GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 2 Motherboards

Basic Components of a Power Design Circuit

Before we get into the benefits of GIGABYTE's Ultra Durable 2 motherboards, let's talk about the basic components of the power circuitry of a motherboard and how they work.

First up we have the MOSFETs. The MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) is a switch that allows or disallows current to pass through an electric circuit. If the CPU is requesting power, the MOSFET acts as an "on" switch and allows the power to travel through the power circuit. If the power circuit is in a discharge state, the MOSFET will then act as an "off" switch, stopping the current so the circuit can discharge the power in the system before additional current is allowed to pass through.

If the MOSFET is in the "on" state, the current will then pass through to the next component of the circuit called the choke. A choke is an inductor that stores energy and regulates current. Choke coils help to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) from the power supply from interfering with the power circuit.

From the choke, the current then passes through a capacitor. The capacitor stores electricity and delivers it to the component requiring power such as the CPU. To learn more about capacitors visit our previous article about GIGABYTE All-Solid capacitors here.

   

Now that we have a basic understanding of how the power circuit works, let's talk about how GIGABYTE has optimized the power design system for their latest Ultra Durable 2 series of motherboards. Using high quality components on a motherboard is the key factor for having a long lasting, stable and reliable product. This is especially the case for the power circuit design, which features some of the most critical components of a motherboard.

Low RDS(on) MOSFETs
For the MOSFETs, GIGABYTE decided to use Low RDS(on) MOSFETs. These are MOSFETs that are specially designed to produce lower switching for faster electric current charging and discharging. The benefits of using these more expensive components is that Low RDS(on) MOSFETs have lower power consumption during the switching process, resulting in a faster switching process and less heat generation.

Ferrite Core Choke Design
For the chokes, GIGABYTE has used a more expensive ferrite choke. Ferrite chokes are comprised of a compound of iron-oxide and other metal elements whose properties hold energy much longer than common iron-core chokes at high frequency. This means there is reduced core energy loss and lower EMI interference for extended system reliability. In addition, ferrite core chokes resist rust better than iron-core chokes. While many of you probably haven't experienced rust issues on your motherboards, for users in humid climates especially around coastal areas where there is a high concentration of salt in the air, this can make a big difference.

All-Solid Capacitors
For their Ultra Durable 2 motherboards, GIGABYTE is again using All-Solid capacitors. As we learned in an earlier GIGABYTE Geeks Column of the Week article, these Japanese manufactured solid capacitors deliver maximum stability, reliability and longer system lifetime for general PC usage as well as for improved overclocking performance. When used in combination with the ferrite chokes and Low RDS(on) MOSFETs, All-Solid capacitors last up to 18 times longer than regular electrolytic capacitors.

   

GIGABYTE's next generation platforms based on the highly efficient Intel P35 and G33 chipsets deliver the very best in high performance computing. In addition to featuring GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 2 high quality components, GIGABYTE’s P35/G33 motherboards also support the latest multi-core processors up to FSB 1333MHz, including the upcoming 45nm platform, with its record breaking performance and greater energy efficiency. The GIGABYTE P35/G33 motherboards provide exceptional overclocking features and greater overall stability and durability so enthusiasts and gamers can get the highest level of performance from their systems. I have already gotten to test a few of these myself, and trust me, you will be impressed. Get ready gamers, because this will be your year!