Intel Does it again - First Prescott processors will not be compatible with current motherboards!!

[AgaBoogaBoo]

All I know is, is that a 2.8C is more than enough for me and I won't be going beyond it for probably 2 years. Is it really that big of a deal? If you purchased a 865 or 875 board just so you can use precott in it later, you shouldn't have.

 

[FishTankX]

I bet you 200$ that powerleap will have this nailed in about 2 months after the release.

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Originally posted by: FishTankX
I bet you 200$ that powerleap will have this nailed in about 2 months after the release.

Nah, No bet...Save the money for the $200 that the powerleap adapter will cost you..

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: jaeger66

Originally posted by: Acanthus


False advertising? Class action lawsuit?

For god's sake, put a cork in it. I can't think of any other hobby where people with victim complexes threaten to sue every time things become a tad inconvenient.

Do you even know what im talking about?

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Acanthus


Do you even know what im talking about?

Yes, but apparently you do not.

http://members.cox.net/jaeger66/images/manual.jpg

Specifications change. Deal with it.

 

[nick1985]

that sucks

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: nick1985
that sucks

I blame this all on the Republicans.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

What a waste... I mean, how old is the i875? The new motheboards just came out.... why can't they settle down for a standard socket, that would prevent obsolescence? This will kill personal computing... people will simply say "screw it, what I have is good enough" and won't buy stuff anymore. I'm not talking about AT people, I'm talking about the large masses. The people who still have TNT2 cards in their P3-500 machines, running Windows 98...

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
What a waste... I mean, how old is the i875? The new motheboards just came out.... why can't they settle down for a standard socket, that would prevent obsolescence? This will kill personal computing... people will simply say "screw it, what I have is good enough" and won't buy stuff anymore. I'm not talking about AT people, I'm talking about the large masses. The people who still have TNT2 cards in their P3-500 machines, running Windows 98...

Since when do "the large masses" upgrade only their cpu? "The large masses" upgrade entire PC's and don't build their own. And even the (relatively) "large masses" of those who DO build their own, rarely upgrade the cpu only.

Look, I'm not saying whether this rumor is true or not. I honestly don't know. (And even if I did, I couldn't say.) What I AM SAYING is not to overreact over a rumor.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Eh. The people that can afford this crap will get over the inconvenience. The people that can't afford it aren't affected anyways.

 

[FishTankX]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
What a waste... I mean, how old is the i875? The new motheboards just came out.... why can't they settle down for a standard socket, that would prevent obsolescence? This will kill personal computing... people will simply say "screw it, what I have is good enough" and won't buy stuff anymore. I'm not talking about AT people, I'm talking about the large masses. The people who still have TNT2 cards in their P3-500 machines, running Windows 98...

Since when do "the large masses" upgrade only their cpu? "The large masses" upgrade entire PC's and don't build their own. And even the (relatively) "large masses" of those who DO build their own, rarely upgrade the cpu only.

Look, I'm not saying whether this rumor is true or not. I honestly don't know. (And even if I did, I couldn't say.) What I AM SAYING is not to overreact over a rumor.

A whole lot of people upgraded from the mid level T-birds to the TBird 1.2GHZ+. Alot of people upgraded from 1.6As to 2.4s later on. This is, to say that the enthusiast community does upgrade. The low level to high level Palomnio/thoroughbreds are a perfect example.

I realize that this doesn't include the majority of consumers, but hell, why doesn't Intel start soldering CPUs onto motherboards again, if nobody upgrades their CPU? It would probably save quite a bit of money and simplify heatsink assemblies, am I right?

Now, I know that's an extreme example. And Dell and others would be pissed if Intel did that. But there's something disturbing about not being able to upgrade your machine down the road. Alot of people I know upgraded from 500E's to PIII 800s or so later in their life. Same thing with the P4s. I know if I wanted I could upgrade from a williamette 1.7 to a northwood 2.4 and get a hefty performance boost. It just disturbs the enthusiast community to have their 200$ motherboard turned into an expensive paperweight or an Ebay item when the next upgrade comes.

