Review and testing of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard: created for records. What is a socket
ZedBoardZynq-7000 - budget development board for the XILINX Zynq-7000 SoC family. The board contains everything you need to create basic projects based on operating Linux systems®, Android ®, Windows ® or other OS/RTOS. To simplify user access to the processing system and to the I/O programmable logic, several expansion connectors are installed on the board. The Zynq-7000 family SoC combines an ARM-based processing system and seventh series programmable logic. Target applications of the ZedBoard Zynq-7000 based on the XC7Z020-CLG484 SoC include video processing, motor control, software accelerators, Linux/Android/RTOS based systems, embedded processing systems. The product can also be used to solve general prototyping problems. 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. Development board ZedBoard Zynq-7000. Top view
Rice. 2. Development board ZedBoard Zynq-7000. Bottom view
Rice. 3. ZedBoard Zynq-7000 development board. General view
Rice. 4. General view of the ZedBoard Zynq-7000 kit
Distinctive features:
- Ethernet 10/100/1000;
- 256 MB Quad-SPI Flash;
- 4 GB SD card;
- 512 MB DDR3;
- AnalogDevicesADAU1761 SigmaDSP® Stereo, low power, 96 kHz, 24-Bit Audio Codec;
- AnalogDevicesADV7511 high-performance 225 MHzHDMI transmitter (1080pHDMI, 8-bitVGA, 128x32 OLED);
- Dual ARM Cortex™-A9 cores;
- Common prototyping tasks for Zynq-7000 AP SoC;
- Development of projects based on Linux/Android/RTOS;
- Engine control;
- 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.
The announcement was compiled and prepared
Shraga Alexander,
a.
Let's find out what's so special about this board and what its performance is.
The technical characteristics of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard 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 frequencies of 3333/3200/3000/2800/2400/2133 MHz; XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) 1.3/1.2/2 support. |
Audio subsystem | 2/4/5.1/7.1 channel HD codec Realtek ALC1150; S/P-DIF Out support. |
Network interface |
Intel Gigabit LAN Network Controller (10/100/1000 Mbit) |
Connectors for expansion cards | 2 × PCI Express x16 slots, 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 (with an Intel Core i7 5820K processor using SLI technology, only three video cards can work) |
Drive interfaces | Intel X99 Express Chipset: 1 × Turbo M.2 PCIe, bandwidth up to 20 Gbps; 1 × SATA Express, bandwidth up to 10 Gbit/s (compatible with 2 xSATA 3); 6 × SATA 3, bandwidth up to 6 Gbit/s; Supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, Intel Rapi Storage and Intel Smart Response, NCQ, AHCI and HotPlug |
USB interface | Intel X99 Express Chipset: 2 × 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 system board) Renesas uPD720210 controller: 4 USB 3.0/2.0 on the rear panel |
Internal connectors on the system board | 1 × 24-pin ATX connector; 1 × 8-pin connector ATX power supply 12 V; 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 connector for CPU; 1 × connector for connecting a liquid cooling system (CPU_OPT); 3 × 4-pin connectors for case fans; 1 × Thunderbolt connector; group of connectors for the front panel; 1 × front panel audio connector; 1 × S/PDIFOut connector; 1 × USB 3.0/3.0 connector; 2× USB connector 2.0/1.0; 1 × COM port; jumper to reset CMOS; 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 3.0/2.0 ports; 4 × USB 2.0/1.1 ports; 1 × RJ-45 LAN socket; 5 × audio connectors (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 × 128 Mbit AMI UEFI BIOS with graphical shell (SD/HD/Full HD); DualBIOS support; PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.7, WfM 2.0, SM BIOS 2.7, ACPI 5.0 |
Brand functions, technologies and features | APPCenter support; proprietary utility Q-Flash; XpressInstall support; support Smart Switch; support for proprietary GIGABYTE On/Off Charge technology; @BIOS proprietary utility; proprietary EZSetup function; proprietary function SmartRecovery 2; proprietary EasyTune utility; proprietary USB Blocker utility; Smart TimeLock; FastBoot; system information browser |
operating system | Microsoft Windows 8.1/8/7 |
Form factor, dimensions (mm) | E-ATX, 305 × 264 |
Retail price, US dollars | 299,99 |
⇡ Packaging and accessories
The motherboard comes in a cardboard box of almost standard dimensions with an image of a Formula 1 car on the front side. Next to it is the name of the board, the type of processor socket and the chipset model.
The back of the box is as informative as possible and is literally replete with all kinds of information about the board and the technologies implemented in it.
A list of board outputs and key specifications are provided separately.
A traditional sticker indicating the model, serial number of the board and a short list of characteristics is affixed to the end of the box.
Inside the cardboard box, the board, sealed in an antistatic bag, lies on an additional cardboard backing.
Below it are components, including an interface panel cover, four SATA cables, four connecting bridges for SLI and one flexible bridge for CrossFireX.
In addition, the package includes a CD with software, a sticker on the body, as well as a brief and detailed instructions on setting up and operating the board.
On at the moment Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is available only in version 1.0. The country of manufacture is Taiwan, and the warranty period is three years. As for the cost of the board, it has not yet been noticed in Russia, but in foreign online stores it is already sold for $299.99.
⇡ Design features
Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is released in the E-ATX form factor and has dimensions of 305 × 264 mm. The board is made on dark brown PCB and has a classic layout of elements.
Orange PCI-Express connectors and slots for memory modules, as well as inserts on chipset and heatsinks power elements the same color contrasts sharply with the overall color scheme of the board. 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 back side Let's note the support plate of the processor socket, the reinforcing plate of the VRM circuit radiator and the screw fastening of all other radiators.
The latter distinguishes favorably this model from many other boards (including those manufactured by Gigabyte), in which the radiators are secured with plastic latches. It is also worth mentioning a protective strip with LED backlighting, designed to shield the audio path and other components of the board from interference.
A schematic arrangement of all elements of the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is presented below.
You can study the new product in even more detail using a screenshot from the instructions from the official website.
The Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion interface panel has 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 connectors are gold-plated with a thickness of 15 microns (3 times the thickness of the standard layer), then the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion has the processor socket contacts covered with an even twice as thick protective layer - 30 microns, or 6 times thicker than usual.
Moreover, the contacts of all connectors are processed in the same way. RAM and PCI-Express connectors. According to the developers, this was done in order to increase the reliability of connections, protection against corrosion and stability of operation. In addition, we will provide a link to a list of compatible processors, which currently include only three models.
