GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ Series Evolution  
 
Leading Industrial Quality Standards Year by Year
GIGABYTE set the industry standard for best quality motherboard components since the adoption of ROHS manufacturing practices in 2005. In the following year, GIGABYTE announced the Ultra Durable™ motherboard series featuring all-solid capacitors with better power efficiency than old style electrolytic capacitors. In May 2007, GIGABYTE introduced the Ultra Durable™ 2 series of motherboards that boasted top quality
environmentally friendly solid capacitors from Japan, Lower RDS (On)
MOSFETs that run cooler and Ferrite core chokes that help to reduce
the amount of wasted electricity from the power phases that feed
the CPU. In September 2008, GIGABYTE once again leads
the motherboard industry for the highest quality, most
innovative motherboard design with the launch
of their latest Ultra Durable™ 3 technology.
Ultra Durable™ 3 motherboards are the first
consumer desktop motherboards to
feature double the amount of copper
for the Power and Ground
layers of the
PCB.
 
     
 
  Lower ESR
Solid Capacitor		 Ferrite Core
Choke		 Lower RDS(on)
MOSFET		 2X Copper
Inner Layer
 
   
       
 
     
   



Built to Last
More Durable for Longer Lifetime
     
More Durable for Longer Life Time
 
Advantages of 50,000 Hour Japanese Solid Capacitors
 
 
GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards are equipped with solid capacitors developed by leading Japanese manufacturers. With an average lifespan of 50,000 hours, these solid capacitors provide the stability, reliability and longevity essential to meet the power needs of high-end processors and other components running today's most demanding applications and games.
  
     
 
1 year = 24 hr. x 365 days = 8,760 hr.
5 years = 8,760 hr. x 5 = 43,800 hr.

  * 50,000 hr. of work time is calculated at 85°C temperature.
 
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  Laminated
Aluminum Case
   
   
    Element
   
    PEDT
   
     
  Terminal   Terminal
Rubber
 
   
  What are Solid Capacitors?  
 
Solid capacitors and electrolytic capacitors both store electricity and discharge it when needed. The difference is that solid capacitors contain a solid organic polymer, while electrolytic capacitors use a liquid electrolyte.
  
 
 
Solid Capacitors  
 
Separator sheet (electrolyte) impregnated with conductive polymer. Solid capacitors are composed of highly electro-conductive polymer that dramatically improve stability and reliability.
  
 
   
Aluminum Electrolyte Capacitor    
  Separator sheet (electrolyte) impregnated with electrolytic solution.
       
     
  Solid Capacitor Aluminum Electrolyte Capacitor
 
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  Why use Solid Capacitors?  
  Electro-conductive polymer used in solid capacitors helps to achieve the following characteristics:  
 
  Low ESR in High Frequency Area
  High Ripple Current
  Longer Life
  High Temperature Capability
 
 
Low ESR in High Frequency Area=Cooler Motherboard
 
The Lower Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) means Less power - solid capacitors are able to deliver substantially lower impedance at higher frequencies. Because there is less impedance, solid capacitors are more stable and generate less heat than electrolytic capacitors.
 
 
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Tolerating High Ripple Current for a More Stable Motherboard
 
Higher Ripple Current absorbs higher power switching that plays a decisive role in motherboard power phase design. Solid capacitors have better capacity for power switching and thus, contribute significantly to better motherboard stability compared to electrolytic capacitors.
 
 
     
 
 
 
High Temperature Capability - More Reliable Motherboard
 
The capacitance of solid capacitors stays stable in sharp changing temperatures - Solid capacitors deliver more stable capacitance and are less likely to be affected by temperature changes. As the chart shows, even at extreme temperatures, solid capacitors have relatively stable capacitance, especially when compared to electrolytic capacitors.
 
 
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Longer Life - More Durable Motherboards
 
In terms of lifespan, solid capacitors last longer than electrolytic capacitors, especially at lower working temperatures. As the table below shows, at 85ºC, the average lifespan for a Japanese solid capacitor is more than six times greater than electrolytic capacitors. In actual years, the Japanese solid capacitor will last approximately 5 years, while the electrolytic capacitor dies after only one years. Clearly, solid capacitors have a lifetime advantage over electrolytic capacitors.
   
 
Temp°C
Electrolytic Capacitors
(Working Hours)
Japanese Solid Capacitors (Working Hours)
95°C
4,000 Hr.
15,811 Hr.
3.9X longer
85°C
8,000 Hr.
50,000 Hr.
6.25X longer
75°C
16,000 Hr.
158,113 Hr.
9.8X longer
65°C
32,000 Hr.
500,000 Hr.
15.6X longer
   
 
No More Exploding Capacitors - More Stability for Overclocking
Swelling and leaking capacitors have bothered motherboard users for ages. This dramatically lowers a PC's performance, and may even damage the motherboard to the point where it can no longer operate. As there is no liquid component to solid capacitors, they don't leak or explode. In addition, their ability to tolerate extreme conditions and their overall robustness make them much more suited to extreme operating environments.
Solid Capacitor and Electrolytic Capacitor Comparison
Characteristics
Solid Capacitors
Electrolytic Capacitors
Heat-Resistibility
Allowable Ripple Current
ESR in high Frequency
Safety
Environmental Protection
 
Well
Normal
 Bad

Summary of Solid Capacitor Features
Solid caps have a low ESR
A frequency characteristic of impendence shows an ideal curve
Ideal to use as de-coupling capacitor for removing such noise as ripple, spike, digital, static, audio, etc.
Able to handle large ripple current
Ideal for miniaturization, as a smoothing capacitor of switching power supply.
Able to discharge rapidly
Ideal for use as back-up capacitor in a circuit where large current is consumed at high-speed.
The ESR of Solid capacitor is not greatly affected by temperature
The Solid cap can be used for low temperature specification equipment (0ºC or less)
Solid caps enjoy a longer life
You can expect to use Solid caps for 50,000Hrs (5 years) at 85ºC
This is ideal for devices that should last for a long period.
 
