Intel DX58SO X58 Express Chipset Motherboard Review

Introduction To The DX58SO

Intel chipset-based motherboards have always been some of the most reliable boards on the market. Not only that, but Intel chipset-based motherboards that are produced by Intel have always been some of the most feature rich and durable boards on the market. Intel could easily sit back for a bit and rest on their laurels, but they don't; they keep pushing ahead with constant innovation. That innovation has brought them to their newest chipset, the Intel X58 Express chipset, and the Intel DX58SO Motherboard.

The Intel DX58SO chipset, coupled with the ICH10R southbridge, brings the best and greatest that Intel has to offer to a quality designed motherboard that will bring the end user all the performance, speed and capabilities to make their computing experience all that it can be.

Let's take a look at the specs...

Specs

Form factor	ATX (12.00 inches by 9.60 inches [304.80 millimeters by 243.84 millimeters])
Processor	Click View supported processors for the most current list of compatible processors. At product launch, this desktop board supports: Support for a Intel® Core™ i7 processor in an LGA1366 socket
Memory	Four 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets Support for DDR3 1600 MHz, DDR3 1333 MHzς, DDR3 1066 MHz Support for up to 16 GB of system memory
Chipset	Intel® X58 Express Chipset
Audio	Intel® High Definition Audio subsystem in the following configuration: 10-channel (7.1) Dolby Home Theater* Audio subsystem with five analog audio outputs and two S/PDIF digital audio outputs (coaxial and optical) using the Realtek* ALC889 audio codec
Video	Nvidia SLI* and ATI CrossFire* multi-GPU platform support enables two graphics cards to work together for ultimate 3D gaming performance and visual quality Full support of next-generation ATI CrossFire* and Nvidia SLI*
LAN support	Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbits/sec) LAN subsystem
Peripheral interfaces	Twelve USB 2.0 ports (8 external ports, 2 internal headers) Six Serial ATA 3.0 GB/s ports, including 2 eSATA port with RAID support supplied by a Marvell* controller Two IEEE-1394a ports (1 external port, 1 internal header) Consumer IR receiver and emitter (via internal headers)
Expansion capabilities	One PCI Conventional* bus add-in card connectors (SMBus routed to PCI Conventional bus add-in card connector) One primary PCI Express* 2.0 x16 (electrical x16) bus add-in card connector One secondary PCI Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x16) bus add-in card connector One PCI Express* 1.0a x16 (electrical x4) bus add-in card connector

Intel also supports this board with a three year limited warranty.

Intel's 925XE Chipset & 1066FSB Processors Arrive

Finally... 1066FSB Arrives

The move from the Intel 865/875 chipsets to the more recent 915/925 chipsets brought noted improvements across the board that no one could ignore. Today (Halloween by chance) is the day that Intel makes public the updated 925X chipset and the new processor that can capitalize on it. Enter the 925XE Express Chipset and Pentium 4 Processor Extreme Edition with HT Technology at 3. 46GHz (13x266MHz). For those of you who don't know the Intel Pentium 4 processor has been running at a Front Side Bus (FSB) of 800MHz for some time now. To achieve this speed Intel was running the FSB quad pumped at 200MHz. Since the FSB dictates how much data can travel between the CPU and chipset, an increase is logical to gain overall system performance. Today Intel raises the bar on FSB performance and for the first time breaks the 1GHz barrier by running the FSB quad pumped at 266MHz, thus arriving at a FSB of 1066MHz.

The increase to a 1066MHz FSB will be the first time DDR2 memory will officially run in sync at DDR2 533MHz. Plus, now that DDR2 memory has matured seeing 3-3-3-8 timings with PC2-4200 memory is common. It is no shocker that Enthusiasts have been waiting months for this chipset, but we found it interesting that many companies have also been waiting on the 925XE chipset. The most noticeable is ABIT, who is going to launch the first ABIT-Fatal1ty gamer motherboard based on the 925XE chipset, thus gambling the success of their new product line off this chipset. The long-awaited FSB speed increase has arrived! Was it worth the wait?

If you look at what Intel has said about their Socket 775 it is their long term solution platform. They have made public comments at the Intel Developer Forum and other events that the 915/925 chipset family will more than likely power Intel's next generation dual core processors. These new processors are expected to come out in mid 2005 -- best guess would be late Q2 or early Q3. Between now and then the Intel 925XE looks to be the Intel enthusiasts' chipset of choice for their next system build.

