Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5-TH Now Available - Dual Thunderbolt 1.0 ports

[tonymacx86]

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Anyone who's been waiting on Thunderbolt to upgrade to Haswell- Gigabyte's just made the GA-Z87X-UD5-TH available in the US. This board has dual Thunderbolt 1.0 ports- the same as the Ivy Bridge GA-Z77X-UP5-TH from last fall. Also has working ALC 898 audio and Intel ethernet.

However- a Thunderbolt 2.0 version of this board and a new version- the GA-Z87X-UD7-TH will be released in December.

Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD5-TH
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128650

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Official Product Page:
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4593

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[tom.humphrey]

If only they would release a mAtx version

 

[tobiasthegiant]

Typical, just as I buy the UD5H, they bring this out. May just wait for the 2.0 and resell this one!

 

[imaj]

Sure wish there was a Thunderbolt 2.0 option for the X79 boards.

 

[Ecchi Nutuano]

If only they would release a mAtx version

Yeah. Same. I'm looking for micro-atx thunderbolt. Gigabyte did have one for Ivy Bridge. GA-Z77MX-D3H TH - I'm *hoping* they make a haswell one, because I can't find the matx ivy any where.

 

[Stork]

Why the wishes for a mATX version? Smaller cases and/or less expensive?

As for cases, my Son of Zorro Lian Li is definitely a desktop case (19.69" x 8.27" x 15.16" DxWxH) where as Zorro's Corsair 600T is large enough to be described as furniture (23.30" x 10.40" x 20.00" DxWxH). Both contain a full size ATX motherboard.

As for expense, Thunderbolt is expensive, period. Even my Thunderbolt (miniDisplayPort) to DVI adapters weren't cheap. Every peripheral is expensive. So, the motherboard cost isn't the expensive part of a system, IMO, anyway.

So, I'm just curious as to your desires to have a mATX Thunderbolt motherboard. (Forgive me if I came across too strong in the above.)

P.S. before you buy the Thunderbolt, read the specs and manual. As I stated in my Thunderball build description, there are limits on using Thunderbolts ports (version 1.0) that may not go away with version 2.

 

[archelon]

I just finished my new build only two days ago.

And I can't help but think that the December release of the Thunderbolt 2.0 version of this board isn't just a coincidence with the new Mac Pro release.

Looks like my dilemma is whether to get the Thunderbolt 2.0 version of the GA-Z87X or get a Thunderbolt 2.0 card... if one is made.

 

[Ecchi Nutuano]

Why the wishes for a mATX version? Smaller cases and/or less expensive?

Both. Would like my next build to fit on my desk and not look ridiculous on it. Make my own version of the new Darth Pro.

As for expense, Thunderbolt is expensive, period. Even my Thunderbolt (miniDisplayPort) to DVI adapters weren't cheap. Every peripheral is expensive. So, the motherboard cost isn't the expensive part of a system, IMO, anyway.

Already own a thunderbolt peripheral. Currently running it on a USB3, but I have plugged it into a 2012 MBA's Thunderbolt, and the speed difference is like night and day. It makes me *want* a thunderbolt machine.


As for thunderbolt daisy-chaining future(and limitations), it doesn't really interest me that much. I can forsee, *maybe* getting one more thunderbolt device - be it, a future display(already have a 27" ACD non-tbolt model that I'm happy with) or another storage device. But I don't think the limitations will ever effect me personally.

 

[jweisbin]

I have the older version and it works great with my UA Apollo interface with thunderbolt - with one caveat - I have to shut down everything, then turn on the Apollo, then turn on the computer, otherwise the Apollo driver crashes.

However, my question is: I haven't got a lot of experience with motherboards, but the RAM slots on these seem to be too close to the CPU to allow large CPU coolers, like the Noctua. Is this standard or unique to Gigabyte's boards?

 

[dasboot5]

Does anyone really know if Mavericks will support Gigabyte's permutation of Thunderbolt 2, albeit with limitations noted by Storck as with version 1?