Machine Polished CPUs? (i7-975 Extreme Edition)

[ing0c0]

I apologize in advance if this is in the wrong topic. Please move this thread to the right section if this is in the wrong one.

I am considering buying a used i7-975 Extreme Edition from someone, however, a couple of flags have been raised which I need some advice in. I would obviously like to determine on spot if in fact the processor is an i7-975. Just by looking at it, the etching on the thermal heat spread should be enough, but unfortunately the seller said that he had the processor machine polished so the etching is no longer there. From my experience, I have never seen and/or heard of the CPU being machined polished but rather the heat sink. The logic behind it makes complete sense, but I never seen this done before (maybe I'm just being ignorant). I've done some searching and have not come up with many results other than machine polishing the heat sink as mentioned. First off, should I be worried at all about the CPU being machined polished (I assume there should be no problem as long as it works)? Most important, is there another way I can verify if in fact the processor is an i7-975 just by looking at it?

Another route via software I could take is to use CPU-Z, but that is only assuming it's already running. Is there anything else I can do software or hardware to verify what processor it is? Thanks in advanced.

 

[JFAMD]

I have a rolex that I would like to sell you. But when I was cleaning it, I accidentally rubbed the "rolex" off, but trust me, it is.

My guess is that this is a pre-production engineering part. I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.

 

[ing0c0]

I have a rolex that I would like to sell you. But when I was cleaning it, I accidentally rubbed the "rolex" off, but trust me, it is.

My guess is that this is a pre-production engineering part. I wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole.

Well the reason that it was machine polished is "to obtain maximum thermal contact for overclocking." Which to me is understandable or should it not be?

Is there a reason why you would guess it is a pre-production engineering part and why I should avoid it? Thanks.

 

[Borealis7]

lapping a CPU isn't unheard-of. and don't settle for a pic of CPU-Z that could be falsified.

 

[ing0c0]

lapping a CPU isn't unheard-of. and don't settle for a pic of CPU-Z that could be falsified.

What I meant was to run CPU-Z on a test bench with the processor in it and in my presence.

 

[Keysplayr]

BIOS doesn't lie. That will tell you what the CPU is.

 

[ing0c0]

BIOS doesn't lie. That will tell you what the CPU is.

Very true. Did not think about that one. Thanks!

 

[Idontcare]

Lapping both surfaces that comprise the heat transfer interface between the CPU's IHS and HSF is not uncommon, in fact it is preferred if maximum thermal conductivity is desired.

OP be happy it is already lapped (less hassle for you), but yes you must go to extra efforts to verify the chip truly is i7 975 D0 (not ES) by checking the BIOS and CPU-z screen with you watching/running it yourself).

One thing you'll never be able to ascertain/verify though is the history of possible excessive abuses (voltage and temps) the chip might have experienced in the hands of its current and past owners...all of which could lower max attainable overclock now as well as its lifespan.

If someone went to the expense of procuring an i7 975, the efforts of getting it machine polished, chances are pretty high they went for some suicide runs. The fact they want to unload the chip now is certainly a "flag"...up to you and your comfort levels as to whether or not you view that flag as a red one or merely a yellow one.

 

[Rubycon]

Lapping both surfaces that comprise the heat transfer interface between the CPU's IHS and HSF is not uncommon, in fact it is preferred if maximum thermal conductivity is desired.

OP be happy it is already lapped (less hassle for you), but yes you must go to extra efforts to verify the chip truly is i7 975 D0 (not ES) by checking the BIOS and CPU-z screen with you watching/running it yourself).

One thing you'll never be able to ascertain/verify though is the history of possible excessive abuses (voltage and temps) the chip might have experienced in the hands of its current and past owners...all of which could lower max attainable overclock now as well as its lifespan.

If someone went to the expense of procuring an i7 975, the efforts of getting it machine polished, chances are pretty high they went for some suicide runs. The fact they want to unload the chip now is certainly a "flag"...up to you and your comfort levels as to whether or not you view that flag as a red one or merely a yellow one.

This pretty much sums it up. I would not part with my top 3520 for many times what it cost. If someone is giving up a cpu it either overclocks like a dog or they degraded it and don't want it any more.

