Intel D975XBX (Bad Axe)

[emgarf]

Originally Posted by Sandog

...
I can not check the temps right now since IDCC will not open...

I also have this problem... fortunately the Intel Desktop Utilities contain temp monitoring and can be downloaded from their site.

[bingo13]

Originally Posted by Sandog

On another note. Here is a good article that will make you wiser in your buying decision on power supplies. It is related to this thread due to the fact our hero (D975XBX) can run two of the hottest cards on the planet (1900XTX). This article may surprise you.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...1932947,00.asp

If you are even thinking about running a 950D or 955EE in overclocked conditions with a CrossFire setup you will want the PC Power and Cooling 850. I am having great success with the new Fortron 700w power supply in testing at this time. In our 955EE overclocking tests we have blown 9 power supplies from the best suppliers in the 510w~600w category. Several of the power supply companies will have new 700w and up units out shortly to address the ever continuing issue with the power requirements from the video cards. The issue is not so much the watts but amperage requirements for the 12V lines now. A nicely loaded system with X1900 CrossFire and a 955EE can easily draw over 40 amps in overclocked conditions.

[Alfazone]

Another bios out:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=2205&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs= 44&submit=Go%21
BIOS Version 0807
About this BIOS:
. March 14, 2006
. BX97510J.86A.0807.2006.0314.1158
. SATA RAID info:
. Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
. Silicon Image* RAID for SATA - v5.2.11
. Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
. Intel® Active Management Technology info:
. Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
. Added extended support for new CPUs.
. Enabled CPU Fan Control by default.

New audio driver as well

[emgarf]

Originally Posted by Alfazone

Another bios out:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=2205&OSFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs= 44&submit=Go%21
BIOS Version 0807
About this BIOS:
. March 14, 2006
. BX97510J.86A.0807.2006.0314.1158
. SATA RAID info:
. Intel(R) RAID for SATA - v5.6.2.1002
. Silicon Image* RAID for SATA - v5.2.11
. Initializing Intel(R) Boot Agent GE v1.2.28
. Intel® Active Management Technology info:
. Intel® AMT BX Firmware: v1.2.3
New Fixes/Features:
. Added extended support for new CPUs.
. Enabled CPU Fan Control by default.

New audio driver as well

Thx for the heads up

[Sandog]

Thanks Alfazone, saw that this afternoon. It looks like the main purpose of this release is to add new CPU support. That either means Conroe or the revised Preslers soon to be made available. I did see there is a new option in BIOS to enable/disable EIST. This is good in case you want your processor to always run at its intended speed.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by bingo13

If you are even thinking about running a 950D or 955EE in overclocked conditions with a CrossFire setup you will want the PC Power and Cooling 850. I am having great success with the new Fortron 700w power supply in testing at this time. In our 955EE overclocking tests we have blown 9 power supplies from the best suppliers in the 510w~600w category. Several of the power supply companies will have new 700w and up units out shortly to address the ever continuing issue with the power requirements from the video cards. The issue is not so much the watts but amperage requirements for the 12V lines now. A nicely loaded system with X1900 CrossFire and a 955EE can easily draw over 40 amps in overclocked conditions.

Wow, thats insane. I'm a big fan of fast computers but this is really getting to be a waste. The only way a person will notice a difference is maybe if he has a gigantic monitor and played Fear on it at the highest settings. I am a big fan of Intel EE processors but I do not see getting 2 140W video cards on top of it. I even lost my faith last night in Intel EE chips. I already mentioned that I previously got a score of around 8200 3DMark05 points with my 840EE at 4GHz. Well l I just posted I got 7967pts in 3DMark05 with a $180 630 CPU. Also Windows feels as fast as ever although it won't multitask as well as the EE chip did. I still plan on getting the 955EE chip though, even after I lost $450 on the last one.

Thanks for the heads up on the Crossfire situation bingo13.

