Why You Should AVOID Intel Core 2 Engineering Samples

[charge-n-go]

This is a very good write-up.

Anyway, AFAIK, ES units are not tested in validation lab. In fact, a randomly picked production units are tested as there is no point to test CPU which will not release to customers.

ES units are simply some beta units for Intel employees to play around and feedback when they found some serious issue. These units are actually new and not stressed in lab before. It is just that the CPU is subject to some known serious logic bugs (such as 1+1=3 instead of 1+1=2) where production unit might have solve this problem.


There is another comment on the C1E and speedstep:

In Intel power management, there are a few sleep states in Core 2 Duo - C0, C1, C2, C3 and C4. (C2 to C4 supported in merom core). C0 is the performance state, whereas C1 is the HALT state.
Tradisionally speedstep occurs in C0 state, where it dynamically changes the Multiplier and VID based on a pre-defined table inside the CPU. This is how the frequency and voltage changes according to CPU load.
In Pentium 4, the C1 state only calls the HALT instruction to stop the execution units and its pipeline. However, registers, external bus logic and cache are still working at full clock speed and Vcore. In order to bring down the leakage current and idle power, C1E is introduced by combining C-states and Speed Step. So during C1E, the execution pipeline is halted and the clock speed + voltage are throttled to the lowest possible value (6x multiplier with lowest supported Vcore).

[neverthar]

Thanks for the comments Yee Yong. That makes the C1e halt state easier to explain. Will add to the article later.

As for the validation lab part, I may be wrong about which lab, but such a practice did exist but I don't think so anymore since Intel got pretty strict about production floor security.

[charge-n-go]

You are welcome Eu Bian

Anway, I've just finished reading the power management article in digit-life and it is kind of misleading. It described the sleep state and thermal state very bluntly (even some are incorrect) and i suspect the author didnt really understand the key concept of Intel power management architecture well enough. If you have any doubts, just PM me here/LYN or send me an offline msg in yahoo

haha, is there a rating for your review? I wanted to give 5 stars

[peaz]

we haven't implemented rating system yet maybe you can help by 'digging' it. Haha

Cheers.

[neverthar]

LOL, ratings don't really matter. As long it provokes people to start thinking, questioning, and contributing, I've already achieved my initial goal TBH. I know I suck at EE stuff (You know what major I'm doing eh Chargey?) so if it does cause some positive outcome and we can further improve on the article, great for the consumer IMHO

[charge-n-go]

you are considered bloody darn good although u r not major in EE. So many major EE fellas can't even understand simple reviews in anand
yeah, we consumer should be more informed on all kind of products. Online review and forum is a great place to share these info out.

[charge-n-go]

In the Intel Core 2 Duo processor, there are a few sleep states - C0, C1, C2, C3 and C4. In contrast, the mobile version (Merom) supports C2 to C4. - in article

Core 2 Duo - C0, C1, C2, C3 and C4. (C2 to C4 supported in merom core) - in this thread

Sorry guys if my statement earlier was unclear.

Actually the Core 2 Duo i meant here includes Conroe, Allendale, Merom & Woodcrest. For non-mobile version, the CPU will have C0 and C1E state only, whereas, Merom (the mobile cpu) supports all the extra states such as C2, C3 and C4.

[Dashken]

The guide has just been updated!

Everyone loves Intel engineering samples. They are special handpicked samples for reviewers that are more overclockable and have unlocked multipliers. Or do they?

We take a look at the Core 2 Duo engineering samples and show you why they are not the processors that everyone thinks they are. Should you buy one, or not? Read on and find out.

Here is the update:-

- Added details on the C1E enhanced halt state and how it differs from the Pentium 4's C1 halt state.

Link : Why You Should AVOID Core 2 Duo Engineering Samples Rev. 1.1

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by pfelelep

Very interesting article as usual indeed

But I really get confused then.
What efficient alternative do we have? I mean, how to "complain" or make things changes regarding the Intel politic?

There's nothing to complain. These processors weren't meant to be sold in the first place.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by charge-n-go

Sorry guys if my statement earlier was unclear.

Actually the Core 2 Duo i meant here includes Conroe, Allendale, Merom & Woodcrest. For non-mobile version, the CPU will have C0 and C1E state only, whereas, Merom (the mobile cpu) supports all the extra states such as C2, C3 and C4.

Thanks! The article has been corrected.