Instead of the typical eight RAM slots 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 the maximum amount of memory can reach 32 GB, sufficient for any task, but in terms of stability and overclocking, extra connectors are completely useless. Modules with frequencies 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 records for overclocking DDR4 memory was set using a bench with liquid nitrogen.
The board is powered by standard 24-pin and 8-pin connectors located in their usual places.
In addition to them, there is another four-pin connector for powering the CPU, and next to the first PCI-Express connector there is a six-pin OC_PEG header. It is recommended to connect it only if two or more video cards are used in the system.
A key component of successful CPU overclocking is the motherboard power supply. On the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion, it is built using server chokes from Cooper Bussmann, which are characterized by high AC resistance, the ability to provide particularly high-quality power to the VRM zone of the central processor, efficient heat distribution and significantly lower power consumption.
In front of these are a series of Durable Black solid-state capacitors that feature extremely low equivalent series resistance and literally enormous lifespan.
Let's not forget about high-quality POSCAP capacitors, capable of functioning 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 double the thickness of the copper layer in the power and ground circuits.
Due to this, the manufacturer guarantees not only the achievement of more impressive overclocking results compared to other boards, but also flawless operation in such modes throughout its entire service life.
In addition, in the near-socket area, power transistors IR3553 of the PowIRstage family, rated for current up to 40 A and optimized for use in multiphase converters, are “scattered” along the PCB.
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 radiators of the chipset and power circuits, connected by heat pipes, are equipped with a pleasant white backlight.
The block diagram of the Intel X99 Express chipset that powers 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 the x8/x16/x8/x8 configuration, three in x16/x16/x8 mode, and 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 configuration it is possible to work in x16 mode. The function of switching PCI Express lines is performed by four NXP switches, soldered between the first and second PCI Express slots.
Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is equipped with six SATA 3 ports with bandwidth up to 6 Gbps and one SATA Express port with bandwidth up to 10 Gbps.
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 is no different from other Gigabyte motherboards in this class, but the M.2 connector here is not just M.2, but Turbo M.2.
The throughput of this interface has been doubled - it is 20 GB/s, for which it is allocated four PCI Express lanes at once. Supported drive sizes, as can be seen from the photo, are 2242, 2260 and 2280.
Super I/O functions are assigned to the IT8620E chip, and monitoring and control of the fans on the board is carried out by the IT8792E controller.
A total of five PWM-controlled fans can be connected to the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion.
To provide network functions, an Intel WGI218V gigabit controller is used.
Supported software technology cFos Speed, dedicated to control network traffic and its optimization by reducing response time and increasing network connection throughput.
Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion is equipped with an eight-channel Realtek ALC1150 HD audio codec with quite high quality output signal and with a signal-to-noise ratio of 115 dB during playback and 104 dB during recording.
The codec supports Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Beam Forming (BF), and Noise Suppression (NS, noise suppression) technologies. It is paired with a TI N5532 headphone amplifier with a resistance 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 Thunderbolt interface.
Separately, it is worth noting that the board has a whole set of tools for overclocking: there is a POST code indicator, power buttons (with a built-in LED) and BIOS reset, switches for selecting the BIOS chip, and even contact points for measuring various voltages.
To the left of the board you can find a processor operating mode switch for the LGA2011-v3 or LGA2083 socket.
To conclude the review of the board, let’s mention Gigabyte’s proprietary DualBIOS technology, which is implemented in the form of a backup chip that allows you to restore the functionality of 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 Gigabyte GA-Z97N-WIFI we recently tested, 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 fine-tuning parameters for overclocking the processor and memory are easier to understand in English.
In the first window 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, amount of RAM, and processor temperature.
Going to the first subsection of the main M.I.T. window. Current Status, you can detect the number of processor cores, its multiplier in nominal and turbo modes, core temperatures, the volume of each installed RAM module and its timings.
In the Advanced Frequency Settings subsection, you can see and configure the processor frequency, its multiplier and processor multiplier, and also select the X.M.P profile. for RAM.
Going one more level deeper - in Advanced CPU Core Settings, you can fine-tune the processor during overclocking, including turbo mode settings for each specific core, activating various stabilizing and energy-saving technologies.
In subsection with basic settings RAM can only change its key parameters.
However, already in the next window you can configure a wide range of memory timings, both for all channels simultaneously and for each one separately.
Advanced processor settings for overclocking are included in a special subsection.
It has everything you need to achieve maximum frequencies and ensure stable operation at them.
The settings window, dedicated to monitoring and changing voltages, consists of four subsections.
In the section with adjusting processor voltages, 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 equally.
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 |
PCH IO | 1,050 | 1,900 | 0,05 |
The PC Health Status section displays real-time monitoring results of all voltages, temperatures and fan speeds.
In the System Information menu, you can select the BIOS language and set the date and time.
Can be called comprehensive in terms of settings BIOS section with download options.
Access to peripheral devices and their configuration is carried out in the corresponding section of the BIOS.
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 detect any delays or any problems when navigating through 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 were tested in a closed case system unit. To compare performance, we included in the article another platform with an extreme processor from the previous generation. 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 dated 08/06/2013);
- central processing units:
- Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition 3.0-3.5 GHz (Haswell-E, M0, 1.0 V, 8 × 256 KB L2, 20 MB L3);
- Intel Core i7-5820K 3.3-3.6 GHz (Haswell-E, R2, 1.1 V, 6 × 256 KB L2, 15 MB 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);
- CPU cooling system: Phanteks PH-TC14PE (2 × Corsair AF140 at 900 rpm);
- thermal interface: ARCTIC MX-4;
- video card: Gainward GeForce GTX 980 Phantom 4 GB 1203-1304/7200 MHz;
- RAM:
- DDR4 4 × 4 GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 2800 MHz (CMK16GX4M4A2800C16) (X.M.P. 2800 MHz, 16-18-18-36_2T, 1.2 V);
- DDR3 4 × 8 GB G.SKILL TridentX F3-2133C9Q-32GTX (X.M.P. 2133 MHz, 9-11-11-31_2T, 1.6 V);
- 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;
- archive drive: 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; rear - two Noiseblocker NB-BlackSilentPRO PL-1 at 1020 rpm; top - standard 200 mm fan at 400 rpm);
- control and monitoring panel: Zalman ZM-MFC3;
- Power supply: Corsair AX1500i Digital ATX (1500 W, 80 Plus Titanium), 140 mm fan;
- monitor: 27-inch Samsung S27A850D (DVI-I, 2560x1440, 60 Hz).