 

[Wingznut]

I understand your concerns, fishtank... But my post had nothing (directly) to do with the original topic. Anita referenced "the large masses", and I just wanted to clarify that "the large masses" are not people who upgrade their cpu. The enthusiast community certainly is not "the large masses", and it's very arguable that even a majority of that relatively small demographic (enthusiasts) upgrade their cpu without a motherboard, for the most part.

If this rumor were to prove true, then yes... Many people would be affected. But to call them "the large masses" is an incredible exagerration.

 

[Wingznut]

And, if this rumor does turn out to be true...

You guys have to realize that there is a reason for it. If there must be different voltage regulators in the boards to support the newest cpu, then there must be. The alternative is to sacrifice something (most likely speed and/or stability) in the cpu so that it will be compatible with current boards. Also keep in mind that this is a new .09µ process.

I know many of you have your conspiracy theories. But to be honest... They are just irrational.

I know many of you will compare to AMD, saying how they've been using Socket A for a long time. Well, two things to point out here... Even though the cpu has retained the same number of pins, new cpu's certainly aren't compatible with old motherboards, even if the socket is the same.
Second off, AMD frankly isn't doing too well at the moment, and hasn't been for a couple of years. Ironic how a new cpu (with a new socket design) will be their next product that might bring them back up.

Again, I must reiterate that I am not confirming nor denying the validity of this rumor. I honestly do not know, nor could I comment on it's validity, if I did know.

 

[Remedy]

I know many of you will compare to AMD, saying how they've been using Socket A for a long time. Well, two things to point out here... Even though the cpu has retained the same number of pins, new cpu's certainly aren't compatible with old motherboards, even if the socket is the same.

Of course they wouldn't be. How else would be able to insert a Barton processor with a Bus of 333mhz into a board that only supports 266 max? There are some selected KT133A boards from 2001 that support Thoroughbred of the (266mhz bus) processors of today with a simple bios update or new revision. That's what the rest of the guys are comparing here.

You can also carry your dated Thunderbird/spitfire processor and have the benefit of actually having it work in a KT333,400, Nforce, SiS 746fx etc etc and know it will be compatible with those chipsets. This is what people are comparing between the 2 sockets.

*note, I am a i850e,SiS655 P4 user.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
Eh. The people that can afford this crap will get over the inconvenience. The people that can't afford it aren't affected anyways.

at this point i can afford to drop 100-130 on an IS7 or an IC7 (respectively) and when prescott comes out i'm sure i would be able to afford a prescott board. however, i would have a lot of trouble justifying to myself buying 2 mobos in such a short period of time

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: jaeger66

Originally posted by: Acanthus


Do you even know what im talking about?

Yes, but apparently you do not.

http://members.cox.net/jaeger66/images/manual.jpg

Specifications change. Deal with it.

Yes i understand that most I875P and some I865P mobos will be compatible with s478 prescotts, which you do not. Quit trying to act smart now and read what i said earlier. It depends on whether the mobo has the new VRMs or not. Which the P4P8X and P4P800 both have.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: ReMeDy{WcS}

I know many of you will compare to AMD, saying how they've been using Socket A for a long time. Well, two things to point out here... Even though the cpu has retained the same number of pins, new cpu's certainly aren't compatible with old motherboards, even if the socket is the same.

Of course they wouldn't be. How else would be able to insert a Barton processor with a Bus of 333mhz into a board that only supports 266 max? There are some selected KT133A boards from 2001 that support Thoroughbred of the (266mhz bus) processors of today with a simple bios update or new revision. That's what the rest of the guys are comparing here.

You can also carry your dated Thunderbird/spitfire processor and have the benefit of actually having it work in a KT333,400, Nforce, SiS 746fx etc etc and know it will be compatible with those chipsets. This is what people are comparing between the 2 sockets.

*note, I am a i850e,SiS655 P4 user.

ReMeDy, you're comparing cutting edge future technology with a 2-3 year old platform... I wouldn't consider that relevant.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
ReMeDy, you're comparing cutting edge future technology with a 2-3 year old platform... I wouldn't consider that relevant.

All technology is cutting edge for a fleeting moment in time. The technology ReMeDy was referring to is no exception. Why should today's cutting edge technology be less portable than yesterday's cutting edge technology?

I fully understand the reasons why the new Intel CPUs might need a socket update this time, I'm addressing the principle of your statement only.

