PCB Design and Functionality (Difference 2)

The two mainboards we are comparing today look absolutely identical that is why everything we have already said about DFI LANPARTY LT X38-T2R may be repeated again about the new DFI LANPARTY LT X48-T2R.

As for minor drawbacks, we could mention not the best location for the FDD connector and the fact that the graphics card installed into the first PCI Express x16 slot will block the DIMM slot clips. We could also wish the board had a few external eSATA ports: all eight ports including those six that are provided by the ICH9R South Bridge and the other two from JMicron JMB363 chip are internal ones.

All other features of the DFI LANPARTY LT X48-T2R mainboard are indisputable advantages. It boasts eight-phase digital processor voltage regulator, very conveniently located 24-pin power connector and 8-pin ATX12V connector, solid-state capacitors, two second generation PCI Express x16 and an additional PCI-E x16 slot working at x4 speed, three PCI and one PCI-E x1 slots, six fan connectors (a four-pin one for the CPU fan), 12 USB 2.0 ports (six on the rear panel, two gigabit RJ45 connectors (Marvell 88E8052 and Marvell 88E8053), two-section POST indicator, Power On and Reset buttons on the PCB, color coded connectors and small additional heatsinks on all heating components.

We usually consider numerous jumpers, especially those that serve to change the FSB frequency, a drawback, but in this case they are necessary. Moreover, while many mainboard manufacturers usually forget about a jumper that allows disabling the integrated PC-speaker, DFI did implement it. Even such a minor thing as a Clear CMOS jumper, which is marked red adds another point to the company’s good name. By the way, you don’t have to use this jumper at all: all settings may be cleared by pressing and holding Power On and Reset buttons simultaneously.

Speaking of the accessories we forgot to mention one more important thing: Bernstein audio module:

It is based on an eight-channel Realtek ALC885 codec. And the peculiarity of this solution is that it is not installed into a special slot on the mainboard PCB, but is connected with a flexible cable, which means that you can move it around the back panel of your system case as far as the cable allows.

As for the differences from the previous model, the only one is the new chipset North Bridge: X48.

The most attention readers may have already noticed that “X48” is not written on the PCB, but on the sticker:

It may be hiding the old “X38” beneath it. Let’s try taking a peak under the sticker now:

Hm, nothing there. Ok… To prove that both mainboards have identical electrical CB layout we suggest taking a look at the components schematics, where the only difference is the chipset North Bridge chip: