GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD7 AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX AMD Motherboard

Pros: Full Featured, 8 SATA3 6g ports, supposed multiple RAID configurations, Lots of USB ports, multiple eSATA ports, USB3 ports plus the usual array of Giga/AMD features.

Cons: On my 990FXA-UD7, Raid 1 and Raid 5 configurations become "uncoupled" and Gigabyte does not have a clue. Could not get Raid5 to work for very long at all before a disk would "drop" from the Array. Usually (but not always) RaidXpert could not rebuild the array. Even with just two 1TB drives in Raid1, about weekly, the array would become "critical" (instead of functional) and one of the drives would show up as a single drive instead as a member of the array. When this happens, RaidXpert could not rebuild the drive. Neither drive was actually defective. (I tried a total of 6 drives including two brand new Seagate Constellations and all had the same problems. Naturally Gigabyte has never heard of this problem. I wanted to trade even for a UD7 model and Gigabyte refused. I always liked Gigabyte, but their support is really not customer oriented nor able to do much more than offer a swap if something goes wrong.

Other Thoughts: Don't buy the 990FXA-UD7 if you are planning to use RAID drives.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your comments. We apologize for your difficulty with your GIGABYTE product. If you have confirmed your hard disk drives are all in working condition, please submit the RMA request using this link: http://rma.gigabyte.us/DirectRMA/EndUser_AddRMA.asp
We will have the hardware team to verify the RAID controller for you.

Thank you.

Pros: Great Features, 8 internal SATA3 ports. Raid 1 worked very well (sort of). Just hope you do not have a failure.

Cons: I had a VERY unusual problem. I set up a server with 3TB Raid 1 on SATA ports 2+3. Another 1TB RAID 1 (boot) drive on ports 4+5. A single 1TB HD was on SATA port 0 and the DVD drive on Marvel port 1. a) The problem was that after about a week, a drive failed in the 1TB Raid Array on SATA port 5. The disk drive would spin up, but could not be recognized in the bios. b) I rebuilt the array with another 1TB drive and all was well.... For less than a week. The second drive in the 1TB array failed as well. Same symptoms. c) Since I have never before seen a MB destroy disk drives, I again replaced the HD thinking I was just horribly unlucky. BUT! The third drive failed as well. I moved the 1TB Raid 1 drive pair to ports 0+1 and the rebuilt Raid 1 array has run fine ever since. My conclusion.. Something about SATA3 port 5 is killing disk drives probably by causing an internal firmware failure in the HD.

I explained this to Gigabyte Tech Support and requested an Advance Warranty Replacement. I was asked to write up this failure mode in 300 CHARACTERS OR LESS. Of course, this was quite impossible, but I did my best.

Other Thoughts: Gigabyte makes great hardware and I have built up many dozens of their MBs. However, their support services need a lot of work and SOME flexibility for unusual situations! Most especially for one of their Top-of-the-line models.

Pros: Bought this to build a gaming rig. Couldn't ask for more expandable capabilities. I've got an AMD FX 8 core running on it, 32 gbs of RAM, and two 1gb 256 bit SLI cards, and it's been a champ. There is even a temp display, convenient CMOS reset and power button right on the board.

Someone said in an earlier review that they had two Nvidia SLI cards as well, and they would not work/configure correctly - they got a bad board. All my hardware snapped in and worked like clockwork out of the boxes. This board has been a breeze.

Cons: None

Pros: While the board looked pretty in my new build that is where it ended.

Cons: Cant run Two GTX690 cards in SLI at all.

Other Thoughts: This board was nothing but a major hassle, and I would not recommend Gigabyte Products again. I have used them exclusively in all my builds. After the trouble I had with this board, and Gigabytes customer service and tech support, never again.
The major issue I had with this board was with the SLI. I am running Two NVIDA GTX690 cards. Not one of the configurations works at all. I tried every possible slot combination they suggested. They claim it is a defective board, but I am more inclined to go with a rush to the market for release. In this rush they failed to adequately test the board for NVIDA use. I came up with this idea from the manual they provide. They have sufficient documentation to run Crossfire, but nothing on SLI at all. They have nothing on their site about it either, so the confusion will be extensive. I am no slouch to computer builds at all. I am a dual major in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Technologies. I decided to drop this board in favor of the ASUS Crossfire V Formula z, and I have not had one issue with it at all. My suggestions if you prefer NVIDA video cards, stay far away from this board. If you like quality, and knowledgeable tech support, stays FAR AWAY from Gigabyte.
First off they have a question board for you to submit technical issues. The major problem with this, they take forever to answer the question. If you’re in a hurry don’t waste your time.
Second, I called the tech support line, and that was just as bad. They are rude and arrogant, and seriously lacking in knowledge. The language barrier was just as pathetic. It seems that the number routes to somewhere in Taiwan. Rather than stay on the line with you and go through the process, they want you to try solutions and call them back, REPEATLY. I went through three technicians; the first seemed to know absolutely nothing about a motherboard what so ever. The second had a mild clue, and the third seemed a little better equipped to answer questions. Finally after about 6 calls I got an RMA number to return the board. The only serious problem I have with this, they want you to pay the shipping costs for their problems. I am so disgusted with Gigabyte, that I would rather go with an original IBM them deal with them again.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your comments. We apologize for your difficulty with your GIGABYTE product. Please contact us at newegg-support@gigabyteusa.com with the case number 94822 in the subject line. We will provide personalized service and analysis to help solve your issue ASAP. If the matter is urgent, please send us your contact number, and we will contact you.

