Conclusions
Generation after generation, Intel's high-end chipsets have had a hard time living up to the buzz generated by their mid-range cousins. That doesn't mean Intel is incapable of producing competitive high-end core logic chipset, but its mid-range offerings are so good they make it difficult to justify spending more. The fact that Intel shares a common pool of south bridge chips between its mid-range and high-end offerings is part of the reason for this dynamic. The bulk of the chipset's integrated peripherals are found in the south bridge. Since the X38 and P35 Express can both be paired with Intel's ICH9R, any differences between the platforms are confined to the north bridge.

There, the X38 takes a major step beyond the P35 with its 32 PCI Express 2.0 lanes, which make the X38 the first chipset to offer second-generation PCI Express, ensuring plenty of bandwidth for future graphics cards. The X38's full 32 lanes also make it the first Intel chipset capable of supporting dual-x16 CrossFire configurations.

The X38 has other perks, too, such as support for DDR3 speeds up to 1333MHz. DDR3 memory modules have quickly scaled to 1333MHz and beyond, making support for faster memory an attractive feature. However, DDR3 still carries a hefty premium, and we suspect most enthusiasts will prefer to stick with DDR2-based X38 implementations for now.

Well, that's a lie. We expect most enthusiasts will prefer to stick with DDR2-based P35 implementations. High-end products like the X38 Express rarely offer an attractive value proposition, and enthusiasts tend to seek out the sweet spot rather than paying a premium for flagship products that offer little in the way of improved performance. There is no doubt in my mind that the X38 Express is a great chipset. It's easily the most forward-looking core logic around and arguably the best high-end chipset for the Core 2 Duo. But with boards costing $300 and up, it's just not good value.

If you are in the market for a $300 motherboard, you definitely want one based on the X38. Despite its awkward name, the P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @n packs an astounding array of goodies, including a third physical PCIe x16 slot, useful extras like a programmable remote and 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity, and a very slick embedded Linux distribution. The embedded Linux distribution has perhaps the most potential, particularly if Asus or end users are able to load it with BIOS flashing, stress testing, and other applications that enthusiasts may find more useful than a web browser and Skype client. We can't hold the P5E3's need for pricey DDR3 memory against it, either, because we're sure to see a DDR2-based version of the board before long. However, we have to take issue with the board's use of a slow PCI-based Gigabit Ethernet chip. There's simply no reason a $350 motherboard should be saddled with poor Ethernet performance, even on a secondary controller.

The GA-X38-DQ6 has PCIe Ethernet all around, so it doesn't suffer from poor throughput. It doesn't suffer from much at all, really, aside from a gaudy interface for its Windows tweaking software. The board is otherwise solid, well laid-out, and packed with overclocking options galore alongside subtle-but-thoughtful features like two flavors of Firewire connectivity and a smart approach to eSATA devices. Combine that with a lower price tag than the P5E3, and you've got an attractive alternative for those who aren't keen on Wi-Fi or embedded Linux extras.

Questionable value keeps us from handing out an Editor's Choice award to either the P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @n or the GA-X38-DQ6. However, if you have disposable income to burn, both are excellent examples of what can be done with the X38 chipset, and they are TR Recommended.