Official Conroe information thread

[Sandog]

I think that you are right h20-ski. It is a bit of a mystery about the capability of Intels next P965 mobo and what will emerge from a likely new D975XBX revision. We will have to wait until these boards arrive and measure features and read performance reviews. The only thing I think is definate is the P965 will have the ICH8R chipset and the P975 will retain the ICH7. I agree the 975 boards came out early and was designed for Conroe originally but the ICH8 is newer yet and will obvioulsly be more advanced.

[h20-ski]

In Anandtech's preliminary findings, the 965 chipset performs like the 865 did to the 875 close, but not ever able to take the lead. As for the ICH7 and ICH8. To me it makes sense for the ICH7R to be on the 975 boards. Reason being is that Intel knows that the 975 is an enthuasist item, and the ethuasist do not have the capabilities to get SATA optical drives like the OEMs, so why make the main buyer of the 975 chipsets mad.

[Intel_User]

In Anandtech's preliminary findings, the 965 chipset performs like the 865 did to the 875 close, but not ever able to take the lead. As for the ICH7 and ICH8. To me it makes sense for the ICH7R to be on the 975 boards. Reason being is that Intel knows that the 975 is an enthuasist item, and the ethuasist do not have the capabilities to get SATA optical drives like the OEMs, so why make the main buyer of the 975 chipsets mad.

It's not correct to judge when the release date of Conroe is still a week away, and when they already have Conroe compatible chipset called 975X, Intel may not be forced to hurry.

Drivers are still premature, and according to reports,

the 965 chipsets are supposed to be at least fast as the 975X chipset, if not faster.

Link: http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/itnews.php?...me=0&endtime=0

Further, some of the manufacturers noticed that the released Intel P965 chipset has got the expected performance from Fast Memory Access technology, performing the same as i975X with DDR2 800. Intel has promised to fix the problem in the next P965 C-2 Stepping, and is expected to release in late July.

All in all it may turn out they are equal, but it looks similar to 850E vs. 845 situation, where 845 had memory controller enhancements but 850E was faster, also noting similarity between 850E and 975X to be not supporting the latest memory standards fully(PC1066 RDRAM for 850E and DDR2-800 for 975X). Of course 850E had more memory bandwidth, but get what I am saying?

[Eldonko]

Originally Posted by h20-ski

In Anandtech's preliminary findings, the 965 chipset performs like the 865 did to the 875 close, but not ever able to take the lead. As for the ICH7 and ICH8. To me it makes sense for the ICH7R to be on the 975 boards. Reason being is that Intel knows that the 975 is an enthuasist item, and the ethuasist do not have the capabilities to get SATA optical drives like the OEMs, so why make the main buyer of the 975 chipsets mad.

Yep thats what I was told too, by a guy that has been running conroe and every board that would support it for months.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by Eldonko

Yep thats what I was told too, by a guy that has been running conroe and every board that would support it for months.

They are just going to stick IDE controllers on 965 boards----they are cheap and easy.....

I think the jury is still out...

We will have to see when the masses start to get boards and conroe's and publish results......

Besides------Reviews only give you so much info.....and these guys all get hand picked stuff......

I even think sierra's over on XS is getting hand picked stuff now.....

Not what you and I will get.....

Besides----975 is really the only game in town right now-----in the next few months---a TON of new boards (mostly 965) will appear.....

Me-----I'm waiting for whatever DFI and Oskar Wu put out for Conroe......

Once you do one of his boards.....you are just plain spoiled....

[CanterwoodBoy]

I read in a couple of places that there would probably be 975 boards with ICH8R, as this is the board manufacturers choice.

[sammy2066]

Will the 975X support Kentsfield? How about the 975X chipsets on the P5W DH Deluxe?

[Kage]

Kentsfield will be supported by the P5W DH...

[sammy2066]

Originally Posted by Kage

Kentsfield will be supported by the P5W DH...

Excellent!! That gives me room to upgrade in the future ...

[Kage]

P5W DH Deluxe is a pretty sweet board...

[sammy2066]

Does ATI Crossfire on 975X still need that ugly external cable and a master card?

[Dan-Baer]

Yup, that is one of the reasons that crossfire is deemen to be the less desirable solution.

[Eldonko]

Some info you guys may find interesting..

OPB and VictorWang did comparo of ASUS P5B DX (965 chipset) vs. ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (975 chipset) clock for clock at ocx. The P5B DX was a minute and a half slower at 32M which tells me at this time 965 is quite a bit slower.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by Eldonko

Some info you guys may find interesting..

OPB and VictorWang did comparo of ASUS P5B DX (965 chipset) vs. ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (975 chipset) clock for clock at ocx. The P5B DX was a minute and a half slower at 32M which tells me at this time 965 is quite a bit slower.

The 975 must have PAT LOL or maybe GAT

Remember that one from the good old 875 days........

[k0NG0]

Originally Posted by Eldonko

Some info you guys may find interesting..

OPB and VictorWang did comparo of ASUS P5B DX (965 chipset) vs. ASUS P5W DH Deluxe (975 chipset) clock for clock at ocx. The P5B DX was a minute and a half slower at 32M which tells me at this time 965 is quite a bit slower.

Linkage?