What's an Intel "Confidential" processor?

[Kwad Guy]

I just got a few Intel Xeon PIII 500Mhz/512Kb processors.
These are marked on the casing as "Intel Confidential".
What does this mean? Are they samples used for testing
before the commercial run or something else?

The speed of the processors does not appear on the casing,
only on a sticker attached to the casing. I guess this
must be typical. Are there any positives/negatives to
Intel Confidential processors?

Thanks,

Kwad

 

[hifimaster]

Is it locked at 5x?

 

[Shooters]

I believe the "confidential" processors are not multiplier locked. Other than that I believe they are the exact same.

 

[Kwad Guy]

Not multiplier locked, eh? Hmmm...Not all that exciting for Xeons.
I mean, what Xeon motherboards are overclock friendly? The ones
I have (Cabrillio/Sitka/SC450NX) are Intel boards, and so, as
is Intel's wont, have no facility for ANY overclocking either
with respect to multiplier or FSB...

Kwad

 

[bacillus]

I believe that term is used for engineered samples which are not multiplier locked. use the intel cpu id tool from here to determine the default speed of the cpus! then try raising the multiplier on the m/board to see if it o/clocks!