Doubts Grow Over P4/Prescott Mobo Compatibility

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A number of motherboard makers were showing off (Computex) products that they claimed not only would support current Intel Pentium 4s, but also let you drop in Mr 478 Prescott when he becomes available. But, as we reported earlier this year, there's still considerable doubt whether the feat will work when Prescott is released in late November, early December. Sources close to the matter tell the The Inquirer that so far claims of compatibility belong to the dizzy realms of marchitecture.

According to one source: "Only Intel has working boards and it is pushing these on system integrators, complete with processors, to meet its own end. If it has the only boards to send out with chips, perhaps system integrators will use these continually". The question is of more than passing interest because many i875/i865 mobos were made before September 2003, with some sold specifically as an upgradeable option.