ASUS P5E3 Deluxe: X38 and DDR3 arrives... almost
by Gary Key on September 18, 2007 4:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
First Thoughts
We have thoroughly enjoyed our test sessions with the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe board. Although we still do not have final silicon boards yet, we have to say that ASUS has done an excellent job with their design implementation on this board. While the new or revised features such as Express Gate, 802.11n, and the BlackHawk audio technology might mean little to some users, we think the additions complete the overall package that ASUS is after with their Deluxe series of boards. The early package we received just showed a certain level of polish that our other X38 boards do not have at this time. Sometimes that means little, but it certainly left an impression on us in early testing. This is an impression that we hope continues with the retail package as this board is certainly worth a second look.
Overall performance has been very good at stock speeds even with the slight memory throughput penalties that running DDR3 at 1066 brings to the table compared to DDR2 at 1066. However, unlike what we witnessed with the P35 DDR3 boards at launch, the ability to have DDR3 1066 performance match or better DDR2 1066 is impressive considering the potential clocking headroom DDR3 enjoys. Unfortunately, the performance potential of DDR3 sounds great until you realize the current entry price for the high performance modules. As a buyer, looking at the prospect of spending up to four times more for DDR3 is daunting considering the minimal advantages it offers.
We are only a few days away from the official X38 launch and the ability to show a full test suite, provided the retail boards show up in time. We had actually planned on providing a lot more detail today, but last minute updates from the involved parties limited our reporting. With the launch article, we will have additional details including some impressive power consumption numbers that are now lower than the P35 chipset and improved thermal characteristics. We say "impressive" because the early boards showed just the opposite trend. While we would love to provide more information, at the behest of our contacts at Intel it will have to wait. We just hope the wait is not longer than expected.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our test sessions with the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe board. Although we still do not have final silicon boards yet, we have to say that ASUS has done an excellent job with their design implementation on this board. While the new or revised features such as Express Gate, 802.11n, and the BlackHawk audio technology might mean little to some users, we think the additions complete the overall package that ASUS is after with their Deluxe series of boards. The early package we received just showed a certain level of polish that our other X38 boards do not have at this time. Sometimes that means little, but it certainly left an impression on us in early testing. This is an impression that we hope continues with the retail package as this board is certainly worth a second look.
Overall performance has been very good at stock speeds even with the slight memory throughput penalties that running DDR3 at 1066 brings to the table compared to DDR2 at 1066. However, unlike what we witnessed with the P35 DDR3 boards at launch, the ability to have DDR3 1066 performance match or better DDR2 1066 is impressive considering the potential clocking headroom DDR3 enjoys. Unfortunately, the performance potential of DDR3 sounds great until you realize the current entry price for the high performance modules. As a buyer, looking at the prospect of spending up to four times more for DDR3 is daunting considering the minimal advantages it offers.
We are only a few days away from the official X38 launch and the ability to show a full test suite, provided the retail boards show up in time. We had actually planned on providing a lot more detail today, but last minute updates from the involved parties limited our reporting. With the launch article, we will have additional details including some impressive power consumption numbers that are now lower than the P35 chipset and improved thermal characteristics. We say "impressive" because the early boards showed just the opposite trend. While we would love to provide more information, at the behest of our contacts at Intel it will have to wait. We just hope the wait is not longer than expected.
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strikeback03 - Thursday, September 20, 2007 - link
My question about the heatpipe cooling is related to this:So why are these companies creating cooling solutions that work best with inferior CPU cooling? The heatpipe towers and water certainly seem to be the best CPU cooling, but the board cooling system looks like it was designed to work with the stock Intel cooler.
mostlyprudent - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
I couldn't be happier to see the passive heatpipe cooling. After reading the reports of the X38 being a "hot" chipset, I was worried that I would be back to screaming/failing little chipset fans...whew...thank goodness.n0nsense - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
there always water cooling option. which i'm thinking about.One circuit for CPU, GPU, NB and SB (like Nautilus 500) + Termalright for mofsets should be perfect for sane overclocking and quiet PC.
Etern205 - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
I guess what they mean by "upside down" is do not install into aBTX case?
n0nsense - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
No, they meant that the only (the best) way to install this boards is when CPU socket located on the upper side.look at the picture of CS-718. in this case CPU socket is in the lowest part. This mean that hotest part of heatpipe system is higher then coolest. Heatpipe working the best when coolant vaporized at hotest part, then liquefied at coolest (radiators). Liquefied coolant should return somehow to the hotest part (chipset), and when motherboard "normally" this done by gravity. When the board installed in "upside-down" or horizontally, this SHOULD be done by capillaries, which are way less effective according to Asus support and wiki.
Etern205 - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
I was right about this "do not install into a BTX case"The Enermax CS-718 supports ATX motherboards, but the design is based on the BTX specs.
On a correct ATX case, if the back of the case if facing you, then you will open the panel on the right. And when the opening is facing you the front will face to the right.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2901/1015uh6.jp...">Image
As for BTX if it's place into the same position, then you will open the panel on the left, which is what the Enermax CS-718 is designed to be and when the opening is facing you the front will face to the left. http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6379/1007xq2.jp...">Image
JarredWalton - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
FYI, I deleted your (numerous) multiple posts. A little bit of patience goes a long way. Once or twice I can understand, but three sets of multiple posts? Hopefully that was just a weird error on the part of your system.n0nsense - Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - link
it is a problem with my computer @ work.I guess it's caused by Synergy.
Anyway, thank you for clearing my extra messages. It's sad that i can't remove or edit my own messages.
n0nsense - Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - link
it is a problem with my computer @ work.I guess it's caused by Synergy.
Anyway, thank you for clearing my extra messages. It's sad that i can't remove or edit my own messages.
8steve8 - Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - link
is the intel g35 chipset launching with the x38? if not, when will it launch?while the x38 doesnt offer much tangable to the users of p35 or 965p, especially those of us that are sane (ddr2 users), the g35 appears to offer a vastly improved 3d engine, and native hdmi support. "vastly improved" over the g965 and g33, which, for example, i can play warcraft3 at 1600x1200 w/full settings... this is onboard video... very impressive.