The motherboard is one of the most important components of a computer. In fact, it is the very link between the other elements of the PC and laptop. Literally all equipment is connected to it: hard drives, video cards, RAM, sound card, processor, etc.
By the way, about the processor - in order to replace it in case of failure or to a more powerful version, you need to find out the socket motherboard. That is why we decided to tell you about it within the framework of one rather informative article. From it you will learn not only how to understand what version of the socket you have, but also what it is in general.
There are plenty of ways to define a socket - there are both hardware and software methods. But more on that later.
What is a socket
Yes, we decided to start from the very beginning, so that you are literally savvy in everything related to the device of your personal computer.socket- this is the interface for connecting the CPU (our processor) to the board itself. As mentioned above, the mother is a special platform that connects a number of other printed circuit boards and devices.
The processors only look very similar to each other. However, in reality they are very different from each other. This is why knowing the socket makes it possible to buy the “right” processor and then install it.
Remember: processors are not universal, and therefore do not fit all types of boards. In this regard, if you want to change the processor for one of the reasons, it is better to take care of the socket version in advance, so as not to tempt fate.
Conventionally, sockets can be divided into two types - by manufacturers:
From Intel;
From AMD.
He will not say whose processors are more powerful - let's leave this question to the geeks. Let's go over the differences: 
As you can see sockets different companies may or may not be compatible with your motherboard. Therefore, if you had an Intel processor, and you are going to install an AMD chip in its place, you can be sure that nothing will come of it.
How to determine my motherboard socket
It has already been noted above that there are plenty of ways. And the first is the definition using the documentation that comes with your computer. If you haven't lost it, of course.So, the socket number looks like this "Socket ...", where instead of an ellipsis, its version will be indicated. In the same place where you found information on the socket, you can also find the types of processors recommended for your motherboard. This information is extremely important and will certainly come in handy for inexperienced users who have encountered a similar problem for the first time.
Socket number on the motherboard itself
Almost every motherboard - with the exception of individual copies, has information about the socket, but to find it, you need to try and disassemble your computer a little. The method is not the easiest, but very interesting if you have not done anything like this before.
Now you know which processor will fit your motherboard and you can safely go shopping. If the socket is not there, we can find it in other ways. Everest and CPU-Z programs
Most likely, you have repeatedly encountered the names of these programs before. Or maybe even work with them. In any case, we will once again turn to them for help. Let's start with the most "fancy" - with Everest. This utility, in which you can find literally any information, one way or another related to your system. All kinds of characteristics will become available after automatic scanning. By appearance she is very similar to standard Explorer, embedded in Windows system. So what do we need to do to find out the motherboard socket:
And just in case, we will tell you how to use free utility CPU-Z for the same purposes: 
As you can see, everything is extremely simple. Take a few minutes to avoid throwing money away by buying the wrong processor. ZedBoardZynq-7000- budget debug board for the XILINX Zynq-7000 SoC family. The board contains everything you need to create basic projects based on Linux ® , Android ® , Windows ® or other OS/RTOS operating systems. To simplify user access to the processing system and to the I / O of the programmable logic, several expansion connectors are installed on the board. The Zynq-7000 family SoC integrates an ARM-based processing system and the seventh series of programmable logic. The target applications of the ZedBoard Zynq-7000 based on the XC7Z020-CLG484 SoC include video processing, motor control, software accelerators, Linux-based/ Android/ RTOS, embedded processing systems. The product can also be used to solve common prototyping tasks. The ZedBoard Zynq-7000 Kit is supported by the www.zedboard.org community, where users can collaborate with other engineers also working on Zynq projects.
Fig.1. ZedBoard Zynq-7000 development board. View from above
Rice. 2. ZedBoard Zynq-7000 development board. Bottom view
Rice. 3. ZedBoard Zynq-7000 development board. General form
Rice. 4. General view of the ZedBoard Zynq-7000 kit
Distinctive features:
- Ethernet 10/100/1000;
- 256MB Quad-SPI Flash;
- 4 GB SD card;
- 512MB DDR3;
- AnalogDevicesADAU1761 SigmaDSP® Stereo, Low Power, 96 kHz, 24-Bit Audio Codec;
- AnalogDevicesADV7511 high performance 225 MHz HDMI transmitter (1080pHDMI, 8-bitVGA, 128x32 OLED);
- Two ARM Cortex™-A9 cores;
- General prototyping tasks for Zynq-7000 AP SoC;
- Development of projects based on Linux/Android/RTOS;
- Engine management;
- USB-JTAG programmer on board;
- PS & PLI/O extension (FMC, Pmod, XADC);
- software accelerators;
- USB OTG 2.0 and USB-UART;
- Video processing;
- Xilinx Zynq-7000 AP SoC XC7Z020-CLG484.
Product documentation can be found on the manufacturer's website.
Announcement compiled and prepared
Shraga Alexander,
a.
Each user has his own opinion about where the computer begins. Someone prefers to build a system "around" the monitor, selecting components in such a way that they give out comfortable performance at the desired screen resolution. Someone prioritizes the performance of a video card, choosing first the right model of a graphics accelerator, and then a power supply of suitable power and a case with sufficient cooling. Finally, for someone the most important thing highest speed work with data, and the computer is essentially going around CPU and pairs of RAID arrays from SSD and hard drives.
But when the user has already decided on the model of the most priority devices, he has to choose what will allow him to assemble them in single system, corresponding to the user's initial ideas about the appearance and characteristics of the PC.
