X38 Chipset

[Saesch]

Originally posted by: DevanW
The X38 is surely not going to support SLi... only Crossfire.

Technically it should work just fine but nVidia doesn't want to give the licence to implement this feature in the X38 driver to promote it's own chipsets.

Perhaps we will see some hacked drivers in the future

 

[Gary Key]

Originally posted by: MadMurph

Originally posted by: AMDfreak
I wonder if Asus could do something like the P35 Blitz boards with two of their Crosslinx chips.....

I'm still confused as to why the imminent release of the X38 is drawing so much speculation when the ASUS Blitz series of M/B's has yet to hit the mainland. Especially, given how highly touted they have been in the reviews I've read, to date. It would seem odd, perhaps only to me, that an ASUS X38 would hit our shores before any of the Blitz boards.

Perhaps the Grand Guru of Gary and his "FHWMNBN", could shed some light on this, for if the trend holds true, all you guys lining your duckets up for the big purchase won't have any thing to blow it on until... um...say Christmas. I'm still waiting for the elusive Blitz Formula. And not so patiently.

I have the Blitz Extreme, the Formula board should arrive next week. We have had a new policy in effect since a certain incident with the P5N32-SLI, full reviews will only be completed on retail kits and we have a rotating system in place where we also purchase the same board to ensure consistency with the reviews. ASUS has told us the Blitz boards should arrive in the US in early September, and yes, they will be competing with the X38 boards. The dates on the X38 boards are floating around, one day I hear 9/9, the next (as in today) I hear 9/13. I do know our final retail samples from the big three are due around 9/11.

The BadAxe 3 will probably not arrive until the later part of September and based on early information, that is the X38 to really watch for as Intel is pulling out all of the stops on it, at least we hope the final BIOS reflects early samples. Do not expect a real difference between the P35 and X38 at stock speeds, X38 was designed to shine when overclocking, we are still waiting on optimized BIOS spins for the early boards we have before confirming that statement.

 

[MadMurph]

Originally posted by: Gary KeyI have the Blitz Extreme, the Formula board should arrive next week. We have had a new policy in effect since a certain incident with the P5N32-SLI, full reviews will only be completed on retail kits and we have a rotating system in place where we also purchase the same board to ensure consistency with the reviews. ASUS has told us the Blitz boards should arrive in the US in early September, and yes, they will be competing with the X38 boards. The dates on the X38 boards are floating around, one day I hear 9/9, the next (as in today) I hear 9/13. I do know our final retail samples from the big three are due around 9/11.

The BadAxe 3 will probably not arrive until the later part of September and based on early information, that is the X38 to really watch for as Intel is pulling out all of the stops on it, at least we hope the final BIOS reflects early samples. Do not expect a real difference between the P35 and X38 at stock speeds, X38 was designed to shine when overclocking, we are still waiting on optimized BIOS spins for the early boards we have before confirming that statement.

I remove my "tongue firmly planted in cheek" and humbly admit you are, indeed, the Grand Guru -- he who is able to answer that which none others have (HWAANOH). Thanks for the inside insight. Now the questions is.... X38, Formula, doggie bisquit, steak bone??? So many choices, so much money. Thanks Gary Key!!!

 

[chewietobbacca]

Any idea if the BadAxe3 / BoneTrail is DDR3 only? The pictures I've seen so far of it from Computex are DDR3 only, and since it's Intel's own board, they might be tempted to push DDR3 since that's what the X38 is "officially" supporting

 

[Gary Key]

Everest Results - X38 Stock

Vista 64, 4GB DDR2 Memory, Q6600, Auto Settings, Early BIOS, performance should improve around 3%~5% by launch. More later....

 

[chewietobbacca]

Great to see some numbers at last on the X38!

Can't wait to see more Gary

 

[IntelUser2000]

Everest Results - X38 Stock

Vista 64, 4GB DDR2 Memory, Q6600, Auto Settings, Early BIOS, performance should improve around 3%~5% by launch. More later....

That seems to be higher results than the P35 based chipsets around the web. I have no idea what you guys got on the P35 with Everest, but that's an encouraging score. 3-5% in top of that should mean it should take the performance crown, at least in memory benchmarks.

Could this be THE chipset to truly take 440BX chipset to finally rest in peace?? Reports like hot running Northbridge, rumors of die size being 180mm2, and Intel's early benchmarks indicate it may be possible .

 

[SerpentRoyal]

The small gain looks good with benchies, but I'm not sure if it will be noticeable under normal use. What I'd like to see is the ability of X38 to squeeze out an additional 20MHz of FSB speed. Again, don't expect SLI support.

