My new game machine...

[ctal]

Originally Posted by TQ

Sorry. New to all this, you know.

I meant my previous post that was after your most recent previous post. Nothing to be sorry about.

-- Al

[TQ]

Interesting that ASUS has no current X48-based offerings...

[ctal]

Originally Posted by TQ

Interesting that ASUS has no current X48-based offerings...

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

[traveler]

Originally Posted by ctal

Not sure what you are referring to. The board can support two Crossfire-compatible video cards; is the review you were looking at referring to using one video card rather than two?

Regards,
-- Al

If you read the review dated 4-18-08, in the "Con" section, the reviewer mentions the motherboard will only function in single channel mode if you insert higher speed RAM modules. He also says that this is stated in the motherboard manual. Click on the link. You will see it immediately.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by TQ

I was thinking he meant memory channels...

Right.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by TQ

Sorry. New to all this, you know.

Where did I get the idea you're an old OC'er?

I never trust auto settings. I always go first thing on a new build to the BIOS settings and set everything to manual. Well ... maybe there's one or two things I leave at auto ... but I can't remember what they are at the moment.

DDR2 1000 ... sounds like a nice RAM.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by TQ

Interesting that ASUS has no current X48-based offerings...

Now you understand why I post:

" ... waiting for the Asus X48 ROG Rampage Extreme. "


It took 4 to 6 weeks after the Asus X38 Maximus Formula was released for the X38 Maximus Extreme to be on the shelf for sale. Of course Asus did it right and made a humdinger of a MB in the Maximus Extreme when it finally was released. Everything that was missing on the Maximus Formula was on the Maximus Extreme. That's why it's the top feature rich MB still today. I hope the same thing happens with the X48 ROG Rampage Extreme. If, somehow, Asus screws up the Rampage Extreme, I would not hesitate to get a Maximus Extreme even though it's X38. It is a fine motherboard.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by traveler

Now you understand why I post:

" ... waiting for the Asus X48 ROG Rampage Extreme. "...

I dont think that board will offer anything much extra except maybe built on water cooling option. But I wouldnt trust that anyhow. (Actually, water cooling doesnt interest me anyway due to the ever present risk of leak.)

[TQ]

Originally Posted by ctal

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

Well, dang. I looked all over their website and couldn't find any mention of an X48 based machine.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by traveler

Where did I get the idea you're an old OC'er?

I did experiment with overclocking back in the mid-90's when we first began to build our own machines, but my experience with it was unsatisfactory. Lots of corrupted applications and general system instability turned me off to it completely.
Nowadays It looks like it's either more complicated or more refined. Perhaps both. There are certainly far more options in the BIOS's of the Taiwan boards than there used to be.

[TQ]

I just discovered that the ASUS website isn't fully functional with Firefox. The "product compare" page won't work unless I use IE7.
And there is still no mention of an X48 board at asus-usa.com.

[TQ]

Here's what the boys at OCZ recommended... I think I may have my RAM. Stunningly inexpensive for 4GB.

Now, it's down to the motherboard. The reviews for the ASUS Rampage X48 on NewEgg are glowing but I need manufacturer's information, like do we have any PCI slots for my X-Fi and any standard IDE connectors for my old-but-still-good optical drives?
It's down to the ASUS Rampage X48 and the Gigabyte X48.

[TQ]

OK, a review over at hardocp.com gave me the info I needed. Though I still feel better if ASUS had a page on this board at their own website.

[TQ]

I finally fracking found something on the Rampage formula at asus-usa.com. I had to do a search under "downloads" for various updates.

It shouldn't have to be this hard or I shouldn't be this thick...

[k0NG0]

Just to note, from the X48 datasheet on DDR3-1600:

1. The MCH requires Intel® XMP DDR3-1600 DIMM for 1600 MHz DDR3 speeds.
2. The MCH using Intel® XMP DDR3-1600 DIMMs support only single DIMM single rank memory configurations where DIMM1 is populated and DIMM0 is not populated.

That means "single DIMM per channel" of course. (The whole XMP jib-jab is just signifying that DDR3-1600 isn't an official JEDEC spec, so they've talked to memory makers and established their own thing.)

It's a moot point since you seem to be leaning towards DDR2, but I thought I'd mention it. Intel's datasheets are fairly easy to parse, so one should always consult the applicable one if a motherboard manual is iffy (and from what I've seen, if you're completely coherent and fluent in English you're overqualified for writing the manuals).