Fry's Q6600 bundle includes the wrong board (ECS P4M900T-M) for quad-core CPU?

[CZroe]

Here is the list of supported CPUs. Note that there is no Core 2 Quad CPU listed. The box only says "Supports latest Dual Core CPU" and "Dual Core" all over it, but I know that VIA has made two chipsets since then with the last being an update for Core 2 Quad support. It only makes sense that if the follow-up to this one needed to be updated to support C2Q, that this one also does not. I can find no confirmation online or from the manufacturer. Fry's seems to be oblivious. Can I go back and demand a board that does support C2Q CPUs?

It's not that I planned on using it long-term for my C2Q system, but I did intend to use it for a month or two.

Processor

Processor info.
(Cache, System Bus*, Pkg)

Status
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66 GHz (2x2MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40 GHz (2x2MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 (B2) 2.13 GHz (2x2MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (L2) 2.13 GHz (2x1MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13 GHz (2x1MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 (B2) 1.86 GHz (2x2MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (L2) 1.86 GHz (2x1MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86 GHz (2x1MB,1066 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 (L2) 2.13 GHz (2x1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 (L2) 1.8 GHz (2x1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2180 (L2) 2.0 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160 (L2) 1.8 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140 (L2) 1.6 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 960 (D0) 3.6 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 950 (C1) 3.4 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 945 (D0) 3.4 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 940 (C1) 3.2 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 940 (B1) 3.2 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 935 (D0) 3.2 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 930 (C1) 3.0 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 930 3.0 GHz (2x 2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 925 (D0) 3.0 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 925 (C1) 3.0 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 920 2.8 GHz (2x 2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 915 (D0) 2.8 GHz (2x2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 840 3.2 GHz (2x 1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 830 3.0 GHz (2x 1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 820 2.8 GHz (2x 1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium D 805 2.66GHz (2x 1MB,533MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 670 3.8 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 661 (C1) 3.6 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 661 3.6 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 660 3.6 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 651 (C1) 3.40 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 651 3.4 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 650 3.4 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 641 (B1) 3.20 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 640 3.2 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 631 3.0 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 630 3.0 GHz (2MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 561 3.6 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 551 3.4 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 541 3.2 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 531 3.0 GHz (1MB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 524 3.06 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 519K 3.06 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 516 2.93 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 515 2.93 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 511 2.8 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 506 (G1) 2.66 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 505 2.66 GHz (1MB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 355 3.33 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Pentium 4 351 3.2 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 360 (D0) 3.46 GHz (512KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 356 (D0) 3.33 GHz (512KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 355 (G1) 3.33 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 352 (D0) 3.2 GHz (512KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 351 3.2 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 341 2.93 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 336 2.80 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron D 331 2.66 GHz (256KB,533 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron 440 (A1) 2.0 GHz (512KB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron 430 (A1) 1.8 GHz (512KB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES
Intel Celeron 420 (A1) 1.6 GHz (512KB,800 MHz,LGA775)
YES

* For Intel processors, system bus stands for FSB.
For AMD processors, system bus stands for HT Speed.

 

[jpeyton]

Plug it in and find out.

 

[CZroe]

If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

 

[F1N3ST]

Yes it does the former was the P4M800, this is P4M900

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: CZroe
If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

Sure you can return it. I've purchased tons of Fry's combos; if the bundle didn't work, I returned it without a problem.

In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can return any defective item to a retailer within the specified return period for a refund. It doesn't matter if you bought a video card, TV, or CPU/motherboard combo...if it doesn't work, return it.

If the mainboard isn't compatible with the Q6600, and it was sold to you as a compatible bundle, that means the item is defective and returnable.

 

[CZroe]

I called Fry's and they said that the board is Quad-Core compatible and that ECS was updating the website per their request.

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: CZroe
If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

Sure you can return it. I've purchased tons of Fry's combos; if the bundle didn't work, I returned it without a problem.

In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can return any defective item to a retailer within the specified return period for a refund. It doesn't matter if you bought a video card, TV, or CPU/motherboard combo...if it doesn't work, return it.

