CPU Stepping

ED_H · 02-11-2001, 11:22 PM

What do the differant steppings mean that you guys are talking about. I see alot of people talking about cCO stepping. I have a 866eb that according to intel's cpuid program is type 0, family 6, model 8, stepping 3. I don't understand what this all means and how it affects OC'ing

kaz · 02-12-2001, 12:34 AM

Stepping mask refers to the way the Intel chip is manufactured, co stepping is the latest process to be mass produced started with the 1ghz, there were no bo stepping 1ghz chips produced, however they have expanded the process to include almost all new chips produced as they phase out the old process. They are now making d stepping chips, but I don't think they are in mass production, the newer the process the better the chip dissapates heat, hence the default voltage is higher, 1.7 on co vs. 1.65 on bo even though they are both .18m design, Intel is not supposed to get the .15m line going until the 3rd quarter of this year...I hope this helps...I am not an engineer just an enthusiast, by the way Sandra will tell you your stepping but your default voltage is also a giveaway...

Butcher · 02-12-2001, 07:18 PM

Could you please say something about Sandra? What is it--an analytic program perhaps? Where can I get it and how much does it cost?
thank you,
Clarence

kaz · 02-12-2001, 08:28 PM

SiSoft Sandra is a benchmark and information utility it's free and a lot of the members use it to measure system performance, you can get it from SiSoft here:
http://www.sisoftware.demon.co.uk/sandra

ED_H · 02-12-2001, 09:51 PM

I've checked sandra and my 866eb does indeed have a stepping mask of cBO. I also believe I understand what Kaz is saying. The cBO processors were manufactured under the next to last manufacturing process and that process produced chips that have a default core voltage of 1.65 instead of the 1.70 that the cCo chips ship with. So that by having a cBO chip one is already in the hole by .05 volts right out of the gate, as well as not being able to dissapate heat as well. If put head to head in exactly the same systems the cCO chip would overclock higher( in theory). Now when one is looking to buy a new chip how does one know what the stepping mask is?

rdmpe · 02-12-2001, 10:08 PM

I had this same question about buying a cC0 700E. I spoke with some retailers. None would guarantee a particular stepping at a decent price. The ones who advertise guaranteed cC0 charge a big premium. I finally got a guy to talk frankly with me. He said if you order from a vendor who turns over their stock often, then you will very likely get the latest stepping.

I ordered from ACCUBYTE.COM and got a cC0. However, I also had about 4 slightly bent pins on it! And it is a cCo, but is not at the top of the curve in clocking. Many users here can cold boot to 1015 or higher. I can only cold boot to 973. So even with a cC0 cpu, your results will vary.

kaz · 02-12-2001, 10:08 PM

Exactly Ed, if your getting a 1ghz it's as I said they are all co, if not your going to have to ask them to read what the box label says the voltage is and hope that's the one they mail to you, or just wait for the do stepping...

ED_H · 02-12-2001, 10:21 PM

Thanks everybody, I do believe I've got it.
Are they going to step the voltage again with the DO cpu's?

kaz · 02-13-2001, 01:19 AM

Well after poking around at Intel they did make a 1ghz cbo stepping, SL4FP SECC was cbo, also seems like the chip to get is the SL4WM it ask's for 1.70 but Intel wants you to give it 1.76...As for your question Ed the voltage for the do stepping is 1.75 I just found it...

[Edited by kaz on 02-13-2001 at 01:36 AM]

Philster · 02-15-2001, 08:01 PM

Intel has posted ALL the relevant information about all their current stepping modes at this URL

http://support.intel.com/support/pro.../sspec/p3p.htm

There is a lot of good information on their site it's just not to easy to find! Good luck.

Philster

GLCII · 02-16-2001, 01:03 PM

Thanks guys! this help me out also

Philster · 02-17-2001, 12:21 PM

Good luck GLCII, I think you will find everything you need right there.

Philster

Sir Skully · 02-17-2001, 02:06 PM

Don't leave the cbo stepping out of any CPU you may be thinking of buying. Reason being many cbo steppings are faster and use less voltage then many cco CPUs. especially when overclocking! I had a 700 cbo that was a better overclocker then some 700 ccos also I just returned to Intel a defective 866eb cco. They, Intel sent me back a cbo instead of a cco. Before the cco went bad, I run it @ 155 fsb, Vcore @ 185, now this 866 cbo will run @ Vcore 175 same FSB 155. Now which is the better?

