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Confirmed - Intel P965 C-1 Stepping Mobos ARE NOT Upgradable to C-2!!!

C

Crellion101

Member
This came as a big shock to me, as I was in the market for a Intel 965 mobos for my upcoming Core 2 Duo. But after talking with a Intel representative, he told me that a C-2 Stepping is actually a physical hardware change from the C-1 stepping (thus cannot be updated via BIOS).... C-2 stepping supposedly fixed some issues with FSB and Fast Access Memory architecture. Currently all the P965 - including the revered Gigabyte DS-3 at newegg.com is still with a C-1 stepping. I'll be a ah heck for a buying a defective mobos on my new build... But I can't figure out what I should do...
 
Err, welcome to last week. 965 C-2 shan't be available until 09-09 so don't buy a mobo till some time after that if you want the new stepping.

Then, there is the usual concern regarding a first revision mobo itself (regardless of the chipset).

Bottom line: don't jump on new tech without expecting some buggery.
 
This really isn't a big shock, when you know Intel's latest track record.
It really seems like its happening alot lately... Intel releases the latest and greatest chipsets, and then the next day.. the CPU's they release are not compatible with the chipsets, so they have to revise the previous chipset to get it to work with the CPU's they just released.

If a consumer is going to purchase the latest and greatest CPU from Intel.. it is almost a guarantee that a new motherboard will also have to be purchased.

 
Originally posted by: Husky55
Anandtech was using the Asus P5W DH 975 for most of their testing of Conroes. I would assume this MB is C2 compatible.

🙂
Click to expand...

Um. Riiiiiiiiight.

That motherboard uses a different chipset, with its own stepping. This thread is in reference to the p965 chipset that just came out.
 
I really hope this information is all wrong.

It makes no sense. P965 was made for Conroe, so why would it have a problem with it!
 
Well, I've got one of those... GA-965P-DS3 owner, here. We'll see what happens when I get my E6600 and "flip the switch".
 
Frankly, I am shocked by the number of "surprised and shocked" type comments in this thread. I am not trying to come off as superior here, but FOLKS, obviously a chipset with a particular stepping CANNOT EVER AND WILL NOT EVER be upgradable to another stepping with a simple BIOS update. Not exactly hard to figure that one out.

Apparently Intel decided to tweak the P965 to a new stepping for compability or performance reasons (who really knows for sure except Intel engineers), and this does not in any way affect any board that has the 975X chipset, since they are two entirely different chipsets....

Yes, it is unfortunate this occurred right at Conroe launch, but nVidia went through a couple of steppings on nForce4 and we won't even get into VIA and the myriad of steppings they seem to go through to get everything right.

That is why I will wait until October/November or later before buying Conroe. The primary reason is the C2 stepping of the P965, but also because many motherboards are still very immature. The C2 stepping will likely be a drop in replacement and there might not even need to be a BIOS update for the revised motherboards with the new stepping.
 
Originally posted by: henryay
Wait, what are these issues? I haven't seen them anywhere.
Click to expand...

Nor have I, and I think Anand would have mentioned this in his extensive and in-depth review of P965 boards.
Links to said issues?
 
I'm sure AT and other enthusiast sites will catch up and there will be much ballyhoo and gnashing of teeth.

It was actually reported in early July by hkepc (although it should apparently read "has not got", and as said C-2 is to be released Sept 9, not late July):

Further, some of the manufacturers noticed that the released Intel P965 chipset has got the expected performance from Fast Memory Access technology, performing the same as i975X with DDR2 800. Intel has promised to fix the problem in the next P965 C-2 Stepping, and is expected to release in late July.
Click to expand...

For mobo manufacturers, C-2 will be a direct replacement with no recertification necessary.
 
Originally posted by: Auric
I'm sure AT and other enthusiast sites will catch up and there will be much ballyhoo and gnashing of teeth.

It was actually reported in early July by hkepc (although it should apparently read "has not got", and as said C-2 is to be released Sept 9, not late July):

Further, some of the manufacturers noticed that the released Intel P965 chipset has got the expected performance from Fast Memory Access technology, performing the same as i975X with DDR2 800. Intel has promised to fix the problem in the next P965 C-2 Stepping, and is expected to release in late July.
Click to expand...

For mobo manufacturers, C-2 will be a direct replacement with no recertification necessary.
Click to expand...

So from one little sentence that is missing the word not, we make some official thread on AT about it?
 
This thread? There's nothing official aboot it.

965 sports FMA whereas ye olde 975 does not yet they were claimed to be performing the same thus it is logical to conclude the simple error on hkepc's part in omitting "not", especially considering the language translation as evidenced in other topics on their site.

There is no reason to doubt the report. Here's 'nutha from theregister which states Intel informed its customers of the forthcoming stepping but did not specify the changes.

I doubt either Intel or the mobo manufacturers are going to be particularly keen on publicizing it if performance is not up to snuff with C-1. 'twould tarnish the launch and would mean loss of profits if customers demanded repair or replacement. Judging by previous such gaffs I speculate they may eventually do so upon individual customer request -possibly requiring proof of less than expected performance and/or the need for it, but without treating it as a defect under the warranty. Anyway, the hassle, long turnaround time and shipping costs for any mobo service would deter many.

Time will tell whether it is anything to be concerned aboot but personally I am in no hurry to buy so meh. The good news for those that wait is a more refined product at lower prices. Keener hobbyists should expect some hassle from new schtuff anyway and may consider it part of the "fun".
 
I don't have a P965 board myself, but I got a revision 1.0 MSI K9N platinum back in June for my AM2 system and I've had no problems to date, even while overclocked.
 
Not to be confoozed with a mobo revision, 'tis simply a chipset revision. Since 'twas official news from Intel, the dates stand.

I too got a rev 1.0 board which I have happily been running o'erclocked for several years now. Many a competing mobo from the same time could not even handle the transition to diff'rent VRM spec CPU's from the following year. I suppose it party depends upon luck o' the draw and partly upon the manufacturer's competency and quality &c. in the first place.
 
Intel C2 Errata Changes

I will not comment on some of the "items" floating around the internet about C1 but you can read Intel's version of the changes yourself. 🙂 G965 will be C2, running change on P965, expect October or so in retail.
 
That's not clear to me. It appears to say there are two minor changes but they might not even be fixed? "No Fix" or whatever it says for 3 and 4. Weird.
 
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