Intel Launches X38 Express chipset: Reviews Inside

jmke · 10th October 2007, 09:25

Back in May, Intel launched the P35 Express chipset, a replacement for its popular 965P. Classified as a mid-range product, the P35 added official support for front-side bus speeds up to 1333MHz, came bundled with a new ICH9R south bridge chip, and became the first desktop chipset to support DDR3 memory. Enthusiasts lapped it up, and in the months since, we've seen a wave of P35 motherboards that offer great performance and tantalizing overclocking potential.

Intel's mid-range chipsets have traditionally been excellent, so the P35's success wasn't a surprise. That success also raised expectations for Intel's new high-end core logic chipset: the X38 Express. This isn't a new trend; the all-around goodness typical of Intel's mid-range chipsets has long made it difficult for the company's flagship offerings to shine.

Topping the P35 Express won't be easy, but Intel has a few tricks up its sleeve with the X38. Chief among them is next-gen PCI Express 2.0 connectivity—a first for desktop chipsets—with enough lanes for dual-x16 CrossFire configurations. As is customary for its high-end chipsets, Intel has also rolled out memory controller optimizations that promise faster performance and support for higher DDR3 memory speeds.

To find out whether these perks are enough to elevate the X38 Express over its blue-collar P35 sibling, we've run the first X38 boards from Asus and Gigabyte through a relentless series of memory controller, application, and peripheral performance tests. Read on to see how the X38 fares and what you can expect from the first wave of motherboards based on this new chipset.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/13351

-- Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 Review
-- http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...Chipset_Debuts
-- http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...abyte_x38-dq6/
-- Asus : http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/ind...75&Item id=27

jmke · 10th October 2007, 09:57

Pretty much as expected, the P35 is already very competitive, the X38 doesn't really distinguish itself; the only feature the P35 lacks is PCIE 2.0, so the X38 is a bit more future proof. Both Asus and Gigabyte boards also offer 1600FSB support, so upcoming Intel CPUs should work perfectly on them

Sidney · 10th October 2007, 18:50

I seriously doubt the new X38 DDR3 will take off. Assuming the same time frame taken DDR2 to get to where it is at with the help from C2D and the drop in price on both fronts (memory and Intel Processors), it is unlikely people are waiting in line to spend $500 on memory and $200 on new board to gain a few percentage points.

We are beginning to run out of tracks for all the so called high speed vehicles coming onboard in the last two years.

As I am cruising at max legal speed, my e2140 at 2.93 GHz is providing me efficient DVD ripping time, super low CPU temp with stock cooler, low power consumption and, unless I find better use of my PC skill for better term improving my PC skill, I am content with what I have.

10th October 2007, 19:55

I wonder how the internally overclocked versions of the X38 chipsets do. Right now, I think the P35 is an awesome chipset that has a great value and the X38 won't change that, especially since I think people are still pissed about AGP getting killed without a need for it.

11th October 2007, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmke

Pretty much as expected, the P35 is already very competitive, the X38 doesn't really distinguish itself; the only feature the P35 lacks is PCIE 2.0, so the X38 is a bit more future proof. Both Asus and Gigabyte boards also offer 1600FSB support, so upcoming Intel CPUs should work perfectly on them

Only future proof as far as Nehalem? Or only future proof as far as X48...

Intel really botched up the launch on X38 if Anandtech's 1st page is anything to go by.

Not much point to releasing the "top-end" enthusiast chipset that hardly outperforms P35, then releasing a super-premium "overclocked" version called X48 soon after.

11th October 2007, 08:13

The question to me is only, will Intel make money with it?

Assuming that it is similar to the 975 to 965 situation where the 975 was a bad buy too, it will make money and X48 is just an excellent way of milking performance junkies more (I doubt that it costs much to develop and test it).

piotke · 11th October 2007, 08:19

Don't think you can compare this. 975 was released long before 965. 965 was introduced with C2D, and optimised for this.

Nog we have alredy a splendid p35, and an, apparantely, not thát much better X38....

11th October 2007, 13:29

I agree with you guys, certainly at this point in time.
If one could easily find generic 2gb DDR3 sticks for a competitive amount of cash I would certainly go for the newest chipset, certainly because of its PCI-E 2.0 support. Nvidia is also planning to roll out a chipset supporting PCI-E 2.0 and of course logically a PCI-E 2.0 compatible GPU will follow.
But it doesn't seem very likely that DDR3 prices will drop significantly at the time when Nvidia starts rolling out its next line of products.
We'll see. I'll take my pick early next year or so.