If the mainboard isn't compatible with the Q6600, and it was sold to you as a compatible bundle, that means the item is defective and returnable.

Yeah, you can return it. Usually for the same thing. When I bought this bundle, I was returning two things that I bought the night before that were unquestionable defects. One of those little ECOMAN versions of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli remote control helicopters and a 12-outlet powerstrip that had ruined itself (and likely taken my device with it) overnight and nearly started a fire. They took one look at the helicopter and said "oh, we don't take those back." Luckily, they would allow an exchange when I insisted that that is all I ever wanted. Unfortunately, the exchanged unit had the exact same problem as the first right out of the box (the first took a few minutes to screw up). I bought an Air Hogs one at Walmart and confirmed that it was 100% identical and it actually WORKED.

Hell, on my way back, I discovered that my nephew's new Nerf target dart tag gun set had a defective blue gun, though the red worked fine. By morning, two of the dart sockets in the remaining red gun stopped working and a third died before Frys was even open. One of the two 8800GTS video cards I bought was missing the PCI Express Power cable adapter which I need (still using an older, but awesome, PC Power and Cooling PSU). This is in addition to the second problematic ECOMAN helicopter.

This is my typical bad-luck, so believe me, I'm fully aware of the return process. I'm also fully aware that sometimes, you get flat out told "no" despite your insistance that "you can return any defective item."

My problem is that I am over an hour away from Fry's Electronics and I don't go often enough to return within the return period. I only returned the next day because my nephew was visiting and he really wanted to go back to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Heh heh, and this doesn't even count the problems that I fixed before leaving the store (being charged the new price for an open-box item; paying twice for the same item, etc).

Originally posted by: F1N3ST
Yes it does the former was the P4M800, this is P4M900

So it went from PT880 Pro, to PT880 Ultra, to PT900? So is Anandtech's latest motherboard review is an out-dated chipset (ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 Via PT880 Ultra board)?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, the PT880 Ultra supports quad-core, so I would be surprised if the newer chipset didn't.

 

[hans007]

frys has done this before, they sold the e4300 with the p4m800pro when the p4m800pros they were selling did not have the bios update. im pretty sure they'd let you return it, but the p4m900 is not really the chipset you want to be pairing a q6600 with anyway .

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: CZroe
I called Fry's and they said that the board is Quad-Core compatible and that ECS was updating the website per their request.

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: CZroe
If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

Sure you can return it. I've purchased tons of Fry's combos; if the bundle didn't work, I returned it without a problem.

In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can return any defective item to a retailer within the specified return period for a refund. It doesn't matter if you bought a video card, TV, or CPU/motherboard combo...if it doesn't work, return it.

If the mainboard isn't compatible with the Q6600, and it was sold to you as a compatible bundle, that means the item is defective and returnable.

Yeah, you can return it. Usually for the same thing. When I bought this bundle, I was returning two things that I bought the night before that were unquestionable defects. One of those little ECOMAN versions of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli remote control helicopters and a 12-outlet powerstrip that had ruined itself (and likely taken my device with it) overnight and nearly started a fire. They took one look at the helicopter and said "oh, we don't take those back." Luckily, they would allow an exchange when I insisted that that is all I ever wanted. Unfortunately, the exchanged unit had the exact same problem as the first right out of the box (the first took a few minutes to screw up). I bought an Air Hogs one at Walmart and confirmed that it was 100% identical and it actually WORKED.

Hell, on my way back, I discovered that my nephew's new Nerf target dart tag gun set had a defective blue gun, though the red worked fine. By morning, two of the dart sockets in the remaining red gun stopped working and a third died before Frys was even open. One of the two 8800GTS video cards I bought was missing the PCI Express Power cable adapter which I need (still using an older, but awesome, PC Power and Cooling PSU). This is in addition to the second problematic ECOMAN helicopter.

This is my typical bad-luck, so believe me, I'm fully aware of the return process. I'm also fully aware that sometimes, you get flat out told "no" despite your insistance that "you can return any defective item."

