Intel DX38BT/DX48BT2 (Bone Trail)

[Sandog]

You know this new IDCC is sweet IMO because it is small and professional looking. It lets you do everything from inside Windows related to every bus and voltage setting along with temp monitoring and fan control all while your running the Passmark burn-in benchmarks. So simple and straight forward. If you review the BIOS settings in any new ASUS board they are as long as your leg which really looks like a hassle IMO. This new IDCC keeps it fun and simple although this version is a beta I believe and has a lot of bugs yet which are outlined in the readme.doc. It says it takes 20s to load even I am sure Intel will improve on this new software due to the inevitable success of the highly over-clockable Pengrins coming out.

[Sandog]

More news related to the X48 chipset from THG. Looks like the QX9770 CPU will have a higher TDP and that the X48 chipset board might have beefier regulators. If this is all the difference the X48 has over the X38 and you do not plan on buying this 1600 FSB CPU then I would consider getting the X38 chipset. The X38 chipset boards seem to OC the QX9650 to over 4GHz no problem. For those of you who like to upgrade to the fastest thing around I don't see the X48 decision as too critical since both the X38 and X48 Intel boards will be very second rate as soon as the Nehalem chipset arrives.

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770: UPDATE | Tom's Hardware

[acuras]

What can you tell me about the Nehalem chipset. I have been waiting to to get the dx48bt, but want to know I wont be left behind in a matter of months after getting it. Also, why is the control center not available in vista 64 bit?

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by acuras

What can you tell me about the Nehalem chipset. I have been waiting to to get the dx48bt, but want to know I wont be left behind in a matter of months after getting it. Also, why is the control center not available in vista 64 bit?

Nehalem chipsets will be out Q4,'08 unless Intel slows down. Most likely the new chipsets will still have an offboard MCH because most desktop chips will have the internal memory controller disabled except for the Extreme Edition CPU. Still these chips will be much faster than what we see today with Penryn. The Nehalem chips will require a larger CPU socket and will most likely only work with DDR3. From history I do not see an problem free upgrade to Nehalem when it first arrives. Penryn is rock solid though. The new IDCC probably does work with 64bit or will shortly.

[fvbounty]

There's hope for low latency DDR3 check out this review....cas 4 at 1333 now where talking, only thing 2.3 volts...

Legit Reviews - Tight CL4 Timings On DDR3 Memory Is Possible! - DDR3 1333MHz Memory at 4-4-4-12 Timings?

[traveler]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

You always pay more for latest technology, it's all in how you look at it, I payed $350 for my Corsair 3500LL pro memory 2 years ago!!!!...I just got 2 gigs of Corsair 1600 DDR3 for $391...What ever floats your boat....

Which ones did you get. I was just looking at DDR3 1600 and 1800.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

That's to bad I had high hopes for Crossfire, I was thinking on Crossfire with 2x3870's but now I'll just wait for the G92 - 8800gts to come out in Dec.....

I'm thinking 2x3870 CrossFire. A single 3870 does fall a bit behind the 8800GTS and the 8800GTX but I think two in CrossFire should pass them.

I'm not even looking at the 3850's. Can't blame Sandog for returning them.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by traveler

Which ones did you get. I was just looking at DDR3 1600 and 1800.

I got the Corsair TWIN3X2048-1600C7DHXIN 2GB PC3-12800 with XMP on a compo deal at Newegg which has a $100 off the price of the ram (from $491 fown to $391), I think I'll get the G92 - 8800gts now and step up in feb to the latest...What cpu are you going with?

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by traveler

I'm thinking 2x3870 CrossFire. A single 3870 does fall a bit behind the 8800GTS and the 8800GTX but I think two in CrossFire should pass them.

I'm not even looking at the 3850's. Can't blame Sandog for returning them.

I read new CrossFireX drivers are arriving January which might have helped me significantly but my return option would have expired by then. I was hoping ATI would have a better performing card based on the 55nm die size that would compete with the 8800GTX but I guess since it was based off a die-shrink of then 2900XT that wouldn't happen. The new 8800GTS 512 coming out soon apparently only equals the old 8800GTX in performance and sucks as much power so the only difference will be price. It will probalby get bumped off my wish list also.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by Sandog

I read new CrossFireX drivers are arriving January which might have helped me significantly but my return option would have expired by then. I was hoping ATI would have a better performing card based on the 55nm die size that would compete with the 8800GTX but I guess since it was based off a die-shrink of then 2900XT that wouldn't happen. The new 8800GTS 512 coming out soon apparently only equals the old 8800GTX in performance and sucks as much power so the only difference will be price. It will probalby get bumped off my wish list also.

I saw the power numbers on the G92- 8800gts and your right, I thought with a die shrink it would be more power efficient? If I get the 8800 now I hope the 9xxx series will be out within the 90 day step up program window...

Nvidia to launch GeForce 9 series in February

[Sandog]

That is the card I would be waiting for then. Looks like NVidia will be keeping ahead of ATI.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by Sandog

It's a tough choice but fortunately not too expensive. If you want FPS and a single card I would definitely pick NVidia. If you want two red cards for a total of $360 that have DX10.1, run 50W at idle, and are as fast as an 8800GTX then go ATI. I am pinning my expectations on future CrossFire support as neither new ATI card by itself is faster than what I currently have.

Two red card 3870's go for $429 and roar past any single 8800 card which exceeds $500. (Don't know why you tried the 3850's) I look at in game frame rate tests.

For $429 looks like I'll try CrossFire on the X38 chipset and look at the single card 9000 series performance and price in March.

[fvbounty]

Originally Posted by traveler

Two red card 3870's go for $429 and roar past any single 8800 card which exceeds $500. (Don't know why you tried the 3850's) I look at in game frame rate tests.

For $429 looks like I'll try CrossFire on the X38 chipset and look at the single card 9000 series performance and price in March.

Isn't there a lot of games that don't work on Crossfire?

[ATINUT]

Most of the games out there, to my knowledge were designed for SLI not Crossfire. Case and point, look at Call Of Duty 2, it has no options with the game to enable Crossfire, but has an option to enable SLI.

This is another reason I bailed out on ATI.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by fvbounty

Isn't there a lot of games that don't work on Crossfire?

I just googled the issue.

Seems that back in 2006 there were issues which were corrected by updated CAT drivers.

As ATINUT says, there is no in game control option for Crossfire as there is for SLI. The Crossfire control for the game is built into the CAT driver. That's why there was a Crossfire activation hotfix CAT driver as soon as Crysis hit the retail shelf. That Crossfire activation hotfix switch is now part of the CAT 7.11 driver which very recently was released. Don't we all update drivers for all our new games anyway? Driver writers are always writing better drivers for games.

Some people like to see the switch in the game and thus like the SLI switch visable in the game options. They don't like the automatic activation in the video driver or to rely on the video card driver writer. Some games that I do or will do that I know are Crossfire activated are Oblivion, Prey, HalfLife 2, BioShock, and Crysis. There must be a complete list somewhere. And a single 3800 series card should be more than enough for older games with or without an SLI switch in the options.

I never did Crossfire before. Since the X38 board supports it, it looks like I'll be relying on the ATI and/or Omega driver writers. The Omega forums I know are very busy and driver writing is constantly being done there. So for about $400 bucks I'll give it a try.