The New Intel 3.46GHz EE 1066FSB Processor:

The new Intel 3.46EE processor is based on the old 130nm Northwood core (also known as P4 "C"). It comes with 2mb of L3 Cache and does not have SSE3 or XD-BIT instructions. The 3.46GHz processor only differs from the previous generation Extreme Editions by being able to run at 266MHz on the FSB. We actually tried to run our "old" 3.4EE at 13x266MHz and it failed to successfully load Windows at such speeds. The new Intel 3.46EE is basically a cream of the crop Extreme Edition processor that can run at a high front side bus frequency.

Let's take a look at pricing for 1,000-Unit quantities and also compare the new 3.46GHz EE to some other socket 775 prices.

• Pentium 4 3.46EE 1066FSB - 3.46GHz -- $999
• Pentium 4 3.40EE 800FSB - 3.40GHz -- $925
• Pentium 4 560 - 3.60GHz -- $417
• Pentium 4 550 - 3.40GHz -- $278

As you can tell the new Pentium 4 3.46EE is not close to the price range for any college student (wouldn't it be nice if Intel offered student discounts like Microsoft??), but is priced just like the original P4 3.4EE when it came out several months ago at $999. That happens to be more than double the Intel 560 processor, which is the flagship of the "mainstream" Intel socket 775 processors.

Below are some shots of our Intel 3.46GHz EE processor running on our test bed.

Intel 3.46EE CPU Specs

Intel 3.46EE Cache

While the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition will be the first and currently only processor to work with the new quad-pumped system bus at 266 MHz there are more processors coming. Intel also affirmed that its Pentium 4 Extreme Edition (EE) 3.73GHz and 600-series desktop CPUs, which should be launched in the first quarter of next year, will feature Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology, or Intel EM64T. We asked about XD-BIT (Execute Disable bit) and were told not to expect any of the current P4 EE's to come with it, just the Prescott processors with a 'J'-suffix will have XD-Bit enabled. All the enthusiasts looking for a "mainstream" cost efficient 1066FSB processor will have to wait till the 600 series is launched!

Let's move on and see what the new Intel reference board offers.

Intel 6xx Series Processors Arrive

Intel 6xx Series CPU's Arrive With New Features!

Over the holiday weekend Intel officially announced the new Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73GHz processor and four processors in their Pentium 4 6XX series (rated as 660 to 630). Today we have the Intel Pentium 4 Extreme Edition at 3.73GHz and the Intel Pentium 4 660 in house for testing. Both of these processors use a new Prescott core that features 2MB of L2 cache and are EMT64 enabled!

When the Prescott first came out the longer pipelines and the increased temperatures from the new 90nm core shocked even the most die hard Intel fans. With the Intel P4 6XX series Intel strived to add performance while at the same time lowering power consumption and temperatures. The new improved core is still manufactured using the 90nm strained silicon production technology just like the original Prescott, which has been in use on the Pentium 4 5XX processors for almost a year now. Since the Prescott core is by no means new or unknown let's jump right into the new features.

The New Features:

• More L2 Cache - Enthusiasts know that more cache means more performance and that is exactly what Intel did on these updated Prescott cores. They doubled the L2 cache in hopes of adding performance. The extra cache means more transistors, and in this case, over 40 million more! This increase in cache also increases the size of the die from 112mm² to 135mm². This is the only true "performance" upgrade made to the core this time around.
• EMT64 Enabled - Other than the extra L2 cache the newly launched Pentium 4 6XX processor family offers support for Enhanced Memory 64 Technology or EM64T as many know it by. Since this is nothing more than 64-bit extensions of x86 architecture they are identical to the AMD64 extensions, thus giving us the first AMD vs. Intel battle on the 64-bit Operating System. Now that both Intel and AMD have their 64-bit CPU's out the door and both are fully functional, with the latest public release of Windows XP Professional x64 expect to see this OS completed in the near future!
• Enhanced Power Management - Combination of EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology), C1E (Enhanced Halt State), and TM2 (Thermal Monitor 2). In an appropriately designed system, these features can deliver average power savings with little impact to performance by adjusting frequency & voltage. To go a little more in depth, all three technologies offer similar functionality initiated in three different ways. C1E is activated via Halt (idle) instruction execution. EIST operates via OS request based upon CPU load. TM2 operates via processor request based upon the thermal load on the processor.
• Execute Diable Bit Enabled - Intel Execute Disable Bit offers Improved Security when used with Windows XP SP2. With the Execute Disable Bit feature you can be protected from certain types of viruses and buffer overflow exploits. This is similar to AMD's NX technology and Intel has used Execute Disable Bit on the 5XXJ series processors.

