Comparison of x58GA-X58A-UD5 and GA-EX58-UD5 models
Comparison of x58GA-X58A-UD5 and GA-EX58-UD5 models
Sure, I can help with that. Please let me know which two motherboards you're comparing so I can explain the differences clearly.
The X58A now includes a few extra features and has a nicer appearance. I own one too—it's a solid board, though it tends to be sensitive with Xeon chips and often needs a BIOS flash. For benchmarking, I’m using an Asus Rampage II Extreme, which is much more reliable.
I'm also thinking about x58 after building a real PC that goes beyond just a 775 testbench with a low-quality motherboard on a cardboard box. X79 looks much better with a modified Chinese board. How much can you expect to pay for these boards? You might find cheaper options and save some money, and it's also important to know where you're getting them from. Usually I choose boards based on expandability (PCIe slots), voltage ratings, and the appearance of the heatsinks to assess quality. From what I see, the x58a seems to be a solid choice looking at the PCIe slots (4 x16 vs 3 x16), though those are just rough estimates.