GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R Motherboard Review :: GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-DS3R Features

• DES Advanced
• 45nm Core 2 Multi-Core support with FSB 1600MHz
• Supports DDR3 1900MHz (OC) memory
• 2 PCI-E 2.0 x16 graphics interface with CrossfireX support
• Built in TPM chip with 2048bits encryption for highest level digital data protection
• 2 Gigabit Ethernet LAN with Teaming
• Supports Dolby Home Theater audio
• DualBIOS solution
• Hardware Overvoltage Control IC provides more voltage control options on CPU, NB, and memory
• Blu-Ray playback outputs supported by high quality 106dB SNR ALC889A HD Audio]
• @BIOS
• Q-Flash
• EasyTune 6
• Time Repair
• Xpress Install
• Xpress Recovery 2
• Download Center

Part Number	GA-EP45T-DS3R
Manufacturer	GIGABYTE
Chipset	Intel P45
North Bridge	Intel P45
Socket	LGA775 Socket
Processor Types	Quad Core, Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Duo, Pentium 4, Pentium D
Number of CPUs	1
Front Side Bus	1600/1333/1066/800 mHz
Memory Type	DDR3
Memory Channels	Dual
Maximum Memory	16GB
External Graphics	PCI Express x16 x2
IGP	None
South Bridge	Intel ICH10R
Audio	8-channel
IDE	133/100/66
SCSI	None
SATA	3.0 GB/s
RAID	0, 1, 0+1, 5, 10
LAN	10/100/1000 4 LAN Ports
Firewire	IEEE 1394a
USB	USB 2.0
Expansion Slots
BIOS	Phoenix
Form Factor	ATX

The GIGABYTE GA-EP45T-DS3R has support for Dynamic Energy Saving Advanced which is the latest version of their DES software. With VRD 11.1 CPUs like the Yorkfield 45nm Core 2 Extreme QX9770 you can switch the CPU to maximum energy saving mode with DES. Saving energy is important to save the environment and GIGABYTE boards are with DES save a lot of energy compared to others.

The EP45T-DS3R supports all current Intel CPUs with VRD 11.1 compliance. Earlier Intel CPUs with VRD 10.0 are not supported. This is reflected on Gigabyte's CPU Compatibility list which lists all Celeron Dual Core and Core 2 CPUs including the QX9770 which is not normally supported by the P45 chipset. Gigabyte has tested the board with the fastest QX9650 and 9550 with BIOS version F3.

DDR3 memory support on GIGABYTE motherboards are designated by a T on the motherboards that support it. GIGABYTE's GA-EP45T-DS3R board has support for up to 16GB of DDR3-1900MHz memory when the memory is overclocked. GIGABYTE has a memory Qualified Vendor List which has alist of the memory that GIGABYTE has tested their board with. DDR3 2000 memory is supported downgraded to DDR3 1900.

ATI introduced their version of multiple graphics cards with the RD580 motherboard chipset and the ATI X800 Graphics Processing Unit in 2005. Since then, every Intel and ATI motherboard with two PCI Express x16 slots has supported Crossfire. The latest ATI cards including the HD 4870 1GB can combine up to four cards in CrossfireX mode. The EP45T-DS3R has two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots.

Trusted Program Module pushes security to the hardware level. The TPM chip on the EP45T-DS3R motherboard uses 2048-bit encryption, making it highly unlikely that the key would be hacked. The EP45T-DS3R has two Gigabit Ethernet ports that support a feature called Teaming. Teaming allows two Ethernet ports to work together, effectively making a 2 Gigabit Ethernet connection.