Core i7 ES Chips

[Jammer84]

Hi All,

I'm just after getting my new Core i7-940 chip installed.

How do I tell if my chip is an ES or a retail? If it is an ES, should I be worried?

CPU-Z has no mention of ES but on the Core Temp it's identified as Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield) (ES). Is there any way of knowing for certain?

I have just messed around with the bios, first time build and have it running at about 3.7 on stock. Need to learn as I go along. What should I use to test for stability while on the stock cooler?

Cheers Folks!

 

[fornowagain]

What's written on the IHS? What's the step on cpu-z, C0?

 

[Jammer84]

What's written on the IHS? What's the step on cpu-z, C0?

C0 is on CPU-Z for the stepping. Never taught to check the IHS before installing.

 

[fornowagain]

All retail are C0, ES would have a SPEC code starting with Q and probably a B stepping with ES written on the IHS.

I'm curious why you would think you would have an engineering sample. Did you buy on an auction site or from a mate?

 

[Speed]

CPU-Z has no mention of ES but on the Core Temp it's identified as Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield) (ES)

All retail are C0. I'm curious why you would think you would have an engineering sample. Did you buy on an auction site or from a mate?

He thinks it's an ES because Core Temp identified his chip as a Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield) (ES).

 

[Jammer84]

All retail are C0. I'm curious why you would think you would have an engineering sample. Did you buy on an auction site or from a mate?

No, I ordered from a store online. I started thinking of this when I noticed ES on the Core Temp.



Prime after 20 Secs (Temps)


Prime after 35 Secs (Temps)


Prime after 64 Secs (Temps)

 

[fornowagain]

He thinks it's an ES because Core Temp identified his chip as a Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield) (ES).

I wondered, very very unlikely to get an ES, shouldn't be able to buy them, they kinda belong to Intel. But its just a bug, CPU-Z prints the CPUID from an internal cpu register. Use the latest, its usually pretty accurate.

 

[gurusan]

I think that's just a coretemp bug. CPU-Z is usually the one to tell you. Also ES chips are usually stamped with Intel Confidential on the front (in my experience of the 2 ES chips I've owned)

 

[Jammer84]

He thinks it's an ES because Core Temp identified his chip as a Intel Core i7 (Bloomfield) (ES).

You got there before me!

 

[Jammer84]

I think that's just a coretemp bug. CPU-Z is usually the one to tell you. Also ES chips are usually stamped with Intel Confidential on the front (in my experience of the 2 ES chips I've owned)

From what I can remember mine didn't say confidential so I guess I'm ok since CPU-Z doesn't state ES either or have the stepping as E0.

 

[MeatLoaf]

I had an E6300 ES and on the top of the chip it just said Intel Confidential

 

[MooMoo444]

nice temps o_o

100C lol

 

[Van Diemen]

It will most probably be fixed inthe next CoreTemp update.

I think you may be able to lower the Vcore, 1.4+ is too much for 3.8GHz.

A bit off topic, but what is considered safe 24/7 vCore for these chips?

 

[Jammer84]

nice temps o_o

100C lol

yip, that was running prime with the stock cooler. On idle it is usually 46-50. It doesn't change, even if I turn up all the fans to full

Hopefully the 1366 coolers will start to appear shortly. There's not enough choice there at the moment.

 

[Van Diemen]

It will probably be fixed in the next revision of Coretemp.

As a side note, you could probably reduce your Vcore, 1.4+ is too much for a 3.8 OC.

Also what is considered safe 24/7 Vcore for these chips?

 

[Jammer84]

It will probably be fixed in the next revision of Coretemp.

As a side note, you could probably reduce your Vcore, 1.4+ is too much for a 3.8 OC.

Also what is considered safe 24/7 Vcore for these chips?

This was my first ever attempt to overclock so any comments are welcomed. I'll have to read up and see how I can drop the Vcore voltage.

Cheers!

EDIT: THE CPU Voltage is set to auto at the moment. What should I configure it to for safe 24/7?

 

[Van Diemen]

for 3.8Ghz try 1.35 or bellow & see if its stable.

I'm still trying to work out what the 24/7 vCore is.

I've managed to get stable at 4.1, but the vCore too high for my liking

 

[Jammer84]

I've just changed the Ai Overclock Tuner from Manual to X.M.P. below are my current settings:

Ai Overclock Tuner:X.M.P
CPU Ratio Setting: 19.0
BCLK Frequency: 200
PCIE Frequency: 100
DRAM Frequency: DDR3 - 1603MHz
UCLK Frequency 3208MHz
QPI Link Data Rate: Auto

I haven't touched the DRAM Timing Control

CPU Voltage: Auto (Need to find out what to set this to for 24/7)
CPU PLL Voltage: Auto
QPI/DRAM Core Voltage: 1.35000
IOH Voltage: Auto
IOH PCIE Voltage: Auto
ICH Voltage: Auto
ICH PCIE Voltage
DRAM Bus Voltage: 1.60 (Was hitting 1.66 when Auto)
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHA: Auto
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHA: Auto
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHB: Auto
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHB: Auto
DRAM DATA REF Voltage on CHC: Auto
DRAM CTRL REF Voltage on CHC: Auto

Load-Line Calibration : Enabled
CPU Differential Amplitude: Auto
CPU Clock Skew: Auto
CPU Spread Spectrum: Disabled
IOH Clock Skew: Auto
PCIE Spread Spectrum: Auto

I have just booted into Windows with the above settings but I have not done any testing using Prime or anything.

To test the memory, does this have to be done booting into mem test?

 

[Jammer84]

for 3.8Ghz try 1.35 or bellow & see if its stable.

I'm still trying to work out what the 24/7 vCore is.

I've managed to get stable at 4.1, but the vCore too high for my liking

Cheers, I will give that Vcore a try. What programs would you recommend testing for stability taking into account the temps reached with the stock cooler.

Would love to have the confidence to attempt custom water cooling

 

[Jammer84]

with the vcore set to 1.3 and the QPI/DRAM Core Voltage set to 1.3 it crashed within a couple of seconds of Prime

edit: same with vcore set to 1.35