SB-E C2 stepping on Jan. 20th (Rumor)

[Vesku]

Denying they had it up on ARK, low blow. Granted perhaps your level of support contact had no idea about what was going on with ARK listings. But then to say you can RMA but might get a C1 again...

 

[aigomorla]

Dear Intel i want a better overclocking VT-D enabled stepping so please take my RMA.


LuLz... they are gonna tell you... show proof its not working.. then they will RMA.

i doubt u guys are gonna be able to RMA. The only way is if they did a recall, which i dont see or hear of one.

This is part of the price of being a early adopter, ive had my share of this plenty of times...

My sponsor would send me something.. then 2 weeks later tell me to send it back to him because he got a new stepping, then another 2 weeks later have me send that again back for something else... lulz... memories...

anyhow u overclocking junkies.. typically if it overclocks better, it means they did a thermal improvement.. or lowered the TDP on the new stepping.
Unless u guys hear about that, i wouldnt hold your breathe too much on it being a better overclocker.

And this reminds of back when intel released the i7 920.
How many people do you think were pissed only to realize 3 months later the D0 920 came out which did show a massive improvement in overclocking + thermal values.

 

[Grooveriding]

Well I'm already over the hurdle of getting the RMA. I've been told I can have one. Now it's getting the new stepping.

Missing feature is missing!

 

[Vesku]

Missing an advertised feature on a retail product is in a different category then getting engineering samples and benchmarking gear given to you that has errata or missing functionality.

They could have just been up front about VT-d needing a new stepping but instead they sandbagged and quietly removed it from the specifications. My guess is they didn't want to have to issue a statement about it so close to launch date, is this fallout for them having to spend so much money on the P67 sata issue?

Grooveriding, did the packaging/warranty manual mention VT-d at all?

 

[Grooveriding]

Grooveriding, did the packaging/warranty manual mention VT-d at all?

I'm not sure. I'll have to dig the box out. All that comes with the chip is the box and a small booklet. It may be in the booklet.

I received a response back from Intel after I pointed out the changes made to the 3930K's spec page. They are forwarding my inquiry on to the engineers to get a concrete response on if Vt-d is supported at the hardware level on a C1 SB-E.

 

[JoJoman88]

Ha, looks like Intel has been caught with their pants down again. If you bitch enough they might RMA a working chip,how nice! I will not press this because i will not use VT-d myself but i fully understand why someone would.

 

[Vesku]

Any update on this? I think it will definitely be a concern for some people running these 6 core chips. With the 2500K there was the 'only 4 cores' and 'mainly a desktop gaming chip' to mitigate lack of virtualization features, but the SB-E series is a workstation level component.

 

[aigomorla]

Any update on this? I think it will definitely be a concern for some people running these 6 core chips. With the 2500K there was the 'only 4 cores' and 'mainly a desktop gaming chip' to mitigate lack of virtualization features, but the SB-E series is a workstation level component.

the real question is do the Xeon line lack this feature?

Workstation falls under the Xeon line...

If the Xeon line also lacks this feature and is going to undergo the same change, which im not sure of because it lists the cpu's which are outside the xeon line, then possibly.

If the Xeon cpu's do have this feature then it was intel's way of having u pay more for the VT, and then realizing they wanted to play the good shepard by giving it to you guys in the non xeon line.

 

[Edrick]

the real question is do the Xeon line lack this feature?

No, it was stated that the Xeon line is being held back until C2 stepping is available. Hence why the Xeon line has yet to be released.

 

[aigomorla]

No, it was stated that the Xeon line is being held back until C2 stepping is available. Hence why the Xeon line has yet to be released.

then i have a bad feeling about you guys and RMA...

it may not have been a feature available for you guys period.

ie.. the W series and the i7 series had a different IMC despite how similar the cpu's were.

 

[Diogenes2]

Obviously, it wasn't available due to errata.; but was listed as a feature before they altered their documents, and it will it be available on the 3930K and 3960X with the C2 stepping ..

It's interesting that major retailers don't have 3930k anymore..
Why such a limited supply so soon after launch ?

 

[Idontcare]

Why such a limited supply so soon after launch ?

If you are pro-Intel, the guidebook says you are to conclude "because demand went to 11, dude, and enthusiasts just can't get themselves enough! Intel should have raised prices, but they love their customers and refused to take a dime more than they absolutely had to in order to pay their electric bill in Oregon".

If you are anti-Intel, the guidebook says you are to conclude "because supply went into the crapper, prolly yield issues, due to management no less, and marketing, definitely marketing got involved somehow and told the engineers to do this so they could mindf*ck the shareholders and AMD (cuz they can)".

The truth is, well you probably don't have security clearance to access that info, NSA and ATF jurisdiction. Sorry You'll just have to go with door 1 or 2 from above :|

 

[Vesku]

I would have gone with "Intel is transitioning to C2 stepping so C1 stepping production is low or stopped" but then again I'm not with the NSA, ATF, nor MLB.

