Best motherboards for XP gaming

[Voodoo Rufus]

Kind of like HEDT in the LGA-20xx era. Got it.

Always wanted a high core count HEDT to OC, but never had the use for the cores outside of running the now defunct Seti project.

 

[freeagent]

Kind of like HEDT in the 20xx era. Got it.

Exactly.

 

[lexluthermiester]

What was the appeal of the X58 platform?

It was excellent and STILL holds up even today? I run Windows 11 on my W3680. Smooth, snappy and easy.

I always thought the triple channel ram setup was a bit funky, and the ram speeds were not very impressive yet.

It was different, certainly. The bandwidth made up for the early speed limitations. Once DDR3 got to 1333mhz, it was fine and still is.

Kind of like HEDT in the 20xx era. Got it.

Also good stuff. The quad channel and support for 1600 and 1866 speeds really let DDR3 come into it's own.

 

[Dr. Dro]

What was the appeal of the X58 platform? I always thought the triple channel ram setup was a bit funky, and the ram speeds were not very impressive yet. Back then I jumped from a P35 with a QX9650 Yorkfield to Z68 Sandy Bridge 2600K and skipped the X58 stuff.

To me it was that it was hella and I mean hella powerful for its time. It was released in 2008 alongside the original Core i7 processor, even before Windows 7. It's a platform that bridges generations, with the right motherboard (the R2E is one of the best examples, it has a floppy header, IDE/PATA ports, SATA ports, fits a lot of memory) and combination of hardware, you have a supremely compatible system.

You can run anything from Windows 2000 through 11 23H2 pretty much unmodified on it, Linux, even Mac OS...

 

[lexluthermiester]

through 11 23H2

It runs 24H2 just fine. Ask me how I know.

 

[Dr. Dro]

It runs 24H2 just fine. Ask me how I know.

Did you manage to work around the CPU instruction limitations? That's awesome. As far as I know Ivy Bridge was pretty much the floor for the kernel to boot

 

[lexluthermiester]

Did you manage to work around the CPU instruction limitations? That's awesome. As far as I know Ivy Bridge was pretty much the floor for the kernel to boot

You're thinking of the POPCNT thing with the Core2 lineup. Everything post Core2 will run fine, so Socket 1156/1366 forward can run Win11 24H2 onward. EDIT: Not with microsoft's official blessing, but it does run.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

It was excellent and STILL holds up even today? I run Windows 11 on my W3680. Smooth, snappy and easy.

I'm running W10, seems pretty good. I mean, it's running 4.2ghz, at defaults you can definitely feel the sluggishness of yesterdays platforms.

 

[Dr. Dro]

You're thinking of the POPCNT thing with the Core2 lineup. Everything post Core2 will run fine, so Socket 1156/1366 forward can run Win11 24H2 onward. EDIT: Not with microsoft's official blessing, but it does run.

Right I got it all mixed up, there were some newer games that were needing AVX + F16C support, that's where Ivy kicked in

 

[DudeBeFishing]

I forgot to include this in my other post for X58. If you get Registered/Buffered RAM, only get ones with the IDT buffer chip. There's two brands, IDT and Inphi. The Inphi can get stuck in a nonworking state. You have to leave them unplugged them for a few days or get them cold enough to reset.

I haven't felt X58 be sluggish. So far any game that runs poorly on it also runs poorly on modern platforms. The only real downside for me is the lack of AVX, but even then that only affected some games that can't run on XP so that's probably not a concern.

 

[Greenslade]

If you can get something for 2.75 and flip it for 10, its worth it... tho the 950 isn't exactly the CPU you want. It's the 980X and 990X, and those are more than just a bit expensive, their Xeon counterparts go for a lot less.

The lowest price sold was £4.90 and that included £2.70 for postage.I think i will go for the one with out it the £2.75 ho towards the £7.85 one i am buying.I have loads of CPU,s but none of 1366 socket.

That's a solid chip. I still have mine as a back up should the W3680 give out.

My AI says this *In gaming scenarios, the difference in performance between these two CPUs is likely to be minimal. Both processors are capable of running modern games, but the W3680 might offer a slight edge in performance due to its higher clock speeds. However, the X5675's lower power consumption and better value for money could make it a more attractive option for budget-conscious gamers.*
I see your one is £30 on eBay.
I have this cpu cooler which i got for the FM2+and i found the bracket for INTEL it did not come with that.

 

[freeagent]

W series is a better CPU because you get to play with memory dividers. X series gimps that part out.

 

[timsdf]

1366 CPUs released in 2011 had slightly better OC headroom than 2010 models. X5675 was one of the fastest OC chips in my experience. AI is not useful because it compares some stock TDP statistics.

 

[LabRat 891]

Suddenly, those dual 1366 boards I have in storage don't seem so useless. IIRC, WinXP Pro supports 2 physical CPUs, no problem.
(I'm assuming the underlying chipsets between i5520 Tylersburg and X58 are the same?)

 

[lexluthermiester]

The lowest price sold was £4.90 and that included £2.70 for postage.I think i will go for the one with out it the £2.75 ho towards the £7.85 one i am buying.I have loads of CPU,s but none of 1366 socket.

My AI says this *In gaming scenarios, the difference in performance between these two CPUs is likely to be minimal. Both processors are capable of running modern games, but the W3680 might offer a slight edge in performance due to its higher clock speeds. However, the X5675's lower power consumption and better value for money could make it a more attractive option for budget-conscious gamers.*
I see your one is £30 on eBay.
I have this cpu cooler which i got for the FM2+and i found the bracket for INTEL it did not come with that.

