Overview

Industry leading 12 Phase Power VRM Design GIGABYTE’s leading 12 phase power VRM design utilizes the highest caliber components to provide unadulterated, smooth power delivery for the CPU. GIGABYTE’s 12 phase power design enables better delivery of power to supercharge your system, giving power users unparalleled overclocking ability and lower temperatures to reach maximum performance levels. The 12 phase power VRM has been designed and engineered to deliver fast transient response times through quick and seamless power delivery during extensive CPU loading variations. In addition, heat from the VRM is effectively reduced by spreading the load between the 12 power phases, resulting in a cooler and more stable platform.   USB 3.0 Support The GIGABYTE P55A-series motherboards support the latest generation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology made possible through an onboard NEC uPD720200 host controller. With superfast transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps, users are able to experience an almost a 10x improvement over USB 2.0. Additionally, backwards compatibility with USB 2.0 assures users of long term use of their legacy USB 2.0 devices. The onboard NEC SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology also provides new power management features that include increased maximum bus power and device current draw to better accommodate power-hungry devices.   SATA 6 Gbps Support Yet another onboard feature of GIGABYTE P55A motherboards are Marvell’s new SE9128 chips for high-speed SATA Revision 3.0 compatibility, delivering superfast 6Gbps link speeds for twice the data transfer rates of SATA Revision 2.0 (3 Gbps). When used in RAID 0 (Stripe) mode, GIGABYTE P55A series motherboards offer even faster data transfer rates of up to 4x the speed of current SATA interfaces.   3x USB Power Boost GIGABYTE P55A-series motherboards feature a 3x USB power boost, delivering greater compatibility and extra power for USB devices. GIGABYTE’s unique USB power design is also able to efficiently regulate output over the full voltage range, which greatly enhances USB device compatibility. In addition, dedicated lower resistance fuses ensure lower voltage drops, and provide more stable and plentiful power delivery.     Ultra Durable 3 GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 3 design, featuring 2 ounces of copper for both the Power and Ground layers which dramatically lowers system temperature by delivering a more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. GIGABYTE's Ultra Durable 3 also lowers the PCB impedance by 50%, which helps to reduce electrical waste and further lowers component temperatures. A 2oz Copper layer design also provides improved signal quality and lower EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), providing better system stability and allowing for greater margins for overclocking...more     Benefits of 2 oz Copper PCB ? Cooler than traditional motherboards ? Enhanced durability ? Improved energy efficiency ? Greater margins for overclocking... more     Smart 6- A Smarter way for PC system Management GIGABYTE Smart 6? is designed with user-friendliness in mind, and offers a combination of 6 innovative software utilities that provide easier and smarter PC system management. Smart 6? allows you to speed up system performance, reduce boot-up time, manage a secure platform and recover previous system settings easily with a click of the mouse button. Smart QuickBoot No more waiting for PC Boot up Smart DualBIOS Smart personal reminder Smart QuickBoost One-click Overclocking Smart Recorder Your PC's Watch Dog Smart Recovery Reverse time for you Smart TimeLock Time Controller for PC     Qualified for Windows? 7 The motherboard qualified for WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certification of Windows 7 from Microsoft?, setting the standard for future Windows 7 certified motherboards... more   Smart Dual LAN GIGABYTE Smart Dual LAN technology features intelligent LAN port auto-switching between the 2 physical Gigabit LAN chips; offering hassle free, zero downtime, high speed network connectivity.   Dynamic Energy Saver? 2 GIGABYTE Dynamic Energy Saver? 2 incorporates a host of intelligent features that use a proprietary hardware and software design to considerably enhance PC system energy efficiency, Reduce power consumption and deliver optimized auto-phase-switching for the CPU, Memory, Chipset, VGA, HDD, and fans with a simple click of button.     Intel? Core i7/ Core i5 LGA 1156 Processors The Intel brand new computing architecture based on the innovation of micro-architecture transforms 3-chip solutions to a 2-chip platform. The next generation Intel? Core i7/ Core i5 ? processors with LGA1156 package integrate graphics and memory controller to support dual channel DDR3 memory. Supporting Intel Turbo Boost technology and Hyper-Threading Technology, Intel? Core i7/ Core i5 ? processors provide the overwhelming performance with optimized power efficiency.   DDR3 2200+ Support P55A-UD4P support Intel Core? i7/ Core? i5 processors delivering native support for DDR3 memory up to 2200+MHz by the enhanced design of GIGABYTE, Intel Core? i7/ Core? i5 processors feature the memory controller integrated directly into the processor die, rather than as part of the Northbridge as in previous generations, allowing for faster memory performance. * Please refer "Memory Support List" for memory support information   Smart TPM - A smarter , better way to protect your data TPM function is optional due to different regional policy GIGABYTE Smart TPM provides the industry's highest level of data protection with 2048 bit hardware encryption. Smart TPM allows users to store their digital key on a USB thumb drive. In addition, Smart TPM allows users to lock the protected data remotely using a Bluetooth? enabled mobile phone.   XHD (eXtreme HardDrive)-Accelerating hard drive performance with ease Accelerating system performance is made easy with the user friendly GIGABYTE eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D). GIGABYTE eXtreme Hard Drive (X.H.D) provides a quick and easy way to boost your hard drive performance simply by adding another hard drive.   AutoGreen- Greening your PC via Bluetooth cellphone AutoGreen technology can automatically save power for you simply by your bluetooth cell phone when you are away from your computer   Multi-display support with ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI? P55A-UD4P supporting both ATI CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI? delivers the ultimate in graphics performance for gaming enthusiasts who demand the highest frame rates without compromising on resolution.     Thermal Design Inspired by the performance and sleek lines of today's modern racing vehicles, GIGABYTE's stylish thermal solution is designed for extreme performance and ultra coolness   Dolby Home Theater Support Delivers vivid surround sound for music, movies, and games, using two to eight speakers or any set of headphones   Norton? Internet Security Fast, comprehensive, and up-to-the-minute protection against online threats. It safeguards your computer, identity, and home network without slowing you down. It sets a new standard for speed and makes online shopping, banking, and browsing safer and more convenient than ever.   EuP Lot 6 support The EuP (as known as Energy Using Products Directive) is part of new European Union's environment regulations. EuP established is based on the concern of environmental issues regards electronic devices been gained popularity and how to improve energy efficiency for better and greener life. GIGABYTE presents standard motherboards to help you effectively improving system performance and saving more energy. * The entire materials provided herein are for reference only. GIGABYTE reserves the right to modify or revise the content at anytime without prior notice. * All trademarks and logos are the properties of their respective holders. * Due to standard PC architecture, a certain amount of memory is reserved for system usage and therefore the actual memory size is less than the stated amount.

