Intel Plans New Stepping for its 2.66GHz Core i7 920 Processor

[malware]

Intel has announced plans to supply its partners and distributors with a new batch of Core i7 920 processors, that have their stepping updated from the current C-0 to D-0. Ready to ship on March 2nd, the new stepping will feature:

• New S-spec (from SLBCH to SLBEJ) and Material Master numbers for the converting products.
• CPUID will change from 0x000106A4 to 0x000106A5.
• The electrical, mechanical and thermal specifications remain within the current specifications. Intel anticipates no changes to customer platforms designed to previous Intel guidelines.
• Readable serial number will be removed from the package ink swatch to fully mitigate the potential risk of the IHS cosmetically overlapping a marked serial number. There is no change to the ULT matrix content which continues to contain the serial number.

A motherboard BIOS update will be required to identify the new stepping CPUs correctly.



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[FordGT90Concept]

Hmm, would it be worth waiting a month to get this newer chip though?

 

[Weer]

Hmm, would it be worth waiting a month to get this newer chip though?

Only if it overclocks better.

 

[freaksavior]

Hmm, would it be worth waiting a month to get this newer chip though?

Only if it overclocks better.

We will find out.

I've been eying a i7 and since this is a new stepping i wanna know if its better. Usually newer revisions have lead to better oc. It would be nice if we had another G0 series

 

[TheGuruStud]

We will find out.

I've been eying a i7 and since this is a new stepping i wanna know if its better. Usually newer revisions have lead to better oc. It would be nice if we had another G0 series

As long as it doesn't end up like the newer G0s. I saw two that wouldn't go past 2.8 and 3.2 w/o V above 1.5. Talk about two disappointed people.

 

[Marineborn]

gmmm, wonder how much they will be on release, ive been looking to build a 3rd computer using a i7 chip!

 

[freaksavior]

As long as it doesn't end up like the newer G0s. I saw two that wouldn't go past 2.8 and 3.2 w/o V above 1.5. Talk about two disappointed people.

yeah, i mean b3 sucked then the new revision G0 was awesome so hope its like those and not the current G0

 

[cdawall]

yeah, i mean b3 sucked then the new revision G0 was awesome so hope its like those and not the current G0

some B3's clocked very well remember that

 

[freaksavior]

some B3's clocked very well remember that

"some" of them did chris. Just some though

 

[cdawall]

"some" of them did chris. Just some though

with good cooling almost all do

 

[freaksavior]

with good cooling almost all do

Not in the mood to aruge with you today so whatever.

 

[cdawall]

Not in the mood to aruge with you today so whatever.

damn your no fun

 

[FordGT90Concept]

What I don't get is why they are doing this? What exactly did they change that warrants the update and why aren't the other Nehalem processors mentioned? Is there a flaw in 920 that isn't present in the other chips?

 

[cdawall]

What I don't get is why they are doing this? What exactly did they change that warrants the update and why aren't the other Nehalem processors mentioned? Is there a flaw in 920 that isn't present in the other chips?

there were several rumors that the i7 chips were having an issue very similar to the B2 stepping of phenom's but intel has kept it under wraps

 

[Weer]

with good cooling almost all do

I'll argue with you

You see, the B3 stepping could overclock "well" but it could still never overclock to anything near what G0 could. With an Ultra 120 eXtreme you'd get 70C load on both chips - the B3 running 3.2Ghz and the G0 running 3.6-3.8Ghz. The only problem with the G0 is that at the time, there weren't any boards to overclock them past 3.6Ghz, and if you wanted SLi that made it even worse.

 

[cdawall]

I'll argue with you

You see, the B3 stepping could overclock "well" but it could still never overclock to anything near what G0 could. With an Ultra 120 eXtreme you'd get 70C load on both chips - the B3 running 3.2Ghz and the G0 running 3.6-3.8Ghz. The only problem with the G0 is that at the time, there weren't any boards to overclock them past 3.6Ghz, and if you wanted SLi that made it even worse.

hehe i was kidding with aaron and remember who i am by good cooling LN2 is my version of "good"

 

[Weer]

What I don't get is why they are doing this? What exactly did they change that warrants the update and why aren't the other Nehalem processors mentioned? Is there a flaw in 920 that isn't present in the other chips?

Actually, you're right. Intel has ABSOLUTELY no reason to make a better-overclocking chip. And if they actually did make one, it would be a worthy advertising aspect, like the huge rave regarding the G0's that broke the line between buying a dual-core or a quad-core.

 

[Weer]

hehe i was kidding with aaron and remember who i am by good cooling LN2 is my version of "good"

If you have LN2, there is really no point for comparing the overclocking capability of the chip, as you they will all break 5.0Ghz-6.0Ghz without the heat envelope being an issue.

 

[cdawall]

If you have LN2, there is really no point for comparing the overclocking capability of the chip, as you they will all break 5.0Ghz-6.0Ghz without the heat envelope being an issue.

well what can i say i'm a big pain in the ass


oh well back on topic hopefully whatever they are changing doesn't make the chips worse.

 

[lemonadesoda]

This has nothing to do with "overclocking" or improving the spec of the processor. G0 is updating the microcode and/or logic circuits to handle issues typically documented in processor stepping "errata".

G0 is fixing some of these issues: http://download.intel.com/design/processor/specupdt/320836.pdf

...especially TLB bug which IIRC Core2 G0 steppings have already fixed.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

If this fixes an issue that was as major as Phenom's, it would be worth waiting a month or two to get the newer version but, if it doesn't, it probably isn't worth waiting for. Bah, to wait or not to wait.

 

[Weer]

If this fixes an issue that was as major as Phenom's, it would be worth waiting a month or two to get the newer version but, if it doesn't, it probably isn't worth waiting for. Bah, to wait or not to wait.

I say you wait until they lower the price of the 940 to the price of the 920. That will raise your multiplier by 4%, and it's vitally needed.

 

[Weer]

well what can i say i'm a big pain in the ass


oh well back on topic hopefully whatever they are changing doesn't make the chips worse.

You sure are. I don't know why people put up with you.

 

[HaZe303]

Typical, just bought my 920?? So me, to buy something a month before an upgrade/update?? Hehe, but I dont care, the only reason I would buy the updated version was not better OC, but lower temps? These chips are so damn hot?

 

[trickson]

Is this going to increase over clocking ? I hope so . Really not that interesting unless it can give high clock speeds .