[Sandog]

As you guys have probably heard in the news, MS is not releasing Vista until early 2007. That lets half the wind out of Intels sails right there for 2006. Everybody who was going to get Vista was probably going to get a whole new system to run it (OEM) since the hardware requirements will be so stiff and Intel is tying everything to platforms and VIIV. Selling the Conroe at that point in time would have been like selling candy to a baby. Conroe's release will still have all the fanfare and interest in the press it was going to, it's just the sales won't be there until Vista arrives which leads me to a theory. What if Conroe is not ready? Could this be why Windows is really getting delayed. The excuse for the delay was that more security tweaking had to be done like that is ever finished. I remember all the gossip that MS would't release 64bit OS until Intel was ready with their 64bit capable chips and that is what happened isn' it? Anyway, no matter how well Conroe looks in benchmarks, heat, and cost. It won't be eating any real marketshare back up until Vista arrives. Maybe 2007 is going to be Intels year also. And '08 and '09 and '10 and....

[Sandog]

Another thing I was thinking about is going back to the old Antec SLK3700BEQ case. I know you guys think I'm already nuts so it doesn't matter lol. I like the Antec case because it is fully enclosed and made of steel which cuts down on radiation and noise. I can not get use to the seeking on this Raptor in this aluminum case. I also intend to go back to air and even try to use a stock Intel heat sink for a change. EE chips are notorious for not getting by with the stock Intel HS especially if you OC but I think the Conroe EE will make it if it is around 80W. I had a plan to use a Swiftech HS and also my Panasonic M1 92mm fan on the Zalman bracket to cool the area. This way you can position it directly center of the vent on the Antec side panel and it also sprays a lot of air around in that whole regulator area and is quiet. I still really want to use the neat Intel stock HSF with 4pin PWM + fan monitor header connector. I will try it first and if it works with out being too noisy I will keep it, otherwise it is plan-B with the Swiftech/Panaflo combo. There is even a possibility of plan-C which means I might use that Intel water pump if Intel ever releases it. The thing that throws a damper on all that though is BTX which Intel has said will definately take over ATX in 2007.

[JimTram]

Could it be that Vista's delay is the result of a market study which probaly did not indicate a big interest? A longer and more intense marketing campaign may be required.

Originally Posted by Sandog

As you guys have probably heard in the news, MS is not releasing Vista until early 2007. That lets half the wind out of Intels sails right there for 2006. Everybody who was going to get Vista was probably going to get a whole new system to run it (OEM) since the hardware requirements will be so stiff and Intel is tying everything to platforms and VIIV. Selling the Conroe at that point in time would have been like selling candy to a baby. Conroe's release will still have all the fanfare and interest in the press it was going to, it's just the sales won't be there until Vista arrives which leads me to a theory. What if Conroe is not ready? Could this be why Windows is really getting delayed. The excuse for the delay was that more security tweaking had to be done like that is ever finished. I remember all the gossip that MS would't release 64bit OS until Intel was ready with their 64bit capable chips and that is what happened isn' it? Anyway, no matter how well Conroe looks in benchmarks, heat, and cost. It won't be eating any real marketshare back up until Vista arrives. Maybe 2007 is going to be Intels year also. And '08 and '09 and '10 and....

[pointreyes]

Originally Posted by JimTram

Could it be that Vista's delay is the result of a market study which probaly did not indicate a big interest? A longer and more intense marketing campaign may be required.

I don't know but this delay equates to a $600 fee for me before Vista will be available for me to use.

Update: Just found out that "business availability" of Vista will be in November. Whew. I feel a little better now. That should mean that I should get Vista sometime in November.

[GFORCE100]

Originally Posted by JimTram

Could it be that Vista's delay is the result of a market study which probaly did not indicate a big interest? A longer and more intense marketing campaign may be required.

Microsoft won't admit such things outright.

Software projects often slip beyond deadlines and go over budget. Welcome to the world of software development.

