Intel D975XBX (Bad Axe)

[pointreyes]

Hey, Zep - you will probably be the only one that understands my insanity.

Just ordered the family computer.

Whoops. Store session abended.
I purchased a 1.25Ghz / 512Meg Mac Mini refurb for $429 with free shipping.

Not to bad of a price?

The money I saved can go for some software maybe.

[Intel_User]

Sandog, I e-mailed Intel what's with the 1066FSB support on the 945 chipset boards(my D945GNTLKR) when there is no CPUs currently with 1066FSB support. Here's what I got:

Unfortunately none of the processors with a 1066MHz front side bus has been
validated yet for this Desktop Board.

Interesting. I wonder what that can mean.

[DBoone]

Originally Posted by Sandog

Those are the Henckel Professional-S series 18pc boxed set with added 6" cleaver, curved paring knife, and carving fork. Retail over $1200, I got it for less than $600.

Where did you pick them up from?

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by Intel_User

Sandog, I e-mailed Intel what's with the 1066FSB support on the 945 chipset boards(my D945GNTLKR) when there is no CPUs currently with 1066FSB support. Here's what I got:



Interesting. I wonder what that can mean.

I think the only 1066 FSB parts are the EE's currently and those require mobo's with an FMB 05A(95W) or 05B=(130W) which the 945 chipset boards do not have. Now a cooler (65W) running Conroe might work fine in one of the 945 chipset boards.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by DBoone

Where did you pick them up from?

I got the whole 18-piece block set brand new from Ebay for like $367 plus $19.95 shipping. Then I went here and got the curved peeling knife for $39 plus 6" cleaver for $49. I ordered those together with a coupon code and got $10 off and free shipping over $59. Then I ordered the flat carving fork for $79 :eek: , used the $10 coupon code and got free shipping on it also. The whole block is packed and complete with everything I wanted for about $580. These knives will last forever though and are very nice to hold and use.

Here is a link to Henckel to tell you more about their products.

http://www.j-a-henckels.com/country/...s/354/seiten/0

http://www.zwilling.com/country/us/l...ts/series_list

Edit: I forgot to mention I also picked this up.

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=5271

Nothing too fancy but very nice the same. I used the $10 coupon code on it plus free shipping. It is already $20 off and also it came with the 6 steak knives which I gave to a family member.

If you were to only get one knife get this one. It is a bad mofo and very cheap for its size.

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=51

[Belisarius]

Originally Posted by Sandog

I got the whole 18-piece block set brand new from Ebay for like $367 plus $19.95 shipping. Then I went here and got the curved peeling knife for $39 plus 6" cleaver for $49. I ordered those together with a coupon code and got $10 off and free shipping over $59. Then I ordered the flat carving fork for $79 :eek: , used the $10 coupon code and got free shipping on it also. The whole block is packed and complete with everything I wanted for about $580. These knives will last forever though and are very nice to hold and use.

Here is a link to Henckel to tell you more about their products.

http://www.j-a-henckels.com/country/...s/354/seiten/0

http://www.zwilling.com/country/us/l...ts/series_list

Edit: I forgot to mention I also picked this up.

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=5271

Nothing too fancy but very nice the same. I used the $10 coupon code on it plus free shipping. It is already $20 off and also it came with the 6 steak knives which I gave to a family member.

If you were to only get one knife get this one. It is a bad mofo and very cheap for its size.

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=51

Sorry when did the 975X thread become the "Definitive steak knife thread"

Sandog you spewing the new 9** series dont have TM2, C1E or speedstep in the first revisions? You still gonna buy one?

[Belisarius]

Originally Posted by Intel_User

Sandog, I e-mailed Intel what's with the 1066FSB support on the 945 chipset boards(my D945GNTLKR) when there is no CPUs currently with 1066FSB support. Here's what I got:



Interesting. I wonder what that can mean.

Wouldn't it mean this? That 945P is a 955X chip anyway, but "poorer" silicon, and if 955X can support 1066Mhz FSB CPU's, then 945P can theoretically do the same, except they are made not too by tweaking? Thats all I would make of it.

[DBoone]

Thanks Sandog, I appreciate the info. Amazing what you can learn on ABXZone.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by Belisarius

Sorry when did the 975X thread become the "Definitive steak knife thread"

Sandog you spewing the new 9** series dont have TM2, C1E or speedstep in the first revisions? You still gonna buy one?

