GIGABYTE motherboard iPad charge Q&A

We’re getting quite a few queries about the previous blog entry (iPad charging from GIGABYTE motherboards with 3x USB power) so we have prepared a basic question and answer sheet. Go ahead and leave and unanswered questions in the comments section below this post and we’ll update the list with new answers.

1. Why can’t most motherboards charge the iPad?

a. Industry reports say that the 2.5W (0.5A x 5V= 2.5W) provided by standard USB 2.0 ports is not enough to charge the iPad during the device’s operation. However, it is enough for a slow charge if the device is shut down. New Apple PCs apparently provide 5.5W (1.1A x 5V = 5.5W) from their USB 2.0 ports, enabling iPad charging both while the device is being used (on) and when it is not being used (off).

2. What can users do to enable iPad charging from their GIGABYTE motherboards?

a. Users of GIGABYTE motherboards based on Intel X58, P55, H57, H55 and new AMD 800 series chipsets can download and install the on/off Charge driver from the GIGABYTE motherboard utilities web page in order enable iPad charging.

3. Where can users download the GIGABYTE On/Off Charge driver?

a. The GIGABYTE On/Off Charge driver is available from: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Utility_DownloadFile.aspx?FileType=Utility&FileID=148.

4. What enables certain GIGABYTE motherboards to charge an iPad?

a. Firstly the On/Off driver allows the motherboard to communicate with the iPad and tell it to start charging. Secondly, we also have GIGABYTE 3x USB power from all USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports that effectively makes triple the amount of power available to each USB port for charging and powering USB devices. So there are two features from GIGABYTE that enable iPad charging both while it is in operation and also when it is not.

5. Is iPad charging part of GIGABYTE 3x USB power technology?

a. Yes, GIGABYTE 3 x USB power allows for triple the amount of power from USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. The actual amount of power being used by the iPad is determined by the iPad itself (as it is with all devices). GIGABYTE 3X USB power simply makes additional power available so that it is there for devices that demand more power. Here is a list of relevant power specifications:

	Standard Specifications	GIGABYTE 3x USB
USB 2.0 ports	0.5A x 5V = 2.5W	1.5A x 5V = 7.5W
USB 3.0 ports	0.9A x 5V = 4.5W	2.7A x 5V = 13.5W

6. Which models support iPad charging?

a. The following models support iPad charging:

Intel X58	Intel P55
GA-X58A-UD7	GA-P55A-UD7	GA-P55-UD4	GA-P55-UD3L
GA-EX58-EXTREME	GA-P55A-UD6	GA-P55M-UD4	GA-P55-US3L
GA-X58A-UD5	GA-P55-UD6-C	GA-P55A-UD3P	GA-P55M-UD2
GA-EX58-UD5	GA-P55-UD6	GA-P55A-UD3R	GA-P55-USB3
GA-EX58-UD4P	GA-P55A-UD5	GA-P55-UD3P	GA-P55-USB3L
GA-EX58-UD4	GA-P55-UD5	GA-P55A-UD3
GA-X58A-UD3R	GA-P55A-UD4P	GA-P55-UD3R
GA-EX58-UD3R	GA-P55A-UD4	GA-P55-UD3L-TPM
GA-EX58-DS4	GA-P55-UD4P	GA-P55-UD3

Intel H57	Intel H55	AMD 800
GA-H57M-USB3	GA-H55-UD3H	GA-890GPA-UD3H
	GA-H55M-UD2H	GA-890XA-UD3
	GA-H55M-S2H	More to be announced soon…
	GA-H55-USB3
	GA-H55M-USB3