Intel plans to deliberately limit Sandy Bridge overclocking

jmke · 23rd July 2010, 22:57

Information provided by Intel in its own presentations about its upcoming mainstream LGA1155 Sandy Bridge CPUs appears to confirm the company has designed the CPUs to deliberately limit overclocking.

A video leaked to HKEPC and posted on YouTube (see from 2mins onwards) confirms the fact that only a 2-3 per cent OC via Base Clock adjustments will be possible. This is because Intel has tied the speed of every bus (USB, SATA, PCI, PCI-E, CPU cores, Uncore, memory etc) to a single internal clock generator issuing the basic 100MHz Base Clock.

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardwar...overclocking/1

jmke · 23rd July 2010, 22:57

ah, back to 1997

Gamer · 24th July 2010, 20:26

Maybe we can unlock it with a iron wire ?

Stefan Mileschin · 25th July 2010, 15:56

Don't think it would be that easy; this way, Intel is going to push enthusiasts to buy expensive multiplier-unlocked versions

27th July 2010, 04:30

If the problem is simply there is a master clock signal, it doesn't seem like it would be impossible to intercept the clock signal to the CPU with a second clock gen+controll chip integrated into the mainboard, and run that one off a ratio to the master clock generator allowing the CPU to be controlled?

Better question, there are two types of Sandy Bridge sockets, and hence two different types of chipset platforms. Instead of 1156/1366 it will be 1155/2011 sockets/platforms. No one has confirmed this affects SandyBridge B2 (Socket R) or matching chipset.

Socket R SB chips retain the QPI link, therefore I suspect it will overclock just like current 1366 chips do.

Stefan Mileschin · 27th July 2010, 06:27

Dr. Who from Xtremesystems (Francois) has confirmed that this rumor of CPUs not being overclockable is completely untrue.

27th July 2010, 14:26

Even if it were true, most motherboard manufacturers would still use two different clock generators for OC minded products.

23rd July 2010, 22:57	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	Intel plans to deliberately limit Sandy Bridge overclocking Information provided by Intel in its own presentations about its upcoming mainstream LGA1155 Sandy Bridge CPUs appears to confirm the company has designed the CPUs to deliberately limit overclocking. A video leaked to HKEPC and posted on YouTube (see from 2mins onwards) confirms the fact that only a 2-3 per cent OC via Base Clock adjustments will be possible. This is because Intel has tied the speed of every bus (USB, SATA, PCI, PCI-E, CPU cores, Uncore, memory etc) to a single internal clock generator issuing the basic 100MHz Base Clock. http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardwar...overclocking/1 __________________

23rd July 2010, 22:57	#2
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	ah, back to 1997 __________________

24th July 2010, 20:26	#3
Gamer [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,587	Maybe we can unlock it with a iron wire ? __________________

27th July 2010, 04:30	#5
Kougar Posts: n/a	If the problem is simply there is a master clock signal, it doesn't seem like it would be impossible to intercept the clock signal to the CPU with a second clock gen+controll chip integrated into the mainboard, and run that one off a ratio to the master clock generator allowing the CPU to be controlled? Better question, there are two types of Sandy Bridge sockets, and hence two different types of chipset platforms. Instead of 1156/1366 it will be 1155/2011 sockets/platforms. No one has confirmed this affects SandyBridge B2 (Socket R) or matching chipset. Socket R SB chips retain the QPI link, therefore I suspect it will overclock just like current 1366 chips do. Last edited by Kougar : 27th July 2010 at 04:36.

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25th July 2010, 15:56	#4
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 148,442	Don't think it would be that easy; this way, Intel is going to push enthusiasts to buy expensive multiplier-unlocked versions

27th July 2010, 06:27	#6
Stefan Mileschin [M] Reviewer Join Date: May 2010 Location: Romania Posts: 148,442	Dr. Who from Xtremesystems (Francois) has confirmed that this rumor of CPUs not being overclockable is completely untrue.

27th July 2010, 14:26	#7
wutske Posts: n/a	Even if it were true, most motherboard manufacturers would still use two different clock generators for OC minded products.