ASUS Prepares X38 Express Motherboard

[ZilverPhish]

gimme! ddr2 pref, no way I´m jumping towards ddr3!

[Face]

Not sure if youv'e seen this one out yet guys. this is from a user in a different forum :

ASUS X38 Motherboard Design Doubts:

Originally Posted by oscarin@ngohq:

I've spent some time looking at this preliminar design picture that was posted in DailyTech.

So here are my concerns:

a) Location of Memory Modules v/s First PCI-E Slot.

b) The location of the First PCI express is plain bad.

c) Adding a third party coooling solution on Crossfire is UNTHINKABLE.

d) Adding a soundcard, can we?

e) Bad location of the Agere IDE Adapter.

f) Lack of Second Lan Adapter.

Full post with explanations here

[Anemone]

Yeah I'm also hopeful for DDR2 or a 6 slot DDR2 DDR3 combo X38 from Asus. Kind of curious why they don't do digital pwm as well, but the P35's were pretty solid on voltage I guess. Still think it's about time they at least had a few boards with digital pwm on the high end.

DDR2 though is the only way to fly for now - too much $$ for 3.

[Aldy402]

Not sure if youv'e seen this one out yet guys. this is from a user in a different forum :

ASUS X38 Motherboard Design Doubts:





Full post with explanations here

1)well actually he's wrong, there is enough clearance for the video cards. Once the ram is in place the white support clips are clicked in allowing clearance.

2)Both lan ports are in the same "box", they consolidated it this time wit the new chipset instead of using a marvel and a realtek

3)nobody uses ide anymore anyways and even so , its not that big of an issue
, i actually like the placement

4)the pci-e slots give more then enough room for any cooling.... as you can see. theres a lot of room. what coolers do you know that go past the nb anyway? NONE

that picture was over criticized and not thought out, jumped to conclusions too quickly without scanning the mobo further

[MpG]

I don't see those criticisms myself. It looks to me like someone running a pair of double-width GPU's still has a good variety of expansion slots left. Wouldn't have hurt if one of those PCI-E x1 was a x4, but no big deal. Really, anyone who considers PCI-E x1 spots to be 'useless' is probably still looking for a second IDE slot as well.

I have to give props to the location for the 8-pin power connector. Up high near the edge, easy to tuck the cable out of the way.

[naro]

i just hope that the manufacturers will come out with x38 boards with DDR2 support.

btw, Intel X38 chipset will have how many PCIe lanes??

Southbridge will be using ICH9R chipset?? how many PCIe lanes for this SB?

thanks

[Omastar]

I dunno...I'm kind of feeling underwhelmed by X38 so far. I was really excited, but now that I think about it all I want is good FSB (for quads) and RAM clocking...I highly doubt I'd ever use CF, anyway.

The high-end DFI P35 T2R is looking as good as these X38 boards look.

BTW, I do like the IHS on the NB, though. I hope we won't run into issues with them being concave like we do on CPU IHSes. I mean, it's great to not have to worry about damaging the delicate NB core, but can you imagine lapping your NB?

[strange|ife]

people still use ide! tons of people..its not going anywhere anytime soon. I still have ide burners. Once they die i will replace with sata.

nice looking board, but ill be waiting till next year, once they get the kinks worked out.

my p35 is fine for now

[qdemn7]

Intel X38 Motherboard Gallery

Thanks for the link. I really like the look of those Abit boards with the digital PWM.

[vegettoxp]

Well I can't wait for both Intel and Asus X38 Based Motherboards. I have be waiting for ever. I know P35 was good, but I like X38 better. Reagrding the IDE Port subject, I done't need to see them anymore for me of course. The system I am building are gona have all my HD's and all my Roms in SATA Setup. I am done with IDE and Flopply Drives.

Just any FYI, Whos' better Intel or Asus Motherboard? I have 875PBZ right now.

X38 Here I Come!

[Supershanks]

when i mean removable, i mean the actual PIPES itself...

so if i was to WC the NB and SB, i could remove the pipe leading to the MOSFETS and still use the heatsinks on the MOSFETS

I think they could easily make holes for the heatsink and heatpipes that we could insert ourselves that can be fastened with nuts

anybody feel me on this?

yep i appreciate & sympathise with your views but at the end of the day the mobo manufacturers love them as their almost like an advertising hoarding for them to hang some diiferential on witness MSI P35 Platinum Mainboard - rollercoaster heatpipes as an extreme example So aren't holding my breath to see anyone do something as helpful as you suggest

[Face]

1)well actually he's wrong, there is enough clearance for the video cards. Once the ram is in place the white support clips are clicked in allowing clearance.

2)Both lan ports are in the same "box", they consolidated it this time wit the new chipset instead of using a marvel and a realtek

3)nobody uses ide anymore anyways and even so , its not that big of an issue
, i actually like the placement

4)the pci-e slots give more then enough room for any cooling.... as you can see. theres a lot of room. what coolers do you know that go past the nb anyway? NONE

that picture was over criticized and not thought out, jumped to conclusions too quickly without scanning the mobo further

Thanks Aldy402.

Yeah I wasn't sure for myself, so I posted it anyways so you guys who are the real experts can analyze this properly

[GameGuru]

Been doing a little more digging around the internet with some answers to my questions? This is what I've found so far, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

1) X38 will NOT support SLI being that it's Intel's chipset, Nvida will be releasing there own chipset sometime in November.

2) Expect prices in the $250~$300 range up front. Most of the manufacturers will also have DDR2 based boards for the $175~$250 market. Eventually, a few of those DDR2 boards should drop down to the $150 range or under.

3) Good news, DDR2 boards will be shipping at the same time, if not sooner than DDR3 now. The situation is extremely fluid but it appears we will have both memory types up front now.

Quotes were taken from Anand Tech here http://forums.anandtech.com/messagev...VIEWTMP=Linear

[BulldogPO]

All we need is good pre-views of DDR2 based X38 mobos.
When does NDA end?

[ChaosMinionX]

All we need is good pre-views of DDR2 based X38 mobos.
When does NDA end?

Should be very soon, since early estimates on shipping are first/second week of september.

[BulldogPO]

I´m hoping for something like Asus Blitz Formula with X38 chipset, and thos fusion block.