Last month, we took a look at GIGABYTE’s GA-X99-SOC Champion and found it to be an excellent motherboard for overclockers and enthusiasts, especially those aiming for world records. GIGABYTE recently added several models to its X99 Champion series, and although these motherboards don’t include all of the high-performance features that the GAX99-SOC Champion does, you’ll find similar onboard components as well as support for cutting-edge technology. The GA-X99-UD4P is one of the latest models to bear the Champion moniker.
Quality power handling and delivery isn’t generally considered an exciting motherboard feature, but in the hands of the right power user, it can lead to thrilling overclocks. On the GA-X99-UD4P, GIGABYTE uses IR (International Rectifier) digital controllers and PowIRstage ICs to ensure that your Haswell-E processor receives exactly the amount of power it requires. GIGABYTE also loads the GAX99-UD4P up with server-grade chokes (made by Cooper Bussman) that can handle high current and cut down on the heat that power loss generates.
In addition to being a member of the Champion series, the GA-X99-UD4P is also part of GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable lineup, so its capacitors, trace paths, and sockets can handle demanding loads. For example, the GA-X99-UD4P uses 30μ-thick gold plating on the CPU socket, the four PCI-E slots, and the eight DIMM slots for optimal connectivity. Conventional motherboards regularly use 5μ-thick gold plating.
As part of the Ultra Durable lineup, the GA-X99-UD4P has many safety enhancements, too. For instance, there are two BIOSes to protect against a single BIOS failure bricking the system, and GIGABYTE widens the space around the screw mounting holes, so you’re less likely to damage nearby onboard components when mounting the board to the motherboard tray’s standoffs.
Memory support on the GA-X99-UD4P isn’t the standard issue for the X99 chipset. GIGABYTE lets you install RDIMM (registered DIMM) 1Rx8 memory modules, which are available in densities up to 16GB per stick. When installed, the RDIMM memory must operate in non-ECC mode. Of course, the GA-X99-UD4P also supports standard DDR4 DIMMs. There are eight DIMM slots, which are designed to work with the X99 chipset’s quad-channel memory architecture. You’ll be able to use highspeed DDR4, too, as the GA-X99-UD4P supports modules clocked up to 2,800MHz.
GIGABYTE designs the GA-X99-UD4P so that it can take advantage of every single one of Haswell-E’s (the Core i7-5960X or 5930K) 40 built-in PCI-E lanes, bumping up the available PCI-E graphics bandwidth from the X99 chipset’s stock 256Gbps to 320Gbps. On this board, a 4-way SLI or CrossFire setup can run at x8/x8/x16/x8, and a 3-way GPU configuration runs at x16/x16/x8. To ensure the PCI-E lanes have enough power, GIGABYTE provides a 4-pin Molex connector near the bottom of the motherboard, and the company recommends you connect the auxiliary power when two or more GPUs are installed.
Top-shelf storage drives will be able to strut their stuff on this board. There’s a SATA Express port and one M.2 port that’s dedicated to M.2 storage drives. (the other onboard M.2 port is designed for wireless communication modules, such as Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo modules.) Compatible SSDs can use either of these PCI-E-based ports for up to 10Gbps of theoretical bandwidth, but only one of the ports can be active at a time. There are also 10 6Gbps SATA ports for conventional SSDs, hard drives, and optical drives.
The GA-X99-UD4P is Thunderboltready, thanks to a connector above the bottom PCI-E slot. You’ll need to buy a GIGABYTE add-in card to upgrade to Thunderbolt connectivity. If USB peripherals are more your thing, you’ll like that the GA-X99-UD4P supports eight USB 3.0 ports (six rear, two internal) and eight USB 2.0 ports (four rear, four internal). One of the rear USB 3.0 ports is white, rather than the traditional blue. This port supports GIGABYTE’s Q-Flash Plus, which lets you update the GA-X99-UD4P’s BIOS from a flash drive even if your system is unable to boot.
Onboard audio is powered by GIGABYTE’s AMP-UP Audio technology, highlighted by Realtek’s ALC1150 highdefinition audio codec. This popular onboard audio processor has a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 115dB. The ALC1150 can also handles 7.1-channel surround playback. You’ll come in loud and clear in voice chat, as well, because the ALC1150 supports microphones with echo cancellation, beam forming, and noise suppression technologies.
Many of GIGABYTE’s motherboards separate the audio PCB from the main PCB to reduce the chance of electrical noise, and the GA-X99-UD4P is no different. GIGABYTE also locates the right and left audio channels on separate PCB layers to eliminate crosstalk. The Realtek audio codec is physically shielded, too.
With its Champion and Ultra Durable DNA, we expected the GA-X99-UD4P to easily pass our benchmark tests. Highlights include an overall score of 9634 in 3Dmark Professional’s Fire Strike Extreme test and a Cinebench 15 mark of 1097 points. In our games tests, our test system posted nearly 80fps in Metro: Last Light and almost 95fps in Aliens vs. Predator.
Best suited as an all-around performer, the GA-X99-UD4P can do a little bit of everything, as it has some nice enhancements for overclocking, gaming, and I/O connectivity. Plus, GIGABYTE manages to keep the cost down to $260. It’s a tempting offering for Haswell-E builders. BY NATHAN LAKE
Specs: Max memory: 64GB DDR4 (DDR4-2133; Max OC: DDR4-2800); Slots: 4 PCI-E x16, 3 PCI-E x1; Storage: 10 6Gbps SATA, 1 SATA Express, 1 M.2 (type 2242/2260/2280); Rear I/O: 6 USB 3.0, 4 USB 2.0, 2 PS/2, 1 optical S/PDIF out, audio I/O, 1 Ethernet; Form factor: E-ATX; Warranty: 3 years