Intel changes LGA775 package for Kentsfield...
I have done my best to focus on each chip, CPUs are in the same position in each pic:
Left: Conroe E6700 ES
Right: Kentsfield "dual E6700" ES (quad 2.66GHz)
As you can see, the Kentsfield LGA775 package is visibly thicker. If my memory serves me right the package has been built on a maximum of 8 layers up until Kentsfield. Looks like an additional 2 layers have been added (additional signal layers for the 2 additional cores would make sense)....
http://members.cox.net/kjboughton/A.JPG
http://members.cox.net/kjboughton/B.JPG
http://members.cox.net/kjboughton/CPUs.JPG
-FCG
Edit: add third picture
That was precisely My Point.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.President
Thats wrong, the p5wdh for example or the bad axe 304 supporst kentsfield.
i think all conroe ready boards are also kentsfiel ready
and the heatsinks will fit for sure, it´s only ~1 mm differnce
That was the point I was trying to make.
Even though Kentsfield is basically two Conroes, it uses the same LGA775 socket, and is no wider (instead of going across, like the Pentium Pro did, Intel went vertical). This also means *no* socket change (and much worse news for AMD if the yields hold up).
The issue of fab yields, of course, leads to the biggest worry that Intel (and naturally AMD) will have. If Kentsfield yields are high, this will, naturally, push Core 2 Duo pricing heavily south (as much as a third south from launch pricing, even for the X6800). AMD will have to re-jigger K8L to be socket-compatible with AM2 (which it isn't planned to be for now), so as to avoid pissed AMD users deserting in droves (two socket changes in a year is a bit much to swallow, and is something that even Intel never tried to do) which will, naturally, result in more delays, which gives Intel a greater incentive to utterly *swamp* AMD in Core product (Solo, Duo, Core 2 Duo, and Kentsfield/Core 2 Quad). If Kentsfield yields are low, however, AMD would be correct to be screaming *paper launch*; internally, AMD's board will be realizing that they dodged a major bullet.