The first processor on which we examined Gigabyte capabilities GA-X99-SOC Champion, became Intel Core i7-5820K labeled SR20S.
When fully automatic settings Motherboard BIOS board and selecting the X.M.P. profile. memory operation, it immediately started at 3.7 GHz at 1.2 V.
The second processor turned out to be an engineering sample of Intel Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition labeled QFRA.
The board did not play around with it and, without changing any settings, launched it at the standard 3.0-3.5 GHz with a memory frequency of 2667 MHz.
By the way, it’s worth mentioning separately about the RAM we used for today’s tests. It became a four-channel DDR4 kit Corsair Vengeance LPX (CMK16GX4M4A2800C16).
The kit consists of four modules with a capacity of 4 GB each with a nominal frequency of 2800 MHz.
The modules are distinguished by very neat and completely low heat spreaders of black color.
Each has a sticker indicating the model, volume, frequency, timings and standard voltage.
These modules contain 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.
As operating system Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 was used with all critical updates and with the installation of 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. We checked stability with the built-in stress test from AIDA64 Extreme 5.00.3335 Beta and LinX 0.6.5 AVX (LinX 0.6.4 is 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 a junior processor - Intel Core i7-5820K, checking its temperature conditions 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 processor frequency and voltage 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 were able to achieve stability at 4075 MHz. And then we reduced the voltage step by step, testing stability, and found that it remained 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 achieved result 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 a modest overclocking was not at all in the motherboard, but in a specific instance of the processor. So we move on to the flagship processor, and here we add that, according to 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 LGA2011-v3 processor, and with fully automatic settings it launched it at the standard frequency and voltage slightly lower 1 V. Therefore, processor 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 went straight to overclocking, using a BCLK/PCIe value of 1.25, a multiplier of 32, and increasing the voltage to 1.1 V. Here's what we got in the Linpack tests.
The peak temperature of the processor cores reached 80 degrees Celsius, which is very good for an eight-core Core i7-5960X with quiet air cooling. According to the motherboard sensor, the temperature did not exceed 46 degrees Celsius.
Then we increased the multiplier by another unit 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 these parameters, and also at the extreme level of Loadline Calibration, stability was achieved under Linpack.
At the same time, the processor temperature still remained within reasonable limits, and according to the board 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 still have 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 would hardly have affected the final performance, we were hoping 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 DDR4 Corsair Vengeance LPX kit on the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard. First, without changing the standard voltage of 1.2 V and frequency of 2800 MHz, we tried to reduce the main memory timings. After several hours of tests and checks, we managed to reduce them 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 allow us to further reduce the main memory timings.
But with standard timings of 16-18-18-36 CR2, we were able to increase the memory frequency from 2800 to 3056 MHz, that is, up one notch, and then again tried to reduce latencies at this frequency. As a result, stability was achieved with the following settings: 1.3 V, 3056 MHz, 16-16-16-26 CR2. This memory operating mode turned out to be slightly faster than at 1.2 V, 2800 MHz and 15-15-15-26 CR2.
Further increasing the voltage on the memory modules to 1.35 V no longer contributed to increasing their overclocking potential, so at this point it was decided to complete testing 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 highest possible overclocking, and for comparison in the table with the results we included tests of the Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition at the maximum frequency for this instance of 4.8 GHz .
Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion Intel Core i7-5820K @4.08 GHz DDR4 4x4 GB2800 MHz 15-15-15-26 CR2 7-zip 9.38beta | ||
x265 HD Benchmark0.1.4 | ||
Enough extensive testing of these platforms in games was carried out in a separate article, so today we are not presenting these results. Let's summarize.
⇡ Conclusion
Despite its novelty, the Gigabyte GA-X99-SOC Champion motherboard presented us with a completely finished and stable product with a comprehensive arsenal for overclocking the processor and setting records. In the process of multifaceted and continuous tests that lasted about 8 days, we were not able to identify a single significant drawback of this product - everything worked like a clock, and the overclocking potential was limited only by the capabilities of the processors themselves or RAM. One can only remember the problems with STRAP 1.66, which was not enough for “complete happiness”.
High-quality element base using Cooper Bussmann server chokes, Durable Black and POSCAP capacitors, double the thickness of the copper layer in the power and ground circuits, six times thicker gold plating on the contacts, a highly efficient chain of radiators and heat pipes, which even at very high temperatures 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 technology, a stable and convenient BIOS, the study of all the settings of which will take more than one day, unprecedented functionality and information content for overclocking on the board itself, as well as pleasant backlighting with adjustable modes. What else do you need?
Perhaps only the 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.
The motherboard is an important component of the computer, which provides communication between all elements of the system. Model information will be useful when replacing the processor. There are several ways to find out the motherboard socket.
What is a motherboard socket
Socket is an interface for 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 there is a need to change the processor, you need to familiarize yourself with the corresponding characteristics of the motherboard.
The socket allows you to install the processor correctly
All sockets can be divided into two types:
- Intel.
They differ:
- number of contacts (400, 500, 1000 and even more);
- type of contacts;
- 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 parameters.
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
Determination methods
Documentation
When purchasing a computer or laptop, it comes with documentation that describes all the characteristics, including the parameters of the motherboard. The socket number looks like “Socket...” or the shorter version “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 mounted. To obtain information in this way, you will have to put in a little more effort, partially disassembling the computer.
Manufacturer
Computer manufacturers are required to disclose absolutely all characteristics of the device when selling. This information is open and can be easily found on the Internet.
- In any available search engine(Google, Yandex, Yahoo, Mail) enter the name of the computer manufacturer.
- Go to the manufacturer or retailer's website.
- Find your model in the product catalog. The socket will be indicated in its characteristics.
CPU
The socket can also be recognized by the processor model, which is indicated in the settings of the computer’s operating system.
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 64 FX |
Processor specifications can be found on the manufacturer's or seller's website
Software tools
Everest is a program that scans the system and shows the user all its characteristics. In appearance it resembles a conductor. On the left there is a column with windows of information blocks; when you click on them, the required information is displayed on the right. To find out the socket, you need to go through the following path: Computer / DMI / Processors / Your processor / Connector type.
Everest scans the system and shows all its characteristics
CPU-Z
This program has a simple interface. When you open it, you can see all the characteristics of the processor in the first tab. The Package item describes the parameters of the motherboard socket.
