Question 1

If I purchase a case with USB 3.0 ports on the front, will they be able to connect/work with this motherboard? I don't see a USB 3.0 header on this board. Specifically asking about the Cooler Master Elite 130: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119286

Accepted Answer

I believe so.  Download the manual from Gigabyte - Page 7 shows a connector for F_USB30 and page 11 states:  "Up to 6 USB 3.0/2.0 ports (4 ports on the back panel, 2 ports available through the internal USB header)"

This is separate form the line about USB 2.0/1.1 ports.

I don't recall how fast the throughput was with a 3.0 flash drive on a front panel connector, and I shipped that PC to someone around 1 month ago.

Question 2

Does this motherboard support 8GB sticks?

Accepted Answer

Wellllllllll this board supports Sixteen Gigabytes, and there are only 2 slots.....sooooo if you take Sixteen and divide that by twooooo.....that MIGHT come to the equation of eight. Possibly. I could be wrong. I am college educated though. So I'm most likely going to be correct.

Oh heck I'm just some person on the interwebs writing this response in hopes to be wright. For all you know I could be some hobo who kidnaps people and eats them. I can't even spell write right.

There is no hope for humanity....ps John your mom keeps coming over. Please tell her to stop. Thanks.

Question 3

Does anyone have a recommendation on a case? I'd also be interested to hear what others used for RAM and CPU? I am thinking of buying a SSD, any issues with that?

Accepted Answer

My build from August 2013-

Case: Silverstone Tek SG05BB-450-USB3.0 ALL Black Plastic/SECC Mini-ITX Computer Case with SFX 450W 80+ Bronze Certified PSU with 2X USB3.0 Front Ports Case

RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT8G3D1609DS1S00

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell 3.4GHz LGA 1150 84W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics BX80646I54670

SSD (boot + applications): Samsung 840 Series 2.5 inch 120GB SATA III internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-7TD120BW

HDD (for data storage):Western Digital WD Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

I also added the SAMSUNG Internal Slim 8x DVD Writer 8X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD+R DL 8X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 8X DVD-ROM 24X CD-R 24X CD-RW 24X CD-ROM SATA Model SN-208DB/BEBET - OEM

The only issues I have with this machine is that wireless keyboard/mice seem to act up, and the wifi could be stronger.  I have two sets of Logitech wireless kb/mice, and the more expensive one is WORSE than the $20 one.  The built in wireless N is not as strong as I hoped for my house, I'll have to reposition my router at some point, but for now, it works "just ok" with the router on a different floor, about 40 feet away.

Question 4

Is this board overclockable?

Accepted Answer

Wish I knew, but the BIOS seems to suggest through the manual that it should be overclockable. My first board apparently had some problem that caused it to reboot constantly before even reaching POST. Waiting on RMA for a hopeful replacement.  Overall though the board seems good and well built.

Question 5

Do you need a sound card for gaming or is it integrated?

Accepted Answer

No, there is an integrated sound card. It's not really outstanding, as it has no high impedance headphone support, but it will do everything you could ask for it to do.
As a side note, most video cards include an on-card sound device, allowing it to output its own audio through HDMI. USB Sound cards are an option as well, but everything integrated will work fine.

Question 6

Does the DVI Connector support using an adapter for VGA for older monitors with VGA Only?

Accepted Answer

yes I did use an adapter at the beginning. it worked fine.but since the MB is capable for much better resolution, I end up hooking it up to my HDMI TV. ths disadvantage of hooking it to your TV is : you have to power it on off every time. I hope it helps.

Question 7

Can the PCIe x16 slot be used for anything besides a video card?  Possibly a TV Tuner card or sound card?

Accepted Answer

The PCIe slot will not work for anything other than a video card.  It took me 3 weeks, several support tickets with Ceton, a phone call to Gigabyte, and RMA almost every piece of hardware in my machine (including multiple Ceton cards that both worked fine in other machines).

Question 8

Does this have WiDi Technology?

Accepted Answer

it says in the description i does but unlike other gigabyte boards is not advertised anywhere else. i was just cusrious because that is an important feature for me.

Question 9

Cannot seem to get audio through HDMI working. Any trick to doing this? Thanks

Accepted Answer

I had this problem, "Audio not connected" in Manage Audio Devices on Intel Display Adapter. I resolved this by downloading Intel Iris and HD graphics Driver. downloadcenter.intel, Version:
15.33.22.64.3621, Date: 05/21/2014. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I had HDMI monitors plugged in to both outputs. Using Intel Core i7-4790S Haswell. I installed using the .exe.

Question 10

Does it have a VGA port?

Accepted Answer

The DVI port on it has analog output capability. You need a few dollar passive DVI-to-VGA adapter

Questions & Answers