MSI modular motherboard will help each Intel and AMD CPUs

once upon a time (read: twenty years ago, when yours really had extra hair), Intel and AMD microprocessors used the identical CPU socket widespread and motherboard carriers supported more than one chip households with the equal platform. if you owned a excessive-end Socket 7 motherboard, you can use an Intel Pentium, AMD K6, K6-2, K6-three (in addition to the K6-2+/K6-3+), Cyrix 6×86, 6x86MX, IDT Winchip, and the upward push technology mP6. It turned into a golden, halcyon time — and MSI’s engineers have observed a manner to resurrect the concept with numerous tough paintings and a touch bit of Taiwanese magic.

Introducing the only: the primary motherboard platform in 19 years to offer cease-users the freedom they want to improve additives as they please.

No invention springs into existence from nothing and sharp-eyed readers will comprehend we’ve seen companies iterating on plans like this for several years. AMD’s upcoming Zen CPU stocks many layout elements with the ARM-primarily based K12 (we protected AMD’s paintings to combination the two architectures nicely before the business enterprise went public, though the implementation information are nonetheless unknown.) AMD’s now-canceled venture Skybridge was firstly supposed to create a common platform for ARM and x86 CPUs, even as the Boltzmann initiative allows CUDA code to run on GCN pics playing cards. simply this week, Microsoft announced that home windows 10 might deliver with Linux command line help thanks to a prominent partnership with Ubuntu.

The effort to create a widespread computing platform is going past the component level. numerous years ago the boutique OEM Razer debuted a customized computer system that would permit for individual factor swapouts and custom liquid cooling combos not dreamed of by using gods or guys. at the same time as venture Christine never formally launched, the current Razer middle is the fabricated from a similar effort — this time to mix the abilities of laptop pix cards with the svelte shape aspect of a current ultrabook. Even Google’s venture Ara is an instance of this profound new layout idea, which offers customers what they want, when they want it.

So, what does the one provide? I’m happy you requested.

the only is designed to be backwards well matched with a huge range of AMD and Intel CPUs. MSI continues to be running out the information, however depended on sources have informed ExtremeTech that the employer intends to offer board modules to assist first-technology middle i7 CPUs (Nehalem) and AMD chips as far returned because the Phenom II. via subdividing the motherboard into unique zones (proven above), MSI can offer improve modules to customise your motherboard as opposed to requiring you to pick out among anything features different businesses see suit to offer.

The board’s I/O zones. MSI will package chipset and CPU components collectively; misconfiguring those options will result in a caution error as opposed to gadget conflagration.

DDR2 slots for an antique CPU? No problem. Upgrading to a middle i7-5820K and wanting some hot DDR4 action? MSI has you protected. planning to break overclocking records with AMD’s FX-9590, but needing a low-profile cooler around the CPU to ensure your LN2 rig can mount properly? toddler, it’s all here.

There are some platform consistencies. MSI plans to standardize on Intel’s gigabit ethernet controllers, all variations of the one will assist SLI and Crossfire (as much as and which includes four-manner SLI and CrossfireX), and each model of the board will use MSI’s Nahimic Audio solution. considerable overclocking options and titanium chokes also are widespread across the board.

subsequently, even as MSI isn’t making any public promises, we've got it on exact authority that the enterprise is investigating whether or not or no longer it may make the board layout ahead well matched as properly. ahead compatibility is extremely tricky — each module slots into a selected connection port on the board, and people connection points ought to be able to dealing with the exact electricity requirements of the CPU. the ones of you who were pc enthusiasts twenty years ago will in all likelihood remember that even as Socket 7 turned into technically compatible with a wide range of CPUs across more than one product generations and one-of-a-kind manufacturers, realistic compatibility became frequently constrained by way of the motherboard’s voltage variety and multiplier maps. AMD truly launched a K6-2 four hundred with a hidden 2x/6x multiplier remap in order that Socket 7 proprietors with structures confined to a 66MHz bus could still improve to a 400MHz CPU.