14 DAY TRIAL // Gigabyte is doing something akin to what rival companies have chosen, although its method of implementation seems a bit more straightforward, consisting of a PCI Express to mini PCI Express adapter.
Gigabyte decided that, since it is going to release a whole new batch of next-generation motherboards, it may as well go all the way.
One thing that most X79 boards don't have is support for Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi.
VR-Zone reports that Gigabyte figured it would just make an add-in-board to make up for the deficit, which is really more of a PC Express to mini PCI Express adapter.
A half-sized mini PCI Express card based on an Atheros processor was equipped with an USB pin-header, meant to be attached to the USB pin-header on the motherboard.
With this to make sure the Bluetooth 4.0 connection works, the WiFi side of the equation will be left with the PCI Express connection.
ECS already tried to solve this 'issue' as well, the solution involving a PCB antenna hardwired to the rear I/O, among other things.
Also, ASUS tried for a proprietary raiser card for the P9X79 Deluxe (with custom designed USB devices, apparently).
Compared to those, Gigabyte's method seems somewhat more simple, even though it is limited to 150Mbps Wi-Fi (it has only two antennas). As such, no MIMO support exists (needs 300 Mbps).
Then again, people who want better speeds can buy something faster if they so wish.
It should also be noted that, despite this minor limitation, the adapter does have a certain other benefit, in its integration of a standard USB port.
The X79-UD5, X79-UD7 and G1.Assassin 2 motherboards are the ones that will ship in a bundle with the PCI Express card. Not certain if the item will sell standalone as well, but there is no reason it shouldn't.