GA-965P-S3 vs -DS3

[swint144]

nOOb question - The difference between the Gigabyte GA-965P-S3 and -DS3 boards is...? The specs on the G'byte web page come up the same, but the chipsets are different: P965 on the 'S3 and G965 on the 'DS3.

Intel's site comparison has the chipset differences as 2 DIMM/ch on the P vs 4 DIMM/ch on the G, but both support 8GB. Also, G comes with Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3000. So what exactly would I get for the +$30 on the DS3?

 

[Qisa]

I read a post elsewhere where someone called Gigabyte posing as a OEM and got a techie to answer that exact question. The difference, it seems, is simply that the DS3 uses more durable capacitors.

If you build a new machine every 3 years or more often, then the S3 will likely last that long. My last machine was with me for over 4 years, though, so I went for the extra security of the DS3.

 

[Scribs]

Yeah after some research I came to basically the same conclusion, the big difference is the DS3 has the solid state capacitors which are supposed to be more durable (and I think it might be better for OCing, but dont quote me on that).

I kinda think you can see the different capacitors on the website pics, if you are interested.

 

[swint144]

All right, thanks for the info!

 

[adennehy]

Heres an interesting article;
http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-341-12.htm

 

[swint144]

Dang! I bought my video card the day before a $30 rebate, and it looks like I should have sprung for the DS3 instead of the S3! Such is the pace of technology...

 

[Josh_27]

I just bought the S3 w/ E6300 and hoping for 3.0Ghz. Arrived today!

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler
GeIL 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
3D Fuzion Geforce 6600 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card
LOGISYS Computer ATX12V 550Watts Power Supply
Rosewill Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Josh

I did run across this on another forum about 965P-S3 vs DS3 -

Start Post:
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Got some good news here. I called up gigabyte's oem builder line telling them that i want to build systems using their 965p-s3 but that i had some questions regarding it. They transferred me to a motherboard technician since I had questions that seemed to detailed for the sales guy. (I was hoping he would do that!!! LOL) Anyways here is what the tech said.

Question 1: What is the difference between the 965p-ds3 and 965p-s3?

Response: Their is no difference except for the solid state capacitors on the ds3.

Question 2: Does not having the solid state capacitors on the s3 affect overclocking on core 2 duo.

Response: The solid state capacitors have no impact or bearing on the boards ability to overclock. The solid state capacitors are used for long term durability.

Question 3: When you say durability can u elaborate on that?

Response: By durability I mean the S3 board will last probably about 3-4 years. The DS3 will last 5+ years.

Question 4: The DS3 is shown to hit high FSB speeds above 400 easily. Can that be expected or attained on the S3?

Response: Again as I mentioned the boards are the same and we have reached those speeds in testing.

Thats what i asked and that is how he answered... pretty interesting huh!!!
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End Post

 

[Josh_27]

Ga-965P-S3 -

To update - I'm able to overclock my E6300 to 2.8Ghz on stock vcore. 7x400 FSB. Using CoreTemp I'm at 46C-47C idle - 54C-55C Full load.

I'm sure I can get over 3.0Ghz+, but I'm content where I am for everyday use. I may lower my Vcore below 1.325 to see if I can get even lower temps. But 46C idle w/ CoreTemp seems pretty good, when SpeedFan reads 37C.

I'm still not sure which program is more accurate.

Josh