Intel Changs chipset again

[techguy21801]

THE NEWS now confirmed, that Intel has changed the rules on its 478 socket for Prescott shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone, especially the poor bloody consumer and the motherboard makers. Intel is constantly changing the rules in its relentless bid to sell more chips and chipsets. A few years back, Intel introduced a 423 pin socket for its Pentium family but told its motherboard partners that there was another one – the 478 pin socket, coming along in six months time.

That meant that mobo makers were supposed to release boards for the 423 version of its chip, although they knew full well that the life of these boards could be measured in weeks. And the poor bloody consumer who bought boards that only supported the 423 versions was well and truly scuppered.

Now it seems Intel is playing this game again, and has hoodwinked not only end users but the motherboard makers too. Asus, for example, has sold one of its boards on the promise it would support the 478 Prescott when it came out. But neither Asus nor anyone else knows yet what the final specification of the Prescott 478 will be, while Intel spinners hide behind the "not announced product" silicon shield, meaning they're not accountable to anyone in the chain at all, be they manufacturers, distributors, PC vendors, or you and me.

Isn't it about time that Intel at least started telling its partners how it is, before they waste money on developing boards like the Timna "dead duck" chip that was pulled two weeks before the final announcement? We at the INQUIRER certainly think so. Otherwise Intel is left open to the gravest of charges for any manufacturer that values its customers and consumers. Hard nosed sheer cynicism.

News source: The Inq

[Aaron]

Thanks, posted

[XPerties]

Well Intel has taken this a little to extreme but as they make the chips faster they have to change the layout for more transistors/circuitry. It's technology at it's best.