Odds of Getting D0 Stepping for Intel Core i7

[PowerEngineer]

Several years since my original "build", and now I'm trying to catch up with current technology for a new "build".

I'm leaning hard toward a Core i7, and understand that the D0 stepping is the one to have. I see there are several sites (like TankGuys) that specifically advertise the D0 stepping, while many others (like Newegg) do not.

It makes me wonder just how many i7's with C0 stepping are still being sold. Is Intel still manufacturing i7's with the C0 stepping? If not, then how long before the inventories of C0's are exhausted (and replaced by D0's)?

Sorry if these are noob questions...

 

[Rubycon]

W3520 guarantees D0 equivalent of 920. Some motherboards like ASUS don't have all bios features for overclocking (i.e. uncore) but do work nicely.

 

[Olivas]

Have any stores in your area you could go into to verify stepping (ie Fry's Electronics, Microcenter....)?

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
W3520 guarantees D0 equivalent of 920. Some motherboards like ASUS don't have all bios features for overclocking (i.e. uncore) but do work nicely.

Yikes! I had no idea that the W3520 was virtually(?) identical. If I understand correctly, the only meaningful difference is that the W3520 supports ECC memory but can use non-ECC as well. Do you put much credence in the "higher bin" argument making these better? Looks like only a $30 premium at Newegg.

I also gather that some of the overclocking options might not be available for the W3520. What's less clear to me is whether or not this is a motherboard BIOS issue or a real difference between the chips. I have read some posts that report overclocks of up to 4 Ghz. Are there many people here that have overclocked the W3520?

I have to admit that it seems like a temptation that a novice like myself should resist. But will I? More advice always welecome!



Yes, there's a Fry's near me (Portland area). But $330 seems a little steep to me. I certainly wish there was a MicroCenter nearby. $199 would be really sweet!

 

[Rubycon]

4GHz at 1.1 volts, 4.33GHz at 1.275V everyday use, 76C full load (linpack) with Megahalems 22C ambient, 2X 1800RPM Gentle Typhoon push pull. (decently quiet) That was the best out of four chips and even the "worst" one needed 1.25V for 4.1 GHz. :Q They were purchased back in May from Provantage for $277 each when people were paying the Tank Guy $319 for guaranteed D0 920. Not bad at all.

I've heard people paying $1k for 975's and ebaying them and going back to their 3520 or 920D0. :laugh:

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
4GHz at 1.1 volts, 4.33GHz at 1.275V everyday use, 76C full load (linpack) with Megahalems 22C ambient, 2X 1800RPM Gentle Typhoon push pull. (decently quiet) That was the best out of four chips and even the "worst" one needed 1.25V for 4.1 GHz. :Q They were purchased back in May from Provantage for $277 each when people were paying the Tank Guy $319 for guaranteed D0 920. Not bad at all.

I've heard people paying $1k for 975's and ebaying them and going back to their 3520 or 920D0. :laugh:

I am rather impressed with the results. I have a D0 and hitting 4Ghz has not been a problem, however, I also have it set to 1.33v. I would be interested to know some of the settings used so I can try and replicate. I know every chip is different anyway, but since I basically only adjusted 4 basic settings in the BIOS, I am sure there are other tweaks that I know nothing of.

OP - I picked up my Core i7 920 from Microcenter in Minneapolis. I didn't even care whether I got a C0 or a D0, but ended up with a D0 anyway.

 

[topjimmy]

I just bought one from Micro Center in Mayfield, Oh. Had the 'SLBEJ' code on the box.

$199 great deal.

Later
JimC

 

[Axon]

Got my i7 at Microcenter. The kid there knew to bring me a D0 stepping...but also said he hadn't seen a C0 stepping for some time.

Keep in mind that this was a 17 year-old at the Paterson, New Jersey Microcenter - not the VP of Product at Intel.

 

[Rubycon]

No special settings used. EVGA Classified 759 (the hotter than hell NF200 version!), Asus P6T6 Revolution and P6T7 Supercomputer motherboards.

Never set VCORE to auto because it will always be more than needed. 206x21 (turbo gives +1 to multi) for 4333. Memory runs at 1650 8-8-8-24-1T Corsair Dominator. (not GT) 6x2GB. Surprised it did 1T with all six slots filled. Definitely a stable platform but needs to breathe or else!

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
W3520 guarantees D0 equivalent of 920. Some motherboards like ASUS don't have all bios features for overclocking (i.e. uncore) but do work nicely.

My R2E had a BIOS Rev that supports my W3520

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: Rubycon
W3520 guarantees D0 equivalent of 920. Some motherboards like ASUS don't have all bios features for overclocking (i.e. uncore) but do work nicely.

My R2E had a BIOS Rev that supports my W3520

That's the only one that does, however. Granted you can definitely use that chip in any X58 board. Asus also needs an option to disable turbo throttle as well.

 

[PowerEngineer]

First, thanks for putting me on to the W3520. I am now thinking that this is the way to go.

While not officially supported by any X58 boards that I can find, it seems that the W3520 works in many of them. Recent BIOS versions are helping to eliminate the limitations on overclocking tools for the W3520. Some suggest that Gigabyte might be ahead of others in this regard. If so, then maybe I'm back to the GA-EX58-UD3R.

That board and a W3520 would run me $495 at Newegg.

Thoughts?

 

[Rubycon]

No experience with the Gigabyte boards so I cannot comment good or bad. It's very frustrating to me that Asus and EVGA both have Realtek LAN adapters on their boards though. :|

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
No special settings used. EVGA Classified 759 (the hotter than hell NF200 version!), Asus P6T6 Revolution and P6T7 Supercomputer motherboards.

Never set VCORE to auto because it will always be more than needed. 206x21 (turbo gives +1 to multi) for 4333. Memory runs at 1650 8-8-8-24-1T Corsair Dominator. (not GT) 6x2GB. Surprised it did 1T with all six slots filled. Definitely a stable platform but needs to breathe or else!

Thanks for the information. I found that auto sets it way to high only if 'turbo' is enabled. If I disable turbo, the auto vcore is very reasonable. But, I am not one to use auto anyway except for testing purposes.

I am also surprised you were able to get 1T with all 6 DIMMS filled. This must have required a voltage greater than 1.66 ?

 

[Rubycon]

Nope, VDIMM of 1.6 works but would occasionally BSOD on Linpack (full mem) after the 30th pass or so. Set it at 1.64V and no problems at all.