The board comes with 8+2 phase CPU VRM and AMD high-TDP 140W support. The 8 pin EPS connector is nestled next to the sink like the 890GPA UD3H. Depending on the pc case, connecting/removing the EPS connector will be bit convinient. The large MOSFET sink protects the solid capacitors, MOSFETS and the phase units and still maintains adequate distance from the slot. The basic layout of the board is very much similar compared to other AMD boards from Gigabyte’s stable. There’s always room for improvement, for example certain heatsinks paired with certain rams with tall heatspreaders will sacrifice the first 2 slots. Installation on Lian li a70f had no issue, but its about time Gigabyte works on putting the panel audio connector in a suitable place.
The board comes with 5 fan headers (4 pin CPU and fan sys_FAN1, 3 pin NB, SYS_FAN2 and PWR fans) and they are put up in easy-to-reach places. Also Gigabyte provides CD_IN, SPDIF IN and OUT headers on the lower right of the board.
After installing the Noctua U12PSE2 and the OCZ rams, it was obvious that installing large heatsinks and rams with tall heatspreaders on the first 2 DIMM slots.
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But there's no problem with rams with low profile heatspreaders. You need to make sure you install the rams first before installing the large heatsinks.
Gigabyte 790FXTA-UD5 comes with Serial, LPT, IDE and floppy connector. Many users in this day of age and hardware enthusiasts wouldn't mind to buy a board without these connectors as long as it helps to get a better layout on the board. Since this is an enthusiast class motherboard, it comes with power, reset and CMOS clear button. There is no onboard diagnostic LED nor does it come with an Onboard Debug LED display.
The board uses heatsinks with a heatpipe design. When one sees closely, there are 2 heatpipes, one connecting the MOSFET to the top part of the northbridge sink, whereas another connecting from the Southbridge sinks to the lower part of the northbridge. The MOSFET sink is secured the plastic push-pin, whereas the northbridge and the Southbridge uses spring screws with a support bar behind the board. Since Gigabyte went an extra mile with the backplate support for the northbridge and Southbridge, it would be nice to do the same for the MOSFET heatsinks as well. Throughout the time I had this board for reviewing, the MOSFET and the northbridge was always cool, whereas the Southbridge was a bit warm.
As expected from a gigabyte board, the heatsink with push-pull config stays well within the board.
The MOSFET and the Northbridge sinks are pretty tall, but it in no way it becomes an obstacle even if one installs a heatsink like Noctua U12PSE2 with push-pull config
On the lower left, the board comes with 2 realtek 8111D for each gigabit Ethernet port, Realtek ALC889 with Dolby home theater support for the audio. On the lower right, there is Marvel SATA 3 chip and the 2 BIOS chips. The board comes with 5 fan headers and supports IDE/Floppy connectors with serial, 1394 and 2 USB 2.0 headers.
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The board comes with comes with all the needed connectors one will ever require, including a dedicated ps/2 port for a mouse and a keyboard, 2 lan connectors, 1 coaxial and 1 optical out connector, 1 firewire, 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, 2 esata/USB combo connector and 6 audio jacks.
Gigabyte 790FXTA-UD5 Review
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