My problem is that I am over an hour away from Fry's Electronics and I don't go often enough to return within the return period. I only returned the next day because my nephew was visiting and he really wanted to go back to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Heh heh, and this doesn't even count the problems that I fixed before leaving the store (being charged the new price for an open-box item; paying twice for the same item, etc).

Originally posted by: F1N3ST
Yes it does the former was the P4M800, this is P4M900

So it went from PT880 Pro, to PT880 Ultra, to PT900? So is Anandtech's latest motherboard review is an out-dated chipset (ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 Via PT880 Ultra board)?

Mate, it isn't your luck that sucks, just your choice of purchasing refurb and open box parts...

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: CZroe
I called Fry's and they said that the board is Quad-Core compatible and that ECS was updating the website per their request.

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: CZroe
If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

Sure you can return it. I've purchased tons of Fry's combos; if the bundle didn't work, I returned it without a problem.

In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can return any defective item to a retailer within the specified return period for a refund. It doesn't matter if you bought a video card, TV, or CPU/motherboard combo...if it doesn't work, return it.

If the mainboard isn't compatible with the Q6600, and it was sold to you as a compatible bundle, that means the item is defective and returnable.

Yeah, you can return it. Usually for the same thing. When I bought this bundle, I was returning two things that I bought the night before that were unquestionable defects. One of those little ECOMAN versions of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli remote control helicopters and a 12-outlet powerstrip that had ruined itself (and likely taken my device with it) overnight and nearly started a fire. They took one look at the helicopter and said "oh, we don't take those back." Luckily, they would allow an exchange when I insisted that that is all I ever wanted. Unfortunately, the exchanged unit had the exact same problem as the first right out of the box (the first took a few minutes to screw up). I bought an Air Hogs one at Walmart and confirmed that it was 100% identical and it actually WORKED.

Hell, on my way back, I discovered that my nephew's new Nerf target dart tag gun set had a defective blue gun, though the red worked fine. By morning, two of the dart sockets in the remaining red gun stopped working and a third died before Frys was even open. One of the two 8800GTS video cards I bought was missing the PCI Express Power cable adapter which I need (still using an older, but awesome, PC Power and Cooling PSU). This is in addition to the second problematic ECOMAN helicopter.

This is my typical bad-luck, so believe me, I'm fully aware of the return process. I'm also fully aware that sometimes, you get flat out told "no" despite your insistance that "you can return any defective item."

My problem is that I am over an hour away from Fry's Electronics and I don't go often enough to return within the return period. I only returned the next day because my nephew was visiting and he really wanted to go back to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Heh heh, and this doesn't even count the problems that I fixed before leaving the store (being charged the new price for an open-box item; paying twice for the same item, etc).

Originally posted by: F1N3ST
Yes it does the former was the P4M800, this is P4M900

So it went from PT880 Pro, to PT880 Ultra, to PT900? So is Anandtech's latest motherboard review is an out-dated chipset (ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 Via PT880 Ultra board)?

Mate, it isn't your luck that sucks, just your choice of purchasing refurb and open box parts...

Nope. The only open box part was checked thoroughly before leaving the store (I've encountered "wrong video card in the box" syndrome three times now and this one was inserted backwards). I don't get to Frys often, so when I do I make large purchases and an open box item or two *may* be included. One out of 40 or so items is not really an invitation for punishment if you are as careful (obsessive) as I am. I had to check a $20 soldering station before leaving too because the box depicted a Korean power plug and had everything BUT English on it. "Perhaps that's why it was the cheapest solder station that wasn't just a stand and a stand-alone iron?"

Did I mention that I was also told flat out "no" regarding the 12-outlet power strip too? They didn't even consider that it was the strip at fault until I pointed out the bare wires inside as the likely culprit.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: CZroe

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: CZroe
I called Fry's and they said that the board is Quad-Core compatible and that ECS was updating the website per their request.

Originally posted by: jpeyton

Originally posted by: CZroe
If I do, I can't return the bundle. I'm trying to find out now so I can contact them back ASAP. Plus, the system isn't ready to build.

Sure you can return it. I've purchased tons of Fry's combos; if the bundle didn't work, I returned it without a problem.