 

[Grooveriding]

then i have a bad feeling about you guys and RMA...

it may not have been a feature available for you guys period.

ie.. the W series and the i7 series had a different IMC despite how similar the cpu's were.

You keep overlooking the fact that they listed vt-d support for 3930k/3960x on the specs page for both chips, and just recently changed it. They advertised the feature as available only to revise it after the fact. As well they said the bios update will enable support on C1, but it is still not clear if it does, and if so, it is not hardware accellerated. Basically the whole situation amounts to a bait and switch.

They've already approved me for an rma based on my reason of request. The issue now is they're telling me there is not a process in place to rma for a specific stepping. I'm rather confident with some more firm escalation I will get the C2 stepping, or simply follow up regularly inquiring as to the current stepping being pulled for RMAs and once they have C2, rma at that point.

 

[aigomorla]

You keep overlooking the fact that they listed vt-d support for 3930k/3960x on the specs page for both chips, and just recently changed it.

and it says info may or may not be accurate on the intel website.

What does it say in the informational booklet that came with your processor?

Does it say it support VT-D on the hard written paper?
You cant use a website to lay this claim, because once again, the information on intel's website may or may not be wrong.

 

[Diogenes2]

You seem to be overlooking that they announced that C2 will correct the problem ..

How can they correct a problem that didn't exist ?

 

[Grooveriding]

and it says info may or may not be accurate on the intel website.

What does it say in the informational booklet that came with your processor?

Does it say it support VT-D on the hard written paper?
You cant use a website to lay this claim, because once again, the information on intel's website may or may not be wrong.

This is not really where you would source your information though. The small booklet included with processors lists a few bullet points and then warranty information. It does not give a listing of the features you are receiving with your processor, nor does the box. The booklet with the 3930K has a page that say hyper-threading and another that says turbo-mode. The rest is warranty information, how to install the processor and then repeated in multiple languages.

I can see how you are looking on this. I think it should be of some note that Intel support had been saying all along to myself and other people pursuing this issue that the Vt-d support is there. Now there is movement on that position and they have gone so far as to approve me for an RMA. I think they are aware there was miscommunication but do not want to give a solid concrete answer.

There are threads at the evga, overclockers.net and asus rog forums of people who are pursuing RMAs for the exact same grounds. Some are saying they are not having success, others are. I for one have been approved.

I think Intel knows there is something to this, but are just going to take it on the basis of as they are approached by end-users rather than make a hullabaloo about it.

 

[Edrick]

http://www.dvhardware.net/article52906.html

A few weeks later than first thought, but they are finally here.

 

[exar333]

Any other changes outside of the VT-D support?

 

[Edrick]

Any other changes outside of the VT-D support?

Nothing reported. But a new stepping may mean different OC results. Have to wait and see.

 

[Grooveriding]

Nothing reported. But a new stepping may mean different OC results. Have to wait and see.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?278569-3930K-new-stepping/page4&

C2 3930K here. Source of this guy's chip is a little cherry though imo, his chip is an ES

That said those are the best settings I have seen for a SB-E running 5ghz. Before this on C1 chips, the best I have seen is a 3960X doing 5 @ 1.45. Intel gave me an RMA for C2 as well, a pity, I voided my standard warranty already. I have a PTPP though, maybe a few high voltage runs at some point will nuke this puppy and I will RMA...

 

[MisterMac]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?278569-3930K-new-stepping/page4&

C2 3930K here. Source of this guy's chip is a little cherry though imo, his chip is an ES

That said those are the best settings I have seen for a SB-E running 5ghz. Before this on C1 chips, the best I have seen is a 3960X doing 5 @ 1.45. Intel gave me an RMA for C2 as well, a pity, I voided my standard warranty already. I have a PTPP though, maybe a few high voltage runs at some point will nuke this puppy and I will RMA...

Pretty darn awesome voltage.

Maybe C2 will be the G0 of the sandybridge generation.
Also found this in your thread.

This is why i love japan.
Where else are advertisements including the fukkin Revision?!

Western tech shops take note...

 

[jsedlak]

Cannot happen soon enough...

 

[dealcorn]

Out of curiosity, does your motherboard vendor has an updated bios that fixes the issue like Intel said. I do note that Asus Rampage-IV-Extreme BIOS v 1005 dated 2012.01.11 "Enable VT-d support for VT-d enabled processor."

 

[Grooveriding]

Out of curiosity, does your motherboard vendor has an updated bios that fixes the issue like Intel said. I do note that Asus Rampage-IV-Extreme BIOS v 1005 dated 2012.01.11 "Enable VT-d support for VT-d enabled processor."

It enables VT-d support on a C2 stepping chip. You just have to press Intel tech support long enough and they'll tell you the same.

What you get on a C1 is software emulated virtual IO support, not hardware accelerated. It's a feature of use to people who are running virtual machines on their system.

It wasn't something I myself had a great need for, although I have used virtual machines in the past, and might in the future. It was the principle of it for me and wanting to see if Intel would make good on giving me the option to RMA, which they did :thumbsup: