- Joined
- Jul 14, 2001
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
Ok, I've spent all weekend researching literly hundreds of sources on the web finding information on Strain Silicon Based Winchester Cores.
The reason for my research is simple, I'm looking on the market for a S939 Winchester CPU that can overclock like mad.
I have came to a very interesting conclusion and have figured out the mystery to which CPUs are SS garanteed and which CPUs are not SS garanteed.
Ok, lets fill those of you in on strained silicon and what exactly it accomplishes. Strained silicon is one of those rare new technologies that enables a fairly dramatic increase in performance (MHz) with a relatively simple change in starting materials. Proof that transistors fabricated with strained silicon were faster due to increased electron mobility and velocity was first demonstrated in the mid-1980s. Basicly, strained silicon helps overall CPU stability which in turn allows higher clock rates.
Let me explain to you which CPUs are available that are strained silicon process. Currently, only 130nm 4000+ and FX55 Athlon64 CPUs from AMD's line of processors carry this technology. To date, all of Intel's Pentium4's carry this process but that's a different story. Lately, many people have been wondering about the 90nm Winchesters and when they would recieve the same technological advancement boost. The anwser is, first week of november production.
So, any Winchester CPU made before week 45 is made with standard silicon process technology. Winchester cores created after week 44 are all produced with strained silicon process technology.
Their is several advantages to strained silicon CPUs. First being, its gonna be cheaper to build them in the long run because AMD is currently switching all FAB process'es to strained silicon with SOI which means they will eventually only need one method of production.
Strained silicon CPUs allow for higher yeilds which in return allow for more production of product.
And of course, strained silicon CPUs are supposed to clock better giving overclockers the edge.
However, to my studies, it seems that a few rare Winchesters floating about that were made before week 45 are carrying this advancement. I could easily see this possibilty simply because AMD's 4000+ and FX55 were in all in production on Week 32. I estimate at least 5% of Winchesters made between week 32 and week 45 have this process.
How to tell if your CPU has strained silicon process;
-It's extremely difficult to tell. Really, the only real way to find out is to see how far the chip can be pushed on air cooling without exceeding high temps or loosing stability. A good SS Winchester should be capable of clocking as high as 2.60GHz with stock or 1.35~1.40V core voltage.
-SS Winchesters when pumped with voltage and are well cooled should be able to push 2.7/2.8GHz as a maximum overclock.
A rumor behind this technology being implemented in Winchester's is for the reason, AMD wants to replace 1MB 2.4GHz 4000+ (FX53) with the appropriate line being 512KB 2.60GHz models. AMD's yeilds on 2.60GHz Winchester's just were not sutiable enough to sell so AMD simply renamed their FX53 to 4000+ and called it a day.
As soon as people can begin to buy those week 44 and week 45 CPUs, I wanna see some overclocks of both and see just how much of a difference their really is. We need some guinepigs.
I hoped to have educated some of you with this new process technology and how its going to affect AMD's new line of processor's in the near feature.
Please drop your feedback on what I've learned and most certainly post your overclocks if you think your CPU is Strained Silicon Processed. I would like to dig in more to see if its possible to identify a SS chip with software or by stepping somehow.
OC-Master
The reason for my research is simple, I'm looking on the market for a S939 Winchester CPU that can overclock like mad.
I have came to a very interesting conclusion and have figured out the mystery to which CPUs are SS garanteed and which CPUs are not SS garanteed.
Ok, lets fill those of you in on strained silicon and what exactly it accomplishes. Strained silicon is one of those rare new technologies that enables a fairly dramatic increase in performance (MHz) with a relatively simple change in starting materials. Proof that transistors fabricated with strained silicon were faster due to increased electron mobility and velocity was first demonstrated in the mid-1980s. Basicly, strained silicon helps overall CPU stability which in turn allows higher clock rates.
Let me explain to you which CPUs are available that are strained silicon process. Currently, only 130nm 4000+ and FX55 Athlon64 CPUs from AMD's line of processors carry this technology. To date, all of Intel's Pentium4's carry this process but that's a different story. Lately, many people have been wondering about the 90nm Winchesters and when they would recieve the same technological advancement boost. The anwser is, first week of november production.
So, any Winchester CPU made before week 45 is made with standard silicon process technology. Winchester cores created after week 44 are all produced with strained silicon process technology.
Their is several advantages to strained silicon CPUs. First being, its gonna be cheaper to build them in the long run because AMD is currently switching all FAB process'es to strained silicon with SOI which means they will eventually only need one method of production.
Strained silicon CPUs allow for higher yeilds which in return allow for more production of product.
And of course, strained silicon CPUs are supposed to clock better giving overclockers the edge.
However, to my studies, it seems that a few rare Winchesters floating about that were made before week 45 are carrying this advancement. I could easily see this possibilty simply because AMD's 4000+ and FX55 were in all in production on Week 32. I estimate at least 5% of Winchesters made between week 32 and week 45 have this process.
How to tell if your CPU has strained silicon process;
-It's extremely difficult to tell. Really, the only real way to find out is to see how far the chip can be pushed on air cooling without exceeding high temps or loosing stability. A good SS Winchester should be capable of clocking as high as 2.60GHz with stock or 1.35~1.40V core voltage.
-SS Winchesters when pumped with voltage and are well cooled should be able to push 2.7/2.8GHz as a maximum overclock.
A rumor behind this technology being implemented in Winchester's is for the reason, AMD wants to replace 1MB 2.4GHz 4000+ (FX53) with the appropriate line being 512KB 2.60GHz models. AMD's yeilds on 2.60GHz Winchester's just were not sutiable enough to sell so AMD simply renamed their FX53 to 4000+ and called it a day.
As soon as people can begin to buy those week 44 and week 45 CPUs, I wanna see some overclocks of both and see just how much of a difference their really is. We need some guinepigs.
I hoped to have educated some of you with this new process technology and how its going to affect AMD's new line of processor's in the near feature.
Please drop your feedback on what I've learned and most certainly post your overclocks if you think your CPU is Strained Silicon Processed. I would like to dig in more to see if its possible to identify a SS chip with software or by stepping somehow.
OC-Master
Funny thing is my mobo might run out of fsb before I max the cpu, id need 333fsb for 3GHz so if my cpu ocs like a gem, ill assume its SS and I will sell it, ask for $200 then buy a 3200+ SS for $200 a month later and run 290-300 fsb times 10.