You're forgetting the unlocked multiplier of the W3680. This is why AI should not be trusted. However, the X5675 is an excellent CPU and will run XP and anything you run in it very well. Damn good chip, no worries.

W series is a better CPU because you get to play with memory dividers. X series gimps that part out.

This too!

I mean, it's running 4.2ghz, at defaults you can definitely feel the sluggishness of yesterdays platforms.

I just don't see that. My modern systems are not any faster in common desktop and general computing tasks. Now if you're talking about more compute intensive tasks, yes absolutely newer chips are faster. Day to day stuff? Not really. For the XP duties we're talking about in this thread? 1366/X5675 will be a joy for Greeslade. Only X79 and X99 would be better and even then the benefits are marginal.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

You're forgetting the unlocked multiplier of the W3680. This is why AI should not be trusted. However, the X5675 is an excellent CPU and will run XP and anything you run in it very well. Damn good chip, no worries.


This too!


I just don't see that. My modern systems are not any faster in common desktop and general computing tasks. Now if you're talking about more compute intensive tasks, yes absolutely newer chips are faster. Day to day stuff? Not really. For the XP duties we're talking about in this thread? 1366/X5675 will be a joy for Greeslade. Only X79 and X99 would be better and even then the benefits are marginal.

Oh definitely for XP its fine. You could say that about any system, even 775 (earlier?). XP requirements are low.
But fancy this, you suggested more ram for XP, if we are doing XP tasks, 2GB would be plenty if we just stick to that thought mainly.

X58 would be the newest system released before W7. X79/99 wouldn't fit the timeline well.

 

[lexluthermiester]

But fancy this, you suggested more ram for XP, if we are doing XP tasks, 2GB would be plenty if we just stick to that thought mainly.

For XP I always default to 4GB. There's not reason not to as RAM is so cheat and easy to install.

X79/99 wouldn't fit the timeline well.

Timeline be damned. X79 is 100% XP compatible and thus a perfectly valid option. The last time I built an extreme XP PC was an HP Z420 with a Xeon E5-1680V2 and 4X1GB DDR3-1600 with a GTX-780ti 3GB & SB XFi. That is a slammin XP beast! My client loves it and knows it is damn near the best system he could buy for running XP.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

For XP I always default to 4GB. There's not reason not to as RAM is so cheat and easy to install.

Timeline be damned. X79 is 100% XP compatible and thus a perfectly valid option. The last time I built an extreme XP PC was an HP Z420 with a Xeon E5-1680V2 and 4X1GB DDR3-1600 with a GTX-780ti 3GB & SB XFi. That is a slammin XP beast! My client loves it and knows it is damn near the best system he could buy for running XP.

Tell that to my 256mb ddr1 sets. Early ddr, mid ddr and late ddr are 3 different things. At one time, 512mb would have been plenty.

I didn't say not compatible for x79/99. Just that W7 released in 09, those are 2011 systems and newer.

You could put XP on LGA 1200 too....

 

[Greenslade]

1366 CPUs released in 2011 had slightly better OC headroom than 2010 models. X5675 was one of the fastest OC chips in my experience. AI is not useful because it compares some stock TDP statistics.

I have been reading reviews about the X5675 and people give it the thumbs up,The other one Lex uses £22 pound more on eBay.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Tell that to my 256mb ddr1 sets. Early ddr, mid ddr and late ddr are 3 different things. At one time, 512mb would have been plenty.

Don't go for something that old. Use newer.

You could put XP on LGA 1200 too....

Not with 100% compatibility you can't, ask me how I know.

I have been reading reviews about the X5675 and people give it the thumbs up,The other one Lex uses £22 pound more on eBay.

That X5675 will be a very good choice. Get it and enjoy!

 

[Greenslade]

Don't go for something that old. Use newer.

Not with 100% compatibility you can't, ask me how I know.


That X5675 will be a very good choice. Get it and enjoy!

I have and it has all ready been shipped from the seller in CHNA And so has the board should get it click and collect and FriDay or there abouts

W series is a better CPU because you get to play with memory dividers. X series gimps that part out.

I don,t know what memory dividers are?This is what AI says do you agree?
*Memory dividers on a CPU are used to control the relationship between the front side bus (FSB) speed and the memory clock speed, allowing them to run at different frequencies. This is particularly useful in overclocking scenarios where the CPU's FSB is increased beyond its default speed, and the memory needs to be adjusted to maintain system stability. Memory dividers are expressed as ratios, such as 1, 3, 4, or 5, and they determine how the memory clock speed is derived from the FSB speed.*

 

[freeagent]

I have and it has all ready been shipped from the seller in CHNA And so has the board should get it click and collect and FriDay or there abouts


I don,t know what memory dividers are?

AI didn't tell you?

Dividers are speed. Multiplier is probably a better term..

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Don't go for something that old. Use newer.

Not with 100% compatibility you can't, ask me how I know.

OK, tell me!! I used W7 on 1200 and it was a pain in the butt, so can only imagine!!

Older, newer. My focus is competitive benching if using XP. But that is just me here.

 

[Greenslade]

AI didn't tell you?

Dividers are speed. Multiplier is probably a better term..

I just looked it up

 

[lexluthermiester]

I have and it has all ready been shipped from the seller in CHNA And so has the board should get it click and collect and FriDay or there abouts

So what memory do you have, or have planned, for it? Forgive me If I missed you stating that..
EDIT:
If you haven't got any, look for 2GB sticks of DDR3 1600mhz. Get 3 if you can as long as you bought that ASUS board you showed earlier. You'll have 6GB total, which is more than XP can use, but the usage will be spread evenly across all of the sticks.
Also the best Geforce GPU XP officially supports is the GTX 960. If you need to stay within a budget, a GTX 750ti is an excellent option.