I'm thinking and thinking and thinking lol and it's painful believe me. My last thought was I would buy the 955EE and use it for 3mos and then sell it, buy the rev.2 955EE and use it until the Conroe EE was available then I would sell it. That's the only way to true happiness for me I'm afraid Another option though is I wait until the new revisions arrive then get the D2 960 for $600+. I really like that chip and think Elvis himself would have preferred it. Eventually though all roads lead to Conroe for me, no doubt about it. I will make a move one way or another soon especially if I get a sample board from Intel.

[Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by pointreyes

Hey, Zep - you will probably be the only one that understands my insanity.

Just ordered the family computer.

Whoops. Store session abended.
I purchased a 1.25Ghz / 512Meg Mac Mini refurb for $429 with free shipping.

Not to bad of a price?

The money I saved can go for some software maybe.

Congrats on the new machine!

This should make an excellent family computer. Will it be tied into your KVM? or are you going to have it elsewhere? If you get the airport extreem card, you can put the darn thing anywhere with a keyborad and monitor and have it talk to your current access point. I have given my network printers static IPs so it is not an issue to print through the wireless access point. Print servers can be a little bit of fun though. Static IPs might help if you have issues. 512MB is enough RAM to run OSX and applications.
Oh, and BTW, turn off Apple Talk, you won't need it.

When ya get the unit, make sure you run Software Update. Click on the apple in the upper left hand corner. Make sure you run this a number of times as sometimes the first updates have to be updated themselves.

A few "pointers": 1.) Macs like 'fresh' memory that is contiguous. Even though apps might be closed, every now and then it will register that the memory is still in use. In other words if you are opening and closing applications a lot, make sure you restart the computer every now and then. At least once a day, if it is used on a daily basis. 2.) Macs need a little TLC. Make sure to repair permissions on a weekly basis-Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility. You should run this a couple of times in a row each week. 3.) Any important work should also be saved on the server. 4.) Every so often, it is a good practice to wipe the HD and install everything fresh. It just isn't worth while fiddling around trying to fix things. Bite the bullet and do reinstalls.(Making a clone can be an involved process and $, if you are intereseted, PM me)

Sorry about the long OT post kiddies!

Cheers,

Zeppski

[pointreyes]

Originally Posted by Zeppelin

Congrats on the new machine!

This should make an excellent family computer. Will it be tied into your KVM? or are you going to have it elsewhere?

Sorry about the long OT post kiddies!

Cheers,

Zeppski

OT? Heck yeah, they might start throwing knives at us; however, they do sound like nice knives.

Thanks. The software that comes on the machine might even be good enough since my family is not as nearly resource intensive as me. It will be coupled to my KVM - plus I will have the 2.1 speakers going through the KVM between the file system and the Mac mini. I discovered that many of the games that I have to run in Windows 9x also run on Mac but I might have to run Mac classic for that? 20" widescreen with a tiny machine seems so odd to me but it sure helps out with space constraints.

I decided not to wait for an Intel proc in it because I realized that maybe the older kids games are even less likely to run and I predict about 2 years before we see all of Apple going Intel for all hardware and software functionality.

I'm selling my SCSI drives. They just don't deliver on a PCI bus. Will probably get a Whining Digital Raptor to replace them since it can run on the ICH7R. Still undecided on trying to switch to the Presler. I like Vanderpool but I treasure quiet computers even higher.

[Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by pointreyes

OT? Heck yeah, they might start throwing knives at us; however, they do sound like nice knives.

They are excellent knives. I hope the cleaver comes flying my way. i can use a new one

Thanks. The software that comes on the machine might even be good enough since my family is not as nearly resource intensive as me.

Eduacational office is a good choice. It includes Excel, along with Word and Power Point which are significant tools in a childs arsenal of report writing and presentation. It is never too early to start training children to report their ideas and/or present their ideas. Giving a speech with PP running on a projector can be powerful. Add in sound , movies and such an impact can be made. Heck, they make a good enough report, PP can be made portable with all the whistles and bells to run a PC from Mac that you could have them present it when you go over to visit grandparents.

iMove works quite well too. Lots of fine extras come with OSX.

It will be coupled to my KVM - plus I will have the 2.1 speakers going through the KVM between the file system and the Mac mini. I discovered that many of the games that I have to run in Windows 9x also run on Mac but I might have to run Mac classic for that?

Don't hold your breath on the classic. Some stuff works fine and other stuff doesn't. If the software was designed for an OS before the 9.xx, it might not work. Even if was designed for 9.xx it still might not work. On the other hand, some stuff runs so great you forget you are in Classic mode. One thing when running classic applications, very often the amount of memory that has been preassigned to the application is not enough and you have to go in and give the application more memory. This will be a permenent assignment. No dynamic memory use in Classic:eek: You may also have to assign more memory to Classic itself.