The CPU-Z program has a simple interface. Information about the motherboard socket can be found in the Package tab
Everything you need to know about sockets (video)
Knowing the socket model is necessary when replacing a processor. You can find out information in several ways: using documentation, the board itself, the Internet or software.
Each user has their own opinion about where a computer starts. Some people prefer to build a system “around” the monitor, selecting components in such a way that they provide comfortable performance at the desired screen resolution. Some people prioritize the performance of a video card, choosing first the desired model of graphics accelerator, and then a power supply of suitable power and a case with sufficient cooling. Finally, for some, the highest speed of data processing is most important, and the computer is essentially assembled around a central processor and a pair of RAID arrays from SSD and hard drives.
But when the user has already decided on the model of the highest priority devices, he has to choose something that will allow him to assemble them into unified system, corresponding to the user’s initial ideas about appearance and PC specifications.
And, as you may have guessed, today we will talk about choosing a motherboard.
What you shouldn't pay attention to when choosing.
Board manufacturer.
A very large number of companies are engaged in the design and production of motherboards, and not all of them are represented in the DNS assortment. Moreover, the most famous vendors are already familiar to you from video cards and other computer components. ASUS, Gigabyte And MSI- the “big three”, from whose products users most often have to choose.
The paradox is that system performance in games does not depend on the motherboard. At all. The effectiveness 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 to four memory sticks will produce the same performance when installed in a top-end motherboard or in one of the lower-end models.
Why? Because they determine gaming performance.
Recommendation #2: If you are planning to overclock a processor, pay attention to the number of phases in the board's power supply system, its cooling efficiency, voltage stability during overclocking, and BIOS capabilities. Yes, you cannot do without thoughtful and lengthy reading of reviews, but the result of your choice can also please you a lot. Again, these characteristics have nothing to do with the board’s positioning as “gaming/non-gaming” or 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, it’s not much fun if you choose the most suitable board, but it simply won’t fit into the case?
In addition, thanks to different motherboard standards, personal computer Today you can collect anything. There is no need to buy a bulky midi-tower case if you need a compact system that will fit in a desk niche. And it’s not at all necessary to place such a “box” next to the TV, if compact motherboards of mini-ITX or mini-STX formats can be “housed” in a small low-profile case, stylized as a multimedia player!
And don’t think that small systems always mean limited performance. Today, you can assemble a powerful gaming system in a compact case, and thanks to modern cases, coolers and the energy efficiency of current processors, it is not even in danger of overheating.
But let's get 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 determine the positioning and functionality of the board. If you are not considering overclocking the processor, there is no point in chasing top models. Moreover, we are talking here not only about Intel platforms - for normal operation of AMD Ryzen processors and Bristol Ridge/Raven Ridge APUs, boards based on the budget AMD A320 chipset are sufficient.
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-end motherboards that are traditionally characterized by the best equipment, it is likely that among them you will find models with built-in wi-fi and bluetooth modules, as well as other points useful to you.
CPU compatibility
Generally, if the motherboard and processor share the same socket, it means they are compatible. However, there are exceptions to every rule. So, not every board for LGA 775 supports Wolfdale and Yorkfield processors, not every board with socket AM3+ supports Piledriver processors, and not every board for LGA 1155 supports Ivy Bridge processors without additional manipulations, and so on.
Recommendation #6: Before you go to the store to buy a new motherboard, visit the page for this model on the manufacturer's website and look at the list of compatible processors. It's completely easy and won't even take much time. But returning the board to the store or updating the BIOS at the service center will take time. Moreover, the BIOS update service at 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 bought a more suitable motherboard?
Number of memory slots
RAM is an element of the PC that you can ignore for a long time, until one fine moment it is no longer enough. And it’s very good if at this moment you have the opportunity to increase the amount of memory. After all, if your PC has free slots, you just need to purchase the appropriate number of modules and continue to use the computer.
But if all the slots are occupied, you will have to sell the existing memory sticks, losing in price, and then buy larger capacity sticks, which in total will cost much more money, and will also take a lot of time... but you must admit, time can be spent with much more more benefit!
Recommendation #7: Save money by buying the entire motherboard with two RAM slots, it’s worth it only when you are firmly convinced that the PC should survive as long as possible without an upgrade and be replaced entirely. Otherwise, you will end up in the situation described above and make a hole in the family budget.
The "gold standard" in this regard is board with 4 memory slots. So, if you build a PC with two memory sticks of 8 gigabytes each, then in the future, if there is a lack of memory, it will be enough to just add two more sticks of 8 gigabytes each, which will be quite affordable.
8-slot boards Memory, as expected, belongs 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 ensuring that the board allows you to connect everything you need without a clutter of adapters and splitters. It only seems at first that you can save money here, but in reality all kinds of USB hubs, external adapters and other extraneous parts make life very difficult.
So, what is desirable to provide?
Quantity and type USB connectors on the back panel. You shouldn’t get carried away here, especially since these ports are used primarily for connecting a keyboard, mouse, graphics tablet and other stationary peripherals. Nevertheless, it is advisable to have at least four, and preferably six, connectors of the appropriate type on the back of the PC.
It is also advisable that at least two of which belonged to the 3.0 standard - high-speed peripherals such as portable hard drives will thank you.
Not necessary, but it wouldn’t hurt to availability of USB 3.1 ports. Today this 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 DNS website whether it has the ability to output USB ports to the front panel of the case. This may not seem most important to you now, but believe me, you will get tired of moving the system unit from place to place to connect a flash drive or cable from a camera/smartphone to the port on the back very quickly. And extension cords are just extra clutter on the desk. 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 currently fastest version - SATA 6 Gb/s. This will not require overpayment - connectors of this type are found even in completely budget devices. But one or two This type of connector will have a very good effect on the speed of the SSD.
Availability of type connectors SATA Express not necessary today, 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 wi-fi adapter. For multimedia PCs living in the living room under the TV, this is practically a necessity, and for a large drawer 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 via wi-fi: it is more convenient to install one router / access point to which all devices will connect at once, than to make holes in the walls when laying a cable.
Most owners are satisfied with a very simple audio system, 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 like 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, immediately evaluate the number, type and location of PCI-express slots. There is no secret here - everything is visible in the photographs of the product. Sufficient 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 are 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 are necessary only if you use any rare and highly specialized expansion cards. 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 abandoned support for SLI from more than two accelerators (or rather, support for 3-way SLI is in benchmarks, and in several games it is enabled unofficially...).
