New generation extreme deluxe motherboard – MSI X38 Diamond

From April to May 2007, there were many P35 products launch from motherboard makers.
About another higher level X38 chipset product,
we only heard about the naming, but no products and test results exposure.

And now in September, the big three motherboard makers finally release the X38 motherboard information, product photos and specs.
will launch to the market in early October.

This time we have MSI X38 Diamond, the Diamond class is the highest level in MSI product line.

The shape and outlooks on motherboard
Use all made on Japan solid capacitors,
MSI also enhanced the Circu-Pipe become more beautiful.




The MB down left corner
4x PCI-E x16 V2.0 designed, run on 16+16+4+4 when full loading.
The biggest different is we can run 16+16 with dual graphic CrossFire mode, better then P35 series.
2 x PCI-E X1
1 x PCI


MB down right corner
6 SATA2 with 4 horizontal design, that can prevent big size VGA block problem.
1 IDE
Built in Realtek ALC888T 7.1channel, support VoIP card.
2 red button, for power and reset function, MSI finally designed this convenient design. Also designed the post debug LED.
Behind SB chip with sink and pipe, that is PCI-E extension chip to support 2 x4 bandwidth design.


Up right side
First launched will only have 4 DIMM DDR3 design.
This time MSI designed more DDR3 multipliers, support DDR3 1066/1333/1600 up to DDR3 1775


Although there is DDR3 1775 option, we will know the performance after test.
Of course we could use this extreme DDR3 – CORSAIR TWIN3X2048-1800C7DF


Processor circuits design
This time MSI enhanced the PWM design become 4+4, 4phase dual channel PWM.
That’s better stability and higher availability for Quad Core and extreme overclock test.


The IO design is getting better too!
8 USB port, 2 eSATA and dual GB LAN.
The small button is for Clear CMOS design, good for users.


Let’s take a look on the heatpipe design.
P35 Circu-Pipe use dual circle design, this time X38 only have half more round design.
Easier but better looks with big heat spread surface.

The pipe extend to CPU PWM, that’s the name “Circu-Pipe”


South-bridge designed with excellent height pipe and sink design.


MSI P35 Diamond comes with good extend cards, of course the X38 Diamond may not absent with that.
First one, CREATIVE SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio, use new PCI-E x1 interface and designed by MSI.


MSI SkyTel VoIP card, can turn home plug phone become SKYPE phone.


Here is also the new design:
LED POST, it will turn the debug light become boot up wording and component wording. That’s better then just a number or few LED light.


If the system success into OS, POST will show “MSI”


It will check many items when boot up, now is checking “VGA”


When boot up, show “LOGO”


This time MSI change the boot up screen picture, that looks really better then old ones.


The default setting with CPU-Z info.


This time we just take a look on the preview,
About function test or overclock, I will follow up for you soon.

X38 is the highest level chipset on Intel platform this year, we can tell that
motherboard makers will design all the extreme spec and functions to show off.
This time MSI X38 Diamond did have impressive design for enthusiasts,
wish the X38 series could satisfied hard-core users and gamers soon.

Looks nice although I am not interested in paying money for a MSI board

Windwithme, thanks for the update !

Could you take off the PWM heatsink, the one with the "Circu Pipe" on it, and take a macro snaphost on those PWM area ?

Or better, take off the whole roller coaster mobo heatsink and re-shot again ! TIA

anxious to see OC results.

--pak

What is that Dual Core Cell?

Nice key fobs.

great pics and layout as always man

i must admit that looks pretty nice. Lets hope it works well too.

what is with the ugly pastel pinks and yellow colors!!

Mr.Guvernment said:

what is with the ugly pastel pinks and yellow colors!!

Click to expand...

The MSI Diamond is aimed at play-doh fans?

Lol at the colors. Baby-blue AND gay-pink RAM slots, truly a killer combination.

Would look nice in a drag queen rig though.

thats pretty awesome. Lol a lot of ram slots! dang. Nice pipes.

good luck with your overclocks....

i think ddr3 is a bit much still... but will become more popular in the near future and hopefully cheaper!

Very interesting looking forward to some oc results.

6 rams slots is a bit much i think. Whats that, 12GB of ram? (i saw that the first release will only have the 4)

Dose the X38 chipset support DDR2 at all?

Hipcrostino said:

6 rams slots is a bit much i think. Whats that, 12GB of ram? (i saw that the first release will only have the 4)

Dose the X38 chipset support DDR2 at all?

Click to expand...

If you look closely you can see it's a DDR2/DDR3 hybrid board. Some X38 boards will be hybrids, some will be pure DDR2, and some will be pure DDR3.

The MB has 4 PCIe slots...

Is this because two of the slots can suport SLI and the other two slots suport X fire?

When is this being released ?

Looking good! Thanks WWM! I like the LCD posting thing and the rear layout of the board... Can't wait.

Mycobacteria said:

The MB has 4 PCIe slots...

Is this because two of the slots can suport SLI and the other two slots suport X fire?

Click to expand...

only supports cross fire. 2 of them are full 16x lanes, while the other ones are just 4x lanes. If you take a close look, there are 4 DDR3 slots with 2 DDR2 slots.

Well im still corssing my fingers for an X38 with SLI suport....