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- Date:
- Wednesday, August 13, 2008
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
GIGABYTE X48T-DQ6
GIGABYTE’s latest release seems to sport a formidable mix of engineering prowess and raw power. With the Intel X48 chipset under the hood, this board looks to be a champion. While it is still brightly colored, don't think that this motherboard is a clown.
Introduction
GIGABYTE is among the few top tier computer component manufacturers worldwide. Time and again, the company has stepped up to the plate with some of the most stable and high performance parts, becoming near and dear to many enthusiasts. Their newest motherboard creation continues this trend well, with an almost artistic blend of cutting edge cooling technology and high performance components.
The GIGABYTE X48T-DQ6 is the newest member of GIGABYTE’s award winning Intel line of boards. Based on the Intel X48 chipset, the X48T-DQ6 offers innate support for the following technologies: all current Intel LGA 775 processors, DDR3 memory operating in Dual Channel mode up to 1600MHz officially, and dual card CrossFireX graphics mode using matched ATI graphics cards. The X48T-DQ6 is a feature complete solution out of the box, requiring a minimal assortment of components for a working system including: an Intel LGA 775 processor, DDR3 memory, a video card, drives, and a PSU. GIGABYTE integrated the following devices in to the board: 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, 1 and 0+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); 2 x Realtek GigE Ethernet ports in the rear panel; ADI 8-channel HD audio codec featuring an S/PDIF optical and component output ports; onboard Trusted Platform Module, serial, and parallel port headers; and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports in the rear panel.
Main Specifications Overview:
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
Packaging
GIGABYTE chose to use an eye-catching gold metallic reflective color on the box, instead of using its more traditional sci-fi inspired graphics. The board name and all supported technologies are very clearly marked on the box front as well. The following accessories are included in with the X48T-DQ6 board itself: ATA-133 and floppy ribbon cables; SATA drive cables; the rear panel shield; rear brackets and power connectors for using the internal SATA 2 ports as eSATA ports; and the normal complement of manuals and drivers discs.
Board Layout
With few notable exceptions, GIGABYTE did a masterful job with the X48T-DQ6’s layout especially in light of the amount of components that have been integrated in to the board’s design. Two of the most glaring problem areas are - the placement of the CMOS battery and reset jumpers in the usually tricky to reach no man’s land in between the PCI-Express x16 slots; and the proximity of the left edge of the DIMM slots to the primary PCI-Express x16 slot. The board revision is silk screened on the upper left quadrant of the board, with the board tested showing as a version 1.3. As has become more commonplace in today’s highly competitive enthusiast motherboard market, GIGABYTE chose to use all aluminum solid-state style capacitors in the board’s layout.
GIGABYTE packed the CPU socket area chock full of power components, with larger copper heat sinks to the left and above the socket itself. Amazingly enough, I found no issues with mounting CPU cooler or in CPU cooler contact. The CPU cooler itself is held to the CPU using the traditional LGA775 4-hole design. The board’s X48 Northbridge chipset is directly to the CPU socket’s right side, covered by a massive thin finned copper heat sink. This sink not only cools the Northbridge, but serves as the center transfer area for the integrated heat pipe cooling solution. The heat pipe terminates above the CPU socket in a massive thin finned copper heat sink covering the CPU power circuitry. To the left of the termination sink are the NB_FAN and front audio headers, with the 8-pin ATX12V power connector and SYS_FAN1 header to its right.
The onboard DDR3 DIMM slots are arranged in a 2-by-2 bi-colored configuration, just under the CPU socket and Northbridge area. For Dual Channel memory mode to activate, you must place DIMMs in like colored slots across sets. To the right of the DIMM slots is the 4-pin CPU_FAN header, with the 24-pin ATX power connector and onboard floppy port just below them. While shifting the DIMM slots to the left did open up some room to the right side of the DIMM slots, the left edge of those slots are close to the primary PCI-Express x16 slot. This proximity may cause issues when attempting to seat or remove memory with a larger video card installed in the board.
The ICH9R Southbridge chipset is located just under the secondary PCI-Express x16 slot. The chipset is cooled by a low profile thin finned copper heat sink, which also happens to be a terminating end of the onboard heat pipe cooling solution. The chipsets SATA 2 ports are the yellow colored ports located below it and to its left. The 2 purple colored SATA 2 ports are tied to the GIGABYTE RAID controller. The onboard IDE port is located directly below the SATA 2 ports. Notice that the IDE port was rotated 90 degrees, so that the cables sit parallel to the board’s plane when engaged. The front panel header, USB 2.0 header, IEEE 1394 header, and SYS_FAN2 header are located to the upper right of the chipset, along the left edge of the board.
GIGABYTE chose to integrate 2 PCI-Express x16 slots, 3 PCI-Express x1 slots, and 2 PCI slots in to the X48T-DQ6 layout. Along the outer edge of the secondary PCI slot are the serial port header, the Trust Platform Module header, the SPDIF_IN header, and the parallel port header. The CD_IN header is located just above the secondary PCI-Express x16 slot, with the CMOS battery and reset jumpers located in between the two onboard PCI-Express x16 slots. Note that the CMOS reset jumper is a 2 pin jumper, with a soft reset achieved by enabling the jumper.
The following ports are present in the X48T-DQ6’s rear panel: a PS/2 keyboard/mouse ports; 2 IEEE 1394 ports; 8 USB 2.0 ports; 2 Realtek GigE Ethernet ports; and 6 analogue audio and S/PDIF optical and component output audio ports.
GIGABYTE EasyTune 5
For windows based monitoring and overclocking, GIGABYTE chose to package version 5 of their EasyTune software with the X48T-DQ6 board with the version shown being revision 07.12.12.1. In default mode, the application allows for selection of pre-defined performance modes, including Standard, Turbo, and Extreme operational modes. Selecting one of these modes will force an application initiated system restart so that the selected operational mode is put in to effect.
Pressing the Overclocking button on the right side of the application gives access to the Overclocking menu. The application offers 2 modes of operation, Easy and Advanced. The Advanced option 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 X48T-DQ6 supports CIA2, which stands for CPU Intelligent Accelerator version 2. 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 Smart Fan button displays the Smart Fan menu. Through this menu, you can set automated system CPU fan configuration based on configurable CPU temperature thresholds.
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 option 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.