And, as you may have guessed, today we will talk about choosing a motherboard.
What you should not pay attention to when choosing.
Board manufacturer.
A very large number of companies are engaged in the design and manufacture of motherboards, and not all of them are represented in the assortment of DNS. Moreover, the most eminent vendors are already familiar to you from video cards and other computer components. ASUS, gigabyte and MSI - "big three", from the products of which users most often have to choose.
The paradox is that the performance of the system in games does not depend on the motherboard. Generally. The efficiency of overclocking the central processor may depend on it, if such a function is available - this is a separate conversation. But if we exclude overclocking from attention, the same set of processor, video card and two or four memory sticks will give the same performance when installed in a top-end motherboard or in one of the younger models.
Why? Because it is they who determine the performance in games.
Recommendation #2: If you plan to overclock the processor, pay attention to the number of phases in the board's power system, its cooling efficiency, voltage stability during overclocking, and BIOS capabilities. Yes, one cannot do without thoughtful and long reading of the reviews, but the result of the choice can please you a lot. Again, these characteristics have nothing to do with the board's positioning as "gaming/non-gaming" and even its price tag.
If overclocking is not planned at all, choose a board based on the characteristics that are more important to you: the number and type of peripheral connectors, the number of slots for memory modules, form factor, connectors for connecting case fans, and so on.
What is REALLY important for you to keep in mind.
Board Form Factor
It would seem that this is not the most serious aspect, but it is better to start with it. Agree, there is little joy if you choose the most suitable board, but it simply does not fit into the case?
In addition, due to different motherboard standards, Personal Computer today you can collect anything. You don't have to buy a bulky midi-tower case if you want a compact system that fits into a desk niche. And it's not at all necessary to put such a "box" next to the TV, if compact boards of mini-ITX or mini-STX formats can be "accommodated" in a small low-profile case stylized as a multimedia player!
And do not think that small systems are always limited performance. Today, in a compact case, you can assemble a powerful gaming system, and thanks to modern cases, coolers and the energy efficiency of current processors, overheating does not even threaten it.
But back to the point. So, what form factors of motherboards are presented in the DNS catalog?
Recommendation #5: The chipset does not affect performance, but as a rule, it allows you to clearly define the positioning and functionality of the board. If you are not considering overclocking the processor, you should not chase top models. And this is not only about Intel platforms- for the normal operation of AMD Ryzen processors and Bristol Ridge / Raven Ridge APUs, there are enough boards for budget chipset AMD A320.
However, if you plan to overclock the processor, connect a lot of high-speed peripherals, or build SLI/Crossfire systems, you should pay attention to older chipset models. In addition, since it is the top motherboards that traditionally have the best equipment, it is possible to find among them models with built-in wi-fi and bluetooth modules, as well as other useful points.
Processor Compatibility
As a rule, if the motherboard and processor have the same socket, this means that they are compatible. However, there are exceptions to every rule. So, not every LGA 775 board supports Wolfdale and Yorkfield processors, not every AM3 + socket board supports Piledriver processors, and not every LGA 1155 board supports Ivy Bridge processors without additional manipulations, and so on.
Recommendation #6: Before you go to the store for a new motherboard, visit the page for this model on the manufacturer's website and see the list of compatible processors. It's quite easy and doesn't even take a lot of time. But the return of the fee to the store or the BIOS update in the service center will be taken. Moreover, the BIOS update service in the service center is paid. And does it make sense to pay for it, if the same money could simply be added to the budget and buy a more suitable motherboard?
Number of memory slots
RAM is that element of a PC that you may not pay attention to for a long time, until one fine moment it stops being enough. And it is very good if at this moment you have the opportunity to increase the amount of memory. After all, if the PC has free slots, you just need to buy the appropriate number of modules and use the computer further.
But if all the slots are occupied, you will have to sell the available memory sticks, losing in price, and then buy larger sticks, which in total will cost much more money, and it will take a lot of time ... but you must admit, time can be spent with much more benefit!
Recommendation #7: Save money by buying a whole motherboard with two slots, is worth it only when you are firmly convinced that the PC should live as long as possible without an upgrade and be replaced entirely. Otherwise, you will fall into the situation described above and punch a hole in the family budget.
The "gold standard" in this regard is board with 4 memory slots. So, if you assemble a PC with two memory sticks of 8 gigabytes each, then in the future, if there is a shortage of memory, it will be enough just to add two more sticks of 8 gigabytes each, which will be quite budgetary.
Boards with 8 slots The memory is expectedly related to the LGA 2011 and LGA 2011-3 platforms. With them, everything is simpler: there the amount of memory is determined by the tasks for which the system is assembled, and is used immediately and completely.
Number of interface connectors
Since, when assembling a PC, you already have a rough idea of what components and how many peripherals you will use, it is worth considering that the board allows you to connect everything you need without piling up adapters and splitters. It only at first seems that you can save money here, but in fact, all kinds of USB hubs, external adapters and other extraneous parts make life very difficult.
So, what is desirable to provide?
The number and type of USB connectors on the rear panel. You should not get carried away here, especially since these ports are used mainly for connecting a keyboard, mouse, graphics tablet and other fixed peripherals. Nevertheless, it is desirable to have at least four, and preferably six, connectors of the appropriate type on the back of the PC.
It is also desirable that at least two of these were 3.0 standard - high-speed peripherals such as portable hard drives will thank you.
Not required, but not superfluous availability of USB 3.1 ports. Today it is exotic, but in the foreseeable future the standard has every chance of becoming ubiquitous, so why not provide for it right away?
