check it out!

That sweet looking piece of copper sitting on the GIGABYTE Z77X-UP7 motherboard socket is Kingin Venom 6.66 Liquid Nitrogen CPU cooler.

Custom PC build like no other!

It’s Friday and hobbyist are coming out, no doubt, to do some projects in the garage this weekend! Some guys take it to the extreme like this particular PC mod I’m about it show you. It’s mind blowing to say the least…

CoolerMaster is running a cool mod competition and have received some sweet entries. One that really stood out for me was done by an end user calling himself “Paslis” with an incredible PC desk mod. Here is the thread with lots of photos. I’ll leave you with a couple of interesting shots and a video showing off the hydraulics.

He’s got a good taste in hardware, I spy a GIGABYTE X79-UD3 motherboard!

GIGABYTE X79S-UP5-WiFi Featured in Tom’s Hardware 2012 Gift Guide

I always enjoy seeing the latest “tech” in Tom’s Hardware’s yearly gift guide. This year Tom’s truly outdid themselves, both in terms of beauties holding tech, and Tom’s recommendation for the GIGABYTE X79S-UP5-WiFi motherboard! Click to here to see the rest of Tom’s 2012 Buyers Guide.