GA-EP35-DS3P vs. GA-EP-DS4

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 1:25 pm

Is the only difference between these two boards something on the audio side having to do with DTS Connect? Also seems the DS4 has more interconnected heat pipes. Do those interconnected heat pipes and fancy heat sinks provide any real added value vs. the less premium boards in the Gigabyte lineup?

jimmyzaas · Post by **jimmyzaas** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:09 pm

DS4 adds another PCI-E slot.. that's about it.

The heatpipe stuff is pure marketing.. I'm sure that giant heatsink on the DS3R would be enough. DS3P is essentially a DS3R with heatpipe + firewire.

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:10 pm

Many thanks!

I've been trying to find a good guide to the Gigabyte naming nomenclature, but haven't found one yet. Wikipedia has some stuff, but it doesn't seems to be 100% accurate nor complete. Anyone know of one?

The Gigabyte website also has this mixed up. Copied and pasted that part of the respective specs for each of those boards. Gigabyte got it wrong about their own stuff. No wonder finding the difference between these two was driving me crazy.

The GA-P35-DS4:

1. 2 x PCI Express x16 slots (The PCIE_16_1 slot supports x16; the PCIE_16_2 supports x4.)

2. 3 x PCI Express x1 slots (share with the PCIE_16_2 slot)

3. 2 x PCI slots

The GA-P35-DS3P:

1. 2 x PCI Express x16 slots (The PCIE_16_1 slot supports x16; the PCIE_16_2 supports x4.)

2. 3 x PCI Express x1 slots (share with the PCIE_16_2 slot)

3. 2 x PCI slots

jimmyzaas · Post by **jimmyzaas** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:42 pm

Actually.. sorry my bad!

You know what? It is completely identical to the DS4.. the codec is the same.. It does have 2 pci-e slots.. whoops..

The only thing that is different is the heatpipes.. frankly they are worth jack.

I'd say go with the ds3p. Crap.. I had always assumed ds3p had 1 pci-e.. o crap.. I could have saved my self 25 bucks!

EDIT: DTS Connect.. do you really need it? DS4 also had LEDs.. big whoop

Das_Saunamies · Post by **Das_Saunamies** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:55 pm

Hehe, Gigabyte's naming scheme is a complete mess and they could really do with a comparison feature. Their website is a real throwback to late-90s design.

Anywhoo, the DS3 lineup has been discussed and compared here: viewtopic.php?t=46239

I'm going for the DS3R in my coming update. I'll want the 6 SATA connectors just in case, and certainly will appreciate them all being behind Intel's controller.

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:48 pm

In the end decided to go with the DS3R as well. Only have one firewire widget (scanner) and I can optionally run that USB (1.1). Prior tests of this scanner didn't show the 1394 interface significantly faster than USB 1.1 in actual operation. Eventually plan on getting an updated scanner that would run USB 2.0 so why pay the price for 1394. I'd imagine the versions w/o 1394 would run at slightly lower power as well.

valnar · Post by **valnar** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:12 pm

The other difference between the DS3P and DS4 is the heatpipe on the DS4.

-Robert

lodestar · Post by **lodestar** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:23 pm

I bought the GA35-EP35-DS4 and as part of the package you also get an external SATA bracket. This is the only other difference.

Sizzle · Post by **Sizzle** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:11 am

The DTS Connect is the reason I bought the DS4. The licensing for that is expensive and constitutes the difference in price.

bgavin · Post by **bgavin** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:05 am

I bought the GA-P35-DS3 (not DS3R) because I don't want anything to do with software RAID. I assume there is no impact using the DS3R in non-RAID mode, but I found a DS3 board anyway.

The DS3 has a much larger north bridge heatsink than does the DS3L. I wanted to run a large cooler with backplate, and did not buy the DS4 with built-in cooling because some would be discarded.

The 100% solid polymer caps was the big factor in my decision. I do a lot of client board recapping, and don't want that problem on my own boards.