 

[piasabird]

Polishing creates heat maybe it is already burned up.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would not buy anything electronic 2nd hand. You can't trust anyone these days. This particular situation sounds quite fishy as well.

 

[aigomorla]

From my experience, I have never seen and/or heard of the CPU being machined polished but rather the heat sink.

it was very common on the LGA775 when IHS were not flat.

The i7's they fixed the IHS, so i havent seen a bad IHS even on ES chips.

But its called Lapping. We dont use polish, or any coat, because it interferes with thermal transfer.

The easiest way is to put the cpu in the machine and see what it says at post.
If you still cant figure it out that way, then you just need to run a program called cpu-z.

That will tell you if u have a 975 or not.
As you can see mine says ES, yours however shouldn't.
Unless the seller said it was an ES.

If you have intel's 2D Matrix reader, and code sheet, you could scan it that way.
But unless you work for intel, there is no way in hell your getting that.

 

[RiDE]

Why would you do something like that if you're going to sell it later? Resale value down the sh*tter...

 

[nyker96]

I think for someone to not want to keep i7 975 is very suspicious, it is afterall the fastest on the market right now. especially only people who want to keep it for a long time will lap the cpu or those who are going for very high OC setting only for a few minutes well in that case I think the life span of this cpu is probably numbered. this is suspicous deal, I'd if you can indeed afford one, just get a retail. peace of mind and 3 year warranty.

 

[aigomorla]

Why would you do something like that if you're going to sell it later? Resale value down the sh*tter...

i bet you my 975 will fetch more then a brand new inbox retail cpu.

Only because she does 4.4 @ 1.3vcore /w HT ON in her sleep.

However since its an ES i will never sell it.

Lapped processors tend to sell better if it OC's better. Thats why we lap it.
When i used to give out my old LGA775 processors, everyone asked me to lap it b4 i mailed it out.

I always offer the option to buyer, and they always seem to take it.

 

[ing0c0]

As you can see mine says ES, yours however shouldn't.
Unless the seller said it was an ES.

Thanks for all the advice. The seller didn't directly state if the chip was an ES or not, but I believe it is. If in fact it is an ES, is there anything I should be worried about? I understand that there is a probability that the owner may have had some suicide runs on it which would hinder my ability to OC it or even damage the chip, but what if I were to keep the chip completely stock? Also, if the seller agrees to run the CPU and it is an ES, does the BIOS also state that it is an ES (as you can see in CPU-Z)? Are there any "tests" that I should run to make sure that the chip is in good running condition or is booting with the chip good enough? Thanks.

 

[aigomorla]

bios should say its an i7 975 @ 3.330ghz

How big of a price difference we talking about on the 975 ES vs retail?

You are aware gulftown is coming soon, if your gonna invest that much in a processor, id say wait for gulftown, and see if the lower models are bitable for you.

It should almost be at par.

 

[ing0c0]

However since its an ES i will never sell it.

Are you saying that ES ships should sell for more than retail if and only if they are stable at higher clock rates? What exactly is the significance of ES chips? I've read that it's because they have unlocked multipliers, but for a chip like the i7-975 the multiplier is already unlocked so would there be anymore significance in it being an ES chip?

 

[ing0c0]

This is a message I got from a different person selling an ES i7-975:

"The ES cpu that I am selling does have an advantage when it comes to speed and overclocking. I bought this CPU from a guy that works for popular computer review website. With that said, Intel releases a few ES CPU's to select review sites before the product is release so that they can review them for PR reasons. Therefore, Intel hand select these ES CPU's from the best yield batches with the best speed and overclocking capabilities. They then verify this and test them before sending them out. They do not want to give sub par CPU's to reviewers and risk getting bad reviews. This is the advantage. You are getting a high quality CPU that has been tested by Intel and of course the multiplier is guaranteed to be unlocked. Thank you."

Can anyone verify this or add additional comments? Thanks.

 

[aigomorla]

Meh..

No ES's should not sell for higher then retail, because there not intended for resale PERIOD.

