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Review: HEXUS Group Test :: Is there a perfect high-end Intel motherboard?

by Michael Harries on 10 July 2008, 05:15

Tags: LANPARTY LT X48-TR2, DX48BT2, 132-CK-NF79-A1, P7N Diamond, nForce 790i Ultra SLI MCP, nForce 780i SLI MCP, X48 Express Chipset, EVGA, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), AMD (NYSE:AMD), MSI, NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), DFI (TPE:2397)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qanqd

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Intel DX48BT2 bundle and warranty













Items
  • Intel Express install drivers and bonus application software: Intel Desktop Utilities (not supplied on disk – needs to be downloaded), Diskeeper Home Edition, DivX for Windows, Dolby Control Centre, Norton Antivirus, Skype, Typepad, Kaspersky Antivirus, Kingsoft Antivirus, Kingsoft Powerword
  • Ghost Recon 2 Advanced Warfighter game
  • Attention note regarding driver+bios updates, Intel Desktop Control Centre not on enclosed disk, 4 module DDR3-1600 support limitations.
  • Gaming door card
  • Jumper/Header reference sticker (for inside case)
  • Rear Panel connection sticker for rear of case
  • Bonus software pamphlet
  • Dolby Home Theatre Case Sticker
  • Quick reference sheet/poster
  • Back plate
  • 4 to 8 pin Mainboard power adapter
  • 4 x SATA cables (straight with locking mechanism to right angle connections)
  • Decorative SB cover
  • NB fan clip (no fan included)
  • 1x rounded PATA cable

The DX48BT2 comes with a good bundle of accessories, software and surprisingly for a motherboard, a game, in the form of Ghost Recon 2:Advanced Warfighter.

The SATA cables contain a latching (straight) SATA connection on one side, and an unlatching right-angle connector on the other. This should help with setting up a tidy system without stray cables or twisting, obstructing airflow.

One of the things that most impressed was the motherboard reference guide for sticking inside of the case; a simple addition which would save you having to hunt for the instruction manual when attaching cables to the headers or changing jumper settings.

Intel Desktop Utilities, contrary to the advertising on the box, is not included on the utilities CD. Rather, a download link, to a beta preview link of Intel Desktop Control Center, is provided. This proves next to useless, reporting spurious values and most performance-related settings require a reboot to change, giving no advantage over adjusting setting via BIOS.

Warranty

Intel provides a three-year warranty on its retail motherboards. The cover is provided by the manufacturer that the board was purchased from, so, as always, buy from someone you trust.

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