Gigabyte DS3 vs DS4

[Robbie G]

Is the only difference the extra PCI-E x16 slot? Does the DS4 therefore support SLi + crossfire?

Thanks in advance.

[D-BEAR]

Is the only difference the extra PCI-E x16 slot? Does the DS4 therefore support SLi + crossfire?

Thanks in advance.

Yes....it does with hacked drivers for SLi....1 = PCI-E x16 + 1 PCI-E x 4.

[Robbie G]

Thanks for that. Still can't decide between DS3 / DS3 / Asus P5B. Not sure if the DS4 is worth it for the extra PCI-E slot when it's not even proper SLi / Crossfire since the second slot isn't x16.

[gOdman]

Yes....it does with hacked drivers for SLi....1 = PCI-E x16 + 1 PCI-E x 4.

itn works with crossfire now with the latest catalyst version. Though the drivers aren't optimized yet, and crossfire is pretty much a waste of money.
DS4 has the more expensive ICH8R southbridge, this allows for raid configurations, wqhilst the DS3 doesn't, it has the normal ICH8.

http://www.hardocp.com/news.html?new...IwMDYsaG5ld3M=
the article at the top, 'Intel ICH8 drops PATA and AC'97'.

Though i am pretty sure on the ggiabyte website it says the ds3 has raid, unlesss this is done by a standalone raid controller(not the soutbridge).

[gOdman]

Thanks for that. Still can't decide between DS3 / DS3 / Asus P5B. Not sure if the DS4 is worth it for the extra PCI-E slot when it's not even proper SLi / Crossfire since the second slot isn't x16.

well it's got a heatpipe covering all the hot parts of the motherboard, althoth it doesn't have a crazy cool plate on the back of the mobo

[D-BEAR]

And it's on today only for 106....and you get free delivery with posts i think over 25.

[Robbie G]

Are you happy with it D-Bear? Any problems at all?

[Thorsson]

DS4 also has SATA 2 RAID on all connectors, but whether it's worth the difference depends on whether you want to OC to the max, and if the coolpipe really works (of which I've seen zero comments).

[gOdman]

i shall be getting mine tommorrow and i'll see how good it is, i'll try to remember to get back to you on that though

getting:
core 2 duo e6600! (was getting the e6400 but it was out of stock for so long, now getting the e6600)
ggiabyte ds4
enermax liberty 500w
seagate 7200.10 320gb
zalman 7700alcu.


alredy have the:
HIS 1900gt (ICEQ3)
Akasa zen case black.

i cant wait!!!!!

[abeacock]

Just to confirm some details about the DS3, it does have RAID on two of the six SATA ports, these two are powered by a seperate jmicron SATA/RAID controller which also supplies the IDE channels.

It also lacks the heatpipe solution that the DS4 has.

[Lakeuk]

I've got the DS4, it's also got firewire which is the main reason I got it rather than the DS3

[abeacock]

I was looking for a motherboard with firewire too but my budget couldn't stretch to the DS4 so I bought a firewire PCI card instead which has 4 firewire ports on it for less than £10 from Scan.

[D-BEAR]

Are you happy with it D-Bear? Any problems at all?

Very happy....An exellent board.

[Robbie G]

What's the point of firewire when USB2 is just as fast?

Also, if the DS3 also supports RAID am I right in saying that if I'm not bothered about firewire and I have only two HDDs that I intend to set up in RAID, the only difference between the two boards is the heatpipe, which is a bit gimmicky anyway?

Sorry for endless questions just want to make the right purchase.

[this_is_gav]

Firewire? Digital video cameras and it's generally faster for external drives. USB is a lot more widespread, but Firewire certainly has its advantages.

Plus I'd sooner trust the Intel chipset over the JMicron for RAID. Nothing to suggest the JMicron is poor, just that I've plenty of good experience with Intel mass storage.

[abeacock]

My digital video camera will only support firewire for transfers to the PC so I need firewire.

I've had no problems using the JMicron-controlled SATA ports to access my single harddrive in AHCI mode but I've not used the RAID features so I can't comment on it's 'quality'.

WRT the heatpipe, whether you need it or not depends on if you plan to heavily overclock your Core2Duo. I have read reports that the heatsinks on the DS3 can get pretty hot when running an O/Ced system, the heatpipes are a possible solution to this.

I haven't O/Ced my E6300 yet so I can't comment on the chipset temps. I've been very pleased with the board's quality and ease of use.