Having chosen a board that seems suitable at first glance, ask on the manufacturer's website or in the "" service on the CSN website if it has the ability to output USB ports to the front panel of the case. Now this seems not the most important to you, but believe me - you will get tired of moving the system unit from place to place in order to connect a flash drive or cable from a camera / smartphone to the port on the back side very quickly. And extension cords are an extra mess on the table. And besides, they love to fall at this very table.
It is also important to pay attention to the number and type of SATA connectors. You should pay attention to boards that support the fastest this moment version - SATA 6Gb/s. This will not require an overpayment - connectors of this type are found even on completely budget devices. But one or two connectors of this type will have a very good effect on the speed of the SSD.
Availability of type connectors SATA Express today it is not necessary, but it will be a good start for the future, when high-speed SSDs with such a connector become more widespread.
In some cases, a good bonus will be the presence built-in wifi adapter. For multimedia PCs living in the living room under the TV, this is practically a necessity, and for a large box with a separate table, it may not be superfluous. Still with the spread of smartphones and tablets local networks in houses and apartments, they are most often implemented precisely through wi-fi: it is more convenient to install one router / access point, to which all devices will be connected at once, than to make holes in the walls, laying the cable.
For most owners, the simplest audio system is enough, but if you have something other than the “two speakers, one subwoofer” setup in your home, pay attention to this point as well. Boards that allow you to connect surround sound systems such as 5.1 or 7.1 , can seriously improve the sound in movies and games. Although the most demanding audiophiles, of course, cannot do without a discrete sound card.
If we are talking about discrete adapters - evaluate the number, type and location of PCI-express slots at once. There is no secret here - everything can be seen in the product photos. Enough for a gaming PC in most cases one x16 connector, since one top-end video card is more than enough for games at current resolutions. Boards with two x16 slots needed if you plan to build SLI/Crossfire, but here you need to make sure that the slots can operate in the "8 + 8" or "16 + 16 lines" mode. In the "16 + 4" mode, SLI simply will not work, and the gameplay when using the "inferior" Crossfire will be far from comfortable.
Boards with three or more PCI-e x16 slots needed only if some rare and highly specialized expansion boards are used. Installing more than two video cards into the system makes no sense. In addition, in the latest generations (GeForce 1000) of video cards, even Nvidia officially refused to support SLI from more than two accelerators (or rather, 3-way SLI support is in benchmarks, and in several games it is turned on unofficially ...).
More useful would be the presence on the board PCI-e x1 slots: If you need an alternative sound or Network Card, or a discrete controller for any interfaces that are not on the motherboard - most likely, these devices will use the x1 interface.
Legacy Support PCI interface today it is not necessary for an ordinary PC, but if you use some rare controllers or expansion cards in your work, you should also consider it.
In addition, you should evaluate the number of connectors for connecting case fans. Of course, today's hardware has a predominantly calm disposition; you can no longer find real stoves among video cards and processors. And yet, it would be nice if the board allowed you to connect all the case turntables and control their speed without extra adapters and reobass.
Recommendation #8: Of course, sometimes savings are at the forefront, and at many points you have to turn a blind eye, if only to build a PC faster and meet your budget. And yet, the better your motherboard is equipped, the more convenient it will be to operate the PC. And, again, it is not necessary to take exactly the top versions - sometimes even budget models are able to offer an interesting set of interfaces and connectors, you just need to carefully approach the choice.
Overclocking options
If you are considering a motherboard for a platform that allows you to overclock central processors, you must admit that it would be nice to choose one that allows you to achieve large values and, as a result, get about more performance. A little careful analysis in this case can pay off many times over, and neglecting information, on the contrary, can lead to wasteful spending.
Recommendation #9: When choosing an "overclocker" motherboard - focus primarily on reviews on authoritative resources. Of course, it should be remembered that in overclocking everything depends on the capabilities of a particular processor instance, but if several authors on several sources have one board that allows them to achieve a higher frequency than its counterparts, this is a clear signal to buy.
Criteria and selection options:
According to the above, motherboards from the DNS catalog can be ranked as follows:
For a nettop in a custom case, home file server, CarPC or multimedia PC entry level Suitable for mini-ITX motherboards socket AM1, or options with soldered on the board AMD processors or Intel. You should not expect huge computing performance from these platforms, but they solve their simple tasks easily and without unnecessary energy costs.
For a home multimedia PC that lives in the living room and masquerades as a VCR or music Center, best fit compact boards for socket AM4 having digital interfaces to output video. APUs for these tasks are much more preferable than a combination of a CPU and a discrete graphics card: when the processor and video live under the same cover, the computer can be made smaller, and the heating will be lower. The latter is even more relevant for a compact system than for a gaming machine.
Whether your PC will become an office tool, a universal home assistant, a top gaming machine or a workstation for a reasonable price depends primarily on the processor chosen. But there are two options to choose from: either socket AM4, or LGA 1151_v2. At the same time, for a gaming machine, you should pay attention first of all to cpu overclocking boards- the ability to add agility to the system will not be superfluous at all.
For a purely office PC, a better choice would probably be budget boards on LGA 1151_v2, which do not support overclocking, but have video outputs for graphics built into the processor. For obvious reasons, discrete video cards are not needed in most office workstations, and the graphics in the APU for the AM4 socket are too productive for these purposes.
For the top workstation will have to choose a motherboard or under socket TR4, or under LGA 2066. The choice in this case will be determined only by which of the platforms will perform better in professional tasks, while the functionality and equipment of the motherboards themselves, belonging to the top segment, are at a roughly comparable level.
