How do I check stepping

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Can you put it in stupid-proof instructions?
Thanx in advance.

 

[myocardia]

The only way to check your stepping is with your eyes, after removing your heatsink. You can find out alot of things about your processor, motherboard, and RAM with CPU-Z, like what core and socket your processor is, along with the speed and timings of your RAM, and which chipset your motherboard uses.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Ugh, I was hoping there was another way. I really don't want to take my heatsink off. Is it okay if I take the heatsink off, look at the stepping, then put it back on without reapplying thermal paste?

 

[tersome]

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX
Ugh, I was hoping there was another way. I really don't want to take my heatsink off. Is it okay if I take the heatsink off, look at the stepping, then put it back on without reapplying thermal paste?

No. If you have an Intel processor, the stepping is usually printed on the retail box.

 

[GundamSonicZeroX]

Originally posted by: tersome

Originally posted by: GundamSonicZeroX
Ugh, I was hoping there was another way. I really don't want to take my heatsink off. Is it okay if I take the heatsink off, look at the stepping, then put it back on without reapplying thermal paste?

No. If you have an Intel processor, the stepping is usually printed on the retail box.

Great, now I have to reapply the thermal paste. Crap.
BTW, it's an Opty 165.

 

[pm]

CPU-Z and other programs that use the CPUID command to read the fused values from the CPU, will tell you the stepping.

CPU-Z: http://www.cpuid.com/ (midway down the page)
WCPUID: http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374

If you want to know the SSPEC number, the week of manufacture, or the assembly plant, you need to look at the CPU box or the top of the CPU.

 

[txtmstrjoe]

No other way other than to remove your HSF, clean off the TIM, then have a look.

No software will tell you your stepping code, unfortunately.

 

[pm]

Ok, I am confused. Are you guys joking, or is this something specific to an AMD microprocessor? -I don't have much experience with the specifics of AMD CPU's.

From the CPU-Z webpage:

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.
CPU

* Name and number.
* Core stepping and process.
* Package.
* Core voltage.
* Internal and external clocks, clock multiplier.
* Supported instructions sets.
* Cache information.

Bold emphasis added by me. Why do so many replies say that it's not possible to read the stepping? There's a specific assembly instruction (CPUID) which does exactly this. It's not hard at all to read the stepping via software.

 

[txtmstrjoe]

Originally posted by: pm
Ok, I am confused. Are you guys joking, or is this something specific to an AMD microprocessor? -I don't have much experience with the specifics of AMD CPU's.

From the CPU-Z webpage:

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system.
CPU

* Name and number.
* Core stepping and process.
* Package.
* Core voltage.
* Internal and external clocks, clock multiplier.
* Supported instructions sets.
* Cache information.

Bold emphasis added by me. Why do so many replies say that it's not possible to read the stepping? There's a specific assembly instruction (CPUID) which does exactly this. It's not hard at all to read the stepping via software.

Buddy, no joke.

The "core stepping and process" info that CPU-Z provides is general information, and most likely not the detailed and specific info that the original poster was looking for.

To wit, look at this. In the context of most overclocking discussions, when one asks for a CPU's stepping, we're dealing with a code that specifies, among other things, IMC version and manufacturing batch dates. According to statistics gathered by some, certain IMCs (and therefore CPUs of particular steppings) have more potential for high clocks than others.

So, to answer the original poster, there's no software that will tell you what stepping you've got, if you're looking for any sort of indication of your chip's overclocking potential.