Intel X38 chipset: Like a Porsche with the Handbrake On : Ready for Penryn with 45 nanometers
Source: Tom's Hardware UK – Keywords: Intel, X38, Gigabyte
Categories: Hardware
Ready for Penryn with 45 nanometers
After the successful launch of the P35 chipset a while back, Intel is now officially launching the X38 as the new high end of the series 3 chipset family. Among the newcomer’s features: PCI-Express 2.0. dual 16x PCIe slots, and Extreme Memory XMP. Following Intel’s change of heart regarding overclocking, such functionality is even integrated into the hardware now, with Intel providing an OC-utility.
Unlike its unenthusiastically received 975X, which found its way onto only a handful of motherboards, the X38 shows all the signs of becoming a success. Already, the motherboard companies are pouncing on the chipset. As early as Computex 2007, every reputable company was showing off its designs.
But let’s begin with a quick look at the recent history of Intel chipsets.
The 975X chipset, X38’s predecessor, was introduced upon the launch of Intel’s 65-nm Pentium4 processors in November of 2005. However, these prohibitively expensive boards proved to be less than future-proof, as buyers were forced to purchase an updated revision if they wanted to use a Core 2 processor. The mid-range 965P, on the other hand, had no such problems and ran just fine with the new Core 2 line.
This greatly diminished the attractiveness of the high-end chipset. As a result, some companies, such as Gigabyte, decided not to produce 975X-based boards for the Core 2 processors.
Five months ago, the P35 was unveiled to give the Core 2 CPUs a platform with support for DDR3 memory. However, Intel positions this chipset in the mid-range – while the ill-received 975X remained the high-end solution. In the course of the P35’s development, Intel also created the ICH9 South Bridge, which set a new performance standard among its peers.
On Monday, Intel unveiled the X38 chipset, which is to be the new high-end chipset for the Core 2 family and brings several seminal technologies with it.
The only question that remains is why Intel needed this long to replace the 975X chipset with its aging ICH7 South Bridge, which is now outdated by two generations. One thing is certain, though: The 975X will not support the upcoming 45-nm Penryn processors and has thus passed on the title of “high-end chipset” to the next generation, the X38.
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the whole point is that p35 and x38 are very similar but the x38 handles 2x16x PCIe could you not do a crossfire comparison to see the differences