     
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  Quality Components make Quality 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 the most critical components of a motherboard.

GIGABYTE has set the industry standard by using All-Solid Capacitors throughout a wide range of products in 2006. In 2007, GIGABYTE set a new standard by using Ferrite Core Chokes and Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs for its latest upcoming products.

Ferrite core chokes have higher energy efficiency compared to the commonly used iron core chokes because they are able to store energy longer and prevent rapid energy loss at high frequency. Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs have a lower resistance, which reduces power consumption and heat generation.
   
New Design
Ultra Durable 2		 Old Design
 
Lower RDS(on)
MOSFET
  
Standard
MOSFET
 
Ferrite Core
Choke
  
Iron Core
Power Inductor
 
Lower ESR
Solid Capacitor
  
Traditional
Solid Capacitor
 
 
 
  Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs  
  • Optimized gate charge to minimize switching losses.
• Lower temperature, smaller size, better thermal characteristics.		  
 
  What is a MOSFET?
A MOSFET is a switch that allows or disallows electric current to pass through an electronic circuit.
 
 
 
  Temperature
 
  Lower RDS(on) MOSFET 16% Lower
   
 
Standard MOSFET
  
   
 
  When compared to standard MOSFETs, RDS(on) MOSFETs temperatures are 16% lower.  
     
 
  Lower Resistance = Lower Power Consumption = Lower Heat
 
     
 
Heat is a by-product
of power consumption
   Power Consumption
   
 
 
Power Equation: P = I 2 x R
(P: Power, I : Current, R: Resistance)
  
 
 
 
  Ferrite Core Chokes  
  • Reduced core energy loss     • Lower EMI interference
• Resists rust better than standard iron core chokes		  
 
  What is a Choke?
A choke is an inductor that stores energy and regulates current.
 
 
 
  Core Energy Loss
 
 
Ferrite Core Choke
   25% Lower
   
 
Iron Core Choke
  
   
 
     
  How does the Ultra Durable™ 2 Power Design Work?  
 
Power        
  Store energy
and
regulate current
 Store and
discharge electric current
  
Lower RDS(on)
MOSFET
To stop/allow
the electric current
to flow through
        
  Ferrite Core
Choke		 Lower ESR
Solid Capacitor		   Processor
 
     
   



  The Benefits of 2X Copper PCB Design
 
Lower
Temperature		 2X Lower
Impedance		 Better
Overclocking		 Lower EMI Better Power
Efficiency		 Better ESD
Protection
 
  Copper Cooled Quality  
  GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 series motherboards  
 
Ultra Durable 3
   Ultra Durable 3 Classic
 
 
Ultra Durable™ 3 Family
  
     
 
 
     
 
2 oz Copper PCB
PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
2x copper PCB = 2 oz copper PCB = weight of copper layer
30.48 cm x 30.48 cm (1 square foot) PCB is 56.7 g (2 oz)
 
The signature specifications for GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 motherboards are 2X Copper PCB, Japanese Solid Capacitors featuring 50,000hr. operation time, Ferrite core chokes with higher energy efficiency compared to the commonly used iron core chokes and Lower RDS(on) MOSFETs that feature lower resistance, which reduces power consumption and heat generation. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 series motherboards provide the stability, reliability and longevity essential to meet the power needs of high-end processors and other components running today's most demanding applications and games.
 
     
     
 
Ferrite Core
Choke
 
  50,000 hr.
Japanese Solid Capacitor
Lower RDS(on)
MOSFET
  
 
2X Copper
Inner Layer
Signal Layer
  
Prepreg
    
Power Layer
    
Core
    
     
Ground Layer
Prepreg
Signal Layer
   
 
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  Reducing Impedance by 2X, allows greater
electric current flow and reduces heat generation		  
 
     
 
  2X Lower Impedance
    Impedance Ω Lower is better
Doubling the amount of copper lowers the PCB impedance by 2X.
 
     
    2X Copper PCB
   
 
  Lower
   
  Traditional
Copper PCB
  
   
 
Electron
 
Electron
 
 
  50,000 hr. Japanese Solid Capacitor
    Ferrite Core Choke  
   
   
  Lower RDS(on)
MOSFET
 
2X Copper
Inner Layer
  
 
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Doubling the amount of copper provides a more effective thermal cooling solution by delivering more efficient spreading of heat from critical areas of the motherboard such as the CPU power zone throughout the entire PCB. In fact, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ 3 Classic motherboards are able to deliver twice as cool working temperatures than traditional motherboards. 
  
CPU VRM Temperature measurements under system setup with water-cooler block and CPU running at 100% loading
 
     
      Infra Red CPU VRM Thermal Diagram  
 
 
     * CPU VRM Temperature measurements during 100% loading.  
     
 
   
  Motherboard Thermal Comparison
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Mosfet Choke Capacitor NB PCB
Lower is better
 Ultra Durable™ 3 Motherboard Traditional Motherboard
 
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