As more experience is gained with the new Intel 775 Socket T, it is clear that the processors and the Socket work just fine. They also offer performance advantages over the Prescott in Socket 478. The other advantage is the future, since the 560 (3.6GHz) and the coming faster processors will only be available in LGA 775.

Many users, however, have a tough time swallowing all that goes with the new 925X/PCI Express/DDR2 architecture, since it requires a new, hard to find video card for PCI Express plus brand new DDR2 memory. Some users would like to move to a new Intel LGA 775 processor, but they can't handle the requirement to upgrade almost everything in their system. That is exactly the user who will welcome the introduction of the Soltek SL-865Pro-775.


The Soltek 865-775 uses the new 775-pin Prescott socket, but it is driven by last generation's familiar Intel 865PE/ICH5 chipset. This means you can use your existing AGP 8X video card and DDR memory with a new Intel Prescott chip. This reduces the cost of entry to the new Socket T to the cost of the motherboard and CPU, something most users are much more willing to handle.

The question with any hybrid solution like this is how it performs? Are there performance penalties in combining the 865 with Socket 775? How does the Soltek 865Pro-775 compare in performance to a new 915 or 925X motherboard?
About FIRST LOOK
Comments Locked

21 Comments

View All Comments

  • LS6TA - Monday, August 23, 2004 - link

    I was looking to pick this board up but it isn't on newegg's site anymore, know of anywhere else to get it?
  • Wesley Fink - Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - link

    #19 - This has been corrected several times, and it is corrected again. Here's hoping our Document Engine is kinder to corrections this go-round.
  • bhtooefr - Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - link

    Another mistake - the Soltek's memory speed is listed as a DDR2 speed (in the specs on the board), whereas it's a DDR board.

    That P5P800 does look interesting, BTW. (Not that I would bite - Intel's price-performance isn't good at all)
  • Galvin - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    Asus makes one as well. See it here.
    P5P800

    http://www.asus.com/products/mb/socket775/p5p800/o...

    Hopefully you can review this board too.
  • Bozo Galora - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    Newegg and Soltek??

    Hah Hah
    Guess it shows how much I block out AT's ads.
  • Wesley Fink - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    #4,#7,#9 - the first requirement for Doom 3 under System Requirements is: "3D Hardware Accelerator Card Required - 100% DirectX® 9.0b compatible 64MB Hardware Accelerated video card and the latest drivers".

    You can check for yourself at http://www.idsoftware.com/games/doom/doom3/index.p...
  • Oxonium - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    It will be interesting to see if more mobos like this will come out. It definitely fills a gap in the market, probably to Intel's chagrin. I'm curious if the new P4 F-series (64-bit enabled) would work on this board.
  • Wesley Fink - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    #10 - We made it to 265 FSB with a 2.8 Prescott. We talk about this briefly at the bottom of Page 3.

    #11 - The incorrect reference is removed.
  • Wesley Fink - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    #12 - It is available at New Egg for $125 including FedEx Saver shipping, which is linked at the top of every page.
  • Bozo Galora - Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - link

    Its irrelevant to people in the U.S. It cant be bought here easily, if at all. I suppose it can be bought online from NCIX in Cananda, but they say special order. I have owned Soltek - they are good boards, but their support is non existent. Also note they are not even listed in Pricewatch brands, search4hardware.com shows pics, but no stores selling it.

    Why review vapor???

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now