X48 motherboards available on Newegg

[venusiansky]

The X48's have arrived. Newegg has the latest from Asus, Gigabyte and DFI.

 

[Miramonti]

friggin expensive.

 

[imported_wired247]

Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

 

[Quiksilver]

Rampage Formula Now Added. $300. I don't think thats too bad its about the same price as x38 boards when they started getting them.

 

[bigsnyder]

Maybe so, but until something comes along to replace X48, my guess is that the will stay expensive since they are now the new "high-end" chipset. X38 is cheaper now because of X48 and Intel's new market strategy to make X38 more "mainstream".

 

[Quiksilver]

I thought p45 is replacing x48 in the near future or am I wrong, sames I also thought x48 was supposed to have ICHR10 but it seems it doesn't

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: jjsole
friggin expensive.

Yes, but it is Intel's "extreme" chipset line, its meant to be expensive just like their X branded CPUs are. The vast majority of users - even enthusiasts/overclockers - will still be more than fine with the now old/boring P35.

One thing I've noticed is that DFI's board is actually the cheapest option available thus far...I find this pretty amazing considering I'd easily put my money on it for being the best overclocker...not sure why else you'd really want an X48.

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

The chipsets look like they're almost identical other than the fact that the X48 is shrunken down on a 65nm fabrication process vs. the 90nm of X38. This should equate to less voltage required/lower power consumption/cooler operation.

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
I thought p45 is replacing x48 in the near future or am I wrong, sames I also thought x48 was supposed to have ICHR10 but it seems it doesn't

X48 replaces X38. P45 replaces P35. Feature wise I wouldn't be surprised if X38 is technically superior to the P45.

And X48 is supposed to introduce the ICH10, but the southbridge paired up with it is still an option. Motherboard manufactures can stick with the older/cheaper/more mature ICH9 southbridge for obvious reasons.

 

[AshPhoenix]

I'm waiting for the P45 to upgrade, what I like about it most is the 65 nm process.

 

[NicColt]

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

well said, As far as I can tell from reading several forums the boards are exactly the same except for the X48 boards have higher binned chips (of course) the only other thing that's different are the memory timings in the bios.

and if I read this correctly you can flash your X38 or even buy X48 bios's on ebay.

someone posted differences between X38 and X48 and it was like a %0.1 increase in performance and only if you o/c your board by %30

I'm still waiting to see the any diff in the chipset from X38 to X48.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
[

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

The chipsets look like they're almost identical other than the fact that the X48 is shrunken down on a 65nm fabrication process vs. the 90nm of X38. This should equate to less voltage required/lower power consumption/cooler operation.

I thought that P45 was a die shrink, but that the X48 is NOT a shrink, just a revision (or perhaps just better binning) of the X38 chip.

 

[flexy]

yes..and that "performance difference" probably only since the bios had some other default voltages than the x38 bios thus giving a 0,1% better overclock
I flashed mine to the X48 and dont see anything different - so it seems to be the case its really only better binned chips given a new name.
Bios also says X38/X48 series on the screen..so the bios itself doesnt even difference between X38/X48. The fact that the flash worked and the board still works should also show it cannot be anything different..otherwise i would sit on bricked PC right now .)

 

[imported_wired247]

Hmm... wikipedia says X48 has support for 10Gbps ethernet whereas X38 does not.

I surely have no need for 10Gbit ethernet.

 

[lopri]

As far as I know the 10Gbit belongs to the upcoming ICH10. As we all know X48 is a speed-bin'ed X38 which officially supports 1600FSB CPUs. In practice there really isn't a difference between the two but I think the board makers will attempt to differentiate the two with extra features, memory support, or even different BIOS.

 

[LittleNemoNES]

awwww crap

I bought the DFI x48 T2R thinking the Rampage was still quite a while off from dropping.
I hope I don't regret my purchase.
The Rampage is supposed to be amazing. The DFI, we don't really know yet.

The pricing for it is also pretty nice.

 

[lopri]

I pondered upon DFI T2R and ASUS Rampage and decided on DFI. Got my Q6600 up to 3.6GHz for the first time. Rampage looks certainly nice but I don't think you'll regret going with DFI.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
[

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

The chipsets look like they're almost identical other than the fact that the X48 is shrunken down on a 65nm fabrication process vs. the 90nm of X38. This should equate to less voltage required/lower power consumption/cooler operation.

