GIGABYTE UD GM ATX 2.31/ATX 3.0

After reviewing all other Gigabyte UD models, it's time for the UD750GM to get on the test bench. Bad memories from when I last reviewed a Gigabyte 750 W unit (P750GM) still haunt me, but a long time has passed since, and MEIC has improved the platform. For only ten dollars more, you can get a Corsair RM750x (2021 model) or Corsair RM750, so the UD750GM has to do a lot right to convince me it is a good choice for the money. Like the other UD PSUs, I plan to give it an extra-hard time to figure out whether it works correctly under all conditions, and I will compare its performance to the "legendary" P750GM.

The announcement of Intel’s new ATX v3.0 specifications was bound to start a race, as every company is looking to establish itself among the early adopters as a means of growing with the larger market. GIGABYTE took a little different approach here – instead of developing a whole new platform capable of fulfilling all of ATX v3.0 requirements, they simply upgraded one of their existing units and added one 600 Watt 12VHPWR connector to it.

The UD1000GM PG5 offers an extraordinary value for a 1000W power supply. Not only do you get a massive amount of power, you also get the new PCI-e gen 5 connector that is becoming the new standard for the newest graphics cards!

Gigabyte pushed hard to be the first to release a PCIe 5.0 ready power supply in the UD1000GM PG5, but it looks to have been a rushed move. Meeting the strict ATX v3.0 requirements is not as easy as installing a 12VHPWR connector and lowering corresponding PSU timings for Alternative Low Power Modes compatibility. The primary point of the newest ATX specification is for PSUs to withstand extreme transient loads that go up to 200% of the PSU's maximum-rated-capacity. As crazy as that sounds, the 200% transient load scenario is not the toughest one because it only lasts for 0.1 ms. The most difficult are the 180% and 160% transient loads because those last considerably longer, 1 ms and 10 ms respectively, and in those tests, the PSU shut down every attempt I made. This renders the UD1000GM PG5 incompatible with the ATX v3.0 specification, and I cannot say for certain whether there will be any problems with any upcoming GPUs or the RTX 3090Ti since I don't have the RTX 3090Ti—I am not willing to spend thousands of dollars to acquire one—and the former haven't been released yet.

Gigabyte finally looks to be on the right path with the UD units. This whole mess with the P-GM units could have been avoided if they had taken my review of the P750GM seriously since it uncovered the problem of the initial design, but let's all move on. MEIC has delivered a good platform that can be improved vastly with more tuning. This unit has all the necessary protection features correctly configured, which I don't see often. In the overall performance section, the noncompetitive ripple suppression and loose load regulation on the minor rails make it a miss, though. Efficiency has also taken a hit compared to the P850GM. Gigabyte and MEIC could lower the inrush current and improve PF readings with 230 V input, and reduce vampire consumption to below 0.1 W. It appears MEIC focused on 115 V even though many users live in areas with 230 V mains.

The power supply responded very well under full load. The load values were very tight. I was using a Intel 11900K with a RTX 3070. This combination is capable of drawing a lot of power. One of the biggest complaints about high wattage power supplies can be the size and this power supply has all this power packed into a small frame. You also get the fully modular feature that allows you to use only the cables you need. This is almost a necessity if you are needing to save space or want reasonable cable management. I am always concerned with keeping those internal components as cool as possible. The cooler those components the longer it will last.

The Gigabyte UD1000GM looks to represent itself as a no-nonsense solid PSU packed with excellent and useful features. A key factor of interest for consumers, however, is that this is one of still only a relatively small handful of power supplies to offer out-of-the-box cable support for the new PCIe Gen 5 power connection standard. With a fully modular cable design, 80-Plus Gold efficiency rating, and 1000 watts of power, however, this certainly hits all the right remits for consumers who are perhaps not too concerned (yet) about PCIe Gen 5. – Lest we forget too that UD (ultra-durable) claim which Gigabyte seems so adamant about here that they’re willing to put it in the product name!