More Intel Motherboards
Intel isn't the only chipset provider when it comes to socket 775 motherboards. The second-biggest chipset provider by far is NVIDIA, and the performance offered is competitive with the best that Intel can provide. Can any of these motherboards support Core 2 Duo? Unofficially, we're almost certain they can, but it's going to be the official standpoint that really matters.
Looking at the prices of these nForce 4 SLI motherboards for the socket 775 platform, once again we find that things have been pretty static of late, but there were some pretty significant changes if you look back a bit further. Considering how high the prices of these boards used to be, many are quite a bargain these days. The ASUS nForce4 SLI (775) P5ND2-SLI [RTPE: P5ND2-SLI] used to cost around $130 a couple months back, but the price has been cut cut to $94 shipped. There are a few others that can be found for well under $100 as well.
We expected to see quite a few nForce 4 Ultra boards for the Intel socket 775 lineup. Unfortunately, we're still only seeing a single board, the Biostar TForce4U-775 [RTPE: TForce4U-775] going for about $85. We reviewed this motherboard a while back, and found it to be a reasonable budget offering for socket 775. It overclocks decently, performs well in games, and it competes with the i975X motherboards and surpasses the i945P based motherboards in most performance tests.
We'll finish up with some of the alternative chipset offerings. If you're looking for a really inexpensive socket 775 motherboard, just remember the old adage: "you get what you pay for." If you are dead set on building a budget computer using a budget motherboard, don't be surprised when you end up with budget performance and budget features. Considering how critical the motherboard is in terms of overall system performance and stability, most of us at AnandTech prefer to spend more on motherboards -- for peace of mind if nothing else.
That brings this week's price guide to a close. We'll be back again next weekend with an updated at the latest video card happenings.
Intel isn't the only chipset provider when it comes to socket 775 motherboards. The second-biggest chipset provider by far is NVIDIA, and the performance offered is competitive with the best that Intel can provide. Can any of these motherboards support Core 2 Duo? Unofficially, we're almost certain they can, but it's going to be the official standpoint that really matters.
Looking at the prices of these nForce 4 SLI motherboards for the socket 775 platform, once again we find that things have been pretty static of late, but there were some pretty significant changes if you look back a bit further. Considering how high the prices of these boards used to be, many are quite a bargain these days. The ASUS nForce4 SLI (775) P5ND2-SLI [RTPE: P5ND2-SLI] used to cost around $130 a couple months back, but the price has been cut cut to $94 shipped. There are a few others that can be found for well under $100 as well.
We expected to see quite a few nForce 4 Ultra boards for the Intel socket 775 lineup. Unfortunately, we're still only seeing a single board, the Biostar TForce4U-775 [RTPE: TForce4U-775] going for about $85. We reviewed this motherboard a while back, and found it to be a reasonable budget offering for socket 775. It overclocks decently, performs well in games, and it competes with the i975X motherboards and surpasses the i945P based motherboards in most performance tests.
We'll finish up with some of the alternative chipset offerings. If you're looking for a really inexpensive socket 775 motherboard, just remember the old adage: "you get what you pay for." If you are dead set on building a budget computer using a budget motherboard, don't be surprised when you end up with budget performance and budget features. Considering how critical the motherboard is in terms of overall system performance and stability, most of us at AnandTech prefer to spend more on motherboards -- for peace of mind if nothing else.
That brings this week's price guide to a close. We'll be back again next weekend with an updated at the latest video card happenings.
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Boushh - Monday, June 26, 2006 - link
Asus is offering the P5WDH Deluxe (based on the 975X chipset) and the P965 based P5B and P5B Deluxe. All offering Core 2 Duo/Extreme support. One Dutch etailer is offering the P5WDH for 211 Euro (including VAT, excluding shipping), delivery in 2-3 days.Your text is not clear about Core 2 Duo capable boards. On the one hand you say: 'If you need a replacement motherboard, however, there's no reason to wait.'. Suggesting that Core 2 Duo boards are available, but they are not listed in the price guide !! And on the otherhand you say: 'One big question that remains: which socket 775 motherboards will officially support Core 2 Duo once it becomes available?'. Saying that you actualy don't know which boards can support the Core 2.
It would have been nicer if you would list the boards that absolutely DO support the Core 2 (like the above mentioned Asus boards), and list the boards that MAY support the Core 2 (the list of 975X boards).
JarredWalton - Monday, June 26, 2006 - link
"One Dutch retailer..."That's the problem: we know there are some boards that are scheduled for retail availability very shortly, including the ASUS board you mentioned, but they're really not shipping in any reasonable fashion yet. It's also a little unnerving that no motherboard manufacturers are coming out beating the drum and saying how great their motherboards are because they offer Conroe support. We may see something like the 945/955 product launch where even though it was technically possible to run dual core chips on older chipsets, the only way to officially get such support was to buy one of the new motherboards.
Personally, there's no way I'm going to spend over $200 on an Intel motherboard right now unless I am absolutely certain it will support Core 2 Duo. The motherboard manufacturers all have test chips internally by now (and have for some time), so I'm a little curious as to why no one has been able to come forth stating which boards can support Conroe. Perhaps they are just under strict NDA from Intel and are not allowed to make such statements until the official launch has passed? If so, Intel certainly isn't doing any of the motherboard manufacturers any favors.
Boushh - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - link
I see what you mean.Asus says that it supports: 'LGA775 socket for Intel Core2 Duo, Core2 Extreme and next generation Mulit-Core CPU'. But if you look at the CPU support, the list is empty. So that means that the Core 2 would fit in the socket, but without the CPU support list it's unclear if it will actualy work.
And with the Core 2 officially still a month away, I do understand your point for not adding these boards to the list (just yet) ;-)
JarredWalton - Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - link
They'd be added to the list if we could find them at US retailers. :) Probably another week or so....Quiksel - Monday, June 26, 2006 - link
This doesn't imply that C2Duo boards are out, it merely states that if you have a dead board, you probably need a replacement, hence, no reason to wait... Sure, some might not want to use their dead computer for a couple of months, but I know I would want it up and running.As for C2Duo support on existing mobo's goes, it is certainly fair to say that we aren't sure what will end up being supported since the procs aren't out and tested just yet. No reason not to be on the safe side, especially these guys when they are recommending products. Certainly they would not want to be on the receiving end of an angry customer finding out a board that Anandtech said would work with Conroe ends up being not compatible in the end. Let's just reserve judgment when the chips arrive, shall we?
shabby - Monday, June 26, 2006 - link
Why dont these charts ever appear correctly when you click on print this article?JarredWalton - Monday, June 26, 2006 - link
Probably an error in the code that generates the tables. I have passed it on to our website administrator to have him look at it.