The Gigabyte GA-X48T-DQ6 - Redefining the High End?
by Rajinder Gill on January 2, 2008 3:15 AM EST- Posted in
- Motherboards
Conclusion
Our journey with the GA-48T-DQ6 has been challenging over the last few weeks. Although Gigabyte has been extremely diligent in providing BIOS releases to address our reported problems, we still have not found the everyday overclocking stability we "expected" from this board on any of the beta BIOS releases we have received. This includes cross testing with three separate processor types, all providing varying levels of load to the X48 chipset. What we have found is that basic overclocks that most users will use on this board seem to work at first and then fail at will. For example, using a basic 3.6GHz overclock with any of the newer processors and 400/450FSB, we can boot the motherboard up, play games, surf the web and run stability testing software.
When we go to reboot the board using these previously stable settings, the board greets us with non-boots requiring either a CMOS clear or a complete power-down (until power has drained completely from the board). The board will then reset itself to stock, so that we must re-enter the BIOS and re-apply our previous settings. This is a little disappointing to us at this stage in the game, as Gigabyte has used top-level components in every location on this motherboard. In fact, the engineering behind this board is truly impressive. This shows that using the best hardware is fine, but a solid BIOS is a must if a board is ever to realize its true potential.
We understand it's a little early for a final judgment call, as this board is not yet available in the channel. Thus, we are eager to keep testing the board over the coming weeks to see how things progress. Gigabyte tells us they are working on a new BIOS spin this week, which should address most of the issues we have noticed. In time, we are confident that Gigabyte will deliver this board as the killer product we expect upon delivery to the users - especially when we consider just how good the smaller sibling GA-X38-DQ6 has become with maturity. The GA-X48T-DQ6 has shown us flashes of brilliance, only to let us down when pushed or even nudged into overclock settings that most buyers of this board will try. On the positive side, peripheral compatibility is excellent; we found all ports and expansion slots worked perfectly throughout our testing with a variety of peripherals.
We admire Gigabyte moving forward into the high-end arena; competition is always healthy and helps keep other companies on their toes. We must stress that perseverance prevents us from tossing this board back in the box, meaning we are confident that Gigabyte will have this product fully polished before release. For now though, we would say that at least a few more BIOS spins might be required before we can fully recommend this board to the end-user. A good BIOS will see this board become the product that all X38/X48 boards are judged against. Look out for blog updates as we continue testing new BIOS releases in the coming weeks.
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Ozlaw - Monday, June 23, 2008 - link
I recently switched the inner workings of my computer from a Sriker Extreme, X8000 CPU and an 8800 GTX, to the Gigabyte GA-EX38T-DQ6, with an Asus HD 3870 X2 1gb (and I was about to add another in crossfireX, until I found out AMD was rolling out the 4000's series X2 early, actually possibly in Q3 of this year). If I had known, which is the story of my life and computers, that a newer chipset was coming out so soon, I would have waited for the 48T. The funny thing is that ever since I studied coomputer progaramming in college in the 70's, and began building my own computers when costs became parctical to do so, I suscribe to all the industry news but always miss something big.Oh well I can say that the 38T, since it was designed aroung quad core, including the extremes, instead of relying on BIOS updates to recoginize and work with critical hardware, such as the 680i in my old Striker Extreme was doing (I had the QX6850 in int for a time)in and of itself made an ennourmous difference in my computer's speed and functionality.
THanks for a good article and now I am going to have to decide whether to buy a new motherboard when I buy the new graphics cards as I admit to being on of those weak early consumers of tech products, althhough I am getting better when it comes to Intel's cpu's now that they have become a CPU of the month club.
papatsonis - Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - link
"(G)MCH Overvoltage ControlDefault voltage is 1.45V, and the available voltage scale provides an overvoltage of 0.025-0.775V. There an actual undervoltage of 0.2V from the BIOS set overvoltage. For example, as the stock voltage is set to 1.45V a BIOS setting of +0.50V would imply a voltage of 1.95V. However setting +0.50V gives an actual voltage of 1.75V, suggesting an undervoltage of 0.2V. "
The default voltage of X38/X48 is 1.25v (and in the article explaining tRD values , states that also) , the gigabyte in fact OVERvoltages MCH , when set to normal , to 1.45volt , but when adjusting values, it sets correct values (multimetered) e.g. +0.125 ->~ 1.38v
Galvin - Monday, April 28, 2008 - link
I dont have a volt meter. But I did verify thats what happening.I have the x48 ddr2 version. Normally the NB heatsink is too hot to keep my fingers on it. So if you run less voltage the heatsink should be cooler to the touch. Which is what happened. I set the overvolt for the MCH to 0.025 then rebooted. Waited a few min and I was able to hold my fingers to the heatsink without burning. I did this 2 more times to be sure.
Surprised no one has found this before. That explains why the NB heatsink was crazy hot.
Thanks
neat1 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/intel_skulltra...">http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/intel_skulltra...neat1 - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Does this board supp sli or is there still only crossfire support on the x48 chipset? (which would be kind of odd)Looking fwd 2 see the ASUS X48 tested
Regard/neat1
Rajinder Gill - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Hi,Right now Nvidia has no plans whatsoever to allow SLI on the desktop Intel chipssets. Skulltrail may be the only exception to this. Of course, that's assuming Skulltrail ever gets released.
regards
Raja
Rob94hawk - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Benchmarks with skulltrail or just hype?Rajinder Gill - Sunday, January 6, 2008 - link
Hi Rob,Personally I have not seen anything of Skulltrail myself, Intel are notably tight-lipped about publishing anything. Of course we'd all love to have a play...lol
regards
Raja
kilkennycat - Friday, January 4, 2008 - link
Is Gigabyte paying Anandtech for front-cover "pseudo-advertising"? I though Anandtech exclusively reviewed quality products. Seems as if the pre-fitering within Anandtech of products for review needs to be strengthened.This review is so full of wishful thinking about future BIOS updates (whhich may never materialize) that I want to scream. Surely there are computer-related products in a far more mature state begging for serious technical reviews?
Rajinder Gill - Friday, January 4, 2008 - link
At least the preview/review let's people know what to expect at present. I guess I am wishful, because I hate to see good products go to waste via an inadequate BIOS. Immediate maturity with top-end performance boards (the reviews I concentrate on) is hard to find, almost impossible in fact. Occasionally we find a gem, when we do, we write about it. Not every board that comes down the channel is going to make the masses happy, especially in this segment. It's one of the toughest segments of all, the budget minded will never be happy with it. But then these products are not aimed at the budget segment at all. In the PC world there's no such thing as linear performance scaling per dollar. This board needed a 2 stage review, because fo the length of time the cascade cooled results can take. Where this may not be the typical approach, the performance boards are used by a percentage of this crowd. The rest is the more stable down to earth stuff which we endeavour to cover with the BIOS guides. It just so happens this all fell in with the Christmas season, when most companies go into shutdown.We review these boards in a way that the people who have the dollar or inclination to spend this kind of money will use them, no more, no less.
regards
Raja