The die increase that we talked about above can be seen below via the images of the old Prescott core and the Prescott 2MB with extra cache:

Prescott w/ 1MB L2

Prescott w/ 2MB L2 Cache

As you can see the new core is very similar to the old core. From just looking at the die pictures it seems as if they just added more cache and made some other minor changes. Below are CPU-Z version 1.27 screen shots of our two processors that we are showing you today.

Intel Pentium 4 660

Intel Pentium 4 3.73GHz EE

Both of our processors have 2048 KBytes of L2 Cache and are based on 90nm core technology. Both CPU's also feature a stepping code of 3 and a revision number of N0. The biggest difference between these two processors is the Bus Speed that they run at. The 660 is running at 800MHz, while the 3.73GHz EE is at 1066MHz. One more difference that can't be seen here, but can easily be spotted when you try to pay for these is the price difference. The Intel 3.73GHz Extreme Edition is priced at $999 in 1,000 unit quantities while the Intel 660 rings in at $605.

Many of our readers are enthusiasts that love overclocking so I know what you are thinking by this point -- An extra $400 for 66MHz FSB? I'm sure every overclocker out there just got a big smile on their face and so did we when we noted that the Intel Pentium 4 630 runs at 15 x 200 = 3.0GHz and costs only $224! With a multiplier of 15 and a sub $250 price this processor may easily hit close to a 1066MHz Bus Speed for less than a quarter of the price of the 3.73GHz Extreme Edition. As always you have to have the right hardware to overclock and don't forget it may void your warranty, increase temperatures, and overclocking is not endorsed by Intel. (Who themselves allow for overclocking up to 10% in their own boards BIOS options.)

Intel Dual Core: Multi-Tasking Benchmarking

Real Life Testing

The Pentium Extreme Editon

The New Champ On Top: Intel Pentium EE 840

Last week when the dual core embargo was lifted LR brought you the usual processor article on the Intel 840. Today, we are going to focus on the multi-tasking abilities of the new dual core Smithfield processor versus that of the single core Prescott. For benchmarking we wanted identical clock speeds, so an Intel 840 was run versus an Intel 640. Both processors are very similar having EIST, EMT64, 2MB Cache, 800MHz FSB's, and 90nm cores. The only major things that these two processors don't have in common are price points ($285ish on the 640 and around $1000 for the 840) and the fact that one is dual core. The following benchmarks should show the advantages of dual core over single core if one is to be seen.

Over the past week we have had hundreds of e-mails on what to test for multi-tasking and to be honest 99% revolved around gaming and virus scanning. The other e-mails dealt with watching DVD's, downloading files from the internet, running Folding @ Home, Encoding DVD's, and other multi-tasking situations.

Software Used:

• Microsoft Media Player 10
• Power DVD 6
• DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15
• EZ CD Ripper 2.30
• Folding @ Home Console 5.02
• Symantec Norton 2004
• DOOM 3

Test System:

• Intel P4 640 & 840 -- Intel D955XBK (Intel 955X), 1GB (2x512MB) Corsair PC5400 @ DDR2 667 (3-2-2-8), Geforce 6800GT 256mb (Forceware 71.84), 120GB Seagate SATA150 HDD, Windows XP w/SP2 and DX9C.

Testing Procedure:

All testing was done on a fresh install of Windows XP Professional build 2600 with Service Pack 2 and DirectX 9.0c. All benchmarks were completed on the desktop with multiple applications open. No overclocking was done on the video card during any of this review.

Time to see how dual core works in a multi-tasking environment.

The Intel Pentium D 820..... Dual Core for the masses

Introduction

Two months ago, after almost a year of hype, dual core processors made their general public debut. With the release of Intel's Pentium D 840, those who could afford the best of the best finally saw the benefits that dual core processors bring to the table. Today, with Intel's release of the Pentium D 820, Intel brings the benefits of dual core processors to the rest of us. What benefits can you expect from Intel's newest, much hyped processor? Is upgrading from a 5XX or 6XX series processor worth it right now?

Today, Legit Reviews will answer these questions, and give you our impression of Intel's budget dual core processor, the Intel Pentium D 820. Featuring a 2.8GHz core speed and 1 MB of L2 cache, the 820 not only promises vast improvement over hyper-threading when multitasking, but also a "smoother" performance in single thread applications

A few notable features, or lack of features, are the absence of hyper threading and the lack of EIST (Which makes sense as the Pentium D 820 is already throttled back to 2.8 GHz). Will the lack of Hyper Threading show much difference in overall performance? We'll see later on as we test the Pentium D 820 against its bigger brother the Pentium D 840, as well as the Pentium 4 620.

