Test: MSI X38 Diamond

Specifikationer

MSI launches the MSI X38 Diamond motherboard, based on the Intel® X38 Express chipset. This new motherboard is specially designed for PC enthusiasts. Experience all “Ready for PC2008” features that this ultra high-end motherboard offers; stunning performance, good overclocking possibilities, Quad PCI-e slots, upcoming 45nm CPU support, DDR2 and DDR3 support and FSB 1333MHz support. Other special MSI features are the improved MSI Ciru-Pipe cooler, onboard LEDPOST, onboard reset button, M-connectors, 100% all made-in-Japan Solid capacitors, Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio card, and MSI Skytel VoIP.

Specifications:
• Intel® X38 Express Chipset
• Supports Intel Core™ 2 Extreme/Quad/Duo CPU
• Supports FSB 1333/1066/800MHz
• Supports Dual Ch. DDR3-1333/1066/800
• Efficient Dual-Channel PWM design
• New MSI Circu-Pipe design
• 4 PCIe slots (2 x16 PCI-e gen 2.0, 2 x4)
• CrossFire support
• 2 eSATA2 Support Matrix RAID & Port Multiplier
• X-Fi Xtreme Audio
• MSI SkyTel VoIP function
• Supports dual Gigabit LAN
• 100% all Made-in-Japan solid capacitors
 

Exclusive Dual-Channel PWM with high efficiency
In order to provide the most stable environment for overclocking, MSI X38 Diamond comes with a revolutionary “Dual-Channel PWM” (PWM: Pulse Width Modulation; controlling analog circuits to provide a CPU's power), its advanced design by 2 pairs shielded choke and MOSFET base on the basic 4-phase PWM, providing the best rate of CPU power to make the highest power efficiency. “This original and revolutionary design by MSI will lead the motherboard’s power design in fewer phases to provide better power supply. It’s today’s most advanced technology to look after both overclocking and power efficiency.” said Vincent Lai, marketing director of MSI.

Exclusive Cooling Solution “Circu-Pipe” to reduce exhausted heat.

The new MSI X38 Diamond is equipped with an enhanced fanless cooling design “Circu-Pipe”. The new Circu-Pipe provides the best cooling solution with its fin-typed heatsink around the heat-pipe that not only reduces heat efficiently but also saves space.
Special Features MSI X38 Diamond
In tradition of the Diamond series, the MSI X38 Diamond has exclusive MSI features as well. The motherboard comes with the SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio card. The onboard audio chip provides the Creative hardware audio codec which fully supports the 24-bit Crystallizer. This technology provides a low CPU utilization when using the audio possibilities which can result to higher frame rates for gaming purposes. Another exclusive feature of the MSI P35 Diamond is the “MSI SkyTel” which allows users to use a common phone set to make internet calls. There’s no need to buy an additional headset or VoIP accessories when using the MSI SkyTel. Users can just plug the legacy phone set in the P35 Diamond-based PC and make internet calls around the world using the Skype™ application.

Overclocking friendly features
The MSI X38 Diamond has overclocking-friendly features to meet the precise demands of overclockers. The motherboard is equipped with onboard LED POST that shows the boot status or warnings if necessary, the LED Detector will show if the add-on cards in the PCIe/PCI slots are connected properly. Reset the system in a second during overclocking with the onboard reset button and with the delivered M-connectors, connecting devices in the case will be easier than ever.

Features

 

 

• Key components status hardware monitor.
• Monitor the Dual Core CPU each unit status.
• Optimize System status define.
• Auto speed up with system loading change.

 

 

The MSI Live Update online is designed to automatically download and update the BIOS and driver when there’s a new version online. It helps reduce the risk of getting the wrong file and minimize the trouble of searching the files from MSI website.

 

 

Live Update 3 is a single utility software that automatically checks BIOS, driver and utility updates and installs for you , which can save your time for searching and lower the risk while updating.

Specifications

CPU  • Supports Intel® Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo based processors in LGA775 package. • Supports Intel® Yorkfield, Wolfdale in the LGA775 package. • Supports FSB 1333/1066/800 MHz. Please refer to CPU Support for compatible CPU; the above description is for reference only.

