Socket 775 Nehalem, Any Chance?

[21stHermit]

According to this Cnet Article Intel is turning "warm and fuzzy" as in customer centric.

I'm aware of three sockets for Nehalem: s1366, s7?? & s4??. Clearly the version with the IMC will not work on s775, but perhaps w/o an IMC on s775?

Any thoughts?

 

[AmberClad]

I'm not holding out much hope for a drop in solution for current boards. Even if the socket remains the same, aren't there other ways that the current boards might be incompatible? Voltage, FSB, RAM speed, etc? What's the purpose of having the same socket if you still need a new board?

 

[Foxery]

That's extremely unlikely. Every CPU generation from Intel in the past 20 years has required a new motherboard, usually due to the chip using more pins. Also, from a business standpoint, they want you to buy a new system every time - new requirements mean their motherboard and chipset partners can sell you a new product as well. These products are not intended to be very future-proof.

 

[Idontcare]

As Foxery said, its all about the upgrade cycle and creating an environment where as many secondary markets can feast at the same table at the same time.

Mobo makers, chipset makers, ram OEMs, PSU vendors, etc. The more of them you (as Intel or AMD) can convince are going to see a consistent gravy train of upgrade cycles then the more of them you (as Intel or AMD) can count on to continue to push products which support your platform agenda going forward.

Its just business. The modulating factor here is competition and the liklihood of "losing" an upgrade unit (that is you, the consumer) to the competitions platform should the cost of upgrading not equate to the performance.

I.e. Intel has little reason to fear losing upgrade units (you, the consumer) should they intentionally engineer Nehalem to be incompatible with S775 and thus require their upgrade units to purchase a new mobo to go along with their Nehalem chip as there is not much incentive for the upgrade unit to migrate to AMD during the upgrade cycle.

However AMD certainly has an upgrade cycle issue if upgrading from X2 to Phenom requires a mobo upgrade as those upgrade units are then more likely to jump ship and upgrade to an Intel platform.

AMD was in the same catseat when they cycled their upgrade units thru the 940/939 debacle. Clearly at the time they were not worried about losing upgrade units to Intel's platform. Intel enjoys that catseat position now.

 

[GundamF91]

Probably not going to happen. Nehalem is suppose to be this direct memory access architecture and I'm sure Intel will take the opportunity to change the socket. Also they'll probably rearrange how DDR3 is accessed.

 

[PCTC2]

Probably not. Most likely not. According to DailyTech awhile ago, there will be 3 new sockets, new memory controllers, amongst other things that will prevent any backward compatibilities with current boards.

 

[technician]

I believe Nehalem has the north-bridge on the die (similar to what AMD has been doing for awhile). This will require a socket change.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: technician
I believe Nehalem has the north-bridge on the die (similar to what AMD has been doing for awhile). This will require a socket change.

I agree....This is what I thought I heard as well, and we know that would have to require more pins.

 

[Sheninat0r]

Slightly off-topic, but if Intel puts the memory controller on-die like AMD has done, will we see more frequent socket changes for each new IMC?

 

[Idontcare]

Its a good question...but is that what makes the difference?

If you kept the same socket on a non-IMC platform but still had to "upgrade" to a new mobo with the latest chipset so you could use the latest memory is it all that different from having to "upgrade" to a new motherboard with a new socket just to take advantage of the latest IMC for the latest memory?

I suspect it is 6 of one versus a half-dozen of the other...i.e. no real net $ savings to the consumer with either approach for this consideration alone.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
Slightly off-topic, but if Intel puts the memory controller on-die like AMD has done, will we see more frequent socket changes for each new IMC?

That would be fairly unlikely, youd only have major socket changes for changes in memory technology. Like DDR3, DDR4, FBDIMM, XDR... etc.

 

[The-Noid]

No chance there is going to be a S775 board. Newer boards are already out for Nehalem.

 

[Extelleron]

Nehalem is an entirely new core w/ many new features that require a new socket. Socket 775 has been around for a while, but Nehalem is new and requires a new board. Intel CPUs really haven't changed since S775 was introduced; still the same old FSB, mobo memory controller, same basic architecture. IMO it's really a marvel S775 lasted so long.

 

[hans007]

cant use the same socket since the processor bus is CSI and not the GTL+.


the lower end nehalem will have a memory controller for ddr2 support. the midrange and enthusiast ones have IMCs with dual or triple channels. 3 different sockets. i would figure cooler could be compatible, but the pinouts are all different.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Looks like we'll all have to pry open our wallets with a crowbar when Nehalem comes out... Then again I don't think Yoxxy (above) has too much of a problem doing that

 

[PeteRoy]

Newer boards already out? Where?

 

[magreen]

I'd like to see Yoxxy vs. JAG87 in a steel cage UFC match.

 

[The-Noid]

Originally posted by: PeteRoy
Newer boards already out? Where?

They are at the current time Engineering samples. People have them but there isn't much they can say.

There is going to be a new socket though but for that matter LGA775 has lasted quite a long time.

Why do I want to get in a cage match with Jag?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Yoxxy
Why do I want to get in a cage match with Jag?

I have the feeling he meant your best ystem against his.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Yoxxy
Why do I want to get in a cage match with Jag?

I have the feeling he meant your best ystem against his.

LOLZ, but the mental imagery of two computer geeks weighing 90lbs each while trying to swing 50lb computer systems around by their cord to hit each other in a cage match is pretty funny.

(note: no 90lb geeks were harmed in the creation of this post, although I can't say much for the increase in my carbon footprint...)

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

the lower end nehalem will have a memory controller for ddr2 support

Cool...at least we'll be able to reuse our trusty ol' DDR2...unless the minimum spec is 1066 or something

 

[Cogman]

No chance whatsoever, with an integrated IMC it current MoBo will not be able to handle it. There has to be a new socket, and sadly there will probably be a new socket with each generation change after that because of the IMC (see AMD)