In some situations such as water cooling and/or TEC+water-cooling, it is possible to epoxy to a new cooler, piggyback-style, depending on component's design. Just a possibility.

For years everyone begged Intel for an integrated memory controller as AMD's IMC performance was better.

Intel refused, based on no other reason except: They did not want to create a new socket too quickly.

Now here we are, FOUR YEARS LATER, and people are whining that they created better technology?

Intel's socket cadence is four years. I'm personally a little excited for the next four, yeah, I'd love to stick one of these things into my current mobo, but I'll live. 

Or.. we go back to the times where every processor released had a different socket? 386 (3 different sockets) vs 486 (3 different sockets) vs Pentium (3 different sockets) vs Pentium 2 (5 different sockets?) vs Pentium 3 (2 different sockets) vs Pentium 4 (3 different sockets) vs Core 2 (one desktop socket)?

What you should be really whining about is the future AFTER Intel's IMC, and when DDR4 comes out, and you all have to buy new motherboards AND processors this time.

If you want more power (throughput) and faster processing, it's not going to happen by cramming even more onto the same size of chip; they'd just melt and there'd be too much EMI crossover.

It's 'interesting' that anyone'd complain about things like new sockets.....if you're that well off that you've already bought all the latest socket sizes en masse for mega-clusters......then why would you be at all bothered if any new tech is planned or released.

Did you really think you could use a planar you have for a 775 justnow, indefinitely on into the future, even if they had managed to cram yet more onto that same size of CPU. No wonder it's impossible to even see any decent IT jobs advertised in this country, when that's the attitude of anyone involved in it.

Hopefully LGA 1366 has a better run than my Pentium PRO because, It was expensive, Yielded close to marginal gains in DOS versus my Pentium MMX and cost a whole hella lot more. Also what much has really been added architecturally when compared to the 286 vs. 386 and No one say Pentium D<Core2. Hey Think we'll get a Nehalem Overdrive for LGA775. No please no one answer that last question.

i have never heard of a datacenter manager that upgrades only cpus :)
usually they move on new servers...

In the same time AMD changed the socket (939 to AM2+ and 940 to socket F) Intel hasn't changed it on the desktop front (kept it at 775). Sure, the power managment standards were changed that's why the old mobos don't work with Core 2s, but that's a different story. And the socket change is NEEDED due to the integrated memory controller. I doubt you nagged when AMD went from Socket A to 939, which was also needed because of the IMC. Geez people, start thinking!

Another socket change, wow....ANOTHER one!? I guess since they are releasing a new socket, everyone is forced to buy it arent they. =( Maybe those datacenter managers could move to AMD, that way they wouldnt have to change anything out, EVER! Brilliant!

i've noticed from the comparison sheet that the new chip is retangle, maybe this is why they need new fans designs for it.

The socket is socketed, which is very interesting to say the least. A socket could thus be changed and not the entire board? Cool if so...

"Yet Another"? It was over 4 years ago that the socket changed. I believe it's more than welcome considering what goes in the thing.

And IBM is the blue team.

One thing, More PINS=Thiner Pins & thats' Problem. as pins bend & Break.

Ball Grid could be used with few, say 5 guide pins on edges, guide pins being dead & fairly large. Even 939 had problems with broken Pins., primarily due to intentional ridges on socket, just to break PINS.

Also if I used screen coordinate system will this hit o,o at same point everytime or say 468,493 or any point exactly, you need to put bit o' tape on screen & exactly mark lite up pixel & compare, is 0,0 to 468,493 correct? this is more tukwila question, yet why not start here. maybe its o.k., of course.

Tukwila is city in state of Washington.
thomas drashek

Ah... yet another mobo/socketchange for the blue team. Datacenter managers will love changing everything out to keep up with the latest Satan Clara "Improvement."

Great fanboy article.

We need an even hand! We need some balance! Charlie, where are you!?

Skulltrail may be a very, very limited edition product.
This is speculated upon due to lack of listing in Intels Friday Price Listing update.

.it looks like that Intel did not see any reason to even create a separate column for the Socket 771 processor and the end of the Socket 771 Skulltrail processor may be near.
It ialso has been stated theres compatiblity with Nahalem?, how can that be: 1,366 pins is all different than 771 & surely must be enormous differences.
NO One Knows if Intel Left out 771 pin skultrail Q9775 & merely listed,by mistake only 775 pin CPUs', yet theres feeling Skulltrail is just that. It might take Edgar Allen Poe to write on this one.
I believe theinquirer once reported on Skulltrails possible short Life when first announced by Intel nearly year ago.
Skulltrail bit off of above article, yet its recent & Pins/Nahalem & other Intel CpU is expanded subject..
Thomas Drashek

I wonder how much money all this extra will cost? 
And how does it perform?