Quick question about Engineering Sample CPU's...

[RedBeard]

I won an auction on eBay for a Merom T7300. When I get it, it turns out to be a ES or engineering sample.

Do I care? What does the ES version do for me?
Right now it is going to be used on a Gateway FX laptop.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

The T7300 has been out for a while, right? I don't think it makes a difference.

 

[tenax]

it may mean it's a cherry picked processor given to a reviewer to test and write up in which case you may get one of the "picks of the litter". on the other hand, ES chips can have the crap beaten out of them with some hard testing having happened with them. most importantly, no warranty on ES chips.

 

[RedBeard]

Ahh okay thanks alot. I purchased it used, so the warranty really doesn't bother me.

 

[tenax]

join the club i knew what i was getting into when i bought an unwarrantied chip

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: tenax
it may mean it's a cherry picked processor given to a reviewer to test and write up in which case you may get one of the "picks of the litter". on the other hand, ES chips can have the crap beaten out of them with some hard testing having happened with them. most importantly, no warranty on ES chips.

Usually it's not. It CAN be, but usually it's just one of the prototypes Intel uses for In-House testing, but it can be one from a reviewer. Depends on where it comes from.

 

[tenax]

i agree with that..and that's where hard testing comes in as well. i've seen a few pictures of ES chips that look like someone drove a truck repeatedly over them..(but didn't ..not quite sure who did what to them) mine looked minty new when i got it, aside from someone marking that it was a q9450 penryn on it with black marker.

 

[lenjack]

I read somewhere, that es cpus sometimes do not have full functionality.

 

[tenax]

can be true..but from my experience with 3 different ones, it's more likely going to be an issue of running into errata that will be fixed in newer steppings...i.e. my 9450 quad core has completely stuck temp sensors (rev b1)

 

[T2k]

All ES I had 'til date in my life came with unlocked multipliers - that's why I bought them.

 

[dmens]

Originally posted by: lenjack
I read somewhere, that es cpus sometimes do not have full functionality.

Depends what stepping it is.

In op's example, the earliest production for merom is a B2 (I think). If he got a B0/B1, there might be some extra errata not covered in the official datasheets. If he got an A-step, well, LOL good luck.

IMO it is better to avoid ES that are not production stepping because there's a chance you might be SOL if you have problems with a particular application.

 

[RedBeard]

How can I check the stepping? This is what was on the CPU:
LF80537
C652BD65 QXJL ES
2L6518290 0047
There was also some marker on it that I didn't record before I installed it. I wan to make sure I didn't get a problem processor.

 

[nevbie]

A program called "CPU-Z" often tells what the stepping is.

http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: T2k
All ES I had 'til date in my life came with unlocked multipliers - that's why I bought them.

then you havent gotten a new ES after the E6600 refresh.

After that even ES's come locked.

 

[T2k]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: T2k
All ES I had 'til date in my life came with unlocked multipliers - that's why I bought them.

then you havent gotten a new ES after the E6600 refresh.

After that even ES's come locked.

Yep, you're right on, I haven't bought ES for years now so I don't know what's up nowadays.