Intel D975XBX (Bad Axe)

[Sandog]

Originally Posted by Mr Steveo

Ive just started reading on Conroe. In an ideal world I agree 100% (that huge FSB has me smiling.)

Unfortunately Ole Bessie died last week. (insert sorrowful, "Moo!.") This system build is more a matter of necessity than want. I am still entertaining the idea of cheapy system now, Conroe end of the year. Only negative there is Id have shelled out for two systems instead of one

Hey Mr Steveo, welcome back.

[GFORCE100]

Originally Posted by Sandog

The D975XBX should run Conroe but I wonder how it will run the 1333MHz EE version? I think the voltage regulator can handle the Conroe's lower voltage and that was taken care of with rev.304 but I am not sure about the above. The board will go up to 1600 but I would think Intel would have to support it. I really can't see the D975XBX not running the Conroe EE. It might be we won't see any 1333 FSB chips for awhile.

Higher FSB support = new chipset. Your last sentence is correct I would comment.

There is life beyond the 975X.

[Intel_User]

With rumors that Kentsfield may be slated for Christmas timeframe, it would be sort of dumb for Intel to not have Conroe EE before then. What may be possible is they may cancel the dual core EE entirely and go quad core, which I think would be a stupid idea(they should make proper quad core at Q2 2007 and go Conroe EE 3.33GHz before, like Q4 2006).

[Sandog]

I don't believe for a second Intel won't have a Conroe EE chip. Intel has already made a decision about when and what mobo will run it to, we just have to wait about a month before the Conroe appears to find get the facts and see a fresh roadmap. I heard rumors last night of a D985 chipset. If it is true though it probably won't appear until January or Q1 '07. That leaves the D975XBX. It would be unheard of for Intel to change chipsets on the same mobo (put ICH8R chip on the D975XBX). That leaves coming out with a ICH7R that supports 1333MHz (D975XEBX maybe).

Intel is looking forward to quad core and I have heard rumors about the quad core EE chip. We will undoubtedly see a new mobo early next year to run quad core CPU's. Those chips should going quickly to .45nm which will require lower Vcore than the Conroe's even. As nice as the D975XBX mobo is, it is tied to Netburst CPU's and that is a dead end road with everybody.

[Intel_User]

Intel is looking forward to quad core and I have heard rumors about the quad core EE chip. We will undoubtedly see a new mobo early next year to run quad core CPU's. Those chips should going quickly to .45nm which will require lower Vcore than the Conroe's even.

Clovertown, the Xeon variant is supposed to be 130W. Being on a Conroe successor, it won't run hot as the current Pentium D based EE's, however, it doesn't mean it will run cool either. Probably like the high end Athlon 64/Opterons. 45nm will bring the chips back to Conroe level. Granted, there will be a another core made for quad core(not like 2 dual core clovertown/kentsfield), so the power consumption will be different and not predictable for the 45nm chips again.


I hope Intel makes line of chipsets that are two generations compatible. But now we have to wonder what additional requirements are needed for new support. Since Prescott needed higher current ratings than 865/875 boards could support, and Conroe's have lower voltage ratings than 945/955/975 boards could support, what's next?? Maybe the future processors need medium range voltages, preventing chipset support again. Or higher number of pins.

[GFORCE100]

Originally Posted by Intel_User

Clovertown, the Xeon variant is supposed to be 130W. Being on a Conroe successor, it won't run hot as the current Pentium D based EE's, however, it doesn't mean it will run cool either. Probably like the high end Athlon 64/Opterons. 45nm will bring the chips back to Conroe level. Granted, there will be a another core made for quad core(not like 2 dual core clovertown/kentsfield), so the power consumption will be different and not predictable for the 45nm chips again.


I hope Intel makes line of chipsets that are two generations compatible. But now we have to wonder what additional requirements are needed for new support. Since Prescott needed higher current ratings than 865/875 boards could support, and Conroe's have lower voltage ratings than 945/955/975 boards could support, what's next?? Maybe the future processors need medium range voltages, preventing chipset support again. Or higher number of pins.

