Intel P35: Intel's Mainstream Chipset Grows Up
by Gary Key & Wesley Fink on May 21, 2007 3:45 PM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Features Comparison
While P35 and G33 are said to target the same segment, the likely target markets are quite different. Enthusiasts will generally opt for the P35 desktop chipset, or perhaps the upcoming G35 if their application requires integrated graphics. The G33 will more likely be found in machines by HP or Dell. Despite the differing end users a closer look at features shows Intel Series 3 features that are universal throughout the line.
All new series 3 chipsets support DDR3 or DDR2. With DDR3 prices currently double or greater than DDR2 you will likely see DDR2 used in mainstream and OEM computers. For now DDR3 will most likely be limited to high end computers. As we saw in DDR3 vs. DDR2 the performance of DDR3 and DDR2 were virtually the same on the P35 at the same speed and timings, and DDR2 was faster on P35 than on the current P965. Therefore end users will likely want to migrate to the new 3 series chipsets for added performance, but it doesn't matter right now whether the memory is DDR3 or DDR2. In the future, when DDR3 prices drop and DDR3 timings get faster, DDR3 will be the better choice.
It is interesting that the DDR2-1333 speed is supported on the new 3 series chipsets, as this will likely spur development of even faster DDR2 for the new boards. Any of the new ICH9 MCH chips can be combined with G33 and P35, but you will more likely see the ICH9R used with P35 and the cheaper ICH9 in the G33 boards.
Like the P965/975X chipsets that preceded them, the new 3 series only supports a maximum of 8GB of memory. This is somewhat surprising when year-old AMD AM2 chipsets officially support 16GB. While not an immediate limitation, it may become one if the adoption of Vista is accelerated with a "must-have" DX10 game. For those who have asked, please note that Intel says all new Series 3 chipsets are 45nm Penryn ready. We would take this to mean that earlier P965/975X boards are not likely compatible with the upcoming Penryn, although just like we've seen a few specific boards using older chipsets with Core 2 we may see some exceptions.
Key Innovations
GAMING - X38
- Support for all Intel multi-core processors
- First DDR3 memory and PCI Express 2.0 chipset support in the industry
- Gain additional performance benefits with chipset overspeed protection removed
BUSINESS - Q35 and Q33
- Reduce IT costs, increase security and simplify manageability with Intel vPro processor technology platforms
- Lower TDP and idle power for greater energy efficiency, enhanced acoustics, and SFF
- Continue to support Energy Star2 specifications
- Enhance platform stability & improved asset deployment success with Intel SIPP
CONSUMER - G35
- Experience sharp HD DVD & Blu-ray content, high-definition video quality & usability with improved Intel Clear Video Technology
- Play the latest games with enhanced 3D compatibility with DX10
- I/O enhancements with new Intel Matrix Storage Technology features
- Support Intel ViiV processor technology
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yacoub - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
I think HardOCP's conclusion is pretty honest. These boards are a first gen DDR3 setup that has to transition well from DDR2. Performance will be similar, they will offer a few new decent hardware features, but beyond that for most folks they should stick with their P965 or 650i/680i boards and their speedy DDR2 and wait until around a year from now when DDR3 will start to appear that legitimately outperforms DDR2 in a noticeable way and hopefully by then is cost competitive with DDR2.Right now we can get 2x1GB matched pairs of decent PC6400 DDR2 for around (and under) $100. When DDR3 reaches prices like that they'll see more converts from the enthusiast crowd. Or when they start showing performance gains on the order of 15-25% over DDR2.
tomoyo - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - link
I don't think anyone should be thinking about an upgrade from a p965 in the first place, you've already gotten a core 2 duo and are waiting for the next gen of penryn! Obviously the point of this motherboard chipset is for new buyers, especially people who do not have a core 2 duo in the first place. That is exactly what my situation is, I'm sitting on an amd platform still and looking into when a good chipset/cpu combo is out. The P35 is it for myself, I like the higher fsb overclock and full set of features, hopefully the price will come down quickly as well. Also it's finally gotten to a point where we can get a full set of sata devices with no ide involved...which eliminates the jmicron issue.Wesley Fink - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
If we were buying a new board today it would be P35 - based on our test results and not our untested opinions. Gaming is faster, memory performance is faster (even with DDR2), and the 1333 processor bus gives current C2D owners a "free" 25% overclcok in most cases.We would likely buy a P35 that supports DDR2 memory, because there is a large price difference in DDR2 and DDR3 right now, and DDR2 is just as fast as DDR3 on the P35 at the same speed and timings - and DDR2 is faster on P35 than P965.
