they need 2 sockets in this case, i7's extra pins are for memory communication remmber dual channel vs tri channel, just like amd back in the 754 vs 939 days, the extra pins on the 939 chip where to support dual chan memory.
Intel wants to force enthusiasts to buy their enthusiast platform that they sell at a HIGH preimum, and they do want to block/hamper clocking as much as possible, because it takes away from their profits in their eyes, I mean if a person couldnt overclock that "cheap" cpu to match the perf of their qx9770 intel would sell more qx9770's wouldnt they? (this is rich people logic, not real world, we dont all got thousands to spend on a proc logic)
this dosnt intrest me, AMD's phenomII is plenty for my next upgrade, and this 6000+ is holding me fine for now.
and amd's bulldozer should be quite a change in the market once its ready for market, so i see no VALUE in my moving to intel.
I bought a ta770(biostar board) quite some time back, due to bios updates i can take ANY am2, am2+ or am3 cpu thats avalable, my buddys who went intel payed more, and are now boned because intels EOL'd 775..........
sometimes its good to be content with what you have
