After Intel launched P35 chipset, X38 is the one they declared the highest model.
If only compares the specification P35 and X38, the X38 seems a step higher than P35.
But after my lab test, the P35’s OC performance is a bit better than X38…
Although there are some rumors on the internet that X38 and X48 is almost the same,
but X48 is something good after sorting. Anyhow, X48 is the highest-end chipset in 2008,
which is the utmost chipset that supports PCIe-2.0 and PCIe x16.

As the case of P35 and X38 motherboard, X48 should be having both DDR2 and DDR3 version.
Although the price of DDR3 module is decreasing since 2008, but DDR2 module is still the best-buy product in the market.
In my personal opinion,
DDR2 is still the mainstream product in market for the moment.

This time, I got DFI LANParty DK X48-T2RS for a test.
The Dark(DK) series, almost has the same capability in overclocking and incorporates with quality component.
The Price is just around USD$230(more or less)

The package is just keeping the same, the black style.


The accessories
Cables, menus, quick installation guide, drivers CD and IO shield.


A close look of DFI LANParty DK X48-T2RS




The lower left of the board:
2X PCI-EX16(Support 2.0 mode, CorssFire x16 + x16)
1X PCI-EX4
3X PCI
Realtek ALC885 audio codec with 8channels.


The lower right,
1 x Floppy
6 x SATAII (ICH9R)
SB by ICH9R support RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1 and RAID 5
Built-in Power/Reset button and debug LED, such a handy function.


The upper right,
1X IDE
4X DIMM DDR2 support 667/800/1066
24PIN power-input


The upper left,
The board incorporates 4-phase digital PWM and VRM11 power input, then,
the extra 16 Mosfet are enough to take care the latest Quad core CPU in market.


IO part
6 x USB2.0 ports
1 x Gigabit LAN
Red Jumper is the clear CMOS


DK incorporates with a new type heat sink.
It’s not that big, so the other heat pipe or cooler in the same board will not be get stuck by each other.
It is useful in the way.

Start up screen


The BIOS settings,


The FSB/ voltage settings


DDR2 debug option




CPU Features


DRAM reference settings:
The one I use for the test is the Corsair Dominator modules.




Voltage settings:
CPU VID Special Add +12.5mV~787.5mV
DRAM Voltage 1.800~3.375V
SB Core/CPU PLL Voltage 1.510~2.380V
NB COre Voltage 1.265~2.040V
CPU VTT Voltage 1.211~1.601V
Vcore Droop Control, CPU voltage dropping option


This is something about the NB/VTT voltage settings to make quad core CPU OC much higher.
In case, you want to reach the FSB to more than 450 ~ 500, you definitely can try to adjust the NB voltage to around 1.6 or 1.7V

Here the CMOS Reloaded function, there are 4 different blanks for user to store their own OC settings.


PC Health Status


The testing environment
CPU: INTEL Core 2 Duo E6300/Quad 9550
MB: DFI LANParty DK X48-T2RS
DRAM: CORSAIR Dominator TWIN2X2048-8888C4DF
VGA: GAINWARD BLISS 9800GTX 512MB
HD: Seagate 7200.10 320G
POWER: Corsair HX520W Modular Power Supply
Cooler: Thermaltake Big Typhoon VP


Quad core Q9550 C0 testing
440X8.5=>3739 MHz, 4 of Super PI 32M and get steady


It’s a bit pity that this 45nm process Quad core CPU only can reach around 440~450 MHz, it can’t let DK X48 to release all the potential in FSB OC.
It seems the 65nm CPU performs a little better than this one, it can reach 470~500MHz.

Some folks might be doubt about whether the 4-phase digital PWM enough to supply the quad core CPU or not?
I remember that much earlier some users were doubts about the same thing to P35 before. But in my experience,
16 Mosfet with a 4-phase digital PWM is really acting fine for a quad core CPU overclocking.

Memory performance:
DDR2 1200 CL5 5-5-15 1.96V
Dual SP2004,Blend mode,2GB full loading and get steady.


DDR2 1200 CL4 4-4-9 2.38V
Dual SP2004, Blend mode, 2GB full loading and get steady.


DDR2 1200, the best voltage setting of DK X48 is almost doing great with the on of P35. these are the good board though.

Dual core
500/1200 CL4 4-4-9,Dual Super PI 32M steady.


DDR2 1252 CL5 5-5-15
EVEREST, bandwidth testing.


The high-end motherboard should match with the high-end VGA.
Gainward latest BLISS 9800GTX,

Default frequency 657/ 2200
3DMARK2003


3DMARK2005


3DMARK2006


9800GTx is really desert to be called the highest-end VGA card for the moment, it did a great job in all 3D MARK test.

The summaries of DFI LANParty DK X48-T2RS
The goods:
1.The package is keeping the style, price is also in around USD230
2.Still having the High end solid state capacitors, PCIe dual x16 bandwidth
3.Rich in overclocking BIOS settings and a wide range of voltage settings
4.The performance of Memory tweaking is real good, DDRII is still the high C/P ratio product in market. What a nice choice
5.The heat pipe is better than before

The drawbacks:
1.If the CPU voltage setting can have a “descending” option will be better for OC
2.The exposure of the product is needed to be strengthen

Performance ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Components ★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Layout design ★★★★★★★★☆☆
Cost/ performance ratio ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Since DFI launches DK series, this is the fourth one in this series.
DK series products still keep the advantages of overclockability and high C/P ratio.
There should be a place for such a series I think.
Although, the components that incorporates in this series are not that “luxurious”,
but the whole design of it is truly above the standard.
For the moment, the highest-end chipset of Intel should be X48(although the news of X58 is linking…)
The user who want a extreme performance but avoid to spend more than USD280~330, DFI LANParty DK X48-T2RS should be a nice choice for users.

Great review. Thanks for all the information about the motherboard.

+1 about exposure of the product needing to be strengthened. Everybody seems to think you NEED an Asus motherboard; and it's a real shame when DFI is in the same price range, yet has so many more features.

I like mine. It is paired with an E8500 and am workin' on the air OC. I've had it up to 3.8ghz w/o a problem. The arctic cooler I have on it was a tight fit, but it works fine. Idle's at about 48C at 3.8ghz.