Wolfdale/Yorkfield Mobo Compatibility

[Clue69Less]

AnandTech: Motherboard Compatibility for Wolfdale and Yorkfield Processors

Quote:

"It appears that a user with an Intel chipset based on the X38, P35, P31, G31, G33, or G35 chipset should not have a problem getting the system to POST and generally operate with either a Wolfdale or Yorkfield processor. However, the vast majority of motherboards based on these chipsets will require a BIOS update to offer proper CPU recognition and performance optimizations. The good news is those requirements are being fulfilled now and we should see an avalanche of BIOS releases over the next few weeks for these motherboards.

The support for the 945GC chipset will be based on the supplier and there will not be official support from Intel for the P965 chipset. However, we do expect to see unofficial support on a few of these boards with MSI already providing BIOS support. Note that there are no guarantees beyond stock performance if the boards operate at all with these processors. We should have further information next week on the P965 and Yorkfield.

The only "current" chipset family that seems to have any questions at this time is the NVIDIA 680i SLI. This is not due to the chipset itself, but the designs of the motherboards that use it. Several of the original 680i SLI motherboards had to be revised for the Kentsfield family of processors to work correctly. Those that were not revised are subject to the supplier performing extensive qualification testing on their motherboards before official support is granted. Otherwise, it appears that only a BIOS update will be required to provide full support for the 45nm processors - basically the same requirement for most of the Intel chipset boards.

The GeForce 7150/7100 series motherboards work fine, though we will still see new BIOS revisions to optimize performance. Support for the GeForce 7050 and 650i SLI motherboards will be on a supplier by supplier basis according to the information we have at present. We have not been provided an answer yet on the 650i Ultra boards, but we expect them to be in the same category as the 650i SLI motherboards.

All in all, motherboard support for the Wolfdale/Yorkfield processors should be widespread based upon the latest chipsets available for the Core 2 family. How and when the BIOS support for these new processors will be fully mature is a question that we hope to fully answer of the course of the next week. It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that newer motherboards and chipsets are almost a "sure thing" while older Core 2 boards may have some difficulty. If you already have a Core 2 system, however, performance improvements while nice may not be enough to convince you to upgrade right now. Nehalem is only about a year away, and at least there we can state unequivocally that a new chipset and motherboard will be required."

[haywood]

All ASUS P5B series have BIOS updates available.

Mine is already flashed, can't wait for February. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[SuperFly03]

Well who the F is going to tell me if the RD600 supports it?!

We all know how up to date DFI's website is....n

[EnforcerFX]

My P35-DS3R is on the list. But I don't understand by what it means when it says its F7'd optimized.

[MeltDown]

My P35-DS3R is on the list. But I don't understand by what it means when it says its F7'd optimized.

That's the recommended/required BIOS version. Gigabyte uses Fx numbering for their BIOSes.

[Phoenix]

Meh... I'll wait for Nehalem. BTW, I doubt RD600 will work, simply because it's AMD's chipset.

[exit2dos]

Well who the F is going to tell me if the RD600 supports it?!

We all know how up to date DFI's website is....n

Doesn't the RD600 have a FSB limit of 1066?

[SuperFly03]

Doesn't the RD600 have a FSB limit of 1066?

You're thinking to literally.

They added micro code for FSB 1333 Conroe chips 2 BIOSes ago so I am not counting them out just yet. DFI is crazy enough to do it...

I wouldn't mind if I have to manually set every setting on the entire damn board... I just want to see what it can do... plus I have it and might as well use it. Worst comes to worst I toss a yorkfield (if the price is ever right, *shrug*) in my IP35 Pro *vomit* and roll the G0 through the RD600.

TBH, it is more of a "can I do this" project than a "should I do this" project.

It was released after the P965 and 680i so who knows....

*clings to optimism like freshman to their security blanket*

[YMAA]

Revision F6 came out for my board a few days ago, but it doesn't list whether it adds compatibility for the new CPUs.

[djgandy]

Damn won't work in my asrock. heh

[Eurasianman]

Won't work on my P5W DH Deluxe either like Brent thought it would...

Unless there are too many revisions for them to test

Oh well, I'm happy with my Xeon X3220

Even though I have to run it at stock

*puts flame suit on for protection from the Quad Overclocker's*

[brentpresley]

Won't work on my P5W DH Deluxe either like Brent thought it would...

Unless there are too many revisions for them to test

Oh well, I'm happy with my Xeon X3220

Even though I have to run it at stock

*puts flame suit on for protection from the Quad Overclocker's*

List is INCOMPLETE.

And there are versions of the P5W-DH that don't even support CONROE (v 1.0). They didn't have the updated VRM.

PLEASE - don't ever doubt me. If there is ONE THING I ALWAYS do, it is my homework.

[Simul4ti0n]

Gigabyte's CPU Support list is down for some reason. I wonder if they are changing it. Weird that they would take it down to do that.

[aliG da taco]

Well who the F is going to tell me if the RD600 supports it?!

We all know how up to date DFI's website is....n

the phone and email are your friend

[Eurasianman]

List is INCOMPLETE.

And there are versions of the P5W-DH that don't even support CONROE (v 1.0). They didn't have the updated VRM.

PLEASE - don't ever doubt me. If there is ONE THING I ALWAYS do, it is my homework.

*Goes into corner and curls up into the fetal position*

Sorry

[brentpresley]

*Goes into corner and curls up into the fetal position*

Sorry

Sorry. I was harsh.


I'm VERY cranky today.

The microcode for 45nm support on P5W-DH was added at the same time they added G0 support. That's how I'm certain that ASUS intends to allow 45nm operation on the boards.

[Eurasianman]

Sorry. I was harsh.


I'm VERY cranky today.

The microcode for 45nm support on P5W-DH was added at the same time they added G0 support. That's how I'm certain that ASUS intends to allow 45nm operation on the boards.

But like others have said... (specifically you), there's no point unless you want to run at stock

Would you like another P5W DH board for $150?

[brentpresley]

But like others have said... (specifically you), there's no point unless you want to run at stock

Would you like another P5W DH board for $150?

Sorry, I still have ONE perfectly good board sitting against my wall here.

[SuperFly03]

the phone and email are your friend

I'll bug them after they fix my RD600 for free.