The motherboard is an important component of the computer, which provides communication between all elements of the system. Model information is useful when replacing the processor. There are several ways to find out the motherboard socket.
What is a motherboard socket
Socket - interface sequence connecting the processor to the system. The motherboard is the platform to which all other devices are connected:
- RAM;
- video card;
- hard drives.
The socket provides the ability correct installation processor, which is not universal and cannot fit the boards of all devices. Therefore, if it becomes necessary to change the processor, you must familiarize yourself with the corresponding characteristics of the motherboard.
The socket allows you to properly install the processor All sockets can be divided into two types:
- Intel.
They differ:
- the number of contacts (400, 500, 1000 and even more);
- contact type;
- distance for mounting coolers;
- socket size;
- the presence or absence of additional controllers;
- the presence or absence of support for graphics integrated into the processor;
- performance options.
Intel and AMD sockets differ not only in the number and type of pins, but also in performance parameters, as well as the presence of additional controllers Methods for determining
Documentation
When buying a computer or laptop, documentation is attached to it, which describes all the characteristics, including the parameters of the motherboard. The socket number is in the form "Socket..." or shorter "S...". In this section, you can also find recommendations for installing processors suitable for this system.
Pay
Very often, motherboard manufacturers write the name of the socket next to the place where the processor is attached. To get information in this way, you have to make a little more effort, partially disassembling the computer.
Manufacturer
Computer manufacturers are required to report absolutely all the characteristics of the device when selling. This information is public and can be easily found on the Internet.
- In any available search engine(Google, Yandex, Yahoo, Mail) enter the computer manufacturer's name.
- Go to the website of the manufacturer or seller.
- Find your model in the product catalog. In its characteristics, the socket will be indicated.
CPU
The socket can also be recognized by the processor model, which is specified in the settings operating system computer.
For example, in Windows, the processor model can be found in the following path: Control Panel / System.
You can compare processor and socket models using the table.
| Manufacturer Intel | |
| socket | CPU |
| Socket 370 | Pentium III |
| Socket 423 | Pentium, celeron 4 |
| Socket 478 | Pentium, celeron 4 |
| LGA 775 |
Pentium D, Celeron D, Pentium EE, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, Celeron, Xeon 3000 series, Core 2 Quad |
| LGA 1156 |
Core i7,Core i5,Core i3 |
| LGA 1366 | Core i7 |
| Manufacturer AMD | |
| socket | CPU |
| Socket A (Socket 462) | Athlon, Athlon XP, Sempron, Duron |
| socket 563 | Athlon XP-M |
| socket 754 | Athlon 64 |
| Socket 939 | Athlon 64 and Athlon 64FX |
Processor specifications can be found on the website of the manufacturer or seller Software
Everest is a program that scans the system and shows the user all its characteristics. In appearance, it resembles a conductor. On the left is a column with windows of information blocks, when you click on them on the right, the required information is displayed. To find out the socket, you need to go through the following path: Computer / DMI / Processors / Your processor / Socket type.
Everest scans the system and shows all its characteristics CPU-Z
This program has simplest interface. When you open the first tab, you can see all the characteristics of the processor. The Package item describes the parameters of the motherboard socket.
The CPU-Z program has a simple interface. Motherboard socket information can be found in the Package tab Everything you need to know about sockets (video)
Knowing the socket model is essential when replacing a processor. You can find out information in several ways: using the documentation, the board itself, the Internet or software.
Let's find out what's so special about this board and how it performs.
Specifications of the motherboard Gigabyte boards GA-X99-SOC Champion are shown in the table.
| Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion(rev.1.0) | |
|---|---|
| Supported processors | Processors Intel Core i7 LGA2011-v3 (Haswell-E) |
| Chipset | Intel X99 Express |
| Memory Subsystem | 4 × DIMM DDR4 (non-ECC) unbuffered memory up to 32 GB; four-channel memory mode; support for RDIMM (1Rx8) non-ECC memory; support for modules with a frequency of 3333/3200/3000/2800/2400/2133MHz; XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) 1.3/1.2/2 support. |
| Audio subsystem | Realtek ALC1150 2/4/5.1/7.1 HD codec; support S/P-DIF Out. |
| network interface |
Intel Gigabit LAN Network Controller (10/100/1000 Mbps) |
| Connectors for expansion cards | 2 × slots PCI Express x16, x16 and x16/x8 operating mode, Gen 3; 2 × PCI Express x16 slots, x8 operating mode; 3 × PCI Express x1 slots, x1 operating mode, Gen 2. |
| Video subsystem scalability | 4-Way/3-Way/2-Way AMD CrossFire and NVIDIA SLI |
| Drive interfaces | Chipset Intel X99 Express: 1 × Turbo M.2 PCIe, throughput up to 20 Gbps; 1 x SATA Express, up to 10Gb/s bandwidth (2 xSATA 3 compatible); 6 × SATA 3, throughput up to 6 Gb/s; Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel Rapi Storage and Intel Smart Response, NCQ, AHCI and HotPlug |
| USB interface | Chipset Intel X99 Express: 2 x USB 3.0/2.0; 8 × USB 2.0 / 1.1 (4 - on the rear panel, 4 ports are connected to the corresponding connectors on the system board) Renesas uPD720210 controller: 4 USB 3.0/2.0 on the rear panel |
| Internal connectors on the motherboard | 1 × 24-pin ATX connector; 1 × 8-pin connector ATX power supply 12V; 1 × 4-pin ATX 12V power connector; 1 × OC PEG power connector; 1x SATA Express; 10 × SATA 3; 1 M.2 PCIe; 1 × 4-pin header for CPU; 1 × connector for connecting a liquid cooling system (CPU_OPT); 3 × 4-pin headers for case fans; 1 × Thunderbolt connector; a group of connectors for the front panel; 1 × audio connector for the front panel; 1 × S/PDIFOut jack; 1× USB connector 3.0/3.0; 2 × USB 2.0/1.0 connectors; 1 × COM port; CMOS reset jumper; power button; reset button; CMOS reset button; processor operating mode switch; OC Trigger switch; DualBIOS switch; BIOS SELECT switch; contact pads for voltage measurements |
