What one hand pleased me, because you naturally hopes that an improvement and also a brand new BIOS version that would recognize the FX6300 problems, but gave me the other hand, concerns about the driver installation. Since the board does not have an IDE connector more, I could not connect my old DVD drive. To install the operating system is not a problem (just bootable USB stick created) was, but how install the correct drivers from the supplied CD when it on the manufacturer's website (yet) they are downloaded?
Since I had no choice, I installed the latest drivers about necessity of old Rev. 1.0 and fortunately everything seems to be working. No malfunction occurred, no error messages. Lucky. ;)
Even the six-core Vishera was properly detected and clocked straight away, as is the memory unfortunately is only supported 1333MHz RAM.
What was somewhat surprised / annoyed me were the dimensions of the board. Namely, it is still a bit narrower than the conventional micro-ATX standard, which has the consequence that you can attach it with at least 2 screws at the outer edge less, as these applied to micro-ATX size screw holes in the housing 2 cm next lie. Is not the end in itself, but does the board not later than then not so good when heavy CPU cooler or graphic cards are used. The risk of distortion is higher.
Why the Board has been slimmed down in width, is also not obvious to me. Not only does it reduce unnecessary attachment, it could have been easily a still, maybe even fit 2 additional RAM slots to and increased the memory capacity significantly. Or z. B. 1-2 SATA3- or USB3.0 ports.
Too bad.
But apart from that the board provides all important connections. USB ports are equipped with four pieces on the back and two not exactly abundant for the front, but for the most important peripheral devices (in our printer, mouse, Xbox controller + USB stick if needed), and if need be can with USB hubs will be increased.
Downer are almost always closely squeezed in micro-ATX PCI slots, especially the PCI-e slot still sits at the top. Result: you installed a slightly bulkier graphics card installed you literally the other PCI slots.
I can live without that, because I need not get more accessories and should at it this is the case, I have a slim replacement GPU, and there is also still the onboard graphics unit, for others it could, however, be a killer argument ,
In that case I would but swirling directly to ATX, otherwise you have to look sometimes long for a suitable board.
Otherwise I can not think of anything else now, what would be worth mentioning. To date, the board is stable in use for several days and I hope for long life, and I have only had good experiences with Gigabyte. The old board of our gaming PCs work done over seven years its service and has even survived an overvoltage caused by lightning at this time. Only the onboard LAN card departed this life and had to be replaced by a network card by PCI. It was really only recently retired because can gamble simply not relaxed current games with so obsolete hardware.
So what speaks for me, for gigabyte-quality, therefore also aware again opting for this brand. Whether the manufacturer can also convince in this segment With Cheap I will keep my review to date. ;)
And I just hope that Gigabyte does with its website and soon provides the necessary drivers for the brand new revision.
I would like to give full 5 stars, if only because this board now comes in sleek Anthracite, but I think, given the two small caveats fit 4 stars but better.
UPDATE:
Even after two months of use after like all the best. Although it is primarily an office computer with me, can also be pretty fast to play with it. However, one should prefer to obstruct 2x 8GB memory bar for more complex games or applications, although in max. 1333MHz most cost significantly more than the more common higher overclocking.
One point I have to point out that for one or the other except me perhaps more relevant:
The board has only one 4-Pin PWM connector and is for the CPU fan. The pleasant automatic temperature control of case fans, as they increasingly spreads, thus goes only via adapter.
I lost my housing therefore equipped with PWM fans of Arctic that advertise explicitly with a concept to control coupled together more fans and bring appropriate connections directly. And I must say, the idea convinced me. The four case fans now hang all with the CPU fan and are synchronously controlled by this, so that the airflow actually is only as strong as required.
Anyone that can not be solved so or wants has to be retrofitted fan on the normal 3-Pin connectors. However, the board has them only 1-2 pieces (just not sure). This is of course a little and reaching for expensive cooling only with adapters & Y-connectors. ;)
