GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 (rev. 1.0) Pro Reviews

The Gigabyte EX58-UD5 looks to be an excellent motherboard for the computer hardware enthusiast looking to make the jump to Intel’s Core i7 processor. It overclocks a Core i7 model 920 processor with ease. The EX58-UD5 was stable, very quick, and looks to be trying to service the enthusiast with a no-BS approach of just doing it right and not trying to dress it up to be something it is not. We have no problem suggesting the EX58-UD5 for your Core i7 build. It is a good product.

In cutting back on the optional extras, Gigabyte has produced a winning motherboard. If you want to build a Core i7 system with cash left over for a case and some decent RAM, the Gigabyte is the best option we've seen by a long way.

A premium board with a compelling array of features to complete a high-end system.

The performance of this board was consistently near the top and ultimately offered the best overall memory performance. While performance is important, ultimately a board needs to offer the right feature set, stability, support, and pricing in a very competitive market.

Those of you who usually read only the introduction and conclusion shouldn’t really worry too much about the previous paragraph. What I am trying to say, Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 and GA-EX58-Extreme are good boards, although not completely flawless. But is there a product that is? Our tests proved that these platforms work well not only in the nominal mode but also during overclocking.

Given the fact that most X58 motherboards on the market right now are so similar, it is the little things that make all the difference with the EX58-UD5, specifically the ability to flawlessly use three dual-slot graphics cards, the ease of overclocking, the class-leading connectivity, the solid cooling solution, and the extensive accessory package. Many people likely won't use all the available features, but with this model you are getting them at a price point that is equal to or less than the competition. Now penny-pinchers and those never planning to make the leap to a triple-GPU setup might be better served by more a budget-friendly model like the EX58-UD3R, but for everyone else it is hard to argue with the well-rounded package that the EX58-UD5 offers.

It seems the X58 chipset, as well as the Intel i7s, have really been refined since their release last year. Gigabyte harnessed a lot of different technologies when they built the GA-X58-UD5. While the board didn’t wow us against other comparable X58 boards on the market, it did show us flashes of brilliance that should entice its fair share of consumers.