Which is better P35 or X38

[Eastcoasthandle]

I've been doing some research and getting some mixed signals as to which is better for OC and overall better performance. From what I've researched here and elsewhere the P35 and X38 offer comparable OC'ing capabilities. The only real difference I found between the P35 and X38 is that X38 offers PCI Express 2.0 and dual PCIe 16x slots, that's it. While the P35 offers 8x/8x. Here is one thread discussing dual 16x difference between the 2. Here you can read a about it.

But that still leaves the burning question, "which is better P35 or X38?" There are still people who prefer only 1 video card so we want to know if the X38 is better then the P35. We know the P35 and X38 offers far better OC capabilities but that's really no answer between the 2. So we look to Legion Hardware which created a article to answer this question.

The X38 produced just 1.8% more memory bandwidth in SiSoft XII when compared to the P35 chipset. Similar performance margins were also witnessed in EVEREST and MemTach, which indicates that the X38 memory performance is only slightly improved. Keep in mind that we are using a 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo processor (E6850) with 1333MHz DDR3 memory. Therefore both chipsets were tested using the updated 1333MHz front side bus.

Source

When clocked at the same frequency the X38 chipset provides exactly the same processor performance as the P35 chipset.

In reference to SPI, Everest and Sandra XIII results.

Now for the all important gaming performance that we have selected Prey, Company of Heroes and Quake Wars as the test subjects for. These games were handpicked because they are influenced not only by GPU performance, but also CPU and RAM performance. Therefore they are good games to measure overall system performance with; a bad example would be F.E.A.R! As you can see, the X38 was really no faster than the P35 chipset when it came time to game. The only real performance difference was seen in Prey at 1920x1200, where the X38 was seen to be around 6fps faster.

Source

Again, although Intel did claim that the X38 was a much better overclocker, we failed to prove this when testing with the new ASUS P5E3 Deluxe motherboard. The P5K3 Deluxe was just as impressive and both boards managed a 100% stable overclock of 3.64GHz using the Thermalright Ultra-120 heatsink.

Source

Here are some results using some X38 MBs and P35. As you can see, I can't see a decisive winner here. I am sure there are other websites that have written a good comparison between the P35 and X38. However, it's not as cut and dry which one is better.

Now I am not sure about quad core performance but as you can see, I can't seem to find where X38 takes a decisive win over P35 from the few links I've posted so far. Can anyone offer any input on this situation? IE: which is better in performance and OC-ability the P35 or X38?

[Brother Esau]

Not worth it outside of te extra PCI-E Bandwidth if you already have P35

[Revv23]

IMO there isn't any reason to get the X38.... IIRC hipro found that it wasnt even faster in crossfire.

[NickS]

The price difference between P35 and X38 is too large to justify buying an X38 motherboard if you're the regular user. If you need those extra 200 points in 3D Mark, X38 is for you, but most of us don't go for WR's daily.

[Eastcoasthandle]

Great feedback so far. For those that prefer P35 which MB do you recommend? The same goes for anyone that prefers X38?

[Scubar]

Ive currently got the Asus Blitz Formula ( Absolutely awesome board ) , All reviews and comparisons ive seen its actually been better than the Asus Maximus Formula and Gigabyte X38 DQ6 which pretty much makes it the best board available still. There isnt any benefit of having X38 chipset unless u feel the need to say u have a PCI-E 2.0 compatible motherboard even though everyone knows that PCI-E 2.0 makes no difference over PCI-E

[Eastcoasthandle]

Ive currently got the Asus Blitz Formula ( Absolutely awesome board ) , All reviews and comparisons ive seen its actually been better than the Asus Maximus Formula and Gigabyte X38 DQ6 which pretty much makes it the best board available still. There isnt any benefit of having X38 chipset unless u feel the need to say u have a PCI-E 2.0 compatible motherboard even though everyone knows that PCI-E 2.0 makes no difference over PCI-E

Here is one article that echo's your thoughts

[Brother Esau]

Sig

[Eastcoasthandle]

Here is a thought, the Blitz Formula is hard to find and when you do find it, costs as mush as a Maximus Formula SE. So the real question is, "If they both offer similar OC and Performance why not just get the X38 instead?"

[Supershanks]

Understand the point about asus blitz , but as it's not available, it's largely irrelevent.
A thing you haven't touched on is stability. Your points are valid on clock to clock comparisons.

I've moved from p5k deluxe to gigabyte x38 dq6. 3.6 is my stock 24/7 running. It's pretty similar. Further overclocks such as 8x465 is 12hr prime stable on the x38, couldn't do that on p5k. Trying various other higher clocks have found similar things.

Now this might nort be an X38 v P35 thing, just a difference between these boards who knows??

It's a bit like the old arguments that used to fly about about 965 v 975. Then it was perhaps more relevant as there was quite an age different between the chipsets. P35 & X38 are though more closely related.

