|
|
Gigabyte GA-X38T-DQ6 Review
[Abstract]
IntroductionThe Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 was the first motherboard we reviewed based on Intel's newest flagship chipset, the X38. However, as a DDR2 motherboard, you can say that the GA-X38-DQ6 wasn...
[Content] PCDigitalMobileGame
Introduction
The Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 was the first motherboard we reviewed based on Intel's newest flagship chipset, the X38. However, as a DDR2 motherboard, you can say that the GA-X38-DQ6 wasn't really able to flex the muscles of the new chipset. It was a great board for users hanging on to their precious (and most probably overclocked) DDR2 memory, but we wanted to see what the X38 could do in a next-gen setting. After our recent review of the Foxconn X38A, we were so stoked about the Intel X38's DDR3 capabilities, we decided to revisit Gigabyte and have a go at their DDR3-based GA-X38T-DQ6 instead. The GA-X38T-DQ6 is the DDR3 version of the GA-X38-DQ6, so these two boards are identical in all aspects except for memory support.
Gigabyte GA-X38T-DQ6 motherboard, the DDR3-only variant of the GA-X38-DQ6. |
As we've already reviewed the board in the past, all our comments based on features, layout and design aspects have not changed. In this article, we only want to evaluate the performance of the board using DDR3 memory instead of DDR2. Hence, we will jump straight into benchmarking. If you want to know more about the Gigabyte X38 DQ6 series, check out our original GA-X38-DQ6 review here. The technical specification sheet below should provide you with a quick refresher of the board's features and capabilities before we continue.
Gigabyte GA-X38T-DQ6 Technical Specifications
| CPUSupport | - Supportsall 90nm/65nm Intel LGA775processors
- 45nm ready (Wolfdale & Yorkfield)
- Quad-Core ready
| | Chipset | - Northbridge:Intel X38
- Southbridge:IntelICH9R
| | Memory | - Supports fourunbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 SDRAM
- Max 8GB Dual-channel DDR3-1600 with Intel XMP support
| | Storage | - Intel ICH9RSouthbridge
- 6 x SATA 3.0Gbpsinterface
- Intel MatrixStorage Technology
- Supports RAID 0,RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, RAID 10
- GigabyteSATA2 (JMicronJMB363)
- 1 x UltraATA33/66/100/133 (data transfer rate up to133MB/sec.)
- 2 x SATA 3.0Gbps interface(eSATA)
- SATA RAID 0, RAID1 and JBOD
| | Audio | - Intel High DefinitionAudio (Azalia)
- Realtek ALC889A HDAudio CODEC
- Protected path contentencryption/decryption (Microsoft WLP 3.0 compliant)
- Opticaland coaxial S/PDIF
| | Networking | - 2 x RealtekRTL8111B PCIe Gigabit Ethernet
| | IEEE 1394 (FireWire) | - TexasInstrument TSB43AB23 FireWire controller
- 3 x 1394aports @ 400 Mbps speed
| | I/O Interface | - 1x Floppy connector
- 1 x Ultra ATAIDE connectors
- 8 x SATAconnectors
- 12 x USB 2.0ports (8 x rear, 4 x header)
- 2 xRJ45 LANports
- 3 x FireWire-400 ports (2 x rear, 1x header)
- 1 xOptical S/PDIFOutput
- 1 x Coaxial S/PDIFOutput
- 8-Channel Audio I/Oports
- 1 x Parallel port header
- 1x COMport header
- 1 xmini-DIN-6 PS/2keyboard port
- 1 x mini-DIN-6 PS/2 mouse port
| | ExpansionSlots | - 2 xPCIe x16slots,PCI Express Bus specification v2.0compliant
- 3 x PCIe x1slots, PCIExpress Bus specification v1.1compliant
- 2 x 32-bitPCI slots,PCI 2.3 compliant
| | Special Features | - Gigabyte6-Quad Design
- GigabyteUltra Durable 2
| | PCB | - ATX Form Factor, 12"x9.6"(30.5cm x 24.4cm)
|
|
|
|
