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Thread: What is "stepping" (re: processor chips)?

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    What is "stepping" (re: processor chips)?

    The Athlon64 X2 4800+ processor we're testing is based on the 'ACBWE' stepping, and was built in week 17 of 2005 so it's literally hot off the presses! (from PCStats.com)
    • What is "stepping"? And what is 'ACBWE' stepping?
    • Why are they telling us? Why should we care?
    • How can I find out the 'stepping' on a processor chip I intend to purchase? How can I interpret it?

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    not posting kempez's Avatar
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    This any help at all?? clicky linky
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    Quote Originally Posted by kempez815
    This any help at all?? clicky linky
    That link gives info that might well be relevant (??? seems like there's some connection, but I'm not sure what it is).

    I suspect we're on the right track, that "stepping" represents minor changes (improvements? or just experiments?) in the chip-making process. I therefore presume that "stepping" may be most important to overclockers.

    If it's important, how can we find out more about it? When buy a processor, you might be paying full price for a chip from a minimal batch or "stepping"?

    Anyways, that original article mentioned the idea of "stepping", so I presume it must be important somehow.

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    There are various guides around that will help you decifer some of them.

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    Senior Member skuzgib's Avatar
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    It's the code on the chip (on theheatspreader of a64's), which tells you model no., voltage, core model etc.

    ACWBE stepping means that ACWBE will be in the code somewhere.

    Some steppings are good overclockers (eg the JIUHB athlon xps., or CBBHD SPAW A64's)

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    Senior Member Dark Horse's Avatar
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    "Stepping" is more or less a production batch number/code that AMD give to each batch of chips it makes over a certain time period, usually in weeks. Some turn out better than others and so are desirible for overclocking while others are dogs for overclocking and are useless (however at stock settings the chips are all identical)

    You can't interpret steppings as AMD doesn't release the meanings. You can only work out the detials of a chip from ie stock voltage, cache, stock speed etc from the OPN code as kempez815 said.

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