X48 Chipset Required

The new X48 chipset that is required for the new Extreme Edition CPU will also only be released in the first quarter of 2008. By increasing both the FSB and the TDP, Intel is forcing its customers to buy a completely new chipset.

The technical specifications are slightly different than those of the X38. Here are the highlights:

• The highest supported front side bus has been raised to 400 MHz (1600QDR)
• The chipset does not support DDR2 memory.
• DDR3-1600 is supported on an FSB of 400 MHz (1600QDR)
• If DDR3-1600 memory is used, only one memory module is allowed per channel. Thus, the buyer must use 2 GB modules to reach 4 GB of RAM.
• According to Intel, DDR3-1600 will operate at 1.8 Volts and CL8-8-8

The X48 chipset will use the same southbridge as the P35 and X38, namely the ICH9.

Comparing the X48 and the X38

Functions	X48	X38
Front Side Bus	800 1066 1333 1600	800 1066 1333
Memory	DDR3-800 DDR3-1066 DDR3-1333 DDR3-1600	DDR3-800 DDR3-1066 DDR3-1333
FSB:DDR3	800:800 1066:800 1066:1066 1333:800 1333:1066 1333:1333 1600:1066 1600:1600	800:800 1066:800 1066:1066 1333:800 1333:1066 1333:1333
Supported Timings	800 = 5-5-5 1066 = 7-7-7 1333 = 8-8-8 1600 = 8-8-8	800 = 5-5-5 1066 = 7-7-7 1333 = 8-8-8
Memory Voltage	800/1066/1333 1.50 Volt +/- 5 % 1600 = 1.80 Volt +/- 5 %	800/1066/1333 1.50 Volt +/- 5 %

Update: We also asked Intel, whether a new chipset with full official support for the new front side bus speed of 400 MHz (1600QDR) would be required to run the new CPU. After all, Intel’s current high-end X38 chipset is only specified for a maximum front side bus speed of 333 MHz (1333QDR). It seems very unlikely that an OEM computer company such as Dell or HP would ship systems pairing the new CPU with the X38 platform. Intel’s view of the matter is that it considers its warranty voided if its products are operated outside of their specifications, regardless of whether the product in question is a CPU or a chipset. If a motherboard vendor advertises the overclocking potential of its product, then that company is liable for any damage to the CPU or the chipset that results from overclocking and has to cover the cost. In other words, if a motherboard maker claims that its board is designed for a 400 MHz FSB (1600QDR), then it has to ensure that the product is up to that task by using voltage regulators that can handle the higher strain without producing errors or becoming unstable. Based on Intel’s statements on the new chipset for its 400 MHz FSB CPUs (1600QDR), we see that Intel is discouraging the use of the X38 chipset and will only guarantee compatibility with the X48 chipset. So if we were salespeople in a store and a customer asked us for a motherboard recommendation to go with an FSB1600 CPU, we would always go with the X48 board. After all, if the overclocked X38-based motherboard caused any problems, despite the FSB only running 66 MHz above its stock voltage, we would be faced with additional costs and a very unhappy and unsatisfied customer. If you buy a Core 2 Extreme QX9700, you should be able to run it in an X38-based board – which is incidentally exactly what Intel suggested we do to test this processor in the first place. However, if things do go wrong and the CPU or board are damaged, things may turn sour for you. Intel would most likely waive any warranty claims on the grounds that the chipset was being used outside of its specifications.

• 3 – X48 Chipset Required
  

  1. 1 – Intel's Next Top Model - QX9770 at 3.2 GHz
  2. 2 – TDP of up to 136 Watts
  3. 3 – X48 Chipset Required
  4. 4 – Up Close and Personal with the QX9770 - 12 MB L2 Cache and 3.2 GHz
  5. 5 – QX9770 is 5 % Faster - Overlocking to 4 GHz
  6. 6 – Models and Pricing
  7. 7 – Test Setup
  8. 8 – Software Configuration
  9. 9 – Benchmarks and Settings
  10. 10 – 3D-Games - UT2004, Prey
  11. 11 – 3D-Games - Quake 4, Warhammer
  12. 12 – 3D-Games - Supreme Commander, Serious Sam 2
  13. 13 – 3D-Rendering - Cinema 4D, 3D-Studio Max
  14. 14 – Applications - AVG, WinRAR
  15. 15 – Applications - Photoshop, PDF
  16. 16 – Applications - Deep Fritz
  17. 17 – Audio Encoding - iTunes, Lame
  18. 18 – Synthetic - Sandra CPU
  19. 19 – Synthetic - Sandra Memory
  20. 20 – Synthetic - Sandra Multimedia
  21. 21 – Synthetic - PC-Mark
  22. 22 – Synthetic - 3DMark
  23. 23 – Video Encoding - Xvid, Pinnacle Studio
  24. 24 – Video Encoding - Premiere, Mainconcept
  25. 25 – Video Encoding - HDTV, DivX
  26. 26 – Video Encoding - CloneDVD
  27. 27 – Cocnlusion: Core 2 QX9770 with 3.2 GHz - Top Performer, but not Before 2008
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