Intel DX38BT/DX48BT2 (Bone Trail)

[ATINUT]

If I was in the market for an X38 or X48 motherboard, the DX38BT or the DX48BT2 would be the one's for me.

I'm guessing the X48BT2 is gonna cost $299.99. Case and point, this is what I paid for my 975XBX2, and what I saw the DX38BT for recently.

[Mr Steveo]

If this describes your config, (or a config you have tried,)

- Running Vista
- One or more SATA CD/DVD drive(s.)
- AHCI mode in BIOS (not RAID.)
- Using Vista native "Standard AHCI1.0 Serial ATA Controller" driver (NOT Intel Matrix)
- You have no problem with your drives in My Computer and no acpi errors in Event Viewer.

If yes, could you be so kind as to list what drives you have hooked up to which ports, e.g. SATA port 0 = SATA port 1 = and so on through SATA port 5?

Thank you in advance.

[TQ]

Non sequitur?

[Mr Steveo]

Well, that sure was a stupid way for me to ask questions!
Heres something just about anyone can answer.

1. Which motherboard connector(s) do you have your CD/DVD drive attached to? (PATA, SATA0, SATA1, etc.)

2. When you installed your Intel Chipset INFs, wehre did you get them from? (The CD that came with mobo, Intels DX38BT page, Intels main download center?)

3. Did you install the Intel Matrix driver software?

4. Which BIOS version do you prefer?


I appreciate any / all replies.

[zapionics<alt>]

Hey Mr Steveo, hows your build going? Hope its smooth sailing!

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by Mr Steveo

1. Which motherboard connector(s) do you have your CD/DVD drive attached to? (PATA, SATA0, SATA1, etc.)

2. When you installed your Intel Chipset INFs, wehre did you get them from? (The CD that came with mobo, Intels DX38BT page, Intels main download center?)

3. Did you install the Intel Matrix driver software?

4. Which BIOS version do you prefer?

1. DVD/CD burner connected to SATA 1 and DVD-ROm connected to SATA 3

2. CD

3. I don't remember

4. I have 1507 right now. I going to update to 1521 though because I actually have a problem that needs to be fixed.

[Ford Freak]

BIOS ver. 1521 is out now.

Intel® Desktop Board DX38BTÂ*BIOS Update 1521 [BTX3810J.86A]

Here are some release notes/fixes since 1507.

BIOS Version 1521

About This Release:
- March 18, 2008
- BTX3810J.86A.1521.2008.0318.1426
- SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v7.6.0.1011
- SATA AHCI info:
Version UPSD src 12-03-2007 for ICH9
- PXE Nahum info:
Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.50

New Fixes/Features:
- Fixed Audio Codec SSID not being programmed after resume from
S3.
- Updated processor support.
- Add additional memory timing options in BIOS setup.
- Updated support to select the appropriate voltage based on CPU
and FSB speed.
- Updated support for DDR3-1600 memory.

BIOS Version 1513

About This Release:
- March 04, 2008
- BTX3810J.86A.1513.2008.0304.1726
- SATA RAID info:
Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v7.6.0.1011
- SATA AHCI info:
Version UPSD src 12-03-2007 for ICH9
- PXE Nahum info:
Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.50
- ME firmware build: None

New Fixes/Features:
- Updated MRC X38 v1.40 / X48 v1.20.
- Updated CPU VRef default values in automatic mode.
- Updated PCIe card detection in PCIe Slot 1 and 2.
- Fixed issue where optical drive caused hang during POST.

[Sandog]

Intel DX48BT2 Motherboard - Intel X48, Socket 775, ATX, Audio, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFire Ready, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0, Firewire, eSATA, RAID BOXDX48BT2 at TigerDirect.com

[zapionics<alt>]

Well I expect all the other companies will follow up with their boards shortly, although we have had the Gigabyte available here for a while already.

Does the Intel board have anything, um, missing in terms of features? I know that the Intel boards tend to be on the conservative side.

[TQ]

I tend to think that is something is "missing" from an Intel board chances are I didn't want or need it anyway.

It's kind of like saying a Rolls Royce Phantom is missing a turbocharger.

[zapionics<alt>]

Well, I guess I meant things like the audio solution; is it high quality and feature rich or are they managing costs and going for second best? What about the other devices on the board; quality or price sensitive? It maybe that the board implements all the features of the chipset (I would expect so being Intel!) but just not to the highest standard.

What about other features not related to chipset that are common but may not be present on this board um, examples, 4,6,8 phase power, extra fan headers, good cooling solution, extra connectivety options, etc.

[TQ]

Looks like I'll be getting a DX48BT2 sometime next month. Figured I'd go for an E78400 and some Mushkin DDR3 which has finally been released.
Time to retire the Bad Axe game machine and do a little upgrading.

[ATINUT]

Originally Posted by TQ

Looks like I'll be getting a DX48BT2 sometime next month. Figured I'd go for an E78400 and some Mushkin DDR3 which has finally been released.
Time to retire the Bad Axe game machine and do a little upgrading.

The onboard Audio on this board, is the same chip that is on the 975XBX2 and the X38BT.

My 975XBX2 isn't gonna retire anytime soon.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by TQ

Looks like I'll be getting a DX48BT2 sometime next month. Figured I'd go for an E78400 and some Mushkin DDR3 which has finally been released.
Time to retire the Bad Axe game machine and do a little upgrading.

Its using the Sigmatel 9274D, hows that compare with the AD 1988B ?

[TQ]

Dang, if you're asking me I don't know. I've never even fired up the on-board audio of either of my Bad Axe boards. For one, the game machine (that I'll be replacing) runs with an X-Fi Elite Pro and my Bad Axe II-based workstation has two professional sound cards, a firewire MBox and a Gina24 from Echo Audio.