In theory, Intel has an advantage over competing motherboard makers because it engineered the X48 Express chipset that lies at the DX48BT2's core. Given intimate knowledge of the chipset and its associated quirks, Intel's motherboard designers should be able to exploit the X48's potential fully. There's more to a good motherboard than pushing the chipset to its limits, though, starting with how all of the various slots, components, and connectors are laid out on the board.

The DX48BT2's layout begins well enough, with power connectors located along the edges of the board where their associated cabling won't interfere with airflow around the CPU socket. Intel also does well to place the board's single IDE port—powered by an auxiliary Marvell storage controller due to the ICH9R's lack of legacy ATA support—near the top edge where it will be close to the 5.25" drives bays of most enclosures.