Intel DX58SO Extreme

If the new Core i7-965 processor is the engine for Nehalem, then the single-socket, ATX form-factor DX58SO Extreme is the chassis it goes in. Together, they form the backbone of the fastest enthusiast-class system you can currently get your hands on.

The most notable feature of the DX58SO board is the sudden disappearance of the frontside bus. That's right overclockers: no more boasting about how far you pushed your system's FSB. From now on, you can brag instead about your QPI (QuickPath Interconnect).

Overclocking, therefore, has also drastically changed. Instead of the FSB regulating data flow from the CPU to the rest of the system, there is a base clock that controls the processor, IOH and ICH independently of one another. Thus, each of these components has its own voltage regulation and other factors to manipulate. For example, each processor core has its own multiplier. The memory controller, which is conveniently located on the CPU (it's about time), has its own multipliers that are tied to the ICH multipliers.

You can also tweak the base clock, although at press time there is not yet consensus (not even from Intel) on what exactly would happen if you did so. I determined firsthand that the system will not explode if you up the base clock, but the performance gains compared to the other methods of overclocking are minimal at best.

It was somewhat counterintuitive to leave the base clock unaltered when overclocking, but I hit the best scores when I left it alone. I changed the multipliers for each core from 25 to 29; the base clock of 133MHz with an average core multiplier of 29 produces a CPU clock of 3.87 GHz. I also upped the voltage to the memory and bumped up the memory and UCLK (uncore) multipliers (which must be at least twice that the of the memory multiplier).

At stock speeds, the QPI runs at 6.4GTps (25.6GBps), although with some clever overclocking, the minds at Intel claim it can reach as high as 7.2GTps (28.8GBps). As tantalizing as that data rate may be, this board can't truly take full advantage of it. You will have to wait for multiprocessor boards before you see the real boost in performance.

The DX58SO includes triple-channel memory (three slots, up to 2GB per DIMM) with an additional slot available for a little extra boost. Beware that fourth slot, though. The three other DIMMs will come in a kit, which when paired with a lone stick of odd-man-out RAM could cause you headaches, especially when overclocking.

Another significant developments is that this mobo supports CrossFireX instead of SLI. You can also disable certain SATA and USB ports from the BIOS.

A problem with ever-shrinking die procesesses is power leakage. At 45nm, the Nehalem chips present a potential leakage problem, but Intel addressed the issue with Power Gate technology. The Power Gates work in tandem with Turbo Mode to reduce power leakage and use power more efficiently overall. Basically, Turbo Mode disables inactive cores while not in use and redistributes that power to active ones. Power Gates block switching power and prevent power leakage.

The DX58SO is part of a new and very exciting generation of products from Intel. If you want in on the ground floor, get this board immediately.

by Seth Colaner



DX58SO Extreme
$350
Intel
www.intel.com

Computer Power User January 2009