Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.abit,alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus,alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte,alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)
For background see page 4 of the following article:-
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/pentiumd-820.html
There seems to be a FUNCTIONAL problem with the nF4-SLI(Intel)
chip-set if both cores of the Pentium-D 820 are enabled. Applications
crash or hang, the motherboard re-boots... However, the current
explanation given to Xbit Labs by nVidia is that " we only support the
830 and above - the 820 is too slow for enthusiasts" . Zero technical
explanation for the problem...and a bad answer anyway. Many
enthusiasts that I know buy the least expensive and overclock. None of
the nF4-SLI (Intel) motherboards that claim to support the Pentium-D
mention any exclusion of the 820 in their specs. And Asus seemed to
have been caught totally off-guard by the problem, considering their
reaction as reported by Xbit Labs.
So:-
(a) Did nVidia commit a design blunder ?
If so, I would be highly suspicious of stable performance with
the Pentium-D 830, the next one up in the family. One way to
check for a design blunder by nVidia would be to underclock
the 830, or 840, or Pentium Extreme 840 to 2.8GHz -- particularly
the 840 Extreme, since it has unlocked clock dividers--- in the
same nF4-SLI motherboard(s) in which the Pentium-D 820 fails
and see if they all remain stable. Nobody with access to these
parts has yet done this..........
OR
(b) Did Intel slip something into the P-D 820 unknown to
nVidia that would ensure that their least-expensive, highest
volume dual-core would only work on Intel chip-sets, and just
supply the faster parts to nVidia for their chip-set
qualification ??
OR
(c) Is this physical incompatibility part of the chip-set agreement
between nVidia and Intel to minimise the opportunity for
nVidia to take over the Intel dual-core compatible chip-set
market at a critical time for Intel in terms of chip-set
supply ? The Pentium-D 820 is likely to be the highest
volume dual-core part in the Intel stable.
Remember, unlike AMD, Intel dual-core requires a new
motherboard/chip-set for each dual-core processor shipped.
Maybe the cure is as simple as adding 820 support in BIOS -
since the 820 implementation is not exactly the same as the 830
and 840. However, Asus seemed to be caught unawares by the
problem and nVidia's denial of a fix.
There is no obvious difference between the 820 and its faster brothers
that would explain the failure. Yes, it uses a lower-value clock
multiplier and does not implement Speed-Step, but that is a
functionally-identical state to a P4-2.8 single-core Prescott.
Does that mean that a single-core 2.8 GHz processor would also fail in
an Intel nF4-SLI board ? Probably not, since the P-D 820 with one core
disabled works fine. ( The nF4-SLI chip-set is supposed to be
compatible with both single and dual-core LGA775 processors )
Anyway, for the moment, until this thick smoke-screen by nVidia and
Intel clears, I would highly recommend holding off purchase of any
nF4-SLI (Intel) motherboard, regardless of processor initially
installed -- single, or dual-core - if you are expecting the MB to
eventually function with a dual-core processor. I notice that
the very fine MSI P4N Diamond MB (with software-switching of
SLI, and embedded Creative 24-bit audio) is currently available
from Newegg @ $229. This board is potentially affected by the 820
problem... no comments from MSI, so far.
John Lewis
For background see page 4 of the following article:-
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/pentiumd-820.html
There seems to be a FUNCTIONAL problem with the nF4-SLI(Intel)
chip-set if both cores of the Pentium-D 820 are enabled. Applications
crash or hang, the motherboard re-boots... However, the current
explanation given to Xbit Labs by nVidia is that " we only support the
830 and above - the 820 is too slow for enthusiasts" . Zero technical
explanation for the problem...and a bad answer anyway. Many
enthusiasts that I know buy the least expensive and overclock. None of
the nF4-SLI (Intel) motherboards that claim to support the Pentium-D
mention any exclusion of the 820 in their specs. And Asus seemed to
have been caught totally off-guard by the problem, considering their
reaction as reported by Xbit Labs.
So:-
(a) Did nVidia commit a design blunder ?
If so, I would be highly suspicious of stable performance with
the Pentium-D 830, the next one up in the family. One way to
check for a design blunder by nVidia would be to underclock
the 830, or 840, or Pentium Extreme 840 to 2.8GHz -- particularly
the 840 Extreme, since it has unlocked clock dividers--- in the
same nF4-SLI motherboard(s) in which the Pentium-D 820 fails
and see if they all remain stable. Nobody with access to these
parts has yet done this..........
OR
(b) Did Intel slip something into the P-D 820 unknown to
nVidia that would ensure that their least-expensive, highest
volume dual-core would only work on Intel chip-sets, and just
supply the faster parts to nVidia for their chip-set
qualification ??
OR
(c) Is this physical incompatibility part of the chip-set agreement
between nVidia and Intel to minimise the opportunity for
nVidia to take over the Intel dual-core compatible chip-set
market at a critical time for Intel in terms of chip-set
supply ? The Pentium-D 820 is likely to be the highest
volume dual-core part in the Intel stable.
Remember, unlike AMD, Intel dual-core requires a new
motherboard/chip-set for each dual-core processor shipped.
Maybe the cure is as simple as adding 820 support in BIOS -
since the 820 implementation is not exactly the same as the 830
and 840. However, Asus seemed to be caught unawares by the
problem and nVidia's denial of a fix.
There is no obvious difference between the 820 and its faster brothers
that would explain the failure. Yes, it uses a lower-value clock
multiplier and does not implement Speed-Step, but that is a
functionally-identical state to a P4-2.8 single-core Prescott.
Does that mean that a single-core 2.8 GHz processor would also fail in
an Intel nF4-SLI board ? Probably not, since the P-D 820 with one core
disabled works fine. ( The nF4-SLI chip-set is supposed to be
compatible with both single and dual-core LGA775 processors )
Anyway, for the moment, until this thick smoke-screen by nVidia and
Intel clears, I would highly recommend holding off purchase of any
nF4-SLI (Intel) motherboard, regardless of processor initially
installed -- single, or dual-core - if you are expecting the MB to
eventually function with a dual-core processor. I notice that
the very fine MSI P4N Diamond MB (with software-switching of
SLI, and embedded Creative 24-bit audio) is currently available
from Newegg @ $229. This board is potentially affected by the 820
problem... no comments from MSI, so far.
John Lewis
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