What is a CPU stepping?

W1zzard · 05-24-2004, 09:08 AM

No processor design is perfect. The first version of a new microprocessor product is the A-0 step. Later, as improvements are made to the product for functional (bug) fixes or manufacturing improvements, the stepping number will increase.

Generally speaking, minor changes result in an increased number, (that is, A-1 to A-2) while more complex changes result in the letter being changed (that is, A-2 to B-0).

If new steppings come out with fewer bugs you are usually not eligible to RMA for a newer processor. Most of these bugs are supposed to be worked around in the motherboard design, BIOS (drivers), and applications.

Intel produces a detailed document called a "Specification Update" for each of their processor models that covers all of the various steppings, and lists exactly which bugs (they call them "errata") each one has and a description of the bug. For example you can download the Pentium IV specification Update from Intel at http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium4/specupdt/
A similar document is available for every processor they make.

AMD uses the term "revision numbers" to refer to steppings for its Athlon and other processors. To see the errata for a given AMD processor, look up its revision guide, which lists the processor revision numbers and the errata which apply to each revision. For example, the revision guide for the AMD Athlon XP model 8 processor is available from AMD at
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/25703.pdf

Easy Rhino · 12-12-2006, 01:30 PM

how does one go about finding out the stepping information on the cpu ?

tigger · 12-12-2006, 02:21 PM

heres a link for the spec updates for the core 2 duo.

http://developer.intel.com/design/pr...pdt/313279.htm

Dippyskoodlez · 12-12-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy Rhino

how does one go about finding out the stepping information on the cpu ?

CPU label..

I.e. my 3700+

ADA3700DKA5CF
CCBIE0614DPMW

Magenta= Core/Cache/Voltage
Yellow- Revision- CF= E6
Lime= Stepping (CCBIE)
Underlines numbers- WEEK/Month it was made 14th week of 06
DPMW is an unknown quality code still..

Its different for intel, ofcourse.

Easy Rhino · 12-12-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippyskoodlez

CPU label..

I.e. my 3700+

ADA3700DKA5CF
CCBIE0614DPMW

Magenta= Core/Cache/Voltage
Yellow- Revision- CF= E6
Lime= Stepping (CCBIE)
Underlines numbers- WEEK/Month it was made 14th week of 06
DPMW is an unknown quality code still..

Its different for intel, ofcourse.

wow very detailed response! thanks!

so i look for this right on the chip.

MrSeanKon · 12-13-2006, 09:43 AM

I would like to add this enormous thread at Ocforums which includes many info about AMD CPUs/steppings, chipsets and motherboards.

juniorandac · 02-24-2007, 04:43 PM

kraeger · 10-08-2007, 05:36 AM

Pretty good info here. Thanks!

05-24-2004, 09:08 AM	#1
W1zzard Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 7,617 (3.78/day) Thanks: 79 Thanked 2,488 Times in 931 Posts System Specs	What is a CPU stepping? No processor design is perfect. The first version of a new microprocessor product is the A-0 step. Later, as improvements are made to the product for functional (bug) fixes or manufacturing improvements, the stepping number will increase. Generally speaking, minor changes result in an increased number, (that is, A-1 to A-2) while more complex changes result in the letter being changed (that is, A-2 to B-0). If new steppings come out with fewer bugs you are usually not eligible to RMA for a newer processor. Most of these bugs are supposed to be worked around in the motherboard design, BIOS (drivers), and applications. Intel produces a detailed document called a "Specification Update" for each of their processor models that covers all of the various steppings, and lists exactly which bugs (they call them "errata") each one has and a description of the bug. For example you can download the Pentium IV specification Update from Intel at http://developer.intel.com/design/pentium4/specupdt/ A similar document is available for every processor they make. AMD uses the term "revision numbers" to refer to steppings for its Athlon and other processors. To see the errata for a given AMD processor, look up its revision guide, which lists the processor revision numbers and the errata which apply to each revision. For example, the revision guide for the AMD Athlon XP model 8 processor is available from AMD at http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/cont...docs/25703.pdf

Processor:	Intel Core Duo E6600 @ 3.4 GHz
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Cooling:	Scythe Infinity
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Video Card:	GeForce GTX 260 896 MB
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System Name:	Rhino1 / Rhino2
Processor:	Intel Core2Quad Q9650 3.0Ghz / Intel Core2Quad Q9400 2.668Ghz
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Video Card:	EVGA 9800GTX+ 512MB / EVGA 9800GT 512
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CD/DVD Drive:	LG / LG
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Case:	Coolermaster Centurion 590-RC Mid Tower / Coolermaster Centurion mATX
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Software:	Windows 7 Pro / Ubuntu 9

12-12-2006, 02:21 PM	#3
tigger I'm the only one Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Yorkshire,hull,uk Posts: 6,043 (4.50/day) Thanks: 207 Thanked 582 Times in 511 Posts System Specs	heres a link for the spec updates for the core 2 duo. http://developer.intel.com/design/pr...pdt/313279.htm __________________ Monster E6300 oc http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2163.html Steam-tigger995

System Name:	TiggerTower
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Video Card:	ASUS Dark knight 4870 512mb stock cooler
Harddisk:	Seagate 500gb 7200.12
CD/DVD Drive:	samsung SH-S183L sata
CRT/LCD Model:	LG FLATRON W2242S 22" WIDE 5000:1 DFC
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12-12-2006, 01:30 PM	#2
Easy Rhino Modestus Supernus Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,714 (3.36/day) Thanks: 156 Thanked 359 Times in 286 Posts System Specs	how does one go about finding out the stepping information on the cpu ?

Processor:	AMD Athlon 64 3700+@ 3Ghz
Motherboard:	DFI Lan Party UT 939
Cooling:	Thermalright XP-90C
Memory:	2x 1Gb OCZ Platinum
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CRT/LCD Model:	20" Samsung 204B
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PSU:	PC Power and Cooling 610w Silencer
Software:	Everything+1

12-13-2006, 09:43 AM	#6
MrSeanKon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Visit Athens Posts: 187 (0.17/day) Thanks: 15 Thanked 27 Times in 7 Posts	I would like to add this enormous thread at Ocforums which includes many info about AMD CPUs/steppings, chipsets and motherboards. __________________ GRAB-->OcBible v1.54/1.55 and Guidemania v1.21

02-24-2007, 04:43 PM	#7
juniorandac Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7 (0.01/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

10-08-2007, 05:36 AM	#8
kraeger Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2 (0.00/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pretty good info here. Thanks!

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