[erndawg101]

Currently looking around at motherboards for a near future upgrade to SLI configuration. My current motherboard is socket LGA775 with an Intel 945 chipset. I figure as long as I buy the same socket motherboard I should be able to move the processor without a problem, but do I need to match the Intel 945P chipset as well, or is it only the socket that matters for Processor compatability?

Also, my current board is Intel ICH7. I've noticed there are these boards and there are boards with Intel ICH7R. Anyone know the difference? If I switch to an Intel ICH7R board can that create compatability issues with my processor, or does the south bridge have nothing to do with that? I ask because it seems the Intel ICH7R are more commonly setup for SLI and i'd really hate to buy a new processor. Currently I have an Intel Pentium D 3.4Ghz Dual Core. Thanks.

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The only difference between the ICH7 and 7R is that the 7R supports an extra two PCIe 1X lanes, as well as supporting Intel's Matrix RAID. The RAID functionality covers RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10.

On Intel MB's the socket is really what matters. You can run a celeron or a P4 on your motherboard. The bus speed of the processor will set the bus speed of the MB. The same goes for hyperthreading. There is a difference between 915, 925, and 945 chipsets but you are beyond that anyway.

I don't know if i would buy a MB and SLI setup right now. From the reviews it looks like the conroe processors are going to make anything including the extreme edition processors obselete very quickly. You might take a look at the maximum PC magazine for this month on their 11th version of their extreme machine computer. I know they are a kinda commercial mag but look at the benchmarks of the conroe and you might wait until you can get one before upgrading.

SRX660

[SRX660]

The only difference between the ICH7 and 7R is that the 7R supports an extra two PCIe 1X lanes, as well as supporting Intel's Matrix RAID. The RAID functionality covers RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10.

On Intel MB's the socket is really what matters. You can run a celeron or a P4 on your motherboard. The bus speed of the processor will set the bus speed of the MB. The same goes for hyperthreading. There is a difference between 915, 925, and 945 chipsets but you are beyond that anyway.

I don't know if i would buy a MB and SLI setup right now. From the reviews it looks like the conroe processors are going to make anything including the extreme edition processors obselete very quickly. You might take a look at the maximum PC magazine for this month on their 11th version of their extreme machine computer. I know they are a kinda commercial mag but look at the benchmarks of the conroe and you might wait until you can get one before upgrading.

SRX660

[erndawg101]

I will look into that magazine you mentioned. In the meantime, am I correct in interpeting your post as saying as long as I get an LGA775 Socket Intel MB that supports Pentium D I'm good? Or do I need 945P?