Any Thoughts on EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR?

Me too....

Any comments from owners?

I actually received this board on Monday along with the rest of the parts I ordered for the build. I really had no big issues to speak of.

Hopefully I should get time to install the OS and everything else along with it this weekend. Right now I just have it to boot to bios. I dont have it near me now as it's about 2 hours away at my other house but I will keep u posted my progress of it. Once I get everything tested I will also leave a review on newegg.

This is currently what I have in it.

Case: Antec Fusion
Motherboard: EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR
Processor: Q6600 2.4ghz
Memory: 8 gigs of crosair model number TWIN2X4096-6400C5
Harddrive: Western Digital Raptor (had it left over from one of my gaming systems)
OS: Vista x64 Home Premium
Power Supply: Corsair 520HX

My future plans are to add a few terabyte harddrives and a couple of tuner cards. Will buy a tuner card as soon as I figure out what I want. Looking at the Vista view pci x1 but not sure yet.

Look for a post late Saturday night or Sunday on this board.

Nice board feature set. I don't know much about EVGA. I tend to stick with the "brand" names assuming they will have better/faster driver and bios updates. and tech support. The only other person I read about with this board said his was DOA.
I was also disappointed by the EVGA website. It took me a lot of searching to even find the manual. No drivers or Bios was available when I last checked.
What is this company's history with there other products? Good, bad?

I have my eye on this mobo too. Looking forward to your review dafaulty1!

Well my experience with this company is very good. I use to buy all Asus boards till I decided to try an EVGA. Right now my main gaming computer is running an EVGA 780i board with 2 GTX 280s both EVGA. I havent had problems with it yet. There support in the forums is lacking at times but other members are there to help you out. Sort like here. What makes them good is there warranty and there stepup program. Not so much on this board ,but the rest of them there one of the best. The best chance to get a hold of them to trouble shoot your issue is just to call them. And they actually do a fairly good job in trying to help u.

Before these I had Asus A8N SLI Premium and a Asus A8N32 SLI Deluxe. Both good boards just decided to try something different.

The only reason I decided to try this board is because it had a few more features to me that were important for my build in regards to a HTPC. I was looking for more of a full size ATX motherboard with either a few more pci express slots and more pci slots. Which this one had over the P5N7A-VM I was looking at. So my experience is good with them.

Others might not like them as much because some of these boards like the 750i, 780i, and 790i have video corupption issues. Most people are blaming this on the nvidia chipset rather then the board maker or thats what I understood out of the whole thing. I have yet to experience this.

Also I always thought EVGA was sort of a bigger name brand in computers. Maybe there just a bigger name in graphics cards. Also I was a bit worried about buy this board without seeing any reviews also. So I dont blame you guys for not just jumping in.

(sorry for my bad spelling and grammar)

Well here are my thoughts on the EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR so far.

Manual: I didnt recieve a manual with this board but didnt really need one anyways. This can be downloaded at the Evga website. Looking through it quickly it looks like any other manual you would find.

Board Layout: Board layout is very nice. I like the ability to be able to power up the motherboard outside the case with the attached power button and reset. The Sata ports for me are in a bad place as I had to get some 90 degrees to fit them in my case nicely. The small LCD ost panel that displays post error codes is pretty cool. EVGA has them on a lot of there boards though. I nice feature about that is it shows your processor temp once your system boots up. Overall the layout is very nice and board quality is top notch.

Bios: The current bios that came with the machine havent given me no problems. It detected my Corsair ram correctly as 5-5-5-18 1.9volt 800mhz. As of right now there are no bios at the Evga website. U can download the HDMI audio drive from there though. The bios have all sorts of options for overclocking and fan control. Very pleased with the bios also.

Installing OS: Installing the OS gave me a bit of a problem. That might have been on my part as I didnt read the manual. I selected the system to boot from CDROM in the bios. Well the system would restart and then give me a boot error. Well the reason for this is because I had to select a boot device by pushing ESC when the computer is starting to boot up. Once you push ESC a screen will pop up and ask u to select what u want to boot from. Choose your drive and it should start the install process. Once it installs and restarts again u will once again have to select the boot device. Y this is Im not sure. Maybe this is just an issue for me but it wasnt a hard one to figure out.

Temps: I got my temps from Everest Ultimate. My northbridge temp is a constant 46c. Which I think is pretty good. My motherboard temp is saying its 125c but I know that is false. This reading is probably coming from Everest not being able to support this board yet.

Vista Score: This is just included for those who might wonder what this received. Only graphics and gaming graphics really matter as everything else is subject to change on your system setup. Processor 5.9, Ram 5.2, Graphics 4.8, Gaming Graphics 5.1, Primary Hard drive 5.9, and the overall score is 4.8.

