+> Hi Sofus !
+>
+> The stepping of a processor is an 8bit-number like 0xB0 -- it just
+> describes the production-period. A celeron-300 with the stepping 0xA0
+> has been produced earlier than one with 0xB0.
+>
+> Thus, the stepping does not have anything to do with the frequency and
+> (in general) it is not neccessary to use processors with the same
+> stepping.
*HOLD IT* !!!!
It *may* not be necessary, but at least, nobody (not even Intel) can give
you a warranty what will happen if you use different steppings! - The steppings
are not only a simple number in the chip, like a timestamp, they are much, much
more!
Since Intel (like every other manufacturer, too) fixes bugs in their chipdesign,
every new "step" has some fewer bugs and may have instead some other bugs.
So you really can't be *absolutely* sure, whether your system will run with
different steppings or not.
So it is generally a *GOOD* idea to use only identical steppings, since in case
there is some very "clever" software that tries to make a workaround around
one of the bugs in th stepping they detect for the first CPU, this bugfix may
crash on the other CPU.
I must admit, this is almost very hypothetical (at least for me, since I use for
about two years now a dual PPro with different steppings - but I just may have
some plain good luck...) I've never heard of anybody with a *real* problem.
Is there someone else who can tell the contrary on this list?
Best regards,
Herbert
+>
+> If you plan to overclock a Celeron PPGA, you should use the most
+> actual stepping, older versions may not run stable.
+> I'm currently using a PII-450 with a Celeron300->450, the system is
+> running fine :-) .
+>
+> You can find all Intel steppings at:
+> http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec.html
+>
+> Andreas
+>
+>
+> ______________________________ Reply Separator
+> _________________________________
+> Subject: stepping
+> Author: sofus anderssen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> at Internet
+> Date: 8/2/99 2:04 PM
+>
+>
+> Hi everybody,
+> I'm intrested in building an SMP machine (under LINUX off course),
+> and have joined this mailing list for this reason.
+> I've been reading the list for some time now and have a few questions
+> which I could not solve with the FAQ too.
+>
+> What is it that you are calling the 'stepping' of a processor ? Does it
+> have anything to do with the frequency (233-550 MHz) of the processor ?
+> Is it necessary to have all the processors having the same 'stepping' ?
+> Is there a way to get this information whithout conecting them on the
+> board ?
+>
+> In advance thanks,
+>
+> Sofus
+>
+> -
+> Linux SMP list: FIRST see FAQ at http://www.irisa.fr/prive/mentre/smp-faq/
+> To Unsubscribe: send "unsubscribe linux-smp" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
+> -
+> Linux SMP list: FIRST see FAQ at http://www.irisa.fr/prive/mentre/smp-faq/
+> To Unsubscribe: send "unsubscribe linux-smp" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The first time Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck, is when
they start making vacuum cleaners.
-
Linux SMP list: FIRST see FAQ at http://www.irisa.fr/prive/mentre/smp-faq/
To Unsubscribe: send "unsubscribe linux-smp" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
