Can someone give me a quick overview of the different Core 2 Compatible Chipsets?

T

TheBluePill

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Can someone give me a quick overview of the different Core 2 Compatible Chipsets?

There seems to be several chipsets available and I can't seem to distinguish the differences between them, a quick run down would be really helpful.

Thanks
TBP
 
Sure.

Quick Comparison:
Intel 945P/ICH7 or ICH7R -Supports only 4GB of ram. Chipset only supports DDR2 667 and below. Overclocks ok, often used on lower end boards.
Intel P965/ICH8 or ICH8R -Supports 8GB of ram. Overclocks well, and supports ATi Crossfire in a x16x4 or x16x1 configuration. Uses new ICH8 and ICH8R south bridges.
Intel i975x/ICH7 or ICH7R -Supports 8GB of ram. Only officially supports DDR2 667 and lower speed memory, but the Core 2 Compatible boards have all been modified to allow DDR2 800 and great memory speeds. Overclocks well and supports ATi Crossfire in a x8x8 configuration, and can be used in a x16x4 configuration if desired with no hardware changes.

nVidia nForce 4 SLi x16 Intel Edition -Great chipset, very stable, runs too hot and overclocks like crap.
nVidia nForce 570SLI Intel Edition -Runs too hot, stable, and overclocks worse than any chipset the world has ever known.
nVidia nForce 590SLI Intel Edition -Not released yet. (I predict moderate overclockability, and that the chipset will run as hot as the 570SLI.)

More detailed comparison:
The only Intel chipset that was designed for Core 2 Duo support is the P965 Express chipset. It officially supports DDR2 800 memory, and all the boards made with it work for Core 2 Duo. The problem is the lack of an x8x8 or 16x16 PCIe configuration for dual video cards. Though Crossfire does work on boards with this chipset.

The i975x and 945P Express chipsets do not officially support DDR 2 800 memory and only officially do DDR2 667. Though i975x has been adjusted on newer boards to use the higher speed ram and of course only the newest boards using this chipset are Core 2 Duo compatible. This is due to differences in voltage designs on newer boards vs. older ones. The main thing about this chipset is the x8x8 PCIe slot compatabiity for Crossfire.

Though the i975x is essentially hacked, alongside 945P, the i975x and 945P chipsets are VERY stable and work perfectly with Core 2 Duo. The performance is there, and the features they have all work properly.

On the nVidia side, only the 570SLI and 590SLI chipsets were designed to work with Core 2 Duo. Even still, the 570 runs excessively hot and overclocks like crap. The 590SLI is not out yet so I'll reserve judgement on that chipset, though it is likely to mimic the 570SLI.. The nForce 4 SLI x16 Intel Edition chipset wasn't designed for Core 2 Duo, but as with i975x, some boards are popping up that have been altered to work with Core 2 Duo. This is a very proven and reliable chipset, but the feature set is getting long in the tooth, and the chipset doesn't overclock very well at all either. Certainly getting past 350FSB with that chipset is a challenge. In comparison the Intel P965 and i975x can usually do over 400FSB in most cases.
 
Dan_D said:
Sure.

Quick Comparison:
Intel 945P/ICH7 or ICH7R -Supports only 4GB of ram. Chipset only supports DDR2 667 and below. Overclocks ok, often used on lower end boards.
Intel P965/ICH8 or ICH8R -Supports 8GB of ram. Overclocks well, and supports ATi Crossfire in a x16x4 or x16x1 configuration. Uses new ICH8 and ICH8R south bridges.
Intel i975x/ICH7 or ICH7R -Supports 8GB of ram. Only officially supports DDR2 667 and lower speed memory, but the Core 2 Compatible boards have all been modified to allow DDR2 800 and great memory speeds. Overclocks well and supports ATi Crossfire in a x8x8 configuration, and can be used in a x16x4 configuration if desired with no hardware changes.

nVidia nForce 4 SLi x16 Intel Edition -Great chipset, very stable, runs too hot and overclocks like crap.
nVidia nForce 570SLI Intel Edition -Runs too hot, stable, and overclocks worse than any chipset the world has ever known.
nVidia nForce 590SLI Intel Edition -Not released yet. (I predict moderate overclockability, and that the chipset will run as hot as the 570SLI.)

More detailed comparison:
The only Intel chipset that was designed for Core 2 Duo support is the P965 Express chipset. It officially supports DDR2 800 memory, and all the boards made with it work for Core 2 Duo. The problem is the lack of an x8x8 or 16x16 PCIe configuration for dual video cards. Though Crossfire does work on boards with this chipset.

The i975x and 945P Express chipsets do not officially support DDR 2 800 memory and only officially do DDR2 667. Though i975x has been adjusted on newer boards to use the higher speed ram and of course only the newest boards using this chipset are Core 2 Duo compatible. This is due to differences in voltage designs on newer boards vs. older ones. The main thing about this chipset is the x8x8 PCIe slot compatabiity for Crossfire.

Though the i975x is essentially hacked, alongside 945P, the i975x and 945P chipsets are VERY stable and work perfectly with Core 2 Duo. The performance is there, and the features they have all work properly.

On the nVidia side, only the 570SLI and 590SLI chipsets were designed to work with Core 2 Duo. Even still, the 570 runs excessively hot and overclocks like crap. The 590SLI is not out yet so I'll reserve judgement on that chipset, though it is likely to mimic the 570SLI.. The nForce 4 SLI x16 Intel Edition chipset wasn't designed for Core 2 Duo, but as with i975x, some boards are popping up that have been altered to work with Core 2 Duo. This is a very proven and reliable chipset, but the feature set is getting long in the tooth, and the chipset doesn't overclock very well at all either. Certainly getting past 350FSB with that chipset is a challenge. In comparison the Intel P965 and i975x can usually do over 400FSB in most cases.
Click to expand...