| Connectors and buttons on the rear panel | 2 × PS / 2 ports for connecting a keyboard and mouse; 4× USB port 3.0/2.0; 4 × USB 2.0/1.1 ports; 1 × network LAN socket RJ-45; 5 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out, Rear Speaker Out, Side Speaker Out, Line In, Line Out, Mic In); 1 × optical S/P-DIF output |
| Chip I/O controller |
IT8792E, IT8951E, IT8620E |
| BIOS | 2 x 128Mbps AMI UEFI BIOS with GUI (SD/HD/Full HD); dualBIOS support; PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0 |
| Proprietary functions, technologies and features | APPCenter support; proprietary utility Q-Flash; XpressInstall support; Smart Switch support; support for proprietary technology GIGABYTE On / Off Charge; @BIOS proprietary utility; proprietary function EZSetup; proprietary function SmartRecovery 2; proprietary utility EasyTune; branded USB utility blocker; Smart Time Lock; fastboot; system information browser |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 8.1/8/7 |
| Form factor, dimensions (mm) | E-ATX, 305×264 |
| Retail price, USD | 299,99 |
⇡ Packaging and equipment
The motherboard comes in a cardboard box of almost standard sizes with the image of a Formula 1 car on the front side. Nearby is the name of the board, the type of processor socket and the chipset model.
The reverse side of the box is as informative as possible and literally full of all sorts of information about the board and the technologies implemented in it.
Separately, a list of board outputs and key specifications are given.
Traditional sticker indicating the model, serial number board and a brief list of characteristics is glued on the end of the box.
Inside the cardboard box, the board, sealed in an antistatic bag, rests on an additional cardboard backing.
Beneath it are accessories, including a blank interface panel, four SATA cables, four connecting bridges for SLI and one flexible bridge for CrossFireX.
Also included is a CD with software, body sticker, and brief and detailed instructions for setting up and operating the board.
At the moment Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is released only in version 1.0. Country of origin is Taiwan guarantee period is equal to three years. As for the cost of the board, it has not yet been noticed in Russia, and in foreign online stores it is already being sold for $299.99.
⇡ Design features
Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is released in the E-ATX form factor and measures 305 × 264 mm. The board is made on a dark brown textolite and has a classic layout of elements.
Orange PCI-Express connectors and slots for memory modules, as well as inserts on the chipset heatsinks and power elements of the same color, contrast sharply with the general colors fees. Thanks to this, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion does not look boring - on the contrary, in our opinion, it is quite attractive in appearance.
On the reverse side, we note the base plate of the processor socket, the reinforcing plate of the VRM circuit heatsink and the screw fastening of all other heatsinks.
The latter distinguishes this model from many other motherboards (including those made by Gigabyte), in which the radiators are fixed with plastic latches. It is also worth mentioning the protective strip with LED-backlight, designed for shielding sound path and other components of the board from interference.
The schematic layout of all elements of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is shown below.
The novelty can be studied in more detail by the screenshot from the instructions from the official website.
The Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion interface panel features two PS/2 ports, four USB 2.0/1.1 ports, four USB 3.0/2.0 ports, network port LAN (RJ45) and panel with six audio outputs.
It would seem that the standard LGA2011-v3 processor socket looks quite ordinary, but even it is special here.
If Gigabyte motherboards with LGA1150 sockets are coated with gold plating 15 microns thick (3 times the thickness of a typical layer), then the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion processor socket contacts are covered with a protective layer twice as thick - 30 microns, or 6 times thicker than usual.
Moreover, the contacts of all connectors are processed in the same way. random access memory and PCI-Express slots. According to the developers, this was done in order to improve the reliability of connections, corrosion protection and stability. In addition, here is a link to the list of compatible processors, which currently includes only three models.
Instead of the eight RAM slots typical for boards with LGA2011-v3, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion has only four DDR4 DIMM slots.
However, this can hardly be considered a disadvantage, because maximum volume memory can reach 32 GB sufficient for any tasks, but in terms of stability and overclocking, extra connectors are completely useless. Modules with a frequency of 3333/3200/3000/2800/2400/2133 MHz are officially supported (including overclocking), and a list of memory modules officially approved by the manufacturer can be downloaded from here. By the way, it was on the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion that one of the first DDR4 memory overclocking records was set when using a stand with liquid nitrogen.
The board is powered by standard 24-pin and 8-pin connectors located in their usual places.
|
|
|
In addition to them, another four-pin connector for CPU power has been removed, and a six-pin OC_PEG block is soldered next to the first PCI-Express connector. It is recommended to connect it only if two or more video cards are used in the system.
The key to successful CPU overclocking is the motherboard's power system. On the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion, it is built using high resistance Cooper Bussmann server chokes. alternating current, the ability to provide high-quality power to the VRM-zone of the central processor, efficient heat distribution and significantly lower power consumption.