However, we already have our first samples of low-latency DDR3 in for testing. Recommending DDR3 will be about how fast we see price parity with DDR2 as it is definitely the memory of the future.
suryad - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - link
Any ideas on when an SLI based P35 setup would be released? That is about the only thing that is holding me back from purhcasing a P35 mobo. I want SLI.yacoub - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
"If we were buying a new board today "Right. And the HardOCP editorial was writing more for those of us who already own a fairly recent board and are wondering if the performance is significant enough to warrant another upgrade. Conclusion: it isn't.
You're both right, in other words. If you're buying a new board today, no major reasons NOT to buy a P35 unless it's a DDR3 one in which case DDR3 is cost prohibitive and offers little to no real performance benefit. If you already have a P965, 650i, 680i, etc, no reason to upgrade.
tomoyo - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - link
Actually that's not true, according to Kyle, he's endorsing the P965 for all users, new or old. I think he's gotten far too distrustful for new products, especially when this one looks pretty promising. Since the P35 is more of an evolution than anything else, it's a good possibility that we'll get some pretty stable products right off the bat. And I'm of the opinion that a cheap 5% performance upgrade and mobo with full penryn voltage support is worthwhile at the right price for any new user. I do think it'll be a good idea to wait about a month and see if there is any fallout before diving in.Wesley Fink - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
That was an editorial, not a review. There was not a single test result in that article.On the other hand, we are late to NDA because we got 3 new P35 boards on Friday, and we wanted to bring you real test results based on four motherboards. Our comments and conclusions are based on testing a large number of P35 motherboards, and both DDR2 and DDR3 memory on these boards.
michal1980 - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
I know, but his conculsion was to get a mature p965, yours a p35. uggh.JarredWalton - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
With the testing results provided here (and in our previous articles), we're comfortable in saying that P35 is already quite mature, particularly the ASUS boards. If you already have a P965 board there's not much reason to upgrade, but if you're buying a new board we would take a serious look at P35 offerings.TA152H - Monday, May 21, 2007 - link
I was seriously considering getting one of these boards, but I wouldn't even think about it after your review. What the heck is going on with the power use???? The improvement in performance, to me, is a lot less noticeable than the damn noise you'll have trying to evacuate the heat from the motherboard. What a disappointment. The interesting thing is, another site that ran the power use came in lower than the P965, so I'm really confused which is right. My gut instinct is, they are, because this is a 90nm chip with lower specified power use, but I'm sure you guys knew that and were just as confused and made sure your results were correct. I don't get it at all. It's really disappointing, but maybe with future revisions Intel will get the power down to normal levels.I now think supporting DDR2 was a mistake, sure it's good today, but prices for DDR3 will come down, and they would come down fast if Intel made it only DDR3 since memory makers would be very motivated to get their act together. Plus, you'd pay LESS for the chipset, and you'd pay less in electricity for it, and you'd pay less for the motherboards since they wouldn't need as extravagant a cooling solution on it (although, I may buy a MSI just to have that roller coaster. I'm not sure why they felt that design was necessary, but I feel like I need it now. ). So, sure, the cost right now of DDR3 would offset it, but that point will be crossed, and for the rest of the life of the chipset, people will be paying for something that is completely unnecessary and useless, which DDR2 support will be. The P965 would have been fine for legacy support, you don't NEED a P35, and for those folks that wanted it, DDR3 would be fine. Maybe the X38 will drop the dreaded DDR2 support since it's a high-end solution and doesn't need to be shackled with DDR2 support. I hope so.