Unlocked Core i7 920 + 940

**billdcat4** · 03-06-2009 01:14 AM

"The kids over at Maximum PC have told us a sordid tale involving Core i7 processors, "extreme heat and smoke damage," and a pair of jumper cables -- we'll spare you the details -- and have come to the realization that, contrary to popular belief, the retail version of the budget-minded Core i7 920 processor (and its midrange brethren, the 940) is shipping with unlocked multipliers and memory ratios. According to some "Deep Throat"-esque shadowy figure at Intel, the company chalks it up to a "marketing decision" made after receiving "requests from some of our customers." If this is indeed the case, customers will be able to rock the fast-paced DDR3-1600 memory without shelling out big money on a Core i7 Extreme Edition 965 CPU. And that ain't the least of it -- hit the read link for plenty of talk about QPI speeds and benchmarks. You'll be glad you did."

Shocker! Retail Core i7 CPUs caught using DDR3-1600 memory

Exclusive: Retail Core i7 CPUs More Powerful than Originally Reported | Maximum PC

**beerandcandy** · 03-06-2009 02:18 AM

its expected in times like these
strange things happen

**huddy** · 03-06-2009 04:41 AM

I thought all of that has been known since oohhh, since Nehalem came out to Joe public?

**Eurasianman** · 03-06-2009 07:17 AM

**albundy2** · 03-06-2009 07:18 AM

i dint know.

so what's the point of the extreem version?

**Simul4ti0n** · 03-06-2009 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by albundy2

i dint know.

so what's the point of the extreem version?

epeen

**brentpresley** · 03-06-2009 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by albundy2

i dint know.

so what's the point of the extreem version?

Multiplier is unlocked.

The multi is NOT unlocked on the 920s and 940s, just some of the internal datapaths.

**arisythila** · 03-06-2009 08:23 AM

this is nothing new.....

**aquariuz** · 03-06-2009 11:40 AM

wait, im lost. i dont understand wats going on. can someone explain wats going on?

**tool_462** · 03-06-2009 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by aquariuz

wait, im lost. i dont understand wats going on. can someone explain wats going on?

Maximum PC is a half a year late and put up some confusing article that makes i7 noobs get even more confused and think they are getting more than they actually are. That about sums it up

Though based on the average "24/7" clock, i7 920 is BY FAR the best value...hands down...no doubt about it.

**Viperabyss** · 03-06-2009 12:14 PM

I agree with tool. Anyone who actually took a look at the BIOS on a Core i7 rig would know that already. MaximumPC's article is really confusing to say the least, if not deceiving.

But again, who reads MaximumPC?

**ColonelCain** · 03-06-2009 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by aquariuz

wait, im lost. i dont understand wats going on. can someone explain wats going on?

The only difference b/t the 965, and the 940/920, is that you can't overclock the 940/920 via multi.

And yes, this is very old news. They are just trying to get some more hits, and sell some more magazines.

**RKH404** · 03-06-2009 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Viperabyss

But again, who reads MaximumPC?

**Ches111** · 03-06-2009 06:46 PM

Just wow..

The reason they were duped was because their ES they had did not have them unlocked

My core i7 after 2 minutes in the BIOS I realized all the rest was unlocked

And to think, I was not an overclocker.. Just curious about the bios at the time

Hmmm 2 minutes vs 6 months?

**Viperabyss** · 03-06-2009 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by RKH404

You should read CPU (Computer Power User) instead. Aside from the usual paid advertising hardware articles, they do include some of the industry insights from people like Anand, Rahul Sood, and Sharky.

**aquariuz** · 03-06-2009 10:55 PM

hehe guess im an i7 noob then

well i am actually, so can someone share with me how to OC the 920, plsssss?

u all r soooo kind

**Sailer** · 03-07-2009 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by aquariuz

hehe guess im an i7 noob then

well i am actually, so can someone share with me how to OC the 920, plsssss?

u all r soooo kind

Read this article:

ASUS P6T Deluxe - Overclocking, tweaking, etc.

Though it only directly applies to the P6T, the principles should remain the same. I'm no expert by a long shot, but have my i7 920 up to 3150mhz over the stock 2670mhz. Will be working on it more next week, trying a few things from the above article.

**wuzy** · 03-07-2009 03:50 PM

Besides the newly announced TheOverclocker mag, the rest is just amateur rubbish. One has to remember communities like ourselves take computer hardware far more seriously and not just for the sake of gaming. I think most would agree we buy better hardwares to see technology at its best, and gaming is just a bonus.
To be honest I'm starting to believe mainstream gaming (we're not mainstream btw

) should be limited to consoles.

On the other hand if someone told me the stuff I just wrote above when I was still a n00b (13-16yrs old) I would not have understood it.
Today I buy powerful computer hardwares at cheapest possible price because I need it for work (that earns $). Then if I have spare time I 'try out' (for those of you that know what I mean

) the best & latest game the PC industry can offer and be wow'ed by the graphics and gameplay.
Then for any left overs I do competitive benchmarking if the vibe to right.

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