Great comparison Dan. You've really hit the nail on the head regarding all of the above chipsets. The 570SLI does run quite hot, yet it's the only chipset at the moment that supports Core 2 Duo processors and SLI. Hopefully the 590 chipset will overclock well enough to bring that series of chipsets back into the limelight.
 
The Doc said:
Great comparison Dan. You've really hit the nail on the head regarding all of the above chipsets. The 570SLI does run quite hot, yet it's the only chipset at the moment that supports Core 2 Duo processors and SLI. Hopefully the 590 chipset will overclock well enough to bring that series of chipsets back into the limelight.
Click to expand...

I Guess this is a stupid question, but why are there no micro-ATX boards with the P965 Express chipset out? (That I can find)
 
TheBluePill said:
I Guess this is a stupid question, but why are there no micro-ATX boards with the P965 Express chipset out? (That I can find)
Click to expand...

I haven't looked for any micro-ATX motherboards myself as I am not into them, but I suspect that if there are none to be found it is because the board maker's just haven't done so. Intel doesn't decide how the chipsets are used, the board manufacturers do. They probably feel that most of the people looking for micro-ATX motherboards are probably building lower end solutions, and might opt for the 945P instead. Performance SFF are a niche market, and few companies seem to produce enthusiast level boards for that form factor.

Though ASUS has been known to do it from time to time, though they really take a higher end design, and cut off the bottom of the board it seems most of the time. A few other companies cater to that crowd, but not many and not too often. This only ever leaves a handful of boards at most to consider for such a PC. SLi and Crossfire users have even fewer choices.
 
The Doc said:
Great comparison Dan. You've really hit the nail on the head regarding all of the above chipsets. The 570SLI does run quite hot, yet it's the only chipset at the moment that supports Core 2 Duo processors and SLI. Hopefully the 590 chipset will overclock well enough to bring that series of chipsets back into the limelight.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys, I am glad this was helpful.

Don't forget about the nForce 4 SLI x16 Intel Edition chipset. Though it doesn't natively work with Core 2 Duo as mentioned before, ASUS and possibly other motherboard makers have made it happen. There is the P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe. (The SE version being the Core 2 Duo compatible version) This board runs SLi as well. Though as mentioned in my above post, don't expect much in the overclocking department.

I did have a discussion with a forum member that has the above mentioned ASUS board and he has a Core 2 Extreme X6800 processor and he has achieved great overclocking results with his board. He has done this by raising the multiplier of the CPU. Of course this option is valid for anyone using the above mentioned CPU, so if you want to build a Quad SLI Core 2 Extreme System, that is the board to use. For everyone else using standard Core 2 Duo CPU's, the lack of overclockability through raising the FSB will be an issue.
 
Dan_D said:
Thanks guys, I am glad this was helpful.

Don't forget about the nForce 4 SLI x16 Intel Edition chipset. Though it doesn't natively work with Core 2 Duo as mentioned before, ASUS and possibly other motherboard makers have made it happen. There is the P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe. (The SE version being the Core 2 Duo compatible version) This board runs SLi as well. Though as mentioned in my above post, don't expect much in the overclocking department.
Click to expand...
As the owner of a P5N32-SLI SE and an E6600, I can attest to the power of the board. It's extremely stable, fast, works perfectly with SLI, and overclocks somewhat. Each BIOS revision has helped OC's a bit. I can run 330FSB (2970mhz) with some voltage tweaks on the 501 beta BIOS but have settled in at 320 x 9 because that allows me to set my DDR speed at 960mhz. Not as good as the intel boards... but fantastic for SLI. Contrary to popular findings, my board runs surprisingly cool. About 46C under full SLI load.

~Aux
 
AuxNuke said:
As the owner of a P5N32-SLI SE and an E6600, I can attest to the power of the board. It's extremely stable, fast, works perfectly with SLI, and overclocks somewhat. Each BIOS revision has helped OC's a bit. I can run 330FSB (2970mhz) with some voltage tweaks on the 501 beta BIOS but have settled in at 320 x 9 because that allows me to set my DDR speed at 960mhz. Not as good as the intel boards... but fantastic for SLI. Contrary to popular findings, my board runs surprisingly cool. About 46C under full SLI load.

~Aux
Click to expand...

Well the NF4 series has never been unreasonable about heat depending on the cooling installed on it. It isn't the monolithic uphill battle the 570SLI is for heat dissipation.
 
You know.. With this being so helpful, can we get something similar to this as a sticky with room for updates as new chipsets come out?
 
TheBluePill said:
You know.. With this being so helpful, can we get something similar to this as a sticky with room for updates as new chipsets come out?
Click to expand...

Don't know, you'd have to ask one of the mods. I have no power here, just a custom title.
 
TheBluePill said:
I Guess this is a stupid question, but why are there no micro-ATX boards with the P965 Express chipset out? (That I can find)
Click to expand...

I was looking for mATX 965 board for a while and came across a few g965 boards (g for onboard graphics): Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2 and Asus P5B-VM (and a couple basic Intel boards). Not sure on the Gigabyte, but I know the Asus is not suited for overclocking as it lacks PCI lock and has limited vdimm adjustments. Perhaps that may be fixed in later bios updates, or it may not.
 
Fugu has agreed to Sticky a thread for Chipset Comparisons. I am going to create a new one and if you folks dont mind posting up your info, I would appreciate it.

(I Dont want to cut/paste what is here without permission from the OPs)
 
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