Monday, June 4th 2012
GIGABYTE Shows Off Z77X-UP7 Motherboard with 32-Phase CPU VRM
It's good to see GIGABYTE back to doing high-end motherboards with overkill CPU power designs. Its latest creation, the Z77X-UP7, was shown to sections of the media, at a private exhibition, ahead of Computex. The Z77X-UP7 is the company's first motherboard to feature its Ultra Durable 5 motherboard construction technology, which is basically Ultra Durable 4 augmented with higher current 60A chokes, and International Rectifier PowIRStage IR3550 ICs (a highly potent driver-MOSFET implementation). The Z77X-UP7 is based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, and supports Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package.
The Z77X-UP7 implements an over-the-top 32-phase VRM to power the CPU, which draws power from two 8-pin EPS connectors. The VRM utilizes ferrite core chokes and PowIRstage IR3550 driver-MOSFETs. GIGABYTE is yet to finalize the board's heatsink design, which gives us the opportunity to give its components a closer look. The board utilizes a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express 3.0 bridge chip, which is wired to the PCI-Express 3.0 x16 link of the processor on one end, and gives out two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 links, which are distributed among six PCI-Express x16 slots using an array of lane switches. 4-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX are supported. The board includes support for LucidLogix VirtuMVP. Its display outpputs include DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and D-Sub.
Its expansive storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and one mSATA 6 Gb/s. Other connectivity includes dual gigabit Ethernet interface (one each of Intel and Qualcomm-Atheros PHYs), 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, 8+2 channel HD audio (Realtek ALC898, 110 dBA SNR), and 10 USB 3.0 ports (six on the rear panel, four via headers). GIGABYTE will launch the Z77A-UP7 a little later this year.
Its expansive storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and one mSATA 6 Gb/s. Other connectivity includes dual gigabit Ethernet interface (one each of Intel and Qualcomm-Atheros PHYs), 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, 8+2 channel HD audio (Realtek ALC898, 110 dBA SNR), and 10 USB 3.0 ports (six on the rear panel, four via headers). GIGABYTE will launch the Z77A-UP7 a little later this year.
28 Comments on GIGABYTE Shows Off Z77X-UP7 Motherboard with 32-Phase CPU VRM
www.irf.com/whats-new/nr110308.html So i asked what is different than DrMOS, first off, DrMOS doesn't use the same full body metal clip which reduces switching losses, they said optimal frequency for 60A output is 400KHz, but they can do it at higher frequencies, higher frequency usually means higher losses and lower current, so some companies will rate high, but only at 90% efficiency and that is usually around or under 300KHz.
UP7 has the IR3550, say DriverMOSFET to IR and they get kind of sad people don't know that DrMOS is an Intel protocol which isn't a class it i just a branding scheme and protocol. I bet Intel wouldn't like it either if you called these things DrMOS. UP7 doesn't have the 60A chokes however, the UP5 and UP4 do though, they are much bigger chokes, and cannot fit that many on the UP7. However the UP7's chokes are very good too, just lower current capability than UP5's and UP4's. If you would like I can show you the marketing stuff that clearly states 60A chokes. I understand your skepticism, as many manufacturers will advertise something, however not state how much current their chokes can handle which in the end is the limiting factor in a sense. GB isn't joking around, they really mean business with these new parts, UP5 has a freaking serious VRM.