It would be more useful to have it on the board PCI-e x1 slots: if you need an alternative sound or network card, or a discrete controller of 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, it is worth considering 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 will no longer find real stoves among video cards and processors. And yet, it would be nice if the board allowed you to connect all cabinet turntables and control their speed without unnecessary adapters and reo-bass.
Recommendation #8: Of course, sometimes savings are at the forefront, and at many points you have to turn a blind eye just to assemble a PC faster and stay within the budget. And yet, the better equipped your motherboard is, the more convenient it will be to operate your PC. Moreover, 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 choose carefully.
Overclocking options
If you are considering a motherboard for a platform that allows you to overclock central processors, you will agree that it would be nice to choose one that will allow you to achieve higher values and, as a result, get O better performance. A little careful analysis in this case can pay off many times over, while neglect of information can, on the contrary, lead to useless expenses.
Recommendation #9: When choosing an “overclocking” motherboard, focus primarily on reviews on reputable resources. Of course, you should remember 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 you to achieve a higher frequency than its analogues, this is a clear signal to buy.
Criteria and selection options:
According to the above, motherboards from the DNS directory can be ranked as follows:
For a nettop in a custom case, a home file server, a CarPC or a multimedia PC entry level Mini-ITX format motherboards are suitable for socket AM1, or options with soldered on the board AMD processors or Intel. You shouldn’t expect enormous computing performance from these platforms, but they solve their simple tasks easily and without any problems. extra costs energy.
For a home multimedia PC living in the living room and masquerading as a VCR or music center, are best suited compact boards for AM4 socket, having digital interfaces for video output. APUs are much more preferable for these tasks than a combination of a CPU and a discrete video card: when the processor and video live under the same cover, the computer can be made smaller and the heating will be lower. Latest for compact system even more relevant than for a gaming machine.
Whether your PC will become an office tool, a universal home assistant, a top-end gaming machine or a workstation for a reasonable price depends primarily on the processor you choose. But you need to choose from two options: either socket AM4, or LGA 1151_v2. At the same time, for a gaming machine you should pay attention first of all to boards that support processor overclocking- the opportunity to add speed to the system will not be superfluous.
For a purely office PC, probably more suitable choice will budget boards based on LGA 1151_v2, which do not support overclocking, but have video outputs for the 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 powerful for these purposes.
For a top-end workstation you will have to choose a motherboard either 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 boards themselves belonging to the top segment are at an approximately comparable level.
Gigabyte's product range currently includes 13 boards based on the Intel X99 chipset. In this article we will look at the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion model, which is aimed at fans of extreme overclocking of the processor and memory.
Options and packaging
Despite the proud name Champion, the equipment of the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is quite modest. The board comes in a small box with all its advantages listed.
In addition to the board itself, the box contains a user manual, a DVD with software and drivers, four SATA cables (all connectors with latches, two cables have an angled connector on one side), SLI bridges for two, three and four video cards, a bridge AMD CrossFireX for two video cards and a plug for the rear panel of the board.
Board configuration and features
A summary table of the characteristics of the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is given below, and further in the text we will look at all its features and functionality.
Supported processors | |
CPU socket | |
Chipset | |
Memory | 4 × DDR4 (up to 32 GB) |
Audio subsystem | |
Network controller | |
Expansion slots | 2 × PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (x16/x8 operating mode) |
SATA connectors | 10 × SATA 6 Gb/s (chipset) |
USB ports | 6 × USB 3.0 |
Rear Connectors | 4 × USB 3.0 |
Internal connectors | 24-pin ATX power connector |
Form factor | ATX (305×264 mm) |
Average price | T-11899237 |
Retail offers | L-11899237-10 |
Form factor
The Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is made in the ATX form factor (305x264 mm), and nine standard holes are provided for its installation.
Chipset and processor socket
The Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is based on the top Intel chipset X99 and only supports processors codenamed Haswell-E with LGA2011-v3 socket.
Moreover, according to the manufacturer, the processor socket uses gold plating on the contacts. But that's not all. The processor socket on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board, although called LGA2011-v3, is not quite ordinary. Let us recall that at one time, Asus created the OC Socket, which is used on all Asus boards with Intel X99 chipset. This connector has more pins compared to the regular LGA2011-v3 and uses processor pins reserved for service purposes. All this made it possible to supply additional power lines from the FIVR to the processor and thereby increase the stability of the processor supply voltage and prevent it from sagging under high load.
In principle, the same thing is implemented on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board. Instead of 2011 contacts, the socket has 2083 contacts, and, accordingly, the processor contacts reserved for service purposes are used, which makes it possible to increase the stability of the processor supply voltage. That is, we do not claim that everything is implemented on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board in exactly the same way as on Asus boards, but the idea is the same.
Since the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is focused on overclocking, the presence of such a non-standard connector will not be superfluous.
Memory
To install memory modules, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board has four DIMM slots, which allows you to install one DDR4 module on each of the four memory channels with a maximum capacity of up to 32 GB (when using 8 GB memory modules). Note also that the board supports memory with XMP profiles.
Well, just like in the processor socket, the contacts in the DIMM memory slots are gold-plated.
It would seem why the board has only four, and not eight (as usual) memory slots? The answer is simple. Since the board is focused on overclocking (including memory), a design of one slot per memory channel is used. It's just easier to overclock in this case.
Expansion slots
To install video cards or expansion cards, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion motherboard has four PCI Express 3.0 slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor, three PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots and an M.2 connector, which allows you to install 2242/2260/ 2280. M.2 connector only supports PCI devices Express 2.0 with an M key and is implemented on the basis of four PCI Express 2.0 ports (bandwidth 20 GT/s). Note that most M.2 connectors existing on boards are implemented on the basis of only two PCI Express 2.0 ports and have throughput two times lower - 10 GT/s (billions of transfers per second). But, in fairness, we note that some boards with the Intel X99 chipset have new generation M.2 connectors, which are implemented on the basis of four PCI Express 3.0 ports. These connectors provide a throughput of 32 GT/s.
Three PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots are implemented using three chipset PCI Express 2.0 ports. But the operating modes of PCI Express 3.0 slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor depend on which processor is installed on the board.