20" widescreen with a tiny machine seems so odd to me but it sure helps out with space constraints.

That will really look strange Are ya stickin it all in the closet still?

I decided not to wait for an Intel proc in it because I realized that maybe the older kids games are even less likely to run and I predict about 2 years before we see all of Apple going Intel for all hardware and software functionality.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Software incompatibility, at least for the short run. That is why a new MacNtel is not coming to me from the Apple Store. I am really afraid that brand new versions of software will have to be purchased for these machines. We are on strike here for buying new software for no good reason. (That is why the Acronis burns my butt, i bought 7.xx to run on XP. To go to 8.xx ya gotta pay, and to go to 9.xx ya gotta pay AND it is still for XP - GROWL - kinda makes ya feel like you bent over at the wrong time)

I'm selling my SCSI drives. They just don't deliver on a PCI bus. Will probably get a Whining Digital Raptor to replace them since it can run on the ICH7R. Still undecided on trying to switch to the Presler. I like Vanderpool but I treasure quiet computers even higher.

Bummer about the SCSI. Are you trying to run them on a 33 slot down from a 66 slot in the previous unit? That could make a major performance hit! Compared to SCSI, the raptors have pretty good access times and excellent advertised MTBF. A nice benefit to updating to an array of SATA drives is that when you decide to move things around later, they should be able to me moved around between boxes without the issues of a SCSI. You could put one here and one there

Go for the Pressler. XP can recognise the 4 processors it will present. All Intel can say is no to the proposed trade. and if the noise potential bothers you there is always the water cooling solution. I love my EXOS for that very reason. It makes a lot less noise.

Cheers,

Zepp

[pointreyes]

Originally Posted by Zeppelin

Go for the Pressler. XP can recognise the 4 processors it will present. All Intel can say is no to the proposed trade. and if the noise potential bothers you there is always the water cooling solution. I love my EXOS for that very reason. It makes a lot less noise.

Cheers,

Zepp

Actually, I very happily sold my 478-pin Prescott system because it had to be water-cooled with a $50+ water block on the cpu coupled to an Exos-AL unit. It was too noisy for me and that was at it's quietest setting. And that was even in a sound deafened Lian-Li PC6070b case. That probably gives you an idea of what I mean when I say I need quiet, I mean real quiet. I can tolerate fan noise when a system is under a heavy load but not at idle.

I'm now getting the i/o errors with the Intel system like I did with the AMD system; however, it's even worst-the AMD system would continue to work but the Intel system starts to exhibit problems. :sad: That's what convinced me to get the Apple. I just want a system for the family that goes until I finally get these hardware/software issues resolved. I'm planning to take the system back down to less software installations and see if I can trace the problem to maybe software affecting the hardware. Plus removing the SCSI drives. I'm thinking of getting the Asus 975 board with PCI-X slots and make the Intel system become the file server. With 3 Gigs of RAM that would a very good file server system as well as a virtual server machine (I have MS Virtual Server 2005). The AMD Supermicro board would be replaced with a Tyan workstation board that would accomodate the hardware I need for the NLE machine plus I'm using ECC RAM so having the killbit ability is rather nice to have for a NLE workstation. Until I get the Apple the only truly stable computer I have is my AMD laptop. Even traced a problem with Windows x64 XP Pro on my Opty system. I'm startin' to really question the stability of dual-core procs/chipsets in conjunction with software. I never had these problems with my dual proc systems.

[Sandog]

Hey Zep, I see you made the review team. Congrats

[Sandog]

Here's the latest BIOS update for this board (1-5-06)

BIOS Version 0420

 January 5, 2006
 BX97510J.86A.0420.2006.0104.1502
 SATA RAID info:
 Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.1.2.1002
 Silicon Image RAID for SATA - v5.2.11
 Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
New Fixes/Features:
 Feature to enable USB bootable devices to boot the system first.
 New Intel Logos.
 Added HPET support.
 Fixed the problem where operating system could not get Wake up cause after resuming
S4.
 Fixed issue where certain drives not detected in BIOS SETUP.
 Fixed a problem where PCIe devices behind the PCIe bridges off the ICH7 did not work
if a PCI to PCI bridge was connected with a video card behind it.
 Fixed ITK workspace issue.
 Fixed illegal pop-up message box display in setup.
 Fixed Setup Browser would not refresh with F9 default Language.