Sleepmode: I currently have no issues with this setup coming out of S1/S3 sleep mode. Everything powers down and when I hit my mouse button everything comes back up. No problems at all.

Currently all I'm using this PC for is some light gaming and using VMC with mymovies for standard DVD playback on my 47" HDTV

I would recommend this board if your looking for a ATX motherboard with the 9300. I will probably have more to add to this later as time progresses but overall I like this board. I like when u can plug everything in at once and boot to the bios with no issues.

If u want more info on a certain thing just ask and I will try to get it. As of right now I dont have a blu ray buner or AnyDVD to try to test blu ray playback and audio and all that higher end stuff.

Hi Dafaulty1,

How it goes so far? Do you still like this board? Any real dowsides for HTPC use?

Thanks,

Charles

Does the EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR support DTS Connect/DD Live? Can anyone confirm or deny it?

Its up and running strong. No issues as of yet. I havent found any downsides of using it as a home theater pc on my end. Again Im only using it for basic things as of right now. Watching standard dvds, recording tv, and watching tv.

I finally got all my movies stored onto my harddrives. Other then that I havent had any issues with what Im trying to use it for. I just recently bought AnyDVD HD before it goes to subscription. Hoping to get a blu-ray burner soon to put blu-rays on my harddrives. Overall Im happy with the board for what Im using it for.

dCrypt

As to if this supports DTS Connect I couldnt tell you one way or the other. The onboard audio is the Realtek ALC888/1200. This thread might be helpful for you. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1093445

I dont know all the different sound types. Im happy if I can get surround sound. Not to important to me if I cant get the best of the best.

Thanks for the info.

DTS Connect/DD Live main feature is to stream (encode) ALL PC audio through the digital connection. Without DTS-C/DD-L, you can only output digital audio which is originally encoded as DTS/DD (eg., a DVD). Audio enhancement is a secondary feature, not so important for me.

I know if your motherboard support DTS connect/DD live, you can see it in the Realtek audio control panel, digital output tab, but I can't find any picture of it. Could you take a screenshot of it, please?

Regards.

Once I get home I will take some pics of it. Im running Vista. So I should be able to just right click on the speaker and then go under the properties option and its probably listed under that area correct?

I don't really know, as I don't have any board to check it out. But it should seem like http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=117330

I think the 'DTS connect' or 'Dolby Digital live' tab should show up as in the following screenshot: http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9715/31321172vo8.jpg, only if the board support it.

I guess it's the Realtek Audio Control Panel

dCrypt,

Here are some pics. I would say no this doesnt support DTS Connect. Unless you have to have everything plugged in in order for it to show up. The ALC888DD-GR supports it though (optional) . Refer to this link for more information. http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/p...n=4&ProdID=135

Hope this helps to at least to tell you if this supports DTS Connect or not. I dont know alot about the different sound options but doesnt some sound cards support this feature your looking for? You could just add a sound card. But I guess then its even more money.

Thanks a lot, dafaulty1. I am just looking for a 9300/9400 with some right-out-of-the-box features (ATX form factor, DDL/DTSC, Dual-link dvi, etc), but it seems that nothing fits my needs. If just Gigabyte released their board with ATX form factor...

BTW, DTS Connect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTS_(so...m)#DTS_Connect

Actually, I am waiting for some EVGA distributor to bring this motherboard to Spain. Would someone want to update the thread with the latest feelings and experiences about this board? dafaulty1 maybe?

Well after tickering with this more the bios are rather lacking in areas. In the manual its says you can wakeup from USB or something like that. (I dont have manual near me at the moment.) But if u go to that setting its not even listed in the bios. Not a big issue for me though as mine still wakes up from sleep in S1 & S3 mode.

Others have had issues trying to install raid on there boards because they say the setting isnt there to do it. Refer to EVGA forums about the guy whinning about that. I havent had that issue yet. I just installed raid 1 this weekend without any issues. So Im not sure what hes talking about not be available.

He then goes on and says: Do you know what happens when you select the RAID option in the bios after you have already installed windows???? Its wipes the drive and you get to rebuild your system from the OS up.

I figured that was a given but apparently he didnt know that. Heres the link to the guy complaining about it.
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=713925

Another thing I noticed was the motherboard SATA connectors supplied with motherboard. There nice with the clip and all but it seems like a very tight fit into the SATA port on the motherboard. Seems like Im going to break it when pushing it in. Other aftermarket connectors plug right in with a little push.

Biggest thing I hate so far is there is no bios update. Granted I dont need one but it seems like others would like one. Other then that I havent had any issues no bsod's or anything. I go to VMC and watch whatever movie I want and all is good and I can record tv at no issues what so ever.