Let us remind you that today there are three models of the Haswell-E family of processors: Intel Core i7-5960X, Core i7-5930K and Core i7-5820K. The first two models (Core i7-5960X and Core i7-5930K) have a built-in controller for 40 PCI Express 3.0 ports (lanes), but in Core processor The i7-5820K controller has only 28 PCI Express 3.0 ports. Accordingly, the operating modes of slots with the PCI Express 3.0 x16 form factor depend on how many PCI Express 3.0 ports are in the processor.
If we count from the processor socket, then the first slot of the PCI Express 3.0 standard (PCIe 3.0 x16_1) operates in x16 or x8 mode. The second slot (PCIe 3.0 x16_2), which will be the third slot from the processor socket, is also switchable and operates in x16 or x8 modes. But the third (PCIe 3.0 x8_3) slot, which will be the second from the processor socket, as well as the fourth PCIe 3.0 x8_4 slot operate in x8 or x4 modes.
It is important to emphasize here that the fourth PCIe 3.0 x8_4 slot is shared with the first PCIe 3.0 x16_1 slot. And when the fourth PCIe 3.0 x8_4 slot is enabled, the first slot switches to x8 operating mode. That is, the first and fourth slots together account for 16 PCI Express 3.0 ports.
Thus, if a Haswell-E processor with 40 PCI Express 3.0 ports is installed on the board, then the first and fourth slots together account for 16 PCI Express 3.0 ports, the second PCIe 3.0 x16_2 slot operates in x16 mode, and the third PCIe 3.0 x8_3 slot operates in x16 mode. in x8 mode.
If a processor with 28 PCI Express 3.0 ports is installed on the board, then the operating mode of the slots changes. In this case, the second PCIe 3.0 x16_2 slot will operate in x8 mode, and the fourth slot and third PCIe 3.0 x8_3 slot will operate in x4 mode. Well, the first PCIe 3.0 x16_1 and the fourth PCIe 3.0 x8_4 slot together again account for 16 PCI Express 3.0 ports.
Naturally, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is supported Nvidia technologies SLI and AMD CrossFireX. Moreover, you can install up to four video cards.
Note that a similar operating scheme (and even such a strange numbering) of slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor is used on other Gigabyte boards with the Intel X99 chipset. In particular, on the Gigabyte X99-Gaming G1 WIFI board the circuit is absolutely the same.
SATA ports, SATA Express connector
To connect storage devices or optical drives, the board provides a total of ten SATA 6 Gb/s ports. These are eight separate SATA 6 Gb/s ports and two more SATA 6 Gb/s ports as part of the SATA Express connector. Eight separate SATA 6 Gb/s ports are implemented based on a controller integrated into the Intel X99 chipset. Two more SATA 6 Gb/s ports, included in the SATA Express connector, are also implemented on the basis of a controller integrated into the chipset (naturally, these two ports can be used not only as part of the SATA Express connector, but also separately). Six of the ten SATA 6 Gb/s ports, implemented on the chipset, support the ability to create RAID arrays of levels 0, 1, 5, 10 (this is a feature of the Intel X99 chipset).
Note that the SATA Express connector, in addition to two SATA 6 Gb/s ports, also uses two PCI Express 2.0 chipset ports.
USB connectors
To connect all kinds of peripheral devices The board has six USB 3.0 ports and eight USB 2.0 ports. Note that the Intel X99 chipset itself only supports up to 14 USB ports, of which up to 6 ports can be USB ports 3.0. However, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board uses an additional USB hub to implement USB 3.0 ports.
Two USB 3.0 ports are implemented on the basis of a controller integrated into the chipset (these ports are connected via a connector on the board). Eight USB 2.0 ports are also implemented on the basis of a controller integrated into the chipset. Moreover, four USB 2.0 ports are located on the rear panel of the board, and to connect the remaining ports, the board has two connectors (two ports per connector).
Well, the remaining four USB 3.0 ports, located on the rear panel of the board, are implemented based on the Renesas uPD720210 USB hub, which is connected to one chipset USB port 3.0 and outputs four USB 3.0 ports. Thus, to implement all six USB 3.0 ports on the board, only three chipset USB 3.0 ports are used.
It would seem, why use an additional USB hub if six USB 3.0 ports can be implemented at the chipset level? The answer to this question lies in the limitation of the number of high-speed ports on the Intel X99 chipset, which we will look at next.
Network interface
To connect to the network, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board implements a gigabit network interface based on the Intel I218-V PHY controller (physical layer controller) (a MAC-level controller integrated into the chipset is used). This controller uses one PCI Express 2.0 chipset port for connection.
How does this work
If you count the number of controllers, connectors and slots on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board that use the PCI Express 2.0 ports of the Intel X99 chipset, you will get the following picture. Three PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots require three PCI Express 2.0 ports. Another PCI Express 2.0 port is enabled network controller Intel I218-V. The M.2 connector requires four more PCI Express 2.0 ports. Well, the SATA Express connector is two more PCI Express 2.0 ports. As a result, we find that a total of 10 PCI Express 2.0 ports are required. But in the Intel X99 chipset, the total number of PCI Express 2.0 ports cannot exceed eight.
The problem of the lack of PCI Express 2.0 ports is solved in this case very simply. The fact is that the M.2 connector (4×PCIe 2.0) and the SATA Express connector are made separate from each other. That is, if a SATA Express connector is used, the M.2 connector will not be available and vice versa. However, it should be noted that if the M.2 connector is used, then the SATA 6 Gb/s connectors included in the SATA Express connector will be available for use. Thus, the M.2 and SATA Express connectors together account for only four PCI Express 2.0 ports.
Well, taking this into account, in total you will need not ten, but only eight PCI Express 2.0 ports, that is, exactly as many as the Intel X99 chipset is available.
The connection diagram for connecting controllers and slots to the Intel X99 chipset is shown in the figure.
Let us remind you that the presence of only eight PCI Express 2.0 ports is not the only limitation of the Intel X99 chipset. In total, the chipset can have no more than 22 high-speed I/O ports (PCI Express 2.0, SATA 6 Gb/s, USB 3.0) and no more than ten SATA 6 Gb/s ports, no more than six USB 3.0 ports and no more than eight PCI Express 2.0 ports.
Well, now, let's see how the rule of 22 high-speed ports is implemented on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board. In principle, everything is as simple as possible here and there is no need to reconfigure the ports using Flexible I/O technology. The board has kept the number of USB 3.0 ports to a minimum (three in total). It is due to this that the limitation on the number of high-speed ports is met without the need to reconfigure them. While the number of USB 3.0 ports is minimal, the board has ten SATA 6 Gb/s chipset ports and eight PCI Express 2.0 ports. That is, in total we get less than 22 high-speed ports. However, as we already noted, the M.2 and SATA Express connectors are shared with each other.