[pointreyes]

Hmmm, I can get a 975X/965EE if I could just win this.
http://dell.eprize.net/xpsrenegade/

Details about this huge energy hog (seriously 4x7900GPU+a 965EE oc'ed to 4.26+2 Raptors) can be found at: http://www.dell.com/html/us/products.../renegade.html

[Sandog]

Take a look at this graph on THG.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/03/...65/page21.html

When Intel said in the last Presler PCN that the 950 would be going from FMB5B to FMB5A I thought the chip might have already been on the low end of 5B power and the C1 stepping put it on the high end of 5A power req. but that does not seem to be the case. Intel has pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the C1 stepping it appears. In the graph above you can see the original 955EE B1 revision which is 5th from the bottom. Intel added 1x multiplier on it (965EE at 3.73GHz) and it is still using 34W less than the B1 core. Take a look at the bottom graph with the system idles scores. The 965EE is much cooler than AMD's top of the line dual core FX-60 (load & idle) and single core FX-55, 57 (idle mode). I say you could well run the 965EE off the stock Intel HSF is you did not OC.

I've waitied a long-long time for a chip like the 965EE. It has 2 cores, 4MB of cache, VT, C1E, EIST, SSE3, EM64T, 533MHz FSB, HT, Execute disable bit, unlocked mutliplier, and lastly it runs cool for its strength. What a shame it is that this chip will be history in 6mos after Conroe comes out.

If your more curious you can notice in the game benchmarks that equivalent clocked single cores do better than the same clocked dual cores but it is close and you get better all around performance with dual cores.

[babbler]

Originally Posted by Sandog

Another thing I was thinking about is going back to the old Antec SLK3700BEQ case. I know you guys think I'm already nuts so it doesn't matter lol. I like the Antec case because it is fully enclosed and made of steel which cuts down on radiation and noise. I can not get use to the seeking on this Raptor in this aluminum case. I also intend to go back to air and even try to use a stock Intel heat sink for a change. EE chips are notorious for not getting by with the stock Intel HS especially if you OC but I think the Conroe EE will make it if it is around 80W. I had a plan to use a Swiftech HS and also my Panasonic M1 92mm fan on the Zalman bracket to cool the area. This way you can position it directly center of the vent on the Antec side panel and it also sprays a lot of air around in that whole regulator area and is quiet. I still really want to use the neat Intel stock HSF with 4pin PWM + fan monitor header connector. I will try it first and if it works with out being too noisy I will keep it, otherwise it is plan-B with the Swiftech/Panaflo combo. There is even a possibility of plan-C which means I might use that Intel water pump if Intel ever releases it. The thing that throws a damper on all that though is BTX which Intel has said will definately take over ATX in 2007.

Another thing you could try is putting your Raptor in a water cooled enclosure such at the Aquacomputer Aquadrive. I have my Raptor in one and it significantly decreased the noise. Inspite of using the "Silent" series Lian Li case V1100, the drives were very noticeable before.

I'm surprised that the D975XBX isn't offered in BTX form as the D955XBK was as the D955XCS.

Only 2 weeks before the 965 EE will be released? I think I will try auctioning my 955 EE.

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by babbler

Another thing you could try is putting your Raptor in a water cooled enclosure such at the Aquacomputer Aquadrive. I have my Raptor in one and it significantly decreased the noise. Inspite of using the "Silent" series Lian Li case V1100, the drives were very noticeable before.

I'm surprised that the D975XBX isn't offered in BTX form as the D955XBK was as the D955XCS.

Only 2 weeks before the 965 EE will be released? I think I will try auctioning my 955 EE.

Hey Babbler,

I don't think the D975XBX would work out in BTX because of the Crossfire feature and also because of the 5-phase power with all those VR heat sinks.

I am getting the 965EE for sure. It will be a great chip to play with and use. I might even get it going on the stock Intel HSF for a while. I waited for this processor instead of getting the original 955EE because I wanted EIST with C1E halt even though it would only lower the CPU clock from 3.46GHz to 3.2GHz at idle. Now I am glad I waited. It has come true that Intel upped the clock like GForce100 or bingo13 told me but it also seems Intel had good success with the new C1 stepping. It is almost like a whole new chip. It looks to be almost as big a difference as when Intel went from .90nm to .65nm.