Overall its a solid build for me but with the lack of support for this current board I might try another one. Everything is working for me so i could careless without a bios update.

Thanks a lot for the update, dafaulty1!

Has anyone found this motherboard in Europe?

Since this is an ATX board why not use a P45 mobo and then get an inexpensive video card like a 9400 GT or a Radeon HD 4350 w/integrated HDMI port?

I realize its slightly more expensive to purchase a separate video card, but good P45 mobos are available for under $100 so were only talking about a a total of $140 to $150 for a P45 baord + video card. This EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR costs about $130. So not that much difference in price. But wouldn't it be just as good (if not better) to go with a P45 board and video card for an HTPC?

Let me put it another way; other than not having to install a video card in the EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR, why use it over the solution I described above for a HTPC?

You bring a very good point here.

I may think of a heat issue but otherwise than that, you are right.

And BTW, the more shaded the graphic has the better it will be at post processing.

I'm going to look at that possibility too.

Thanks,

Charles

I'm using this solution as opposed to yours because of a few things.

1st I like EVGA as a company. Everytime I've had an issue they've got my back. I called there at 2 in the morning and I get to talk to a tech about my issue. They have 24/7 support and I love it. If my board goes bad I can advance RMA it and have a new board in 2 days. There's also the 90 day stepup program in case I didn't like this board. If I get tired of this board I can just upgrade to a different one and just pay the difference. Also the lifetime warranty. So I bought from a company that I know has good quality and backs there products.

2nd Like you said it costs slightly more to add a video card. If I wanted a computer with a video card I would just use my gaming one with 2 gtx295's installed. Also if I went with a P45 board I would at least have to spend $100 for a board from a company that I trust. For a 9400 GT card I would want an EVGA as again I trust them. So there goes another $60. So I'm looking at a minimum of $160.

3rd Each person has there own thing that they want accomplished with a certain board and setup. With this board it does what I want with no issues to speak of. Once I got everything fixed they way I wanted it. If I later decided to install a video card I can hybrid sli it also. Probably never going to do that but its an option I guess. Also with no video card the temp in the case stays at a constant 33 which is great. Also it has low power consumption.

So that's my reason for it. If others bought it they probably have different reasons for there decision.

dafaulty1, let me add a 4th reason: the power draw is lower in this board than in a P45+discrete graphics, surely. This is the key for an HTPC, which will be most of the time turned on.

So if I have a BD player in my HTPC that's using this EVGA board and I play a Blu Ray movie that has this kind of audio and I have my HTPC connected via HDMI to an AVR such as the Onkyo TX-SR606 that has a DTS Decoder, you're saying because the board can only output digital audio that I won't be getting true DTS audio?

I am not really sure I understand you. As I am still waiting for my motherboard to be available in Spain, I can't be sure about it, but AFAIK:

- You can output BD/DVD audio through HDMI
- You can output BD/DVD audio through S/PDIF
- I guess (but I am not sure) you can output computer generated audio in DD/DTS encoded stream through HDMI
- You can output computer generated audio in DD/DTS encoded stream through S/PDIF

The difference is: BD/DVD audio is already DD/DTS encoded. Computer generated audio needs a Dolby / DTS license in order to be digitally encoded. Only certain audio chips can encode Dolby / DTS (eg, the 889A), but that's not enough: the manufacturer should also pay the license in order to support DD Live / DTS Connect.

Y dont you just go to this link and read what it says about the different sound types. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1093445

Looking at it myself DTS isnt supported by a lot of boards. Whether its Blu-ray DTS-MA Bitstreaming, Blu-ray DTS-HD Bitstreaming, DTS HDMI Bitstreaming a lot of boards dont support it. Unless you add an Asus Xonar HDAV Audio Card.

Also its not the board you should be concered about its the chipset and what each one supports. If this EVGA 9300 board doesnt support DTS then neither do all the other 9300 chipset boards either most likely.

Have you posted your problem on the EVGA forum? I've seen that forum as being helpful (for other EVGA products) place to get answers.

Pardon the noob question...
The EVGA 113-YW-E115-TR board has an 8-pin CPU power connector, but many power supplies only have a ATX+12V 4-pin connector - including the one I recently purchased. I've seen some posts that say you can plug a ATX+12V 4-pin connector into the 8-pin socket and the board will operate fine. Is this the case with this EVGA board?

I know this is a late reply but I dont visit the forum really unless I get time or I have issues. But yes you can hook up your 4 pin into the 8 pin on the motherboard. Off hand I cant tell you what pin goes where. But I believe in the user manual you can download from EVGA's site it tells you how to. Otherwise there is also an adaptor that goes from 4 pin to 8.