And some ES's may clock great, but retails also clock great.

Put simply... retails are final revisions done on ES's meant for retail.
There are some sample ES's which are identical to retail, but retail is generally higher, because its meant for "retail".

And some people will pay top dollar for a gaurentee'd clock.

But you probably will never get there, because such clocks require insane cooling, like LN2.

My honestly advice, if your not getting it for 1/3rd retail price, wait on gulftown.
The guy is probably selling his cpu so he can get a ES gulftown on the black market.

And the unlocked multi for you doesnt apply because its a 975.
It better be unlocked ES or not, because all XE's are unlocked.

 

[Rubycon]

This is a message I got from a different person selling an ES i7-975:

"The ES cpu that I am selling does have an advantage when it comes to speed and overclocking. I bought this CPU from a guy that works for popular computer review website. With that said, Intel releases a few ES CPU's to select review sites before the product is release so that they can review them for PR reasons. Therefore, Intel hand select these ES CPU's from the best yield batches with the best speed and overclocking capabilities. They then verify this and test them before sending them out. They do not want to give sub par CPU's to reviewers and risk getting bad reviews. This is the advantage. You are getting a high quality CPU that has been tested by Intel and of course the multiplier is guaranteed to be unlocked. Thank you."

Can anyone verify this or add additional comments? Thanks.

ALL 975's are unlocked not just engineering samples.

 

[Idontcare]

This is a message I got from a different person selling an ES i7-975:

"The ES cpu that I am selling does have an advantage when it comes to speed and overclocking. I bought this CPU from a guy that works for popular computer review website. With that said, Intel releases a few ES CPU's to select review sites before the product is release so that they can review them for PR reasons. Therefore, Intel hand select these ES CPU's from the best yield batches with the best speed and overclocking capabilities. They then verify this and test them before sending them out. They do not want to give sub par CPU's to reviewers and risk getting bad reviews. This is the advantage. You are getting a high quality CPU that has been tested by Intel and of course the multiplier is guaranteed to be unlocked. Thank you."

Can anyone verify this or add additional comments? Thanks.

I don't know if any review sites that post final reviews based on ES results. They might post "preview" benchmarks with ES chips but they will invariably come back and use a retail chip to actually generate the "review".

In part because it is unethical to pass off the results of special cherry-picked parts as if they are representative of what the readers are going to go and buy after reading the review.

ES chips exist pretty much solely for reliability and testing, as well as platform development and debug. It is also illegal to sell them as Intel never sells them in the first place, all ES chips are property of Intel on loan to their various platform development partners. (like ASUS, Supermicro, etc)

Now that you know it is an ES, regardless whether or not the "seller" has any legitimate claims as to why it should be viewed as superior to a retail chip you now know the seller is trying to sell you something they don't technically own (even if they thought they purchased it legitimately from someone else, buying a stolen car doesn't make it not stolen any more).

I wouldn't touch it.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I second aigomorla's feelings (though I sadly don't have ES chips to play with like he does... and he doesn't share his Skittles... and he throws sand at other kids... and... and... ).

If you're getting the chip for quite a bit less than a retail i7 975, go for it. If you're paying the same price OR MORE, I'd pass, unless you just want the bragging rights to say you own an ES chip (which no one will care about in a year or two anyway, right?)

 

[Rubycon]

Try to find a 3848A352 batch W3520. 4.5GHz 1.3V Linpack stable on AIR! (Megahalems w/ two 1800RPM Gentle Typhoons push pull - QUIET, COOL, and LESS FILLING!)

I guess they sand off the IHS so one cannot see the numbers on the chip. Is there a utility that can show a serial number to tell WHO did the dastardly deed?

 

[ing0c0]

ALL 975's are unlocked not just engineering samples.

That's what I originally thought, but I asked to be sure and this is what I got back:

"The extreme edition does not guarantee that the multiplier is unlocked. Some extreme edition cpu's does not have the multiplier unlocked. I am not sure why Intel does this, but they do not advertise that the multiplier is unlocked on their extreme edition cpu's. Maybe due to different batches, yields etc, and they do not want to guarantee it if you overclock it?"