DFI DK X38 or X48

[rctycoon]

I'm looking to buy one of the DFI Dark series boards off newegg and was wondering which would be better to pair my q9450 with, the x38 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136051
or the x48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136047
versions of this board. I plan to OC to 3.2 and i would like to crossfire two 4870 in the future, which is why im looking at the x38/x48 chipset.

Also here is the rest of my planned system
Ati 4870 HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129113
G.SKILL PC6400 2x2GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231192
ZEROtherm ZEN FZ120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887016
Antec 900 - i know its a bit overdone but i like the "mod-a-bility" and airflow of it, after a few holes for wiring and paint job it is one slick case
(im sure you all know what it looks like so no link)
Antec True Power Quattro 850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371009

 

[auscanzukus]

The best dfi overclocker is LANPARTY UT P35-T2R. bar none. If your aim is to crossfire & o/c, you should consider x38/x48.

DFI LANPARTY DK X38-T2R
DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS

BTW, both your links point to the same board.

 

[evongugg]

I would get this cooler:

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-cooler-charts,1967-12.html

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

don't forget to order the retention bracket because push pin mounting sucks.

 

[evongugg]

Intel X48 - Much Ado about Nothing....

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=3150&p=6

 

[chunkymonster]

I would recommend going for the DFI DK X38-T2RB rather than the X48. Getting that board with those features for $180 is a real good deal.

Contrary to what Newegg shows on the Specs tab, the X38-T2RB supports up to DDR2-1200 memory although the sweet spot seems to be DDR2-1066. Check out the DFI QVL memory page.

There is minimal to no advantage of DDR3 over DDR2. The X48 allows for minimal to no additional overclocking advantages. Having official 1600fsb support with the X48 is no big advantage either. Currently, the only procs to have 1600fsb are the Core2 Quad Extreme Editions, and they cost over $1400!

If you haven't already, read the Anandtech article that evongugg linked above, does a good job of comparing the the X38 to the X48.

 

[rctycoon]

alright thanks for the help, guess im goin with the x38
and also i am seriously looking at the xigmatek cooler, because i think the zen will not fit this mobo becasue of the northbridge heatsink, does anyone know the dimensions i have to work with around the cpu for a cooler? I have looked for the measurements everywhere and cant seem to find them