How much luck are people having with ES CPUs?

I'd like to upgrade my new M17xR3 to a i7-2720qm. I've noticed a big price gap between ES (engineering sample) and new ones.

I know a lot of people are using ES 920XMs and such. Anyone using an ES 2720 or similar CPU?

 

Isn't your laptop new enough to simply return it and buy one with the processor you want?

 

I could do that, but the prices just went up through my vendor of choice. Plus it would put me out of my budget.

But if I could sell my stock CPU, buy a better ES cpu, and break even or make money, then it might be a good deal. Thanks why I am posting, to find out.

 

as you know, there are many revisions to any ES cpu
1. You have the early stage ES: typically unstable, lack temp sensors, pushed hard, usually unlocked
2. Middle Class ES: have temp sensors, function typically as an OEM cpu by may be unlocked
3. Qualification Sample ES: Pretty much OEM, sent out to companies to test out boards on.

You should also be wary of steppings. All the ES cpus I have seen of the sandy bridge platfrom (with the exception of the 2920xm Q1N8 spec) are on the OLD REVISION STEPPING D0!

All OEM cpus have a D2 stepping, which probably correlates with stability and efficiency. I would avoid the ES cpu just because of the stepping discrepency. I have a QX9100 with an older stepping than the OEM equivalent, and I highly regret it, despite having the unlocked multipliers



For the 2720qm, you will likely run into the Q154 spec and the Q1CL spec. Q154 is earlier than Q1CL, however both are D0 stepping instead of D2, so you make the decision. One of the sellers claims that the Q154 is unlocked, but there is no point since most laptops now have lockbits in place in the bios which renders multipliers useless

 

Technos,

Thank you for your explaination, you had more info in one post than I found in multiple google searches. +Rep.

The chip I am looking at is a Q154 spec D0, just like you figured it would be. Well as much as I want one, I find it hard to justify it knowing you regret getting yours.

Out of curiousity, what kinds of problems have you had with yours?

Thanks again

 

Well the lack of temp sensors is a major drawback. The q9100 isn't quite stable at stock speeds, as I get bsods occasionally even on stock voltage. On overclocking, a massive amount of overvolting is necessary to get anything near stable, and at that point, its just not worth it. The C0 stepping on mine isn't as stable either, as it was still a rough early stepping, whereas the E0 stepping on OEM chips prove to be more stable, more friendly to overclocking, and not as power hungry.

HOWEVER, the 2720qm es chips have been verified to all have temp sensors, but there are conflicting reports on whether or not multiplier are unlocked. But I repeat, there is no point in unlocked multipliers anymore since almost every SB bios has a lockbit in it. so either mod your bios, or forget overclocking via multipliers. D0 is not what you want as your stepping, you may not find it to be up to par with OEM versions. If you buy an ES cpu, do so at your own risk, you have been warned.

 

Yeah, I am not interested in overclocking my CPU at all, so locked multipliers don't concern me. Stability is really my only concern.

Have you heard of stability issues with the 2720 D0 stepped chips?

Sounds like it isn't worth it. Well if DellOutlet comes up with a coupon before my return period end I may grab a 2720 system there, otherwise I'll live with my 2630.

 

hmm IMHO.

Avoid ES. If its desktop stuff that is easier to monitor closely then I would most definitely consider it . otherwise Avoid it.

 

I haven't heard anything on the mobile segment regarding D0 vs D1 vs D2, but on the desktop arena, D0 and D1 aren't able to keep up clocks as well as D2

 

Mine is still kicking and performing excellently for the power consumption.

 

No issues here with my Q9200/QX9200.

 

I know I don't have the same processor that you are looking at, but my i7 620m was an amazing deal, no issues what so ever. I actually got money to upgrade as I sold my i3 for more than the ES i7 cost me.

 

I have been using a c0 stepping ES x9100 for about a year now, it's overclocked to 3.3/3.6Ghz all the time and I have no problem with it at all.

 

Why do i keep hereing people talking about QS & ES chips when they DONT own any of them? unless you have hands on infomation about this then its my belief you shouldnt be really talking the OP about there opinions. I have never had a QS or ES chip but form the few people who have given the review of them i think i would give it a go ahead. personally i see no reason to spend $500 when $300 can get me what i want.

 

All the Q9200s/QX9200s (QAVR and QAVS) used the E0 stepping, the rare and earlier QAJF did not, but its not very common either. QAVR/QAVS had temp sensors, and where later revisions of the quad core penryn platform. My QX9100 was a VERY early ( i think the earliest) revision of the platform, hence why it may have been unstable (even at stock speeds). I have no clue about the new SB es chips, but the general idea holds true about early, middle, and late revision ES chips.

 

I bought a D0 2720qm ES off ebay. It arrived with a few bent pins, but I was able to bend them back into position. I've only had it a day, but it ran prime95 fine for a few hours. It does have temperature sensors, and the temperatures themselves don't seem to be out of whack.

FWIW, the machine I built is a clevo P170HM. Temps were 66-69C accross the cores under prime95. I haven't tried fiddling with the multipliers, but I don't recall seeing the option in the BIOS anyway.