Chipset • Intel® X38 Chipset- Supports FSB 800/1066/1333MHz. - Supports dual channel, DDR3 800/1066/1333. • Intel® ICH9R Chipset - Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0) controller, 480Mb/sec, up to 12 ports. - 4 SATAII with 2 eSATA* ports with transfer rate up to 3Gb/s. - Supports Viiv technology - PCI Master v2.3, I/O APIC. - ACPI 2.0 compliant. - Serial ATA RAID 0/1/5/10. - Integrated AHCI controller. *eSATA function would be fully supported by VISTA ( In Box driver with AHCI driver). eSATA function would not be fully supported without AHCI driver under WinXP.

Main Memory   • Supports four unbuffered DIMM of 1.5 Volt DDR3 SDRAM • Supports up to 8GB memory size. • Supports dual channel DDR3 memory architecture. • Supports DDR3 800/1066/1333 memory interface.

Slots   • Two mazarine PCI Express x16 slots (PCI Express Bus SPEC V2.0 compliant; supports CrossFire Technology) • Two yellow PCI Express x16 slots with x4 operations (PCI Express Bus SPEC V1.0a compliant) • Two PCI Express x1 slots. (support PCI Express Bus specification v1.0a compliant) • One 32-bit v2.3 master PCI bus slot. - Support 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface.

On-Board IDE/SATA     • One Ultra DMA 66/100/133 IDE controller integrated in Marvell® 88SE6111.- Supports PIO, Bus Master operation modes. - Can connect up to two Ultra ATA drives. • SATAII controller integrated in ICH9R and Silicon Image® 5723 chipest- Up to 300MB/sec transfer speed. - Supports four SATAII ports and two eSATA ports by ICH9R. - Supports AHCI controller with SATA RAID 0/1/5/10 by ICH9R. - Supports two SATAII ports by 5723. - Supports SATA RAID 0/1, JBOD mode/ by 5723. (for SATA7 & SATA8 only) MSI Reminds You... • The RAID setup floppy disk is optional depending on the districts. You can download the files from the website to make the setup disk.

Audio  • Chip integrated by Realtek® ALC888/ALC888T - Flexible 8-channel audio with jack sensing - Compliant with Azalia 1.0 spec. - Meet Microsoft Vista Premium spec. - Supports VoIP Card. (for ALC888T only)

LAN • Supports PCI Express LAN 10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet by Realtek 8111B. • Supports Gigabit Ethernet LAN 10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet by Intel 82566DC. (for ViiV)

IEEE1394 • VIA® VT6308P chipset - Supports up to two 1394 ports. (Rear panel x1, pinheader x1) - Transfer rate is up to 400Mbps.

Internal I/O Connectors - ATX 24-Pin power connector - 8-pin ATX 12V power connector - CPU / System x 5 FAN connectors - CD-in connector - Front panel audio connector - Front panel connector - 1 x SPDIF-out pinheader  - 1 x chasis intrusion connector - 1 x serial port pinheader - 2 x USB 2.0 connectors - 1 x Floppy disk drive connector - 6 x Serial ATAII connectors - 1 x ATA133 connector - 1 x IEEE1394 connector support additional 1 port - 1 x VoIP card connector - 1 x TPM module connector MSI Reminds You... • The floppy disk cable will be optional.

Back Panel I/O Ports - 1 x PS/2 keyboard - 1 x PS/2 mouse - 2 x eSATA ports (support Command Based Port Multipliers) - 1 x 6 in 1 audio jack - 8 x USB 2.0 ports - 2 x RJ45 LAN jacks - 1 x IEEE1394 port - 1 x Optical SPDIF-out

BIOS • The mainboard BIOS provides "Plug & Play" BIOS which detects the peripheral devices and    expansion cards of the board automatically. • The mainboard provides a Desktop Management Interface(DMI) function which records your    mainboard specifications.

Dimension • 30.5cm(L) x 24.5cm(W) ATX Form Factor Mounting • 9 mounting holes.