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Gigabyte Technology has unveiled the world’s first mATX mainboard based on the Intel X99 core-logic that is designed for Intel Core i7-5800/5900-series “Haswell-E” high-end desktop central processing units. The mainboard features premium capabilities and can enable compact form-factor systems with extreme levels of performance.
The Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 motherboard is equipped with LGA2011-3 socket that supports Intel’s latest HEDT chips, four DDR4 DIMM slots, two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots for graphics cards, one PCI Express x16 slot operating in PCIe 3.0 x8 mode that can be used for the third graphics card or for a high-end PCIe SSD, one PCI Express x1 slot for add-in-cards, one M.2 socket (PCIe 2.0 x2 mode, up to 10Gb/s bandwidth) for SSDs, one SATA Express connector, six Serial ATA-6Gb/s connectors, four USB 3.0 ports, 10 USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet (Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2201 chip), 7.1-channel audio (Realtek ALC1150 codec with custom amplifiers) and so on.
Like other advanced mainboards designed for Core i7 Extreme processors, the Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 was developed with overclocking in mind. The motherboard's CPU VRM is based on International Rectifier chips, including fourth-generation digital PWM controller and third-generation PowIRstage controllers. The mainboard utilizes monolith chokes from Cooper Bussmann, aluminum core capacitors with low equivalent series resistors as well as other high-quality components to ensure maximum reliability even in overclocking conditions.
While the Gigabyte X99M-Gaming 5 will fit into compact cases, it will still allow to build a system with eight-core Core i7-5960X processor, up to three graphics cards, up to 32GB of DDR4 memory and a high-end SATAe or M.2 SSD.
Pricing of the X99M-Gaming 5 is unknown, but do not expect it to be affordable. At present this is the only mATX mainboard based on Intel X99 chipset for LGA2011 v3 processors.
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KitGuru Says: If you are in the market for a compact mainboard for a high-end PC, the Gigabyte X99-Gaming 5 is a thing to look at. However, keep in mind that in the coming months rivals of Gigabyte, such as Asustek Computer, will likely offer an alternative compact solution for Intel’s “Haswell-E” chips, which will bring the price of such platforms down a bit.
