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Strengths: The 1600Mhz FSB supported by Intel's new X48 chipset and a plethora of onboard ports makes this motherboard a wet dream.
Weaknesses: This board only supports 4GBs of RAM when using 1600MHZ memory. But you can pump 8GBs by using 1333MHZ memory cards - the draw back to the slower speed if the CPU will run at the lower speed too.
Summary: Intel is known for quality builds in chips and their motherboards. If you are seeking out a stable system build, Intel is differently the way to go. My main reason for electing Intel's DX48BT2 over another was the additional headroom provided around the CPU. My Zalman Heartsink is a monster keeping my baby cool. Due to the sheer size I needed more freedom for its installation. In addition to the technical specifications – 1600Mhz FSB, DDR3 RAM, and the board’s layout—my decisions were geared toward cosmetics as well, the DX48BT2 is black and blue like a bikers’ denim jeans and leathers, tattooed with a skull logo. Blends very nicely with my high gloss piano black case, monitor and keyboard. Other brands were shocked with a wealth of carnival colors that would have clashed with my system build visually.
On the gamer side of things, tweaking in the bios is not the easiest compared to MSI Diamond, or the Rampage. However, benchmark tests show Intel holds it own for speed and performance. I have no intention to overclock at present but for those seeking out this option and don't want any hassle--Intel may not be right for you. Intel is headed in the right direction but they are still on the conservative side to insure quality and stability.
Speed is outstanding and highly noticeable since I’ve moved up from a P4 2.8Ghz with 2GB RAM. It’s like moving from a condo to a penthouse suite. Though I elected to compromise on a few features I’m very pleased with my solid purchases.
The SATA ports are conveniently placed so they are not concealed when installing larger Display cards like the Nvidia 9600GT. Intel's DX48BT2 sports three PCIe 2.0 X16 expansion slots. However, you can only use one when using a Nvidia card. But Radon fans will love the ability to install three cards.
This main board is designed to be future proof as the legacy ports are completely absent, including the floppy, but who uses the out moded ports anyway? Remember we are moving forward not transgressing. The object of each new build is to ensure the latest and hottest software will run smoothly and without the dreaded hour glass.
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