In front of them is a row of solid-state Durable Black capacitors, which are characterized by extremely low equivalent series resistance and literally a huge lifespan.
Let's not forget about high-quality POSCAP capacitors, capable of operating under conditions of high ripple currents and ensuring stability under any load.
In addition, as part of the Ultra Durable concept, the new Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion has twice the thickness of the copper layer in the power and ground circuits.
Including due to this, the manufacturer guarantees not only the achievement of more impressive overclocking results in comparison with other boards, but also flawless operation in such modes throughout the entire service life.
In addition, power transistors IR3553 of the PowIRstage family, designed for current up to 40 A and optimized for use in multi-phase converters, are “scattered” in the near-socket zone along the textolite.
If the processor power system is controlled by PWM controllers IR3580 and PowIRstage IR3556 manufactured by International Rectifier, then two IR3570A controllers are allocated to provide memory power.
Note that the heatsinks of the chipset and power circuits, connected by heat pipes, are equipped with a pleasant white backlight.
block diagram Intel chipset The X99 Express underlying the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is shown below.
The motherboard has seven PCI Express slots: four PCI Express 3.0 x16/x8 and three PCI Express 2.0 x1.
The first four, when using Intel Core i7-5930K and Core i7-5960X processors, can work with four video cards at once in x8 / x16 / x8 / x8 configuration, with three in x16 / x16 / x8 mode and with two in x16 / x16 mode. When using an Intel Core i7-5820K processor, due to the latter having only 28 PCI Express lanes, it is possible to simultaneously use no more than three video cards in x8/x8/x8 mode or two in x16/x8 mode.
With one video card in any configurations, it is possible to work in x16 mode. The function of switching PCI Express lanes is performed by four NXP switches soldered between the first and second PCI slots express.
The Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion features six SATA 3 ports up to 6 Gb/s and one SATA Express port up to 10 Gb/s.
Declared support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel technologies Rapid Storage and Intel Smart Response, NCQ, AHCI and Hot Plug. In general, in this regard, the new product does not differ from other Gigabyte motherboards of this class, but the M.2 connector here is not just M.2, but Turbo M.2.
The bandwidth of this interface has been doubled - it is 20 GB / s, for which four PCI Express lanes are assigned to it at once. Supported drive sizes, as you can see from the photo, are 2242, 2260 and 2280.
The Super I / O functions are assigned to the IT8620E chip, and the IT8792E controller monitors and controls the fans on the board.
In total, five PWM fans can be connected to the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion.
To provide network functions Gigabit controller Intel WGI218V is used.
Supported software technology cFos Speed, designed to manage and optimize network traffic by reducing response time and increasing network connection throughput.
The Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is equipped with the Realtek ALC1150 eight-channel HD audio codec with a fairly high output quality and a signal-to-noise ratio of 115 dB during playback and 104 dB during recording.
The codec supports Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC, echo effect compensation), Beam Forming (BF, beamforming) and Noise Suppression (NS, noise suppression) technologies. Paired with it is a TI N5532 headphone amplifier with an impedance of up to 600 ohms.
Near and in the I / O zone there is a backlight strip, the brightness and pulsation of which can be flexibly adjusted using the Ambient LED utility.
At the bottom of the board are all the necessary connectors, including the interface Thunderbolt.
|
|
|
Separately, it is worth noting the presence on the board of a whole set of tools for overclocking: here is a POST code indicator, and power buttons (with a built-in LED) and BIOS reset, and BIOS chip selection switches, and even pads for measuring all kinds of voltages.
To the left on the board you can find the processor mode switch for the LGA2011-v3 or LGA2083 socket.
At the end of the review of the board, let's mention Gigabyte's DualBIOS proprietary technology, which is implemented as a backup chip that allows you to restore the motherboard in the event of a failure of the main BIOS chip.
⇡ BIOS Features
Before testing, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion was flashed with the latest available BIOS version - F3.
There are no fundamental differences from the BIOS of the recently tested Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI, but in terms of functionality and settings, it is, of course, much richer. The start window offers a choice of interface language, but we did not change it to Russian, which is also available, since the parameters for fine-tuning overclocking of the processor and memory are easier to perceive in English.
In the first window of M.I.T. (MB Intelligent Tweaker) you can find six subsections and, in addition, information about the BIOS version, processor frequencies and its key parameters, RAM size, and processor temperature.
After going to the first subsection of the main window M.I.T. Current Status, you can find the number of processor cores, its multiplier in nominal and turbo operating modes, core temperatures, the volume of each installed RAM module and its timings.
In the Advanced Frequency Settings subsection, you can see and adjust the processor frequency, its multiplier and processor multiplier, as well as select the X.M.P. for working memory.
Going one level deeper - in Advanced CPU Core Settings, you can fine-tune the processor during overclocking, including turbo settings for each specific core, activating various stabilizing and energy-saving technologies.
In the subsection with basic settings RAM can only change its key parameters.
However, already in the next window, it is possible to configure a vast number of memory timings, both for all channels simultaneously, and for each separately.
Advanced processor settings during overclocking are displayed in a special subsection.
Everything you need to achieve is here. maximum frequencies and ensure stable operation on them.
The settings window, reserved for control and change of voltages, consists of four subsections.
In the section with voltage regulation CPU Vcore and CPU RING Voltage can be changed in two ways: by setting specific values or by setting a positive delta using the Offset line.