 

Specifications

CPU Support for an Intel? Core? i7 series processor/Intel? Core? i5 series processor in the LGA1156 package (Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest CPU support list.) L3 cache varies with CPU Chipset Intel? P55 Express Chipset Memory 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 16 GB of system memory Dual channel memory architecture Support for DDR3 2200/1600/1333/1066/800 MHz memory modules Support for non-ECC memory modules Support for Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) memory modules Go to GIGABYTE's website for the latest memory support list. Audio Realtek ALC889 codec High Definition Audio 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel Support for Dolby? Home Theater Support for S/PDIF In/Out Support for CD In LAN 2 x RTL8111D chips (10/100/1000 Mbit) Support for Teaming Support Smart Dual LAN Expansion Slots *1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)? *1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8) (The PCIEX16 and PCIEX8 slots conforms to PCI Express 2.0 standard.) 3 x PCI Express x1 slots 2 x PCI slots Multi-Graphics Technology Support for ATI CrossFireX?/NVIDIA SLI technology Storage Interface Chipset: 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors (SATA2_0, SATA2_1, SATA2_2, SATA2_3, SATA2_4, SATA2_5) supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10 Marvell 9128 chip: 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors (GSATA3_6, GSATA3_7) supporting up to 2 SATA 6Gb/s devices Support for SATA RAID 0 and RAID 1 JMB362 SATA2 chip: 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s connectors on the back panel supporting up to 2 SATA 3Gb/s devices Support for SATA RAID 0, RAID 1, and JBOD iTE IT8213 chip: 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices iTE IT8720 chip: 1 x floppy disk drive connector supporting up to 1 floppy disk drive USB Chipset: Up to 12 USB 2.0/1.1 ports (8 on the back panel, 4 via the USB brackets connected to the internal USB headers) NEC chip: Up to 2 USB 3.0/2.0 ports on the back panel IEEE 1394 T.I. TSB43AB23 chip Up to 3 IEEE 1394a ports (2 on the back panel, 1 via the IEEE 1394a bracket connected to the internal IEEE 1394a header) Internal I/O Connectors 1 x 24-pin ATX main power connector 1 x 8-pin ATX 12V power connector 1 x floppy disk drive connector 1 x IDE connector 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors 2 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors 1 x CPU fan header 2 x system fan headers 1 x power fan header 1 x PCH chip fan header 1 x front panel header 1 x front panel audio header 1 x CD In connector 1 x S/PDIF In header 1 x S/PDIF Out header 2 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers 1 x IEEE 1394a header 1 x serial port header 1 x parallel port header 1 x clearing CMOS jumper Back Panel Connectors 1 x PS/2 keyboard or PS/2 mouse port 1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector 1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector 2 x IEEE 1394a ports 8 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 2 x USB 3.0 ports 2 x eSATA 3Gb/s ports 2 x RJ-45 ports 6 x audio jacks (Center/Subwoofer Speaker Out/Rear Speaker Out/ Side Speaker Out/Line In/Line Out/Microphone) I/O Controller iTE IT8720 chip H/W Monitoring System voltage detection CPU/System temperature detection CPU/System/Power fan speed detection CPU overheating warning CPU/System/Power fan fail warning CPU/System fan speed control BIOS 2 x 16 Mbit flash Use of licensed AWARD BIOS Support for DualBIOS? PnP 1.0a, DMI 2.0, SM BIOS 2.4, ACPI 1.0b Unique Features Support for @BIOS Support for Q-Flash Support for Xpress BIOS Rescue Support for Download Center Support for Xpress Install Support for Xpress Recovery2 Support for EasyTune Support for Dynamic Energy Saver? 2 Support for Smart TPM Support for Smart 6? Support for Auto Green Support for eXtreme Hard Drive Support for Q-Share Bundle Software Norton Internet Security (OEM version) Operating System Support for Microsoft? Windows? 7/Vista/XP Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 24.4cm Note * When dual graphics cards are used in 1st and 2nd PCIex16 slots, SATA3 / USB 3.0 (Marvell 9128 /NEC USB 3.0 Controllers) will work at normal mode. TPM function is optional due to different regional policy Remark Due to different Linux support condition provided by chipset vendors, please download Linux driver from chipset vendors' website or 3rd party website. Due to most hardware/software vendors no longer offer support for Win9X/ME. If some vendors still has Win9X/ME drivers available, we will publish on website. * The entire materials provided herein are for reference only. GIGABYTE reserves the right to modify or revise the content at anytime without prior notice. * All trademarks and logos are the properties of their respective holders. * Due to standard PC architecture, a certain amount of memory is reserved for system usage and therefore the actual memory size is less than the stated amount.