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GIGABYTE X38-DQ6

Supporting the latest Intel X38 chipset and DDR2 memory, GIGABYTE’s latest addition to their DQ6 line of boards, the X38-DQ6, seems to hold a lot of promise.

Introduction

GIGABYTE is a veteran in the enthusiast space, time and again delivering high performance in a high quality kit. They continue to push the technological limits with their products through the use of high quality component usage in their hardware designs as well as innovative software solutions. Their latest motherboard creation continues to exemplify this trend well.

The GA-X38-DQ6 is GIGABYTE’s premier product based on the latest Intel chipset, the X38 Express. This chipset supports the following technologies: all LGA 775 type processors, DDR2 DRAM modules operating in Dual Channel mode up to 1066MHz officially; and dual card ATI CrossFire support with matching ATI graphics cards installed. The X38-DQ6 is a feature complete solution, with the addition of an Intel LGA 775 style processor, DDR2 memory, drives, and a PSU for a working system. The following components are integrated in to the X38-DQ6’s design: 6 SATA II ports (RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5 capable) on the Intel ICH9R controller; 1 ATA-133 IDE port and 2 SATA II ports (RAID 0 and 1 capable) on the GIGABYTE controller; 12 USB 2.0 capable ports (8 in rear panel, and 2 onboard headers supporting 2 ports each); 3 IEEE 1394 capable ports (2 in rear panel, and 1 onboard header); dual Realtek GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; and Realtek 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF optical and RCA output ports.

Main Specifications Overview:

Detailed Mainboard Specification List:

Packaging

As is common-place with the DQ6 line, GIGABYTE kept to a simple art design for the X38-DQ6, with the DQ6 series logo prominently featured on the box front in orange and white. The supported board features, included CPU and chipset, are clearly marked on the box front as well. The board itself has been packaged in an insulated plastic clamshell, offering more than adequate protection for the motherboard during shipment and box handling. The P35T-DQ6 comes standard with the following components: ATA-133 and floppy ribbon cables; SATA drive cables; the rear panel shield; 1 rear bracket for converting the onboard SATA 2 ports to e-SATA ports, with power and e-SATA cables included; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs. Note that the included driver disk is a DVD-ROM disk, not a CD-ROM disk.

Board Layout

Overall, GIGABYTE did a good job with component placement on the X38-DQ6 with adequate room between most onboard items. The two areas that might pose problems are the placement of the CMOS reset jumper and battery, and the proximity between the primary PCI Express x16 slot and the DIMM slots. With a graphics card in the primary PCI Express slot, you may have a hard time accessing both the CMOS battery and reset jumper, not to mention removing memory modules, due to the proximity of the seated board’s plane to the left DIMM latches. As far as board cooling and heat dissipation go, GIGABYTE did a masterful job with both on top of the board with their well routed copper heat pipe, and below the board with low profile heat sinks over the major hotspots. The board itself contains no version or clearly identified serial number marking on it to be found. For capacitors and power modulation, GIGABYTE went with the tried and true all metal solid state capacitors for the X38-DQ6.

While at first glance the CPU area looks a bit tight, in reality there is more than enough room around the CPU for even the larger heat sink and water based cooling units. The CPU cooler is mounted to the board using the standard 4-hole LGA775 based mechanism. Directly above the CPU is one end of the heat pipe cooling circuit, ending in a massive thin finned copper cooler covering the board power circuitry. The Northbridge is similarly adorned with a large copper cooler, located to the left of the CPU socket. Just above the Northbridge chipset is the NB_FAN header and front panel audio header. To the upper right of the CPU socket are the ATX12V power connector and the SYS_FAN1 header.

The onboard memory slots are located directly below the Northbridge chipset and CPU socket. By placing memory modules across slot sets in like colored DIMM slots, you enable Dual Channel memory mode operation. To the upper right of the DIMM slots is the CPU_FAN header. The PWR_FAN header as well as the floppy drive port, 24-pin ATX power connector, and PCIe 12V power connector are located directly below the DIMM slots. The PCIe 12V power connector accepts a MOLEX connector from your PSU in order to boost on board power available to your graphics cards when running in dual card or CrossFire mode.

The board’s Southbridge chipset is cooled via a low profile copper cooler, which acts as one end of the heat pipe circuit as well. The Southbridge’s SATA 2 ports are located to its left and below it, with the connectors colored orange. The purple colored SATA 2 ports are tied to the GIGABYTE controller, with the controller’s IDE port located along the board’s edge below the Southbridge as well. Note that the IDE port has been rotated 90 degrees in order to make cable routing easier when using that slot. Directly above the GIGABYTE and Intel SATA 2 ports are the front panel header and power LED header, as well as the onboard USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 and SYS_FAN2 headers.

The X38-DQ6 comes standard with a total or 2 CrossFire capable PCI Express x16 slots, 3 PCI Express x1 slots, and 2 PCI slots. The serial port, TPM (Trusted Platform Module), S/PDIF input, and parallel port headers are located along the outside edge of PCI slot 2. The CD_IN and S/PDIF output headers are located just above the secondary PCI Express x16 slot. Sandwiched in between the 2 PCI Express x16 slots are the CMOS battery and BIOS reset jumper.

GIGABYTE crammed the X38-DQ6’s real panel full of goodness, with the following ports available: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; 8 USB 2.0 ports (yes, 8 native USB 2.0 ports is correct); 2 IEEE 1394 ports; 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports; 6 analogue audio ports and S/PDIF optical and RCA style output ports.

GIGABYTE EasyTune 5

For windows based monitoring and overclocking, GIGABYTE chose to package version 5 of their EasyTune software with the GA-965P-DQ6 main board. From the default overclocking screen, the application offers 2 modes of operation, Easy and Advanced. Easy Mode allows for increasing the current CPU FSB by percentage using the provided up and down arrow keys. Advanced mode allows for bus speed and voltage tweaking of most of the same options allowed through the BIOS including CPU, DDR, and PCI-Express bus speed and voltage. The Graphics tab allows for user configuration graphics card specific settings, including the GPU core speed and card memory speed.

The button marked CIA MIB gives access to the CIA/CIA2/MIB/MIB2 selection screen. Out of the box, the GA-965P-DQ6 supports CIA2, which stands for CPU Intelligent Accelerator. The CIA2 module allows for system automated overclocking through the use of 5 preset states: Cruise, Sport, Racing, Turbo, and Full Thrust. The Cruise mode is the least aggressive setting, while the Full Thrust mode offers the most aggressive automated overclock settings.

The PC Health button gives access to a variety of submenus for monitoring various system fan header activity and voltages, as well as the ability to control alerts. The Hardware Monitor option lists current values for all monitored system voltages, fan header readings, and temperatures. The Setting option allows for configuration of minimum allowable fan speed and maximum safe component temperature thresholds. The Alert Audio Setting controls the alert action taken by the system when one of the monitored fan header's speed goes below the minimum speed threshold, or if a monitored temperature goes above the maximum temperature threshold.