Article on unlocking 1.2 T-bird, how come ?

[Philip]

Okay, from what I heard so far the 1.2G should all be factory "unlocked", but how come there is an article in TechZone.com which describes how to unlock a 1.2G T-bird ?! just see the following link for that

http://www.thetechzone.com/articles/overclocking/tbird1200/index.shtml

So, does it mean AMD started shipping locked version of the 1.2G T-birds?

[Richard]

The truth is there are a lot of different T-birds floating around out there.

We've seen the T-bird undergo quite a bit of change since it first started shipping. It seems logical to me, since AMD is probably tweaking/refining the core. I wouldn't doubt the first runs of a new CPU are factory unlocked for testing purposes. If the new run doesn't live up to their standards they simply sell the processor at a bin or two lower. (What we saw with the original "blue" cores.)

Undoubtedly, the 1.2 GHz T-bird is pushing the limits of the Athlon core. That's "probably" why we're seeing so many unlocked 1.2 GHz T-birds. AMD, doesn't want to "burn their bridges" as it were. (Clever pun, no?)

Once AMD has the refined core nailed down, and/or the 1.3 GHz T-bird is released they'll begin cutting the bridges on the 1.2 GHz processors.