Gigabyte did not end decline of many models of motherboards in version "A" offering sustain for USB 3.0 as well as S-ATA 6 Gbps.

Gigabyte accepts more and more motherboards AMD and Intel version of "A", i.e. cards compatible USB 3.0 and S-ATA 6 Gb / s. As we have seen recently in our testing of USB 3.0, the integration of NEC USB 3.0 chip on the motherboard P55 is not simple because of PCI-Express lines of P55 which offer a rate of 2.5 GT / s, equivalent to the PCI-Express 1.0. It must then connect the chip lines on NEC PCI-Express 2.0 processor, which requires running the graphics card at 8x and not 16x. To remedy this, map out a Gigabyte P55 with a PLX chip that will be responsible for converting the lines into lines P55 PCI-Express 2.0 and this in combination. This is the GA-P55A-UD7 just cap the range P55. The problem is that operating in this way, the other PCI Express-managed by the P55 are off. Note that this card will be offered with a huge passive radiator can come and screw on the radiator placed near the socket, to better dissipate the heat generated by the chipsets and mosfets.

The best alternative for USB 3.0 and S-ATA 6 Gbps at this level is to use the AMD and Intel chipset X58 which do not suffer from the absence of P55, sorry this feature Intel. As for X58 motherboards, Gigabyte declined to release the cheaper version also: GA-X58A-UD3P. That will buy a card compatible with USB 3.0 and S-ATA 6 Gbps priced relatively "content". Indeed, the GA-EX58-UD3P is currently sold 165 euros and it will take 15 to 20 euros more for the version "A".

In contrast, there is a new high-end version, the GA-X58A-UD7 which also provides support for USB 3.0 and S-ATA 3 and replacing the version "Extreme". In fact, Gigabyte abandons this name and returns a dial at the request of its customers. Note that it offers 4-port PCI-Express X16: X16 wired in two and two wired in X8. It also comes with a large passive radiator which is fixed on the radiator of the Northbridge.