QPI Unlocked on recent Intel Core i7 920 and 940 CPUs

jmke · 6th March 2009, 17:08

One other known fact is that you cannot set the Turbo Mode ratios on the 940 and 920. OK fine. But what else is different? Intel told us as recently as two months ago that the QPI was locked at 4.8GT/s to prevent you from running it at the Extreme’s 6.4GT/s speed. Memory ratios, however, are supposed to be unlocked.

But maybe not.

After talking with Intel as well as some back channel contacts we had, we learned that the memory multipliers on production CPUs are unlocked. The reason our CPUs had locked multipliers, we were told by Intel, was because they are engineering sample chips. Engineering sample parts are pre-production CPUs provided to the media, OEMs, motherboard makers and various other hardware vendors to test and bring up components. These CPUs, we were told, are locked.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea... ally_reported

6th March 2009, 19:19

This is only just now becoming news?

jmke · 6th March 2009, 21:10

this has been a known fact for long?

6th March 2009, 21:43

Should've been noticed quickly after sites began buying their own CPUs, not almost six months later!

Had noticed the discrepancy between users and site reviews, but as I don't own a Core i7 I assumed the sites were correct and forum users were wrong.

jmke · 7th March 2009, 08:37

turned out both were right though

Massman used the 965 for his testing so impossible to notice there

6th March 2009, 17:08	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,013	QPI Unlocked on recent Intel Core i7 920 and 940 CPUs One other known fact is that you cannot set the Turbo Mode ratios on the 940 and 920. OK fine. But what else is different? Intel told us as recently as two months ago that the QPI was locked at 4.8GT/s to prevent you from running it at the Extreme’s 6.4GT/s speed. Memory ratios, however, are supposed to be unlocked. But maybe not. After talking with Intel as well as some back channel contacts we had, we learned that the memory multipliers on production CPUs are unlocked. The reason our CPUs had locked multipliers, we were told by Intel, was because they are engineering sample chips. Engineering sample parts are pre-production CPUs provided to the media, OEMs, motherboard makers and various other hardware vendors to test and bring up components. These CPUs, we were told, are locked. http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea... ally_reported __________________

6th March 2009, 21:10	#3
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,013	this has been a known fact for long? __________________

7th March 2009, 08:37	#5
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,013	turned out both were right though Massman used the 965 for his testing so impossible to notice there __________________

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6th March 2009, 19:19	#2
Kougar Posts: n/a	This is only just now becoming news?

6th March 2009, 21:43	#4
Kougar Posts: n/a	Should've been noticed quickly after sites began buying their own CPUs, not almost six months later! Had noticed the discrepancy between users and site reviews, but as I don't own a Core i7 I assumed the sites were correct and forum users were wrong.