What the heck is G0 Stepping??

I did a brief search and came up empty handed ..

I'm going to buy a new Q6600 today from frys, and I understand I have to look for the SLACKR on the box, but I have ZERO clue what the G0 stepping is or does...

Can someone post a link to any good articles as to what it is and why it is desirable? Or better yet explain it?

Thanks so much everyone,

Svirf

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3066

Have you seen this yet ?

Stepping: Throughout the life of a processor life cycle, the processor may go through several steppings or versions. Newer steppings typically have some type of improvement over previous steppings of the processor.

Just another revision. They have a tendency to overclock better than the older steppings (for the most part), and they have a lowered Thermal Design Power.

G0 is the newest core revision released by Intel. Here's a couple of CPU-Z shots showing Q6600's - one a B3, the other the newer G0

Oh noez! The dreaded x6 multiplier!

(joke )

Seriously though, it runs at 95watts of power rather than the 105watts for the B3 stepping. It is also spec'ed to run at a slightly higher operating temperature.