GIGABYTE X99-UD3P (Intel X99) Motherboard Review

Introduction

GIGABYTE has one of the largest Intel X99 motherboard fleets in the retail market. Instead of leaving just a few models to satisfy their customers, they tend to tailor their segments to better target their end users' needs. GIGABYTE has come out with G1 Gaming, SOC Overclocking, and Ultra Durable lines. While each type of board is specifically targeted towards gamers, overclockers, or power users, all the boards cross over into each other's domains.

Their overclocking boards carry upgraded audio and their gaming boards carry overclocking features, while their main series carries both. Today I will look at one of GIGABYTE's main series Ultra Durable motherboards, the X99-UD3P. While I usually cover high-end products, most users try to purchase the least expensive motherboard that can handle what they need. Let's see if the X99-UD3P is up to the task of running a flagship processor, and pushing it to its limits.

Specifications

The specifications of the X99-UD3P are almost identical to that of the X99-UD3 which is being phased out of production. It has a different circuit layout, a wider PCB, a socket selector switch, and enhanced feature positioning compared to its predecessor. What is interesting to note is that GIGABYTE didn't remove anything hardware wise, instead they added.

Pricing

The X99-UD3P is $203.99 on Newegg and Amazon at the time of this review, which is on the low side for X99 motherboards. Many people buy more expensive products because they feel that those products are of higher quality, let's see if that is true. I should point out that this is the cheapest motherboard with the LGA2011-V3 socket with extra pins, and that it is only $15 more than its predecessor, the X99-UD3.