In our experience, the first option is more stable during overclocking, although theoretically both methods of increasing voltages should work the same way.
In the next subsection, you can change the chipset and IO voltages.
The number of memory voltage settings and their breadth can also satisfy the most demanding overclockers.
Key voltages can be changed in the following ranges:
| Voltage | Minimum value, V | Maximum value, V | Step, B |
| CPU VRIN External Override | 1,000 | 2,700 | 0,01 |
| CPU Vcore | 0,500 | 1,700 | 0,001 |
| CPU Ring Voltage | 0,800 | 1,600 | 0,001 |
| CPU System Agent Voltage | -0,300 | +0,500 | 0,001 |
| DRAM Voltage | 1,000 | 2,000 | 0,01 |
| PCH Core | 0,650 | 1,300 | 0,05 |
| PCHIO | 1,050 | 1,900 | 0,05 |
The PC Health Status section displays real-time monitoring results for all voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds.
In the System Information menu, you can select the BIOS language, as well as set the date and time.
The BIOS section with boot options can be called exhaustive in terms of settings.
Access to peripherals and their configuration is carried out in the corresponding section of the BIOS.
The maximum customization options are implemented in the chipset and SATA sections of the BIOS.
Finally, it is worth highlighting the extremely functional BIOS section with power settings.
We did not find any delays or any problems when navigating in the BIOS. Everything is very convenient and simple, despite the abundance of various settings.
⇡ Overclocking and stability
The stability, overclocking potential and performance of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard was tested in a closed case system block. To compare performance, we included another platform with an extreme processor of the previous generation in the article. As a result, the configurations used were composed of the following components:
- motherboards:
- Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion (Intel X99 Express, LGA2011-v3, BIOS F3 from 01/29/2015);
- Intel Siler DX79SR (Intel X79 Express, LGA2011, BIOS 0594 from 08/06/2013);
- central processors:
- Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition 3.0-3.5GHz (Haswell-E, M0, 1.0V, 8×256KB L2, 20MB L3);
- Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3-3.6GHz (Haswell-E, R2, 1.1V, 6×256KB L2, 15MB L3);
- Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition 3.5-4.0 GHz (Sandy Bridge-E, C2, 1.1 V, 6 × 256 KB L2, 15 MB L3);
- system CPU cooling: Phanteks PH-TC14PE (2 × Corsair AF140 at 900 rpm);
- thermal interface: ARCTIC MX-4;
- graphics card: Gainward GeForce GTX 980 Phantom 4 GB 1203-1304/7200 MHz;
- RAM:
- DDR4 4×4GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 2800MHz (CMK16GX4M4A2800C16) (X.M.P. 2800MHz, 16-18-18-36_2T, 1.2V);
- DDR3 4×8GB G.SKILL TridentX F3-2133C9Q-32GTX (X.M.P. 2133MHz, 9-11-11-31_2T, 1.6V);
- system disk: Intel SSD 730 480GB (SATA-III, BIOS vL2010400);
- disk for programs and games: Western Digital VelociRaptor (SATA-II, 300 GB, 10000 rpm, 16 MB, NCQ) in a Scythe Quiet Drive 3.5″ box;
- backup disk: Samsung Ecogreen F4 HD204UI (SATA-II, 2 TB, 5400 rpm, 32 MB, NCQ);
- sound card: Auzen X-Fi HomeTheater HD;
- case: Antec Twelve Hundred (front wall - three Noiseblocker NB-Multiframe S-Series MF12-S2 at 1020 rpm; back - two Noiseblocker NB-BlackSilentPRO PL-1 at 1020 rpm; top - a standard 200 mm fan on 400 rpm);
- control and monitoring panel: Zalman ZM-MFC3;
- PSU: Corsair AX1500i Digital ATX (1500W, 80 Plus Titanium), 140mm fan;
- monitor: 27-inch Samsung S27A850D (DVI-I, 2560x1440, 60 Hz).
The first processor on which we explored the capabilities of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion was the Intel Core i7-5820K marked SR20S.
|
|
|
With fully automatic BIOS settings motherboard and X.M.P. memory operation, it immediately started at 3.7 GHz at 1.2 V.
The second processor turned out to be an engineering sample of the Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition with QFRA marking.
|
|
|
With it, the board did not "arbitrarily" and, without changing any settings, launched it at standard 3.0-3.5 GHz with a memory frequency of 2667 MHz.
By the way, we should also mention the RAM we used for today's tests. She became a four-channel kit DDR4 Corsair Vengeance LPX (CMK16GX4M4A2800C16).
|
|
|
The kit consists of four modules of 4 GB each with a nominal frequency of 2800 MHz.
The modules are distinguished by very neat and completely low black heat spreaders.
A sticker is glued on each indicating the model, volume, frequency, timings and nominal voltage.
Two X.M.P. with different frequencies and timings.
We will definitely conduct an additional study of the capabilities of this kit in today's article, but for now we will demonstrate a kit ready for installation of a cooling system.
The operating system used was Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 with all critical updates and driver installation. Intel Chipset Drivers 10.0.22 WHQL, GeForce 347.25 WHQL, Intel Network Connections Software Version 19.5.303.0 and Realtek High Definition Audio (HDA) R2.7x (7349) WHQL. Stability was tested with the built-in stress test from AIDA64 Extreme 5.00.3335 Beta and LinX 0.6.5 AVX (LinX 0.6.4 - only in the first test), and monitoring was carried out using Real Temp GT 3.70 and HWiNFO64 version 4.50.
