X48 Motherboard Comparison, Part 2

Software and Accessories

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Documentation & SoftwareQuick Installation Guide
Row 1 - Cell 0 Bonus Software Guide
Row 2 - Cell 0 Dolby Home Theater promo card with sticker
Row 3 - Cell 0 Connector Diagram Sticker Kit
Row 4 - Cell 0 CIR and eSATA promo card
Row 5 - Cell 0 Promo Door Tag
Row 6 - Cell 0 Game "Ghost Recon 2: Advanced Warfighter"
Row 7 - Cell 0 Motherboard Driver CD (Windows Vista)
Hardware1x 80-conductor Ultra ATA cable, Round
Row 9 - Cell 0 1x SATA Data Cable
Row 10 - Cell 0 1x Northbridge Fan Mount
Row 11 - Cell 0 1x Southbridge Nameplate
Row 12 - Cell 0 1x I/O Panel Shield

Our installation kit included a large variety of documentation but just enough cables to install one SATA hard drive and two Ultra ATA optical drives! This “Reviewers Kit” might not represent everything included in retail boxes, however, as the company also left out the game “Ghost Recon 2” that the box says will be included with retail units.

Also included are a Northbridge fan bracket and a Southbridge badge. The bracket doesn’t include a fan, but one will be required in systems that lack adequate airflow around the Northbridge sink. The Southbridge badge will actually inhibit airflow, which is probably why Intel leaves it up to the builder to decide whether or not it should be installed.

Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.