Donald
Thu May 29 12:21:46 PDT 2008
On Wed, 28 May 2008 08:09:40 +0100, "M.I.5¾"
<no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote:
>
>"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:g1hf95$bk7$1@aioe.org...
>> attilathehun1 wrote:
>>> I want to know if I can mix and match AMD and Intel CPUs if they have
>>> the same amount of pin holes on motherboards. Anotherwords, can I use a
>>> Intel CPU on an AMD motherboard if it fits. Yes or no?
>>> Any help would be greatly apprecaiated.
>>> Thanks, attilathehun1
>>
>> A long time ago, there were cases where there were interchangeable
>> processors.
>>
>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd_k6
>>
>> "The main advantage of this particular microprocessor is that it
>> was designed to fit into existing desktop designs for Pentium branded
>> CPUs"
>>
>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_7
>>
>> "Socket 7... accepts Pentium microprocessors manufactured by Intel, as
>> well
>> as compatibles made by Cyrix/IBM, AMD, IDT and others."
>>
>> Now, the sockets are all different. If you check the
>> bar near the bottom of this article, it lists a large number
>> of different CPU sockets.
>>
>>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_AM2
>>
>> A current Intel would be LGA775 (775 contacts, based on land
>> grid array). The AM2 socket, popular for current AMD processor,
>> has 940 pins, and uses pins and not flat contacts like LGA775.
>> So there are significant differences between processors and how they
>> connect to motherboards. You cannot swap them any more.
>>
>> And even when you see two sockets with the same pin count listed,
>> there can be differences in the keying pins. A couple of
>> pins are offset, preventing different families of processors
>> from being plugged into the "wrong" socket.
>>
>> As an example, compare an AM2 (top) to an older S940 socket.
>> (Note - rotate one image 180 degrees, before comparing them -
>> I use an old evaluation copy of Photoshop for picture viewing...)
>>
>>
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Socket_am2_retention_module.jpg/800px-Socket_am2_retention_module.jpg
>>
>>
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/24/Socket_940.jpg
>>
>> They both have 940 pins, but putting the wrong processor
>> in the socket, busts some of the pins off. The four keying
>> features are in different places.
>>
>> The electrical interfaces on modern processors are entirely
>> different. AMD uses Hypertransport. Intel uses their
>> quad pumped FSB. The protocols have nothing in common.
>>
>>
>
>The processors ceased to be interchangeable when Intel introduced the
>Pentium II using the Socket 1 interface. They stated that as it was
>proprietary, and no one else could make processors that fitted it. The
>intention was, of course, to freeze AMD out of the market. But it
>backfired. Freed from the shackles of compatibility, AMD went on to produce
>many processors that, although they required their own dedicated
>motherboard, were considerably superior to the Intel offerings in many ways.
>
>Like most wars of this type, the claim for superiority see-saws between the
>designs. Intel probably holds the crown at the moment but, as ever, this
>may only be a temporary arrangement. There is little doubt that AMD's
>graphic processors (under the ATI brand) are superior to Intel's current
>offerings.
>
My advice is to NEVER "mix 'n match" CPU/Motherboard combinatioins.
If you MB is an Intel MB, use an Intel CPU.
IF your CPU is an AMD, use an AMD motherboard.
This bad idea of "mix 'n match" extends to other devices, also,
including Desktop Keyboards/mice/dongles. NEVER mix a dongle from one
OEM with a keyboard/mouse from another OEM -- especially if one is
using a Bluetooth Dongle, since Bluetooth is already rather flakey in
Windows anyway.
Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original newsgroup and thread.
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