 

[mchammer187]

out of 4 systems i have used i have never update the processor

Slot athlon 800 mobo $140

socket A Tbird 1.2 mobo $120

socket A 1700+ mobo $120

socket 478 1.8A mobo $160 (current machine)

i would never want to run the latest and greatest chips on a dated chipset

IMO if you want to run the best chips (prescott, when it comes out)

than you should pair it with a new motherboard because otherwise you won't be getting the best performance gain

ie like putting a 9700 pro in a 1 ghz system why would anyone want to do that

by the time Prescott P4s drop to around $200 there will be $100 motherboards that support them and if you are an early adopter

that is gonna pay top dollar for a prescott than you shouldnt be complaining about replacing a $120 motherboard

 

[Chadder007]

Intel make Chadder ANGRY.......

 

[Steelwingz]

Lots of people, (myself included), recently bought new motherboards because of a statement made by the manufacturer saying that their board would support Prescott. And I'm not so sure the manufacturer isn't correct...

My P4P800 Deluxe User's Guide states (with my *emphasis* added):

"...the FMB2 power design that allows up to... and Intel Prescott CPU when available."

According to the source quoted by Anandtech, the reason why the first generation, socket 478 Prescott's won't be compatible with current chipsets is, "...But due to a mandatory voltage regulation spec change from VIN 1.0 to VIN 1.5, these Socket 478 Prescott processors will not be compatible with any Socket 478 motherboards."

I appears to me -and this is, of course, wild speculation on my part- that Asus is aware of this voltage regulation spec change hence the "FMB2 power design" that allows for support of the first generation socket 478 Prescotts. It is my WAG that Anandtech's source was/is not aware of motherboard manufacturers taking this voltage spec change into account in their currently shipping motherboards.

I just can't see Asus making this type of statement if they aren't relatively sure their motherboards won't do what they say; the consequences and bad press they'd get from their users would be..... well... no need to even say it.

Of course, it is always possible for Intel to completely change planned specs on an unreleased processor, and this news may represent a completely new power spec change that mobo manufacturers just had sprung on them. If that's the case, we're hosed. But it's my arguement that we simply will not know for sure until the Prescott actually ships. Until that time, let's just all keep our fingers crossed, and take all Prescott compatibility information with a grain of salt.

Edit: I guess we could try and ask Asus if they did take the voltage spec change from VIN 1.0 to VIN 1.5 into account, and if that's the reason they did make the statement about supporting the first generation Prescotts. Of course, it would take someone with connections at Asus to actually get a response...

 

[jaeger66]

Originally posted by: Acanthus


Yes i understand that most I875P and some I865P mobos will be compatible with s478 prescotts, which you do not. Quit trying to act smart now and read what i said earlier. It depends on whether the mobo has the new VRMs or not. Which the P4P8X and P4P800 both have.

You're the one trying to refute one rumor with another. Not a good plan.

 

[WarCon]

As mentioned earlier, if you can afford the bleeding edge processor when it comes out at its bleeding edge cost then why would complain about the cost of a bleeding edge motherboard to support it?

The 875 chipset will probably be my next upgrade in a year or so (when 3.2's have dropped in price significantly), unless there is a similarly priced better chipset out by then.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Wingznut
ReMeDy, you're comparing cutting edge future technology with a 2-3 year old platform... I wouldn't consider that relevant.

All technology is cutting edge for a fleeting moment in time. The technology ReMeDy was referring to is no exception. Why should today's cutting edge technology be less portable than yesterday's cutting edge technology?

I fully understand the reasons why the new Intel CPUs might need a socket update this time, I'm addressing the principle of your statement only.

I guess I don't understand your point. On the one hand you say that today's technology should be compatible with yesterday's technology... But then you say that you understand why new cpu's may need a socket update.

A process change is a big change. Depending on the specific example, to limit a cutting edge cpu to old specifications could certainly limit its abilities/advancements.

 

[MadRat]

I thought some website link to Intel said the initial Prescott would be compatible to Canterwood but successive models of Prescott would not. That would mean at least one or two versions of Prescott will be pin-compatible. Then again, why would anyone want to stick with any one Intel motherboard design for very long? Intel puts enough reasons into upgrading the motherboards that sometimes it makes more sense to update them rather than the CPU, plus its often cheaper.