So my option isn't listed x38 is more stable than P35

luck

[Scubar]

Yea the only place i found my Blitz was at Novatech.co.uk , and the best thing is that it only cost me £160 compared to the Maximus which was £190 at the time Saved money and got a better board, i was well chuffed.

I think your results must be purely down to the boards, it seems on Ocing they are practically identical, both reaching around 580-590 on Dual cores and 480-500 on Quads.

[Eastcoasthandle]

Understand the point about asus blitz , but as it's not available, it's largely irrelevent.
A thing you haven't touched on is stability. Your points are valid on clock to clock comparisons.

I've moved from p5k deluxe to gigabyte x38 dq6. 3.6 is my stock 24/7 running. It's pretty similar. Further overclocks such as 8x465 is 12hr prime stable on the x38, couldn't do that on p5k. Trying various other higher clocks have found similar things.

Now this might nort be an X38 v P35 thing, just a difference between these boards who knows??

It's a bit like the old arguments that used to fly about about 965 v 975. Then it was perhaps more relevant as there was quite an age different between the chipsets. P35 & X38 are though more closely related.

So my option isn't listed x38 is more stable than P35

luck

Thanks for the feedback. Won't better OC/performance be the same thing

[camouflage]

I vote for X38 - couldn't do this on my previous ASUS P35 board:

[Eastcoasthandle]

^^^^^
What is the make/model of your ram?

[LiViD]

Previous Asus board....

If it was your P5K from Hexus, that is normal. That board wasn't known for the best overclocks, so you can't blame the P35 for that.

The X38 did the worst for me, not being able to get above 400 FSB on the X38-DQ6. The P35-DS3R had no issue getting up to 430.

[camouflage]

^^^^^
What is the make/model of your ram?

CELLSHOCK DDR2-1150 (the "red devils" ).

Here is the X38 / RAM performance for compario @ 4GHz:

Everest read




Everest write




Everest copy




Everest latency



RAM @ 2.34 / NB @ 1.41 volts for this test.

[zsamz_]

this is not the best for p35 but i like low volts
second one is x38 at higher clock

[Supershanks]

Thanks for the feedback. Won't better OC/performance be the same thing

No
Have just said performance isn't necessarily better on X38
Both boards have the ability to hit & boot into the OS with the same OC.

Difference is that the X38 generally stays running at the selected OC longer.= Better Stability

luck

[zsamz_]

No
Have just said performance isn't necessarily better on X38
Both boards have the ability to hit & boot into the OS with the same OC.

Difference is that the X38 generally stays running at the selected OC longer.= Better Stability

luck

well i was never stable on x38
os would not last 3 days
i'm @ 525fsb 25/7 on p35 and workin 100%
only stable under 450fsb if i wanted 450fsb i woulda stayed with 965 chipset

[Eastcoasthandle]

Well it looks like PRICE is the determining factor of which MB to buy. After doing more research the Asus Blitz is viewed as the best P35 board of all time! However, they are very difficult to find/buy . As for the X38 it appears there are some growing pains regarding bios. Once a decent bios update is released, more confidence is gain. I wonder if anyone would buy a X38 if Blitz was still around below $190?



Mental Note:
The difference between:
Maximus Formula and Maximus Formula SE: the fusion water block on the northbridge chipset, that's it, nothing more nothing less.
P5E and Maximus Formula/SE: P5E only has 1 lan connection, the Maximus has 2, P5E doesn't include the LCD Poster nor is their a connection on the MB for it. There are other differences...
P5E and P5E3/Extreme: The P5E3/Deluxe uses DDR3 there are other differences...
I want to thank everyone for their feedback!

[MIS3]

There is another Asus X38 board, P5E-WS Professional, 2 LAN ports, 2 ESATA ports, no LCD Poster.

For me, the Asus X38 lineup is very confusing. The regular (P5E), ROG (Maximus Formula) and WS (P5E-WS) versions are all too similar. Over here in Toronto, their prices are almost the same as well.

[screwtech02]

So, going from 975x to X38 would be a better upgrade???

[Eastcoasthandle]

So, going from 975x to X38 would be a better upgrade???

For OC'ing E6X50 CPUs yes it is. But if you have a E6X00 I would keep what you have unless you are having some issue. The ole saying still applies, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

[screwtech02]

Opps, need to update the sig, just got a Q6600.... My bad...

[Eastcoasthandle]

I am also reading some information that you cannot reach 1800 dram frequency with X38. Maybe that's were X48 steps in? The highest I found so far with X38 is 1333 dram frequency. Can anyone with DDR3 ram of either 1600 or 1800 confirm if you can use those speeds with X38? The TWIN3X20481800C7DFIN would seem to be the logical choice if you go DDR3 however there are more options with 1600
However, I haven't found any info that suggest you can do dram frequency of 1600 with an x38 either

Does anyone have any info about the highest dram frequency for the X38 using DDR3?