Shuttle Inc., market leader in the mini-PC segment and manufacturer of Multi-Form-Factor solutions, today unveils a new XPC Barebone from the P2 model series building on Intel's X48 Express chipset. Specially designed for high performance systems, the XPC Barebone SX48P2 Deluxe is ideally suited for Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors with up to four cores.

The XPC Barebone SX48P2 Deluxe is the first mini PC barebone ready to be equipped with DDR3 memory modules. A maximum capacity of eight Gigabytes on four sockets can be installed into this model. "The pioneering DDR3 memory technology promises more performance with less energy consumption and reduces heat development which is ideal for mini PCs," explains Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. Two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots enable the use of high-end graphics cards with an ATI Radeon HD 4870 being supported as well.

This motherboard board looks a work of art, simply put. The ASUS Rampage Extreme is the upscale version of ASUS' ROG line Intel X48 chipset based motherboard, the Rampage Formula. Although Rampage Formula resembled the X38 based Maximus Forumla in many ways, to an extant that you could use the Rampage Formula BIOS with Maximus Formula, don't expect the same with Rampage Extreme and its predecessor. This board features the X48 chipset, supports DDR3 memory, features a total of 16 CPU-power phases, water-cooling ready, out of the box. Apart from the plethora of features the ROG series products come with, this board bundles the SupremeFX X-Fi sound module which supports PCI-Express X-Fi Audio. It supports ATI Crossfire at full x16, x16 PCI-Express 2.0 mode.

Here's the most interesting feature: You can tweak system parameters on the board using a feature called TweakIt. This makes you adjust your overclock using special controls located on the board, keep track of the settings you're making using the LCD poster. The board is rich in heatsinks, ample cooling is provided to the MOSFETs surrounding the CPU area and above the memory area. Expect this to be priced anything above US $250.

Heading to the high-end motherboard offerings more and more, Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has launched its latest killer motherboard. The ECS X48T-A Black Series motherboard is based on Intel's X48 Express chipset, and as such it offers full support for Intel 45nm processors, Intel XMP technology, and ATI's CrossFire technology (two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots). The big cooling you see on the picture is ECS' Qooltech Generation 2, a fan-less design with single heatpipe and enough copper to cool efficiently hot parts such as the Intel X48 north bridge, the Intel ICH9R south bridge and the CPU PWM area. The X48T-A motherboard is available now in limited quantity, so you better hurry up. More info is available here.

Although Intel's P45 chipset is set to be here in almost a month, there's plenty to see already. ECS also confirmed two new motherboards are on their way to show skills with other Intel X48 and P45 products. First mainboard has model name X48T-A and uses X48+ICH9R chipset configuration, while the second model is dubbed P45T-A and will work iwth the latest ICH10R southbridge. The implementation of heat-pipe cooling here is called QooTechII and solid capacitors are also a must have for high end products where ECS does not shine so much. Maybe this will change soon? Overall these two fellows are promising to become a good choice for people without deep pockets.

FOXCONN today officially launched the long awaited second BLACKOPS motherboard in the Quantum Force series. Based on the Intel X48 chipset and packed with many unique features for extreme overclocking, BLACKOPS comes out of the box with 4 different chipset cooling options: regular air cooling, water cooling and even LN2 or dry ice. BLACKOPS has been optimized for Intel Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors up to 1600MHz FSB, and supports a maximum of 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600/1333/1066/800MHz memory. With 3x PCIe x16 2.0 slots (2x x16, 1x x4 bandwidth), and CrossFireX support, it also features 8 phase digital PWM, and a new SONAR daughter card based on the Realtek ALC885 8 channel audio chip. The BLACKOPS motherboard will be available in retail channels this month, priced at around US $400. For further information check out this page.

DFI has kindly sent TweakTown pictures of their upcoming X48 boards and it looks like there will be no less than three different DDR2 models coming. DFI LanParty UT X48-T2R, LanParty LT X48-T2R, and LanParty DK X48-T2RS are all Intel X48 motherboards that support Intel Core 2 CPUs with 1600FSB and have four DDR2 667/800MHz DIMMs. The first two will share the same PCB design and features with the only difference being the chipset cooling. Both cooling systems will be from Thermalright, but DFI LanParty UT X48-T2R will use a premium new version, while LanParty LT X48-T2R will have the same old cooling found in DFI's previous X38 motherboards (LanParty LT X38-T2R). The third Lanparty DK X48-T2RS will be a more basic version, with ordinary heatpipe cooling and different PCB and slots colors. Despite its "basic" layout this model will have all the goodies found in the Intel X48 chipset. Release dates and pricing are unknown at this time.

Chip maker Intel has just added the DX48BT2 motherboard to its website. Manufactured by Intel, the DX48BT2 Desktop Board offers the new X48 Express chipset with support for all Intel 45nmm Socket 775 processors operating up to 1600MHz FSB. It also has official support for DDR3 memory up to 1600MHz with XMP Extreme Memory Profiles. The board offers two PCI-e 2.0 16x and one PCI Express 1.0a x16 graphics slots. An 8-channel (7.1) Dolby Home Theater Audio codec and Gigabit LAN module are also presented.

Intel has sent out a notice to inform its partners that the X48 chipset delivery will be delayed to sometime in March. No motherboard manufacturers will get chipsets before March and that includes the first tier brands like ASUS and GIGABYTE. Intel did not give any official reason for the delay.

Micro-Star International (MSI) today launched its latest X48 Series motherboards based on Intel X48 Express chipset. Coming in two versions: X48 Platinum DDR3 only and X48C Platinum DDR3 & DDR2 combo, these new motherboards feature "Dual-Channel PWM", enhanced fanless cooling design "Circu-Pipe" and numerous exclusive features such as Quad graphics slots, MSI SkyTel VoIP, and all Made-in-Japan solid capacitors. Water-cooling versions of the boards are also set to come in the future.

Delayed until February for marketing reasons, Intel's new high end king the X48 chipset has made appearance in the form of an ASUS Republic of Gamers (R.O.G.) motherboard. The new X48 board will be named Rampage Formula (DDR2 memory version pictured down) and Rampage Extreme (DDR3 and no pics) and will be released next year, most likely in February, ready to accept the new Intel QX9770 (3.2GHz), 1600MHz FSB processors. Until then, enjoy the photo.

Intel was originally going to launch the X48 chipset in January next year, however the company may postpone the chipset launch by 1-2 months because of the large volume of X38 chipsets. Motherboard makers fear that the X48 chipset will slow down clearance of its X38 chipset inventory and have negotiated with Intel to delay the launch of its X48 chipset. The story also says that motherboard makers have already received X48 A1 test samples from Intel.

Intel recently launched its high-end 3 series chipset X38 in the market, however with details of a chip revision, the X48 chipset, exposed, some motherboard makers are concerned that the X48 may hurt demand for motherboards based on the X38 chipset. Intel recently delivered X48 A0 test samples to motherboard makers. The chipset is expected to launch between the end of 2007 and January 2008 after testing, while motherboards should start appear on the market in the first quarter of 2008. With the X48's launch expected to come only three months later than X38, it could lead to a short life cycle for the X38, causing a delay in market demand.