Intel D975XBX (Bad Axe)

[Sandog]

Welcome to the Intel D975XBX Bad Axe thread which is about the most powerful and fastest mobo Intel has ever produced.

I am really excited about this new mobo coming Feb/06 and also about starting this thread which I believe has great potential to become a valuable resource. I already have a few items to share about this board and the possibility of more items to share before it is released which is why I am starting the thread so early.

To begin with, Intel has started a new platform program for desktop systems and of the 5 or 6 platforms that will be available the D975XBX falls under the ‘Extreme’ platform name. This platform is targeted at gamers who want speed and power. The different models of Intel mobo’s fall under these platforms based on each boards capabilities. This ‘platform’ grouping hasn’t limited the D975XBX to any particular hardware, it just means this D975XBX has features and technology best suited for gaming. You can still buy the separate boxed version of the D975XBX.

Anticipation. This is what you all should have. From Intel roadmaps it looks like next year will be pretty exciting and kicking it off in February will be the ‘Bad Axe’. That time of the year to release a new chipset goes to show things are not ‘as usual’ anymore at Intel and makes its release more exciting to me. We all know Intel has been down and kicked and that they are really trying to produce a better product. Even though I don’t think there has ever been a problem with the mobo department, I think they are trying harder to produce as well. Since the D875PBZ mobo, Intel has become more unconventional while still keeping the same stability. The ‘Bad Axe’ will get its share of faster tech. as well as an extra dose of unconventionality.

Hardware. The D975XBX should retain all the hardware features that are on the D955XBK such as the SigmaTel audio and extra SI controller. Both chipsets are not far apart but the D975XBX will also have two 8X PCIe slots for NVidia/SLI capability as well as ATI/Crossfire capability. This is the first time Intel has implemented SLI on a mobo and the first time anybody has implemented both SLI and Crossfire on the same mobo. Also not well known is a new cooling solution to the voltage regulators the type of which or the details of which are not known to me. It should give the board a bit of new look though from what we are use to seeing. Also I was told this board would be “smoking” and would have some extra sauce thrown on it from the engineers. There are also some other Intel ‘gamer/enthusiast’ related projects under development which my guess would be an Intel gaming network. I might hear more about these developments later.

[switch_abx]

sandog, I'm afraid this is going to be the next +10K thread you start.

[Ralf Hutter]

Wazzup Dog?

Just think, only 11,151 posts to go and this 'un will catch up to the Bonanza thread!

[Sandog]

Hey guys

Thanks for posting so quickly.

I think this will be an exciting thread and should start kicking off around the first month of the new year. I plan to have as much info. put up as I can during the interim including pics if I can get them.

CYA

[Brian]

I think I better post now so I get the zippy little email notifications...

This looks like it could be an interesting and informative thread.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Ralf Hutter

Wazzup Dog?

Just think, only 11,151 posts to go and this 'un will catch up to the Bonanza thread!

11,149....

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Sandog

Also I was told this board would be “smoking” and would have some extra sauce thrown on it from the engineers.

This worries me because everyone knows that when you let the smoke out of the board it stops working.

[polonyc2]

is "Bad Axe" the official name of the board or is that your title for it?

mobo sounds interesting for sure...SLI and Crossfire capable sounds nice...Intel needs something big to counteract AMD's rising momentum, not to mention the failure of their Prescott's chips...AMD 2006 roadmap looks very promising as well with the introduction of their new M2 Socket and support for DDR2 memory

2006 will be the year of my next major overhaul/upgrade...so hopefully things will get very competitive

[JaGWiRE_abx]

Damn, your making me want to build a new rig..

But.. If i'm going intel I guess i'll have to push it up a level and get some DI, liquid /chilled liquid and a phase change.

Just kidding, am considering liquid though for my next rig.

[JimTram]

I have a good feeling about this thread - perhaps its the similarity, i.e. 875/975.

Good luck Sandog.

[Sandog]

Hey everybody agian, We almost have enough for a party now hehe.

Yes the new D975XBX is officially called the 'Bad Axe' hence the BX at the end and yes I know it is almost too cool to be true. I just may have to wear sunglasses when I get my Intel 955EE Presler and D975XBX Bad Axe lol.

Also have to admit I like the no. 975, it seems even cooler than 875 and way cooler than 925/955. Just another of many good feelings I'm getting about this board. It is also 3rd generation to receive the socket 775 which has earned its wings IMO. This board will pretty much be an improvement to the D955XBK, any problems Intel saw with the 955XBK should get eliminated. Lets no forget to mention that the Bad Axe will support the Conroe.

[ronbo 613]

Sounds like it is going to need a backup generator.
Intel is a conservative company, but making one high performance, kick axe board for enthusiasts that would get lots of press might widen their customer base. They've got the professional and larger business market, why not try to grab the top tier of enthusiasts? AMD seems to have the budget market cornered, Intel is going to have to work on that.

[Miles]

It's time to get all of the Intel users psyched again as AMD has been carrying the load here lately, I can hardly wait

[FightingChance]

Will this board buck convention and allow any type of overclocking/tweaking? It's difficult to consider a board that doesn't let you play with the numbers. Solid, though.

I'd be more a touch miffed though if I got the previous 'extreme' boards that seem to have promised much and delivered median, and now have been outdated pretty quickly. Is there going to be a 965 series?

Edit: I see in your sig a Pentium at 4.2Ghz - so I guess you can fool around on Intel now?

[althes]

cant wait to see what it does