We started testing the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion with the junior processor - Intel Core i7-5820K, checking its temperature regime with fully automatic settings. Board BIOS, when it independently set the BCLK/PCIe ratio to 1.25, and the maximum reference frequency was 127.3 MHz.
Despite the overestimation of the frequency and voltage of the processor by the motherboard, its temperature regime even under Linpack turned out to be quite comfortable, because the temperature of the hottest core did not exceed 74 degrees Celsius.
By fixing the core voltage at 1.225 V and gradually increasing the processor frequency, we managed to achieve stability at 4075 MHz. And then we lowered the voltage step by step, testing the stability, and found that it was maintained at a voltage of 1.19 V and a peak temperature of the hottest core of 94 degrees Celsius.
It must be admitted that for the Intel Core i7-5820K the result achieved is very mediocre, because in comparison with its base frequency (3.3 GHz), the increase was only 23.5%. However, as we found out later, the problem with such modest overclocking was not at all in the motherboard, but in a particular instance of the processor. So we move on to the flagship processor, and here we add that, according to the readings of the motherboard sensors, the maximum temperature during the Linpack tests reached only 44 degrees Celsius.
As we mentioned above, with the Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion behaved much more restrained than with the junior processor for LGA2011-v3, and with fully automatic settings, it launched it at the standard frequency and voltage slightly lower 1 V. That's why the CPU temperature tests with such settings turned out to be an uninteresting banality, and the maximum temperature of the hottest core did not exceed 64 degrees Celsius. So we jumped right into overclocking, using a BCLK/PCIe value of 1.25, a multiplier of 32, and raising the voltage to 1.1V. Here's what we got in Linpack's tests.
Peak temperature of the processor cores reached 80 degrees Celsius, which is very good for an eight-core Core i7-5960X on quiet air cooling. According to the motherboard sensor, the temperature did not exceed 46 degrees Celsius.
Then we increased the multiplier by one more at a final frequency of 4.2 GHz, we had to increase the core voltage to 1.13 V, CPU VRIN to 2.0 V, and CPU RING to 1.15 V. Only with such parameters, and also with the extreme level of Loadline Calibration it was possible to achieve stability under Linpack.
At the same time, the processor temperature still remained within reasonable limits, and according to the board's sensors, it increased by only 1 degree Celsius. Unfortunately, further overclocking again limited the processor, but the achieved result (+40% to the base frequency), in our opinion, can be considered quite successful. However, we also had questions about the board, because with STRAP 1.66, not to mention 2.5, it could not start with any processor, regardless of the RAM settings. Although such changes in overclocking settings could hardly affect the final performance, we hoped to get stability from the flagship board even at STRAP 1.66.
By the way, about memory. After testing the processors and overclocking board, we decided to explore the capabilities of the 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 kit on the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard. First, without changing the nominal voltage of 1.2 V and the frequency of 2800 MHz, we tried to reduce the main memory timings. After several hours of tests and checks, we managed to achieve their reduction from 16-18-18-36 CR2 to 15-15-15-26 with the same CR2.
Increasing the voltage on the modules from 1.2 to 1.3 V did not make it possible to further lower the main memory timings.
But with the standard timings of 16-18-18-36 CR2, we were able to increase the memory frequency from 2800 to 3056 MHz, that is, one step up, and then again tried to reduce delays at this frequency. As a result, stability was achieved with these settings: 1.3 V, 3056 MHz, 16-16-16-26 CR2. This mode of memory operation turned out to be slightly faster than at 1.2 V, 2800 MHz and 15-15-15-26 CR2.
A further increase in the voltage on the memory modules to 1.35 V no longer contributed to an increase in their overclocking potential, so at this point it was decided to complete the test of the capabilities of the board, processors and memory and move on to tests.
⇡ Performance
To compare performance, we conducted several processor tests in popular benchmarks. The heroine of today's article - Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion - was tested with both processors at their maximum possible overclocking, and for comparison, we included tests of the Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition at the maximum frequency for this instance of 4.8 GHz in the table with the results. .
| Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion Intel Core i7-5820K @4.08GHz DDR4 4x4GB 2800MHz 15-15-15-26 CR2 7-zip 9.38beta |
|
|
| x265 HD Benchmark0.1.4 | ||
|
|
|
|
Enough big testing of these platforms in games is carried out in a separate article, so today we do not present these results. Let's summarize.
⇡ Conclusion
Despite its novelty, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard appeared before us as a completely finished and stable product with an exhaustive arsenal for overclocking the processor and setting records. In the process of multifaceted and incessant tests that lasted about 8 days, we were unable to identify a single significant drawback of this product - everything worked like clockwork, and overclocking potential was limited only by the capabilities of the processors themselves or RAM. One can only recall the problems with STRAP 1.66, which was not enough for “complete happiness”.
High-quality component base using Cooper Bussmann server chokes, Durable Black and POSCAP capacitors, twice the copper layer in the power and ground circuits, six times thicker gold-plated protective layer on the contacts, a highly efficient circuit of radiators and heat pipes that even under very high loads barely warms up - all this is the key to achieving the highest frequencies during overclocking. Equipped with all modern controllers and interfaces, support for any multiprocessor graphics technologies, a stable and convenient BIOS, which will take more than one day to learn all the settings, unprecedented functionality and information content for overclocking on the board itself, as well as nice backlighting with mode adjustment. What else is needed?
Perhaps only a low cost, but products of this class have never been cheap, and in comparison with the price of the same Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition, the cost of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion does not seem high at all.