So I got my EX38-DQ6 today.....

[twjr]

So my shiney new motherboard arrived today and what is the first thing I do? Pull the little sticker covering the model number off and smile.

I was wondering is it possible to flash the motherboard so that it is an X48?

If so how? And what is the risk if any?

Cheers

 

[DSF]

X38 and X48 are different chipsets, you can't flash one to be the other. I'm not entirely sure what you mean in your post. Did the box arrive sealed and yet with the wrong board in it?

 

[VirtualLarry]

The X38 and X48 are identical chipsets, one is just binned higher, just like CPUs.

 

[twjr]

Originally posted by: DSF
X38 and X48 are different chipsets, you can't flash one to be the other. I'm not entirely sure what you mean in your post. Did the box arrive sealed and yet with the wrong board in it?

My motherboard had a sticker over the place where the model number usually is saying EX38-DQ6 so I removed that and printed on the PCB was X48-DQ6. I would trust what is printed on the PCB more than a little sticker.

 

[twjr]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
The X38 and X48 are identical chipsets, one is just binned higher, just like CPUs.

Surely there must be some differences in the bios though?

 

[DSF]

Interesting, I thought there was an article on Anand that said the X48 wasn't quite just a speed-binned X38, that there were a few small differences, but maybe I'm misremembering that.

 

[bigsnyder]

Originally posted by: DSF
X38 and X48 are different chipsets, you can't flash one to be the other. I'm not entirely sure what you mean in your post. Did the box arrive sealed and yet with the wrong board in it?

Actually you can, there are reports of some people doing just that. However, not sure what advantage there is to gain by doing so. As far as differences, the X48 has official support for FSB1600, though many X38 boards also claim to support that as well such as the Gigabyte X38 boards. That is the only difference I am aware of.

 

[twjr]

Yeah from the Gigabyte website there appears almost no physical difference between the EX38 series and X48 series. Spec-wise the equivalent models also appear the same.

I was simply wondering if there were more BIOS options available in the X48 mobos than the EX38. If not then I am not going to complain (except that I didn't get the extra screws to remove the crazy-cool backplate which is greatly frustrating as I really don't want to have to use one of my stock heatsinks). If so then can I simply use the X48 BIOS from Gigabyte or is there more to it?

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: twjr

My motherboard had a sticker over the place where the model number usually is saying EX38-DQ6 so I removed that and printed on the PCB was X48-DQ6. I would trust what is printed on the PCB more than a little sticker.

it's not unusual for mobo manufacturers to use common PCBs for related models as it saves money - an Asus P5N32-E iirc uses the same PCB as a Striker etc. etc. - & as such it's not uncommon for them to just use a sticker over what's printed on the PCB.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst

Originally posted by: twjr

My motherboard had a sticker over the place where the model number usually is saying EX38-DQ6 so I removed that and printed on the PCB was X48-DQ6. I would trust what is printed on the PCB more than a little sticker.

it's not unusual for mobo manufacturers to use common PCBs for related models as it saves money - an Asus P5N32-E iirc uses the same PCB as a Striker etc. etc. - & as such it's not uncommon for them to just use a sticker over what's printed on the PCB.

+1 Pretty much they don't feel the need to manufacture seperate PCBs with a different model number when the older series will probably be discontinued sometime soon. Costs more and no one really actually cares all that much.

 

[twjr]

Ok so it could simply be the PCB. Would the NB itself say it was an X48 if I checked?

 

[twjr]

Damn it was just the PCB. The NB was an X38 so there goes that fun.

 

[bigsnyder]

My EX38 board has more options in the BIOS than I care to mess with. I can't imagine anything else that a X48 bios could add. My BIOS overclocks my E6400 as far as I am willing to push it, so no complaints here.

 

[twjr]

Originally posted by: bigsnyder
My EX38 board has more options in the BIOS than I care to mess with. I can't imagine anything else that a X48 bios could add. My BIOS overclocks my E6400 has far as I am willing to push it, so no complaints here.

Yeah I know what you mean. I was going to overclock my CPU but there are just soooo many options that I thought I might sit down and actually read the manual before I OC any further. There are at least half a dozen more voltage options than on my P35.