In this case, the following options are possible:
- SATA 6 Gb/s ports are used, which are part of the SATA Express connector;
- a SATA Express connector is used and a SATA device is connected to it;
- a SATA Express connector is used and a PCIe device is connected to it;
- The M.2 connector is used and a PCIe device is connected to it.
In the first case (using the SATA 6 Gb/s ports included in the SATA Express connector), the M.2 connector remains accessible. The result is three USB 3.0 chipset ports, ten SATA 6 Gb/s chipset ports and eight PCI Express 2.0 ports, for a total of 21 high-speed ports.
The second case is similar to the first; accordingly, we get a total of 21 high-speed ports.
In the third case, the M.2 connector is blocked, as well as two SATA 6 Gb/s ports included in the SATA Express connector. As a result, we get three USB 3.0 chipset ports, eight SATA 6 Gb/s chipset ports and six PCI Express 2.0 ports, for a total of 17 high-speed ports.
In the fourth case, the SATA Express connector will be unavailable, but two SATA 6 Gb/s ports included in this connector will be available. Actually, this case is similar to the first, that is, in total we get 21 high-speed ports.
Additional Features
As already noted, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is focused on overclocking and, accordingly, it has a lot of additional features specific to such boards.
Let's start with the fact that the board has power, reset and ClearCMOS reset buttons BIOS settings, which is very convenient when the board is installed not in a PC case, but in an open stand.
There is also a traditional POST code indicator for top solutions.
Next, it is necessary to mention the presence of control switches and BIOS. The Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board has two BIOS chips and the BIOS_SW switch allows you to select a specific chip to boot (Main BIOS or BackUp BIOS). In addition, there is also an SB switch that allows you to set the mode of using two BIOS chips (Dual BIOS) or the mode of using only one chip (Single BIOS).
The next feature of the board is the presence contact pads for measuring voltages, which is used when overclocking the system.
There are two more switches specific to overclocker boards. These are OC Trigger (TGR) and CPU Mode.
The OC Trigger switch (also called LN2) is used in order to be able to force the processor to operate at the lowest possible frequency. This mode is used, for example, to boot the operating system. Well, then, using the OC Trigger switch, you can switch the processor to normal (overclocking) mode.
As the description says, the CPU Mode switch allows you to switch between normal processor mode and overclocking mode. Actually, it’s difficult to come up with a more vague explanation. But, judging by the inscription next to this switch, we are talking about the fact that it allows you to switch between the normal mode of operation of the processor socket, when only 2011 pins are used, and the mode of using 2083 pins.
Well, the last thing worth mentioning is the presence of two PS/2 connectors. The presence of such a connector is typical for overclocking-oriented boards, however, the presence of two connectors at once is very rare.
Power system
Like most boards, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion model has 24-pin and 8-pin connectors for connecting the power supply. In addition to this, there is also a 4-pin power connector (ATX_12V). Well, in addition, there is an additional 6-pin PCIe Power Connector, which is used if several powerful video cards are installed on the board.
The processor supply voltage regulator on the board is 8-channel and is based on an 8-phase International Rectifier IR3580 PWM controller, and the power channels themselves are built on International Rectifier IR3556 DrMOS chips, which combine two MOSFET transistors and a control MOSFET driver.
Cooling system
The cooling system of the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is a single composite radiator consisting of four parts connected to each other by heat pipes. One heatsink covers the DrMOS chips of the processor voltage regulator. Another radiator covers the chipset itself, and the remaining two radiators are used simply as an addition to the first two to increase the efficiency of heat dissipation.
In addition, to create an effective heat dissipation system, the board has two four-pin connectors (CPU_FAN, CPU_OPT) for connecting processor cooler fans and three four-pin connectors for connecting additional case fans.
Audio subsystem
The audio subsystem on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is based on the Raeltek ALC1150 audio codec. To prevent the occurrence of electrical noise, all elements of the audio subsystem are isolated at the level of PCB layers (located separately) from other components of the board. The area on the PCB where the audio subsystem elements are located is indicated by an LED-backlit circuit that lights up when power is applied to the board.
To test the output audio path intended for connecting headphones or external acoustics, we used an external audio Creative card E-MU 0204 USB in combination with the Right Mark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 utility. Testing was carried out in stereo mode, 24-bit/44.1 kHz. According to the test results, the audio path on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board received a “Good” rating. Moreover, no matter how hard we tried, we were unable to get a better test result. In principle, despite the “Good” rating, the result, to put it mildly, is so-so.
The full report with testing results in the RMAA 6.3.0 program is posted on a separate page, followed by a short report.
Frequency response unevenness (in the range 40 Hz - 15 kHz), dB | Very good |
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Noise level, dB (A) | Mediocre |
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Dynamic range, dB (A) | Mediocre |
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Harmonic distortion, % | Very good |
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Harmonic distortion + noise, dB (A) | Mediocre |
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Intermodulation distortion + noise, % | ||
Interpenetration of channels, dB | ||
Intermodulation at 10 kHz, % | ||
Overall rating | Fine |
UEFI BIOS and proprietary utilities
In terms of system configuration capabilities via UEFI BIOS, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is not much different from other Gigabyte boards based on the Intel X99 chipset. In fact, the UEFI BIOS on the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is no different in interface and capabilities from the UEFI BIOS on the Gigabyte X99-Gaming G1 WIFI board, which we already wrote about. Therefore, we will only briefly consider the UEFI BIOS capabilities of the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board, which relate to system overclocking.
Overclocking the processor is done on the M.I.T.Advanсed Frequency Settings tab.
On this tab you can change the reference frequency of the BCLK clock generator in 0.01 MHz steps. To change the reference frequency, the CPU Base Clock parameter is used, the value of which determines the reference frequency for the processor cores (Host Clock Value). That is, the clock frequency of the processor cores (CPU Frequency) is obtained by multiplying the CPU Base Clock by the multiplication factor (Host Clock Ratio).
For the CPU Base Clock parameter, you can select a specific frequency value or set it to Auto. If Auto is selected (this is the default), the CPU Base Clock is 100 MHz.
The Advanced Frequency Settings tab also displays parameters such as Host/PCIe Clock Frequency, Processor Base Clock (Gear Ratio) and Host Clock Value. These parameters cannot be changed directly and their meaning depends on the values of the CPU Base Clock parameter.