 

[nrb]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
[Everest Results - X38 Stock]

How about posting thats somewhere where I can actually see it? I have to say, this practice of posting images on Anandtech in such a way that they don't make it past firewalls was already getting old about three years ago. Any chance you guys might do something about that? Ever?

 

[Gary Key]

Originally posted by: nrb

Originally posted by: Gary Key
[Everest Results - X38 Stock]

How about posting thats somewhere where I can actually see it? I have to say, this practice of posting images on Anandtech in such a way that they don't make it past firewalls was already getting old about three years ago. Any chance you guys might do something about that? Ever?

See if this works -

X38 - Q6600 OC - Air - Vista - 4GB - DDR2-1200

I have not pushed it yet, but 3.6GHz on air with 1.375V and completely stable under Vista with 4GB of memory at DDR2-1200 is an indicator of a fairly good Q6600 and probably motherboard.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Originally posted by: nrb

Originally posted by: Gary Key
[Everest Results - X38 Stock]

How about posting thats somewhere where I can actually see it? I have to say, this practice of posting images on Anandtech in such a way that they don't make it past firewalls was already getting old about three years ago. Any chance you guys might do something about that? Ever?

See if this works -

X38 - Q6600 OC - Air - Vista - 4GB - DDR2-1200

I have not pushed it yet, but 3.6GHz on air with 1.375V and completely stable under Vista with 4GB of memory at DDR2-1200 is an indicator of a fairly good Q6600 and probably motherboard.

DDR2? I was under the impression that the DDR2 boards would be coming out after the DDR3 versions (and I assumed everyone would be hot to get their flagship latest-and-greatest DDR3 motherboards tested). Any confirmation or update on that?

Thanks.

 

[Gary Key]

DDR2? I was under the impression that the DDR2 boards would be coming out after the DDR3 versions (and I assumed everyone would be hot to get their flagship latest-and-greatest DDR3 motherboards tested). Any confirmation or update on that?

Thanks.

Situation is very fluid right now, it depends on the manufacturer, some will have both boards launching at the same time, some will have DDR2 first, then DDR3, and vice versa.

 

[asdftt123]

Gigabyte, for example, will be releasing the DDR2 edition first and the DDR3 version will follow 2-3 weeks later, according to tech support. IMO, unless there is a significant increase in performance with DDR3 with these boards (say 15%+) then there should be no reason to get a DDR3 board unless you happen to be an enthusiast. This board will be obsolete in a year with the release of Nehalem and new chipset and by then there will be cheaper and faster DDR3.

 

[brencat]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
See if this works -

X38 - Q6600 OC - Air - Vista - 4GB - DDR2-1200

I have not pushed it yet, but 3.6GHz on air with 1.375V and completely stable under Vista with 4GB of memory at DDR2-1200 is an indicator of a fairly good Q6600 and probably motherboard.

:shocked: Salivating over here...

I know it's a bit early but are any of the X38s going to be sub $200 ? Or are they targeted at the enthusiast $$$ level only?

 

[markymoo]

It's so confusing.

I wish someone had answers for us.

Because I'm not going to get a potential X38 with DDR2 and then throw away the CPU when it's time to get penryn and then throw out X38 when Neh comes out.

Pffffft!!!! Help.


GhandiInstinct you're reading my mind I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for an upgrade. There is so much new technology coming out at the same timeish which is making it very difficult to pull the trigger. Og course no one wants to drop lots of money on a new PC and have it outdated in a month or two but at the same time most of these technologies that are coming out are very expensive and I'm not sure it's worth the wait.

The way it's looking for me now is I'll grab a p35 board which will support Penryn in case I want to upgrade down the road, put a E6750 or 6850, stick some inexpensive DDR2 in the mobo and grab an Nvidia 8800 card from EVGA in hopes that I can use their step up program to buy a new G92 card within 90 days of purchase.

[/quote]

Ok I have an answer. You wait! and save a heap of money. You skip the X38 and Penryn upgrades next year and with your wise patience and money saved your rewarded with a Nehalem (say goodbye to the nb) which will give you a more satisfying speed increase and fun oc benefits, and can be smug in the knowledge that others threw away there cash too soon and wont be able to get a nehalem. checkmate. Also in the meantime you can enjoy your present system speed knowing you would of only got a small performance increase in real terms if you upgrade shortly which is not worth spending a bundle on only to upgrade again soon after.

