What motherboard to get knowing that nothing will be Prescott-compatible?

[Cat]

Now that we know the first batch of Prescotts, at the very least, will not be compatible with current motherboards, what mobo offering is the best for a short term upgrade? (lasting until 2004.) Slightly OT, what CPU would you pair with it?

Currently own a 1.7 Willamette , ABit TH7-IIR, and 512 of PC800 .

 

[Vette73]

I think ASUS has a 865 board that SAYS it is ready for the prescott, but since there are no prescotts out yet, they just may be hoping???


If not get a Abit 865 board, I think you can get one for less than $100 now.


Or tell Intel to F__K-OFF and go nForce2 and Athlon XP (Barton 2500+), say your money for the next Gen. Intel setups.

 

[Cat]

Stability is my primary concern, and AMD setups, while they may run stabily for 99% of the people out there, and have done so in the past for me (Duron), still carry an aura of 'not-quite-rightness.' I know it's a myth, but it still bothers me.

Also, I really like Intel as a company. Right now, I'm using their Enhanced Debugger to supplement Microsoft Visual C++ while fixing this horribly written application. The Enhanced Debugger is free, and you wouldn't expect stuff like that from most companies.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Cat
Stability is my primary concern, and AMD setups, while they may run stabily for 99% of the people out there, and have done so in the past for me (Duron), still carry an aura of 'not-quite-rightness.' I know it's a myth, but it still bothers me.

Also, I really like Intel as a company. Right now, I'm using their Enhanced Debugger to supplement Microsoft Visual C++ while fixing this horribly written application. The Enhanced Debugger is free, and you wouldn't expect stuff like that from most companies.

I have a Athlon 1700+ running at 2600+ levels on my nForce2 board and it is stable.

All this AMD is not stable BS is from the intel fanboys. I have been building computers all the way back during the Cyrix 200+ socket 5 days to current ones. 90% of all my builds are AMD, and I am not going to build somehting that is not stable.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Cat
Stability is my primary concern, and AMD setups, while they may run stabily for 99% of the people out there, and have done so in the past for me (Duron), still carry an aura of 'not-quite-rightness.' I know it's a myth, but it still bothers me.

Also, I really like Intel as a company. Right now, I'm using their Enhanced Debugger to supplement Microsoft Visual C++ while fixing this horribly written application. The Enhanced Debugger is free, and you wouldn't expect stuff like that from most companies.

Well, don't know...the only CPUs I've ever gotten a bad aura of "not-quite-rightness" were Cyrix chips, because they just sucked at anything concerning performance. I guess Intel's advertising has gotten to you.

The only PC in the house right now that is NOT AMD is my laptop - Intel P3 600 Speedstep (hate the speedstep "feature"). My mom's, dad's, sister's, and my two regular PC's are all AMD's - Tbirds, K6-3, and Tbreds. My stability problems come from faulty hardware - RAM being run out of spec usually - or hefty overclocking. So in other words, I cause instability. And then I solve it, usually with more voltage.

 

[Cat]

I've been building computers longer than you have. <- notice smiley.

Notice the "I know it's a myth" statement. However, there is truth to the fact that drivers for non-Intel hardware have been flaky. This includes Via chipsets for Intel CPUs. I know that it's not AMD's fault.

It all comes down to personal preference. I don't find Intel's offerings prohibitively expensive, and I have witnessed far too many unstable AMD systems, although none have been built by me.

 

[Acanthus]

The Asus P4P8X has prescott support, or at least Asus says it does

 

[Corporate Thug]

IS7? not bad for a $100

 

[Cat]

I'm leaning towards the IS7, IC7, or Asus.

 

[ArborBarber]

Hey Cat...Do you do any O'Cing? If you do, check out the DFI 875Pro LAN Party mobo...I think DFI is releasing a DFI LAN Party II the middle of this month, it IS the fastest OC'able P4 mobo out there at the moment, don't sweat the AMD cultists....AMD has this cult like following that Intel probably never will, don't get me wrong, that's a good thing, it keeps the cpu giant in check, no one needs a sleeping giant lying around, it also makes AMD work harder(God Bless 'em!) BTW, did you know DFI makes more mobos then any of the other main mobo players? The Intel 2.6 seems to be the sweet spot for OC'ing as it has incredible headroom(cheap too!) Hopefully AMD releases it's 64 bit chip this fall forcing Intels' hand which will release the Prescott in response...if you can hold off upgrading till then it might be the best bet, although you KNOW how first gen chips go.... there is no MOBO out there right now that will be Prescott compliant unless there is some sort of adapter out there...the chip won't even have pins, not to even mention other issues about the chip.

Processors | Evan Lieb on Jul 11th, 2003 4:41 AM from AnandTech

After meeting with a manufacturer in Los Angeles yesterday, we were told that the first batch of Prescott processors will not be compatible with any motherboard available on the market today. Before Prescott undergoes a complete socket overhaul in Q2 2004, all Prescott processors will be of the Socket 478 variety, shipments of which will start in early Q4 of this year. 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. Motherboards based on 865PE and 875P chipsets are among those not compatible with the first Prescotts we learned.
We know of many users that are currently purchasing motherboards based on the assumption that, because Prescotts will be Socket 478 until Q2 next year, current Socket 478 motherboards will be compatible until then. However, this assumption is highly unlikely to be true based on the information we were given on Wednesday. Intel and motherboard manufacturers may be able to find a workaround, but we wouldn't count on it.
scroll down a bit to read the article...

Get It In Writing !!!!

The Inquirer

 

[Cat]

Never tried a DFI product; I fear change But thanks for the recommendation, I'll check it out.

 

[ArborBarber]

you may have tried it but just never knew it....they make a lot of mobos for pc system vendors....I also edited my last post, check out the links for further confusion......lol

 

[ArborBarber]

Cat,have you checked out the DFI? It seems nothing is written in stone yet about the Prescott, I guess we'll have to wait for AMD to release it's 64 bit chip before we see the intel Prescott unveiled, I'm kinda getting a little impatient...I've read a few reviews were the authors were saying that this board would most likely be your last upgrade till prescott gets rolling...it should do you well for at least a year...lol

 

[techiecool]

i had settled on barton but after reading this article , i decided to go intel at the last minute before ordering.