The chipset market won't slow down, it's a money wheel for Intel and is also why they are the number one graphics adapter provider in the world. Surprised? Don't be, just look how many G series chipsets they sell with intergrated graphics.

Chipset evolution is all worked into the equation and every new update on the processor front provides good reason to explain to customers that a new chipset is necessary. How many hardcore electricians do you know that could explain otherwise? S775 processors could run with a 865/875 chipset if they wanted to, rest assured, some have even done it such as Asrock if I remember correctly, a division of Asustek. Marketing is a lovely thing don't you think? In some cases it bends the truth more, in other less but don't believe everything you see or read as marketing folks don't smile for nothing.

Pins will need to increase as more core = more signals. Next jump? Around the 1200 level.

[Sandog]

Interesting.

Old chipsets I'm sure are capable of running newer cores if the clocks and bus pins match up but newer chipsets also bring newer features. 850 to 875 was worth it and so was 875 to 925 as far as features went.

[Sandog]

Odd that the D975XBX did not get support during it's latest revision for 1333 FSB, just support for the 1066 FSB Conroes. I am beginning to believe that Intel is holding off the Conroe EE as a trump card. They may feel the ball is in their court and play with it for awhile with the four regular Conroes. Also it saves some customer grief by not coming out with a refresh of the D975XBX so close to its release. It is a peculiar predicament though because Intel does have an enthusiast line of mobo's geared for gamers. How can the 965EE be considered the top gaming chip when the E6700 waxes the FX-60 and the FX-60 waxes the 965EE? If Intel puts off the 1333MHz bussed Conroe EE until Q4 then there is no reason to come out with a supporting D975XBX until then. To put it another way, until we see a PCN pop up for the D975XBX then the Conroe EE is not coming.

[Sandog]

Here's a pic of some thermal pads I bought off Intel a while ago. These will work great and no more pasty mess.

[Intel_User]

The chipset market won't slow down, it's a money wheel for Intel and is also why they are the number one graphics adapter provider in the world. Surprised? Don't be, just look how many G series chipsets they sell with intergrated graphics.

Nope, I wasn't surprised. Why do you think I have Intel 945G chipset?? Yes, I am using the integrated. With the graphics market advancing so quickly, and the most demanding game I play being WoW, I see no point of investing on a graphics card at all. I happen to favor getting faster CPUs more too.

Pins will need to increase as more core = more signals. Next jump? Around the 1200 level.

Only on the AMD side, at least for now. Intel's CPU pin count won't jump until they put their integrated memory controller. Socket 775 seems its gonna stay, though compatibility may not.

[pointreyes]

Originally Posted by Intel_User

...though compatibility may not.

Isn't 'compatibility' in the computer hardware industry considered a deprecated term?

[Sandog]

I am taking a pot shot at getting a rev. 304 D975XBX mobo, ordered one today from ZZF. They were suppose to be available by the 16th of this month. I don't think 1333 FSB support is coming soon to the D975XBX. If it does and Intel comes out with a 1333 FSB Conroe CPU then I will get another one. Until then I am shooting for a regular Conroe 2.67GHz model. This is also timed because I am getting a new case.

[RCA301]

Did I read somewhere that D975XBX and double sided DDR2 will not work together and does that include rev. 304 D975XBX? If the answer is no it will work then will D975XBX work with OCZ EL PC2-8000 XTC: Low Latency PLUS DDR2-1100? I read that 2GB Dual Channel Kit PN – OCZ2P10002GEEK is DS but that info came from a seller of this memory not Anandtech or OCZ directly.

[Sandog]

The D975XBX will work with DS/SS RAM up to 8GB(ECC and non-ECC).

http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/bx/bx_mem.htm

1.8 V and 1.9 V DDR2 SDRAM DIMMs
Unbuffered, single-sided or double-sided DIMMs with the following restriction:
Double-sided DIMMs with x16 organization are not supported.
8 GB maximum total system memory
Minimum total system memory: 128 MB
ECC DIMMs and non-ECC DIMMs
Serial Presence Detect
DDR2 667 and 533 MHz SDRAM DIMMs

[Sandog]

Neat picture.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherb.../cs-022235.htm