In fact, I'll let you in on a little secret: you can return any defective item to a retailer within the specified return period for a refund. It doesn't matter if you bought a video card, TV, or CPU/motherboard combo...if it doesn't work, return it.

If the mainboard isn't compatible with the Q6600, and it was sold to you as a compatible bundle, that means the item is defective and returnable.

Yeah, you can return it. Usually for the same thing. When I bought this bundle, I was returning two things that I bought the night before that were unquestionable defects. One of those little ECOMAN versions of the Air Hogs Havoc Heli remote control helicopters and a 12-outlet powerstrip that had ruined itself (and likely taken my device with it) overnight and nearly started a fire. They took one look at the helicopter and said "oh, we don't take those back." Luckily, they would allow an exchange when I insisted that that is all I ever wanted. Unfortunately, the exchanged unit had the exact same problem as the first right out of the box (the first took a few minutes to screw up). I bought an Air Hogs one at Walmart and confirmed that it was 100% identical and it actually WORKED.

Hell, on my way back, I discovered that my nephew's new Nerf target dart tag gun set had a defective blue gun, though the red worked fine. By morning, two of the dart sockets in the remaining red gun stopped working and a third died before Frys was even open. One of the two 8800GTS video cards I bought was missing the PCI Express Power cable adapter which I need (still using an older, but awesome, PC Power and Cooling PSU). This is in addition to the second problematic ECOMAN helicopter.

This is my typical bad-luck, so believe me, I'm fully aware of the return process. I'm also fully aware that sometimes, you get flat out told "no" despite your insistance that "you can return any defective item."

My problem is that I am over an hour away from Fry's Electronics and I don't go often enough to return within the return period. I only returned the next day because my nephew was visiting and he really wanted to go back to Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Heh heh, and this doesn't even count the problems that I fixed before leaving the store (being charged the new price for an open-box item; paying twice for the same item, etc).

Originally posted by: F1N3ST
Yes it does the former was the P4M800, this is P4M900

So it went from PT880 Pro, to PT880 Ultra, to PT900? So is Anandtech's latest motherboard review is an out-dated chipset (ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 Via PT880 Ultra board)?

Mate, it isn't your luck that sucks, just your choice of purchasing refurb and open box parts...

Nope. The only open box part was checked thoroughly before leaving the store (I've encountered "wrong video card in the box" syndrome three times now and this one was inserted backwards). I don't get to Frys often, so when I do I make large purchases and an open box item or two *may* be included. One out of 40 or so items is not really an invitation for punishment if you are as careful (obsessive) as I am. I had to check a $20 soldering station before leaving too because the box depicted a Korean power plug and had everything BUT English on it. "Perhaps that's why it was the cheapest solder station that wasn't just a stand and a stand-alone iron?"

Did I mention that I was also told flat out "no" regarding the 12-outlet power strip too? They didn't even consider that it was the strip at fault until I pointed out the bare wires inside as the likely culprit.

hehe, I was sort of kidding. Sounds like maybe Fry's is not the best place to do business... I'll keep that in mind.

 

[CZroe]

Like many retailers, they gravitate toward the cheaper items with higher profit margins. A DVD is a DVD and a XBOX360 is an XBOX360 so I see no reason to avoid them in the cases where they have the same thing as everyone else. However, those aren't the things that make the trip worth it for me.

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Well, the PT880 Ultra supports quad-core, so I would be surprised if the newer chipset didn't.

Who said it's the newer chipset? So far, I have two anecdotal forum posts that may be assuming because of the numbers. There's no indication on Via's site and the latest Anandtech motherboard review seems to imply that the PT880 Ultra is the newest.

Originally posted by: hans007
frys has done this before, they sold the e4300 with the p4m800pro when the p4m800pros they were selling did not have the bios update. im pretty sure they'd let you return it, but the p4m900 is not really the chipset you want to be pairing a q6600 with anyway .

Agreed. I'd just like to use it for a few months until a newer nVidia SLI board arrives. Actually, I kinda need someone to agree that that's a good plan so I started a thread about proper motherboards for it too (there are a lot of these after the Q6600 sale ).