With the release of the Pentium D 840, users realized a major drawback to dual core processors, the lack of support with the 915 and 925 chipsets, so those of us who shelled out upwards of $200 a few months ago for a high end 925XE board are basically SOL. As of right now, only the 945 and 955 chipsets will support dual core processors. Which brings me to the next portion of this review.....the 945 chipset. As it did with the Pentium D 840 and 955 chipset, Intel released the Pentium D 820 with its optimized partner, the 945 chipset. Like the 865 and 915 chipsets before it, the 945 is a watered down version of Intel's current flagship chipset. Released in two versions, the "G", which has integrated graphics, and the "P", which does not, the 945 chipset incorporates almost all of the features found on its expensive big brother, the main exception being Intel's patented Memory Pipeline Technology (As Intel states, "Enhanced memory pipelining that enables a higher utilization of each memory channel, accelerating data transfers between the processor and system memory and resulting in higher system performance.").

Part 1: Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 955

Intel Unleashes the Presler Processor

Usually around this time of the year we show you dozens of benchmarks with the next generation Intel Processor with the whole AMD versus Intel mentality. Legit Reviews is still going to do that, but just not today. This morning at 10am Intel announced its new Pentium Processor 955 Extreme Edition CPU, formerly code-named Presler. This chip, which goes on sale to the public on January 16 for $999, is the second generation of dual-core consumer desktop CPU's from the chip giant. Intel has made a number of changes to it's dual core processor series and many will call this Intel's first true dual core processor. This processor features two separate cores with 2MB L2 cache each for a total of 4MB, a 266MHz Quad Pumped Front Side Bus for a solid 1066MHz system bus, Intel Virtualization Technology, and it was all done on the 65nm process over the previous 90nm package found on the previous Prescott and Extreme Edition processors.

After getting the Intel Pentium Processor 955 Extreme Edition "Presler", holy cow that is a mouthful, we quickly found out that a couple rumors going around the internet were not true. One was about the temperatures and the other being the overclockability of the processor in general. Without further ado let's look at the new gem in Intel's Enthusiast portfolio. Taking a look at the Presler (Shown above in the middle) we can easily notice that it looks different from the Intel 5xx, 6xx, and 8xx processors that surround the new kid on the block. Let's see if CPU-Z can read the processor correctly.

It looks like CPU-Z is showing everything okay except for the voltage that the Vcore is running at. Our unlocked processor is running at a multiplier of 13 with a front side bus (FSB) of 266MHz for a total core frequency of 3.46GHz. Not a bad core speed for a CPU having doubled the cache than the previous Extreme Edition, which was the Intel 840 with a total cache of 2MB.

Intel Pentium Processor 965 Extreme Edition Review

The Extreme Edition Gets A Speed Bump

Like its predecessor, the Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 965 with Hyper-Threading technology boasts 1066 FSB, 4 MB total L2 cache configured as 2 x 2MB per core, Intel Virtualization Technology, Execute Disable Bit, and Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology. The Extreme Edition platform provides the horsepower and new capabilities that allow PC enthusiasts the flexibility to address the robust content creation and multitasking expectations of the high-end desktop market segment. Below is a chart comparing the latest Extreme Edition processor to the previous two flagship processors that it has replaced.

According to the above chart the only difference is the clock speed, but Intel has changed more than just the final frequency on the Extreme Edition.

Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 965

• 3.73 GHz dual core processor with Hyper-Threading Technology
• 1066 FSB
• 4 MB total L2 cache configured as 2 x 2MB per core
• Intel Virtualization Technology
• Execute Disable Bit
• Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)

The 965 comes clocked at 3.73GHz (14.0 x 267MHz) with a 1066MHz front side bus. If this clock frequency rings a bell it should as it is the same core speed as Intel's fastest single core Extreme Edition processor, the Prescott-based chip Intel 3.73GHz EE that was launched in Feburary 2005. There are two separate 'Cedar Mill' cores on the same package that make up the Presler core. Many call the Presler the first true dual-core Intel processor.

If you are thinking of getting one of these processors Intel recommends using the Delta EPS12V 600W ? DPS-600MB M power supply or equivalent with a 2x4 (instead of a 2x2) 12V2 connector to provide headroom and allow for more current and power to be delivered to the processor. The processor Vcc, Icc, and power specifications provided with the Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 955 still apply to the new Intel Pentium Processor Extreme Edition 965. Now that we know what the Intel 965 is all about let's take a look at the new stepping.