X38 or X48

JHONO · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:02

Hi all upgrading and im stuck between these two, mainly the Asus ones.

im upgrading everything else but keeping my Corsair XMS 2 DDR2 800 Memory but would like an X38 or X48 just to be future proof.

Would like an X38 but i think ive heard that these boards dont support dual PCI-
E x16 (16 lanes to each port)?

:confused:

Cob · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:04

X38 and X48 both have 2 x x16 lanes when running Crossfire (they're basically the exact same thing).

reflux · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:05

X38 and X48 are functionally identical, the only difference is that the X48 boards are supposedly higher-speed binned. You may as well save some cash and get an X38. Can confirm they work fine for dual graphics as I had two 3870s running at the beginning of the year.

Tetras · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:10

Would like an X38 but i think ive heard that these boards dont support dual PCI-
E x16 (16 lanes to each port)?

You are probably getting confused with P35 or P45. P35 is PCI-E 1.1 and 16X/4X, P45 is PCI-E 2.0 and 8X/8X (equivalent to 16X/16X if it was PCI-E 1.1).

JHONO · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:17

reflux said:
X38 and X48 are functionally identical, the only difference is that the X48 boards are supposedly higher-speed binned. You may as well save some cash and get an X38. Can confirm they work fine for dual graphics as I had two 3870s running at the beginning of the year.

Cool, both running in X16 PCI-E?

Just want to show you all something, read the first page of this:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/motherboards/review/2007/11/02/Asus-Maximus-Extreme/p1

Its mainly the middle bit im conserned about, about the crosslinks chip

Thanks

reflux · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:28

JHONO said:
Cool, both running in X16 PCI-E?

Just want to show you all something, read the first page of this:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/motherboards/review/2007/11/02/Asus-Maximus-Extreme/p1

Its mainly the middle bit im conserned about, about the crosslinks chip

Thanks

X38 and X48 natively support 2x PCI-E slots at 16x/16x.

CrossLinx on the Maximus Extreme is an Asus feature, designed to give you a third PCI-E slot on a board with a chipset that doesn't natively support it. So if you were to install a third graphics card in the third slot, the CrossLinx chip splits the bandwidth to 16x/8x/8x.

JHONO · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:33

Thanks only planning to have two 4870X2's, so they should run in x16 per slot?

Also planning on keeping my existing memory (as shown below) till i can save for DDR3, would i notice much of a performance decrease if i keep my extising RAM? since after all its going to be a powerful spec. Q9550 ect

Thanks

Cob · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:36

reflux · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:37

JHONO said:
Thanks only planning to have two 4870X2's, so they should run in x16 per slot?

Thanks

Running 2x4870X2s, you should upgrade your CPU, cos you're gonna be bottlenecked with that E6600. And I hope you're running 2560x1600 as well, or it's a waste.

JHONO · 29 Aug 2008 at 14:40

Yeah like i Said im Upgrading the CPU to an Q9550 but keeping the existing Memory, so i can get the money together for DDR3 Modules. Would there be a bottel neck though with keeping this existing RAM The DDR2 800?

JHONO · 29 Aug 2008 at 15:17

Asha'man · 30 Aug 2008 at 00:53

Your existing memory should be okay in the X38 board..If its good memory it should have no problems at all with overclocking.

Tetras · 30 Aug 2008 at 12:45

Would there be a bottel neck though with keeping this existing RAM The DDR2 800?

The Q9550 uses an 8.5 multi so with PC2-6400 you can get 3400 Mhz out of it (8.5 x 333).

Not much of an overclock allowed unfortunately but plenty enough for games.

JHONO · 30 Aug 2008 at 14:06

Yeah no worries boys thanks. Not going to overclock right away keeping it at stock for a bit so its not an issue at the moment. Was wondering if it will be ok in general which it will be so thanks very much!

Also just found out that i cant use my Existing DDR2 memory with a Maximus extreme X38. However my solution to this the maximus Formula DDR2 Board.

Is this board good by the way? would like hear from people who have it?

Also since i might as well keep DDR2 that means i can get the Dominator 8500 4GB by corsair which is very good ive found out.

One more thing would keeping DDR2 for now be good solution? since i know intel have new CPU's and a new LGA socket type coming out in the end of the year.
Thing is i cant be bothered waiting and when the times comes it will just be too expensive.

So to put it simple would i get a good year out of DDR2 when it comes to games since i only plan on keeping specs for a year at a time then i upgrade again?

Thanks

Tetras · 30 Aug 2008 at 17:12

One more thing would keeping DDR2 for now be good solution? since i know intel have new CPU's and a new LGA socket type coming out in the end of the year.

X58 uses tri-channel DDR3 kits (not yet on sale), meaning any dual channel DDR3 kit you buy now might not be compatible (cos you'd have to mix and match and seeing as it is Intels first integrated memory controller it might be very fussy about memory!).

4GB of PC2-8500 is around £60 - £70 (nearly half the price of cheapest DDR3 kit) so I'd stick with it.