Foxconn X38A (Intel X38)
Author:
Date: 04.12.2007
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Foxconn X38A
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| Chipset |
Intel X38 |
| CPU |
LGA775 Pentium 4 FSB 1333/1066/800/533 MHz
Celeron Conroe/Prescott FSB 800/533 MHz
Dual-Core Pentium4 Smithfield/Presler
Quad-Core (Yorkfield/Kentsfield), Dual-Core (Wolfdale/Conroe) FSB 1333/1066/800 MHz |
| Memory |
DDR2 533/667/800/1066(oc)
DDR3 800/1066/1333 |
| HDD |
1x UltraDMA/133
8x SerialATA(2xRAID)
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| Extras |
2 IEEE-1394a
Audio Intel HDA
8 USB 2.0
2x Gigabit Ethernet |
| Price: |
n.a. |
Today, we are reviewing another motherboard built on the Intel X38 chipset. Release of Intel's new high-end chipset has not proved users' expectations. Yes, it does support sufficient number of PCI Express bus lanes (of the new v2.0 specifications) to make it possible for the developers to install two PCI Express x16 slots with 16 lanes allocated to each. Therefore, two AMD video cards in the Crossfire mode will show the best performance. Besides, some motherboards based on X38 (e.g., Foxconn X38A) offers the third PCI Express x16 slot to which there are four PCI-E bus lanes are allocated. You can install a third video card or a physics accelerator (although the fashion for such devices has already passed).
 There are no other advantages in X38. Support for the PCI Express v2.0 bus does not give a real speed gain, and the expansion options remained at a level similar to that on P35-based motherboards . The latter is no wonder, because both the motherboards use the same south bridge ICH9 (R). Finally, Intel has deferred introduction of the 400 MHz (1600 QPB) system bus to 2008, and officially the bus is not supported by X38.
Somehow or other, the X38 is the most advanced product in Intel's assortment, and partners of this manufacturer have started production of motherboards. Foxconn is among the first companies which presented its X38A model which stands out with its three PCI Express x16 slots and quite powerful expansion options. Besides, among the board's features is support for both DDR2 and DDR3!
Foxconn X38A specifications
| Foxconn X38A |
| CPU |
- Support for Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott (2M)/Gallatin/CedarMill) with the bus speeds 1066/800/533 MHz
- Dual-core Intel Pentium D/EE (Smithfield/Presler) with the bus speeds 800/1066 MHz
- Intel Celeron-D (Conroe-L, Prescott) with the bus speeds 800/533 MHz
- Support for Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad (Kentsfield, Conroe) with the bus speeds 1333/1066/800 MHz
- Support for Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad (Yorkfield, Wolfdale) with the bus speeds 1333/1066/800 MHz
- Socket LGA775
- Support for HyperThreading
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| Chipset |
- North bridge Intel X38 (MCH)
- South bridge Intel ICH9R
- Interbridge communication: DMI
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| System Memory |
- Four 240-pin slots for DDR2 SDRAM DIMM
- Two 240-pin slots for DDR3 SDRAM DIMM
- Maximum memory capacity 8 GB (DDR2) or 4 GB (DDR3)
- Supported memory DDR2 533/667/800/1066 (oc)
- Supported memory DDR3 800/1066/1333
- Dual-channel memory access
- Power indicator
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| Graphics |
- Three PCI Express x16 slots |
| Expansion options |
- Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots
- Two PCI Express x1 slots
- Eight USB 2.0 ports ( 4 integrated + 4 additional);
- Two IEEE1394 ports (Firewire; 1 integrated + 1 additional)
- Integrated High Definition Audio 7.1
- Two Gigabit Ethernet LAN controllers;
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| Overclocking options |
- FSB adjustable within 200/266/333 to 800 MHz in 1 MHz increments; multiplier adjustable;
- Adjustable voltages on the CPU, memory, FSB, and the chipset (NB + SB)
- FoxOne
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| Disk subsystem |
- 1 line for UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (JMB 363; with support for up to 2 ATAPI devices)
- Support for SerialATA II (6 lines - ICH9R, with support for RAID 0,1,0+1, 5)- )
Support for SerialATA II (2 lines - JMB 363, with support for RAID 0, 1,JBOD) -
Support for LS-120 / ZIP / ATAPI CD-ROM
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| BIOS |
- 4Mbit Flash ROM
- AMI BIOS with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features
- Foxconn Logo
- Foxconn LiveUpdate
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| Misc |
- One port for FDD, one serial port, ports for PS/2 mouse and keyboard
- Onboard power indicator + power-on, reset, and clear CMOS buttons
- 7-stage POST indicator
- STR (Suspend to RAM)
- SPDIF Out
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| Power management |
- Wake-up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer, and USB
- Main 24-pin ATX power connector
- Additional 8-pin power connector
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| Monitoring |
- Monitoring the temperatures of the CPU, system, voltages, rotational speeds of the three fans
- SmartFan
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| Dimensions |
- ATX form factor, 245x305 mm (9.63" x 12") |
Package
The motherboard Foxconn X38A is packaged inside an impressive box:
One page tips up, and the user can get a brief idea of all Foxconn's proprietary technologies, as well as watch the board through transparent windows.
The board itself is inside a transparent protective bop of soft plastic.
Package bundle:
- motherboard;
- User's Manual in English + brief usage guide;
- 1x software & drivers CD;
- one ATA133 cable, FDD cable;
- six SerialATA cables + six power adapters;
- a cap for the rear panel of the housing;
- bracket for 2 USB 2.0 and one Firewire ports;
- additional fan.
The board's package bundle looks balanced enough. In particular, there is a great number of SerialATA cables with the required power adapters, PATA and FDD cables,
as well as one bracket for two additional USB 2.0 and Firewire ports.
Interestingly, to use all the USB ports it is required to buy merely one bracket for two ports. The thing is, Foxconn X38A supports only eight USB 2.0 and not twelve ports like all the other boards with the ICH9R south bridge. Besides, we note the lack of a bracket for a COM port.
We had no claims as to the documentation: the main user's guide unveils all the stages of system assemblage and setup. And the brief guide is a good addition to the main guide.
Nor there is anything to complain about the CD which, along with the required drivers and Foxconn's proprietary utilities offers third-party software: Norton Internet Security 2006.
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