OT, But interesting
Tim Schmidt
computer_holic@hotmail.com
Sun, 06 Aug 2000 17:03:06 GMT
>From: Ben Pfaff <pfaffben@msu.edu>
>Reply-To: pfaffben@msu.edu
>To: "Tim Schmidt" <computer_holic@hotmail.com>
>CC: linux-user@egr.msu.edu
>Subject: Re: OT, But interesting
>Date: 06 Aug 2000 10:15:02 -0400
>
>"Tim Schmidt" <computer_holic@hotmail.com> writes:
>
> > http://www.hardocp.com/news_images/2000/aug2k/080500b.html
>
>I'm unable to read that article with lynx, w3m, or links: all I
>get is links to three "IFRAME"s, which just contain ads, no
>content.
works in Netscape...
>
> > It appears that Intel is not only factory overclocking their
> > CPUs [...]
>
>Isn't that an oxymoron, or a misnomer? As I understand it, when
>you go to a chip fab, there aren't separate assembly lines
>cranking out 60 ns and 70 ns, nor are there separate assembly
>lines cranking out 866 MHz and 933 MHz Pentium IIIs, and so on.
>Rather, each chip that comes off the line is tested for its
>performance, where they crank up the speed until it fails at N
>MHz, and then they sell it as an (N - delta) MHz chip.
>
>On the other hand, overclocking is running a chip at a faster
>speed than recommended by the manufacturer. So the factory
>*can't* overclock chips. They could recommend that you run it
>faster than it would actually work, I suppose, but in that case
>it's a defective chip and you should be able to exchange for a
>working one.
Yes Ben, but PIII-C's run at 1.6v (I think, maybe 1.65), Intel has not only
cranked up the voltage (gets a clearer high/low voltage signal through) to
increase the speed the chip can reach, they've issued microcode updates for
the 850 and up which in effect "turn off" parts of the chip that can hold it
back when reaching higher speeds. So microcode updates allow the chip to
clock higher, but have a performance hit. Also, Intel has outfitted the
PIII 1000, and 1133 (and I think the 850 and up) chips with massive HSF's
(Heatsink + fans) to dissipate the massive ammounts of heat produced by the
high clock-speed/voltage.
In other words, with no tweaking a PIII-C might reach 850Mhz, only with
--massive-- ammounts of tweaking and/or questionable tactics can a PIII-C go
any higher.
AMD on the other hand, has not used and microcode updates, voltage hikes,
die shrinks, or massive heatsinks to get teh Athlon to 1Ghz. 1.1Ghz athlons
have been in the hands of reviewers for several months now also.
In short, resorting to all these questionable tactics is what is generally
refered to as "factory overclocking" -- yes, it is technically an oxymoron.
--Tim
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