[Edited by Skull on 02-17-2001 at 02:12 PM]

02-11-2001, 11:22 PM	#1
ED_H Clearly Confused Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Either Here Or There I Don't Know Posts: 497	What do the differant steppings mean that you guys are talking about. I see alot of people talking about cCO stepping. I have a 866eb that according to intel's cpuid program is type 0, family 6, model 8, stepping 3. I don't understand what this all means and how it affects OC'ing
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02-12-2001, 12:34 AM	#2
kaz ØLÐ GUÝ® Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,514	Stepping mask refers to the way the Intel chip is manufactured, co stepping is the latest process to be mass produced started with the 1ghz, there were no bo stepping 1ghz chips produced, however they have expanded the process to include almost all new chips produced as they phase out the old process. They are now making d stepping chips, but I don't think they are in mass production, the newer the process the better the chip dissapates heat, hence the default voltage is higher, 1.7 on co vs. 1.65 on bo even though they are both .18m design, Intel is not supposed to get the .15m line going until the 3rd quarter of this year...I hope this helps...I am not an engineer just an enthusiast, by the way Sandra will tell you your stepping but your default voltage is also a giveaway... __________________ "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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02-12-2001, 07:18 PM	#3
Butcher chop, chop, yummy, yum Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Columbia, Maryland Posts: 1,217	Sandra? Could you please say something about Sandra? What is it--an analytic program perhaps? Where can I get it and how much does it cost? thank you, Clarence
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02-12-2001, 08:28 PM	#4
kaz ØLÐ GUÝ® Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,514	SiSoft Sandra is a benchmark and information utility it's free and a lot of the members use it to measure system performance, you can get it from SiSoft here: http://www.sisoftware.demon.co.uk/sandra __________________ "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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02-12-2001, 09:51 PM	#5
ED_H Clearly Confused Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Either Here Or There I Don't Know Posts: 497	I've checked sandra and my 866eb does indeed have a stepping mask of cBO. I also believe I understand what Kaz is saying. The cBO processors were manufactured under the next to last manufacturing process and that process produced chips that have a default core voltage of 1.65 instead of the 1.70 that the cCo chips ship with. So that by having a cBO chip one is already in the hole by .05 volts right out of the gate, as well as not being able to dissapate heat as well. If put head to head in exactly the same systems the cCO chip would overclock higher( in theory). Now when one is looking to buy a new chip how does one know what the stepping mask is?
(Offline)

02-12-2001, 10:08 PM	#6
rdmpe A sandwich in every glass Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 2,609	I had this same question about buying a cC0 700E. I spoke with some retailers. None would guarantee a particular stepping at a decent price. The ones who advertise guaranteed cC0 charge a big premium. I finally got a guy to talk frankly with me. He said if you order from a vendor who turns over their stock often, then you will very likely get the latest stepping. I ordered from ACCUBYTE.COM and got a cC0. However, I also had about 4 slightly bent pins on it! And it is a cCo, but is not at the top of the curve in clocking. Many users here can cold boot to 1015 or higher. I can only cold boot to 973. So even with a cC0 cpu, your results will vary. __________________ Check out my auctions!
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02-12-2001, 10:21 PM	#8
ED_H Clearly Confused Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Either Here Or There I Don't Know Posts: 497	Thanks everybody, I do believe I've got it. Are they going to step the voltage again with the DO cpu's?
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02-13-2001, 01:19 AM	#9
kaz ØLÐ GUÝ® Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,514	Well after poking around at Intel they did make a 1ghz cbo stepping, SL4FP SECC was cbo, also seems like the chip to get is the SL4WM it ask's for 1.70 but Intel wants you to give it 1.76...As for your question Ed the voltage for the do stepping is 1.75 I just found it... [Edited by kaz on 02-13-2001 at 01:36 AM] __________________ "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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02-15-2001, 08:01 PM	#10
Philster Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Canada Posts: 21	Intel has posted ALL the relevant information about all their current stepping modes at this URL http://support.intel.com/support/pro.../sspec/p3p.htm There is a lot of good information on their site it's just not to easy to find! Good luck. Philster __________________ "He who controls the spice...controls the Universe!"
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02-16-2001, 01:03 PM	#11
GLCII Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 3	Thanks guys! this help me out also __________________ ASUS CUSL2 PIII 1GHz FC-PGA WD 30 GIG ATA100 7200RPM KENWOOD 72X PLEXTOR 12X10X32 CDRW LS-120 VIPERII 32 MEG MX-300 128 MEG MUSHKIN PC133 DSL WIN ME
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02-17-2001, 12:21 PM	#12
Philster Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kitchener, Ontario Canada Posts: 21	Good luck GLCII, I think you will find everything you need right there. Philster __________________ "He who controls the spice...controls the Universe!"
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02-17-2001, 02:06 PM	#13
Sir Skully ABX KNIGHT EXEMPLAR Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA-GA Posts: 25,930	Don't leave the cbo stepping out of any CPU you may be thinking of buying. Reason being many cbo steppings are faster and use less voltage then many cco CPUs. especially when overclocking! I had a 700 cbo that was a better overclocker then some 700 ccos also I just returned to Intel a defective 866eb cco. They, Intel sent me back a cbo instead of a cco. Before the cco went bad, I run it @ 155 fsb, Vcore @ 185, now this 866 cbo will run @ Vcore 175 same FSB 155. Now which is the better? [Edited by Skull on 02-17-2001 at 02:12 PM] __________________ .....................................................................................................................
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