 

[nrb]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
See if this works -

X38 - Q6600 OC - Air - Vista - 4GB - DDR2-1200

Yup, that works.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: asdftt123
Gigabyte, for example, will be releasing the DDR2 edition first and the DDR3 version will follow 2-3 weeks later, according to tech support. IMO, unless there is a significant increase in performance with DDR3 with these boards (say 15%+) then there should be no reason to get a DDR3 board unless you happen to be an enthusiast. This board will be obsolete in a year with the release of Nehalem and new chipset and by then there will be cheaper and faster DDR3.

Yep, and that's exactly what I want to hear. My eVGA 680i was damaged while removing a waterblock backplate, so I'm in the market for a new board. I don't want to go out and spend a bunch on DDR3... but the 680i is already a year old. If I'm going to spend nearly the same amount anyway, why not get something new and updated?

The one time I did buy a Gigabyte board (P965-DS3) it was for someone else, but it was definately nice to work with. Maybe it's time to give them another shot...

 

[CapnBiggles]

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Originally posted by: nrb

Originally posted by: Gary Key
[Everest Results - X38 Stock]

How about posting thats somewhere where I can actually see it? I have to say, this practice of posting images on Anandtech in such a way that they don't make it past firewalls was already getting old about three years ago. Any chance you guys might do something about that? Ever?

See if this works -

X38 - Q6600 OC - Air - Vista - 4GB - DDR2-1200

Anything hosted off a third-party or similarly-hosted imaging hosting service will most likely not work either for work blacklisting services and firewalls. The only way people behind these will see them most likely is if they are hosted an a relatively benign registered domain as part of a standard directory.

That's not all the time though, I'm just seeing more and more of it like that, like where I work. I had to go home to view the pics, but no harm no foul there.

This is all very exciting

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
The one time I did buy a Gigabyte board (P965-DS3) it was for someone else, but it was definately nice to work with. Maybe it's time to give them another shot...

I'm definitely interested in Gigabyte's offering so far.

 

[dinos22]

G'Day Gary

How's things

good to see some early numbers. Can you put me out of my misery and put up some SuperPi numbers at say 3.6Ghz and put some posts up on memory settings with maxmem if you can

waiting another few weeks is waaay to long to find out for myself hahaha

what's the go with X48 chipset?????

dinos22

 

[helix2]

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Add to all this mess, the new G92 graphics cards from Nvidia with DirectX10.1 support. While 8800GTX's now still cost near $600.

Do not count on the G92 until sometime next year (probably early spring) if that helps the budget. You can expect the price slides on the GTX cards to occur over the holiday season based on current chip/memory prices to the manufacturers for Q4 production rates. There is no need for NVIDIA to release the follow-up until AMD is ready with the R700 series.

Any word on when their next sli chipset will be out? hoping that the next one is less buggy than 680i/650i

 

[CapnBiggles]

Originally posted by: helix2

Originally posted by: Gary Key

Add to all this mess, the new G92 graphics cards from Nvidia with DirectX10.1 support. While 8800GTX's now still cost near $600.

Do not count on the G92 until sometime next year (probably early spring) if that helps the budget. You can expect the price slides on the GTX cards to occur over the holiday season based on current chip/memory prices to the manufacturers for Q4 production rates. There is no need for NVIDIA to release the follow-up until AMD is ready with the R700 series.

Any word on when their next sli chipset will be out? hoping that the next one is less buggy than 680i/650i

Amen brother, amen.

 

[eva2000]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
It is possible for Quad-CrossFire support on the X38 based on the amount of PCI-e lanes available and controller design, whether anyone will do it up front is a best guess at this time.

woah we need psu with 4x 8pin PCI-E hehe

future is looking expensive but fun

 

[lopri]

The Everest number is slightly disappointing (Especially at DDR2-1200) but I guess BIOS is still in its infant form. Memory Copy improved quite a bit, however, compared to 975X. But I'm expecting a lot from this chipset personally because I think there hasn't truly been a successor to 975X in many accounts. (performance, feature, stability, you name it)

 

[renethx]

Originally posted by: helix2
Any word on when their next sli chipset will be out? hoping that the next one is less buggy than 680i/650i

C72 in October 2007 and C73 in December 2007.

VR-Zone: NVIDIA Next Gen. PCIe 2.0 GPU & MCP In Nov

 

[bka4u2c]

Originally posted by: renethx

Originally posted by: helix2
Any word on when their next sli chipset will be out? hoping that the next one is less buggy than 680i/650i

C72 in October 2007 and C73 in December 2007.

VR-Zone: NVIDIA Next Gen. PCIe 2.0 GPU & MCP In Nov

I knew nVidia wouldn't won't to miss out of the money from SLI motherboard sales. Especially after their record second quarter this fiscal year. It looks like it'll be later than the X38 but the 680i was later than 965/975 wasn't it?