Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6 Motherboard Review

Test Setup

Test Platform:

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6 (F10k BIOS)
• Processor: Intel C2D E8500
• Processor Cooling: Thermalright Ultra-120 + 120MM Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 1600RPM/63.7CFM
• Memory: OEM Micron PC2-5300 (D9GMH) @ 800Mhz 5-5-5-15 1.8V
• Power Supply: Corsair HX620W
• Video Card: XFX GeForce 8800 GT Alpha Dog 512MB (ForceWare 175.16)
• Additional Fans: 92MM Arctic Cooling AF9225PWM
• Hard Drive: 1 x Seagate 7200.11 500GB SATAII 32MB cache
• OS: Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 32-bit (with all updates)

Testing will occur on a Highspeed PC Standard Top Deck Tech Station, and not in a traditional case. This allows easier access to the motherboard for the constant poking and prodding that is required during the reviewing process. The setup remained as pictured during the duration of the benchmarking and overclocking process.

Overclocking Methodology

Although it is not part of Gigabyte’s enthusiast-oriented EP45 Extreme series, we still expect to see some solid overclocking from this high-end P45 model…and we are most definitely going to find out what it is capable of! The overclocking section is definitely the part of our reviews that we take the most pride in, and we spend an excruciating numbers of hours testing, tweaking, failing, and succeeding in order to give you the best possible insight into each motherboard’s overclocking capabilities. After all, if you are anything like us, the overclocking section is the first (and often last!) part that you read when checking out a motherboard review.

For the purposes of this review, our overclocking efforts will primarily focus on three main areas: maximum stable memory frequency, maximum stable front side bus, and then overall stable system overclock.

In our overclocking tests, we put an emphasis on stability. You will not find suicide screenshots in our motherboard reviews, since they are a disservice to consumers and the community as a whole.

While the question “What is stable?” could be debated endlessly, we have devised a methodology that combines a wide range of programs that test the stability of the entire system.

Here is the suite of applications that will be run in order to validate each of the overclocks:

• Dual 32MB runs of SuperPi Mod 1.5 (ran at the same time)
• 2 hours of dual Prime 95 v25.6 using the Stress Testing Blend
• 2 hours of OCCT Custom 2H Mix OCCT v2.0.0a - Except for Memory Overclocking
• 3-4 hours of dual HCI MemTest in Windows using all available memory
• Multiple loops of 3DMark 06 (30 minutes of looping the full tests each)
• 1 hour of game play in Team Fortress 2 & Crysis @ 1680x1050

Altogether, the above suite should provide enough stress testing to ensure a completely stable overclock, however we are always up for new suggestions. As always, no two systems are ever alike, so your results may vary. Also, overclock at your own risk! If you aren’t fully confident in what you are doing, feel free to stop by our forums and our helpful members will be glad to offer some assistance.