I thought that P45 was a die shrink, but that the X48 is NOT a shrink, just a revision (or perhaps just better binning) of the X38 chip.

http://www.anandtech.com/trade...howdoc.aspx?i=3250&p=2

The chipsets are P45, G45, G43, and X48. ... The big feature is that all of these new chipsets are built on Intel's 65nm process for the MCH vs. 90nm for the older 3-series generation.

unless the X38 was already on the 65nm, then that's my misunderstanding, although reviews saying the X48 is running cooler than the X38 on otherwise identical stock cooling sounds like my initial impression is correct

 

[lopri]

My impression so far with X48 is that there really isn't much to say when it comes to performance (especially with 2GB sticks) but voltage requirements (especially vNB and vFSB) are markedly lower than previous chipsets.

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
[

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

The chipsets look like they're almost identical other than the fact that the X48 is shrunken down on a 65nm fabrication process vs. the 90nm of X38. This should equate to less voltage required/lower power consumption/cooler operation.

I thought that P45 was a die shrink, but that the X48 is NOT a shrink, just a revision (or perhaps just better binning) of the X38 chip.

http://www.anandtech.com/trade...howdoc.aspx?i=3250&p=2

The chipsets are P45, G45, G43, and X48. ... The big feature is that all of these new chipsets are built on Intel's 65nm process for the MCH vs. 90nm for the older 3-series generation.

unless the X38 was already on the 65nm, then that's my misunderstanding, although reviews saying the X48 is running cooler than the X38 on otherwise identical stock cooling sounds like my initial impression is correct

Ah thanks for the link I must have missed it in that article. I too was under the impression that the X38 is on 90nm (correct me if I'm wrong). That would explain the X48's lower voltages.

I now see no need to buy an X38....if you are spending that much on a motherboard you might aswell get an X48- especially as the DFI is the cheapest :Q. That Rampage formula looks pretty badass though.

 

[Gary Key]

Originally posted by: gersson
awwww crap

I bought the DFI x48 T2R thinking the Rampage was still quite a while off from dropping.
I hope I don't regret my purchase.
The Rampage is supposed to be amazing. The DFI, we don't really know yet.

The pricing for it is also pretty nice.

We just got the DFI X48 board for review. Raja has it and early reports are that you will not regret your purchase. However, it appears Oskar is going to have work his typical BIOS magic once or twice to get the maximum performance out of the board. Right now, the board is clocking great and memory performance is a tad better than the Rampage. Overall, the Rampage has better auto settings and is easier to clock out of the box, but like typical DFI style, once you play with the settings, the board really comes alive. Raja will be working on a BIOS guide for the board.

 

[Gary Key]

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles

Originally posted by: GarfieldtheCat

Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
[

Originally posted by: wired247
Just curious, what exactly you're looking for in an X48 that you can't get in an X38. I ask because I really don't know.

The chipsets look like they're almost identical other than the fact that the X48 is shrunken down on a 65nm fabrication process vs. the 90nm of X38. This should equate to less voltage required/lower power consumption/cooler operation.

I thought that P45 was a die shrink, but that the X48 is NOT a shrink, just a revision (or perhaps just better binning) of the X38 chip.

http://www.anandtech.com/trade...howdoc.aspx?i=3250&p=2

The chipsets are P45, G45, G43, and X48. ... The big feature is that all of these new chipsets are built on Intel's 65nm process for the MCH vs. 90nm for the older 3-series generation.

unless the X38 was already on the 65nm, then that's my misunderstanding, although reviews saying the X48 is running cooler than the X38 on otherwise identical stock cooling sounds like my initial impression is correct

I will correct that article today, X48 is still on 90nm. The reason for lower voltages is additional tuning that Intel did for the chipset. Yes, it is basically an X38 on steroids, but in the last spin of the X48, Intel did a lot fine tuning with the memory controller and cache algorithms. It shows up when pushing the board at its limits (especially with the Wolfdales/Yorkfields) but otherwise the vast majority of users will get by fine with the X38.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

thanks for the clarification

 

[lopri]

Here is a quick pic that shows vTT and vNB around 1.3V. Q6600 @400FSB, 4:5 memory DDR2-1000/CL5. Typically this would require 1.4V+ on previous chipsets.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/587/voltagesat7.png

And I think they can go even lower. Still testing.