10th October 2007, 09:25	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,019	Intel Launches X38 Express chipset: Reviews Inside Back in May, Intel launched the P35 Express chipset, a replacement for its popular 965P. Classified as a mid-range product, the P35 added official support for front-side bus speeds up to 1333MHz, came bundled with a new ICH9R south bridge chip, and became the first desktop chipset to support DDR3 memory. Enthusiasts lapped it up, and in the months since, we've seen a wave of P35 motherboards that offer great performance and tantalizing overclocking potential. Intel's mid-range chipsets have traditionally been excellent, so the P35's success wasn't a surprise. That success also raised expectations for Intel's new high-end core logic chipset: the X38 Express. This isn't a new trend; the all-around goodness typical of Intel's mid-range chipsets has long made it difficult for the company's flagship offerings to shine. Topping the P35 Express won't be easy, but Intel has a few tricks up its sleeve with the X38. Chief among them is next-gen PCI Express 2.0 connectivity—a first for desktop chipsets—with enough lanes for dual-x16 CrossFire configurations. As is customary for its high-end chipsets, Intel has also rolled out memory controller optimizations that promise faster performance and support for higher DDR3 memory speeds. To find out whether these perks are enough to elevate the X38 Express over its blue-collar P35 sibling, we've run the first X38 boards from Asus and Gigabyte through a relentless series of memory controller, application, and peripheral performance tests. Read on to see how the X38 fares and what you can expect from the first wave of motherboards based on this new chipset. http://techreport.com/articles.x/13351 -- Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 Review -- http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/...Chipset_Debuts -- http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...abyte_x38-dq6/ -- Asus : http://www.elitebastards.com/cms/ind...75&Item id=27 __________________

10th October 2007, 09:57	#2
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,019	Pretty much as expected, the P35 is already very competitive, the X38 doesn't really distinguish itself; the only feature the P35 lacks is PCIE 2.0, so the X38 is a bit more future proof. Both Asus and Gigabyte boards also offer 1600FSB support, so upcoming Intel CPUs should work perfectly on them __________________

10th October 2007, 18:50	#3
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	I seriously doubt the new X38 DDR3 will take off. Assuming the same time frame taken DDR2 to get to where it is at with the help from C2D and the drop in price on both fronts (memory and Intel Processors), it is unlikely people are waiting in line to spend $500 on memory and $200 on new board to gain a few percentage points. We are beginning to run out of tracks for all the so called high speed vehicles coming onboard in the last two years. As I am cruising at max legal speed, my e2140 at 2.93 GHz is providing me efficient DVD ripping time, super low CPU temp with stock cooler, low power consumption and, unless I find better use of my PC skill for better term improving my PC skill, I am content with what I have. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

11th October 2007, 08:19	#7
piotke [M] Reviewer Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 5,003	Don't think you can compare this. 975 was released long before 965. 965 was introduced with C2D, and optimised for this. Nog we have alredy a splendid p35, and an, apparantely, not thát much better X38.... __________________ .

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10th October 2007, 19:55	#4
Rutar Posts: n/a	I wonder how the internally overclocked versions of the X38 chipsets do. Right now, I think the P35 is an awesome chipset that has a great value and the X38 won't change that, especially since I think people are still pissed about AGP getting killed without a need for it.

11th October 2007, 08:13	#6
Rutar Posts: n/a	The question to me is only, will Intel make money with it? Assuming that it is similar to the 975 to 965 situation where the 975 was a bad buy too, it will make money and X48 is just an excellent way of milking performance junkies more (I doubt that it costs much to develop and test it).

11th October 2007, 13:29	#8
Wolf2000me Posts: n/a	I agree with you guys, certainly at this point in time. If one could easily find generic 2gb DDR3 sticks for a competitive amount of cash I would certainly go for the newest chipset, certainly because of its PCI-E 2.0 support. Nvidia is also planning to roll out a chipset supporting PCI-E 2.0 and of course logically a PCI-E 2.0 compatible GPU will follow. But it doesn't seem very likely that DDR3 prices will drop significantly at the time when Nvidia starts rolling out its next line of products. We'll see. I'll take my pick early next year or so.