GIGABYTE VIP Support Team

Pros: Plenty of custom applications.
Easy to install.
Well thought out design.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: Just make sure you have enough room in your case for it. I have a HAF 912 and it is almost too big.

Pros: Excellent board, great speeds and easy to OC with.

Cons: BE SURE TO CHECK THE SUPPORTED MEMORY LIST AT MANUFACTURER SITE BEFORE BUYING 2000MHz RAM FOR THIS BOARD!!!!
I bought the Corsair Dominator GT *GB Dual channel kit (x2) not realizing that it will not be supported by any BIOS from Gigabyte to date. Getting the system together due to other RMA issues with components left me not finding this out until two days ago, well outside of the 30 day return/RMA policy window.

Pros: Ok boys purchased this board for a custom gaming build. I do like it a lot. Its very easy to overclock with exp once you get familiar with Gigabytes Bios. Its a Extended board. Heat sinks on North and South Bridge work great. Board temps in my coolmaster case stay low 30s C.

Cons: I did have some trouble switching over to a SSD Raid 1 config but once I moved the standard hard drive over to Sata port 5 and my SSDs to 0 and 1. Placed the boot priorty to CD ROM and inserted windows. Fresh install went off without a catch. No problems after that. Just rebooted and hooked up the old Harddrive then formatted it and now its a OS on SSD system. The memory GSkill Sniper series must have manual timings, Freq and Voltage set. Auto it defaults to 1600 its 2133 but cant get there because my AMD FX 6300 doesnt support 2133 according to G Skill.

Other Thoughts: AMD FX 6300 OC to 4100Mhz
Gigabyte 990FX UD7
8mb GSKill Sniper
Power Color HD 7850 2GB
Corsair H55 water cooler
OCZ 120 SSD x 2 Raid 1
Western Digital 1 TB 7200
Cool Master Storm Trooper Case
Corsair Gaming 800 watt power supply

Pros: Nice quality works great

Cons: reason for 3 instead of five was the first one sent to me was defective but the one i got now works fine

Pros: This is the best motherboard I have seen and delt with. Everything that this comes with it ready for the best PC build you'll ever do. It comes with all the SLI cables, SATA cables and the instruction book is well rounded. Tells you everything you need to know and useful facts about this motherboard. It also comes with a useful driver disc that is needed for the early drivers on your PC. I'm glad I did get this on a promo received a 20$ mail in rebate. Good price though.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: My PC:
My PC:
1 x WD Black WD5003AZEX
Corsair M65 Gaming Mouse
Cooler Master Storm Trigger keyboard
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
RAID 0 Samsung 840 Pro SSD’s 500GB
Rosewill 40-in-1 Card Reader
ASUS PA248Q Monitor
LG UH12NS29 Combo Drive
Zalman CNPS9500A CPU Cooler
AMD FX-8350
GIGABYTE GA-990FXA-UD7
GIGABYTE GV-N680Oc-4GD
Corsair AX1200i
G. Skill Ripjaws X Series 32 GB
Linksys E2500
Rosewill THOR ATX Full Tower Case
Monster HDMI Cable
BOSE Companion 2 Series Speakers

Pros: Lets just start with I was a little worried with my tech knowledge and a complete build. I was a little worried about using Gigabyte as ASUS has a better interface on Bios but this board was great no problems.
Hooked everything up like it says paying close attention to detail. Then inserted the windows disk fired it up. Windows installed then after that inserted the Gigabyte disk which walked me through install the latest drivers ect. Really nice board super easy to work with and the overclocking program is wonderful. I would also recommed getting AMD overdrive program its free and allows you to really monitor everything without problems at all. Great board cant wait to run it in crossfire in a few weeks.

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: Its a ATX extended board so make sure the case will fit it.