The Processor Base Clock (Gear Ratio) parameter is a frequency multiplier for the BCLK frequency, which can take values of 1.00, 1.25, 1.66 and 2.50. Well, the Host/PCIe Clock Frequency parameter sets the value of the reference frequency for Uncore Logic elements (PEG and DMI controllers). The reference frequency value for the processor cores (Host Clock Value) is obtained by simply multiplying the Host/PCIe Clock Frequency by the Processor Base Clock frequency multiplier (Gear Ratio).
If you set the value of the CPU Base Clock parameter manually, then simultaneously with the change in the CPU Base Clock, both the Host Clock Value and the Host/PCIe Clock Frequency will change. However, with such a change in the CPU Base Clock frequency, the frequency multiplier will also be triggered. For example, if you set the CPU Base Clock to 125 MHz, the Processor Base Clock (Gear Ratio) frequency multiplier will automatically take the value 1.25. In this case, Host Clock Value will be 125 MHz, and Host/PCIe Clock Frequency will be 100 MHz.
In addition to the described overclocking options, the Advanced Frequency Settings tab also has such a parameter as CPU Upgrade, which allows you to overclock the processor using various presets.
Also in the board's UEFI BIOS it is possible to configure the Intel Turbo Boost mode (Advanced CPU Core Settings tab). You can set the multiplication factor for each case of the number of loaded processor cores.
It is also possible to configure Intel Turbo Boost modes for maximum power consumption and current. And set the multiplication factor Uncore Ratio (multiplying factor of the ring bus and L3 cache).
As for memory, in the UEFI BIOS you can either activate the XMP profile or set the memory frequency (by setting the multiplier). It is possible to set the memory multiplier up to 40 at a reference frequency of 100 MHz. The inconvenience is that the multiplication coefficient must be set manually, and not selected from a list of valid values.
Naturally, you can adjust memory timings and set the memory supply voltage.
Let us emphasize once again that all of the listed overclocking capabilities are also implemented on other Gigabyte boards based on the Intel X99 chipset. In particular, absolutely identical settings are available in the UEFI BIOS of the Gigabyte X99-Gaming G1 WIFI board. That is, in this case we did not find any special settings for overclocking that would set this board apart from the general series and make it unique. The most common board with typical overclocking capabilities.
Perhaps the only difference is that this board allows you to work with DDR4-4000 memory. But this can hardly be considered a significant advantage, since such memory does not exist yet, and when it appears (if it appears), the corresponding support will be solved by updating the UEFI BIOS version.
However, from experience, we know very well that despite the same overclocking capabilities implemented in the UEFI BIOS, different motherboards overclock the processor differently. We test boards based on the Intel X99 chipset for overclocking capabilities using the same instance of the Intel Core i7-5960X processor. On some boards, the maximum frequency to which this processor can be overclocked is only 3.9 GHz, but for most boards this processor can be overclocked to 4.2 GHz. But in the case of the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board, the Intel Core i7-5960X processor was overclocked to a frequency of 4.4 GHz (using air cooling). Overclocking was carried out only by changing the processor multiplier at a reference frequency of 100 MHz. At the same time, the supply voltage of the processor core is automatic mode was set to 1.249 V, which, in our opinion, is a little too low for such a frequency. And indeed, at such a processor supply voltage, the system sometimes froze.
By increasing the supply voltage to 1.3 V, we obtained stable operation of the processor at a frequency of 4.4 GHz. Note that in the AIDA 64 stress test (Stress CPU), the temperature of the processor cores did not exceed 72°C.
In principle, the overclocking result is really very good. This is the first board on which we were able to overclock our Intel Core i7-5960X processor to such a clock speed using air cooling.
Well, in conclusion, we’ll talk about proprietary utilities that can be found on the manufacturer’s website for this board. Naturally, there are a lot of utilities, but we will consider only those that are designed for overclocking and monitoring the system. Most of these utilities (V-Tuner, Fast Boot, EasyTune) are united by a single APP Center interface, but there are also separate utilities (for example, Gigabyte TweakLauncher). Moreover, the most functional, in our opinion, is the Gigabyte TweakLauncher utility, which allows you to change the multiplication factor for processor cores, BCLK frequency, multiplication factor for Uncore Logic, as well as change the supply voltage of the processor and memory, without rebooting the system. The only thing that cannot be done using this utility is overclocking the memory. Nevertheless, it is a very functional and useful utility.
By the way, we note in passing that when installing the Gigabyte TweakLauncher utility, a corresponding shortcut on the desktop is not created, which, of course, is inconvenient.
But the utilities included in the APP Center package are a little disappointing. The V-Tuner utility for overclocking a video card turned out to be useless in our case, since it does not support all video cards.
The EasyTune utility allows you to overclock the processor (change the multiplication factor, system bus frequency, adjust the supply voltage), as well as configure the memory (change the memory frequency and adjust timings). However, changing most parameters requires a system reboot. Also note that on the processor overclocking tab it is possible to configure the power consumption limit. Moreover, the range of changes in energy consumption is from 37 W to 4095.75 W. Here we have questions for the developers of this utility. Still, to assume that the processor will consume more than 4 kW is somehow far beyond reality.
The only thing that does not require a reboot in the EasyTune utility is changing memory timings, but setting memory timings using this utility is extremely inconvenient, since you have to do it manually for each of the four channels. And the standard sequence of recording timings in this utility has been slightly changed. In a word, for such settings it is more convenient to use UEFI BIOS.
Conclusions
So let's summarize. First of all, we note that, like most boards based on the Intel X99 chipset, the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board is a niche product not aimed at the mass user. It is positioned as a solution for overclocking enthusiasts. Indeed, despite the seemingly standard overclocking capabilities (as on all boards with the Intel X99 chipset), the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion board allows you to overclock the processor a little better than other boards on the Intel X99 chipset.
It is also worth noting that the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion does not have any unnecessary “sophistication” typical of top solutions. It is, so to speak, simplified as much as possible, and this has a positive effect on its cost. On the other hand, you can find a board based on the Intel X99 chipset cheaper, and at functionality(number of different connectors and slots) these cheaper options may even outperform the Gigabyte X99-SOC Champion. Therefore, we note once again that the main feature of the reviewed Gigabyte board is not in the connectors and slots, but in the overclocking capabilities.
The board was provided for testing by the manufacturer