What is G0 Stepping?

[Atnevon]

This sounds very stupid and newbish, but what is this G0 stepping on the q6600 Intel I keep seeing? I know it has to do with a different type of Processor, and there is a B3. How do I know the difference? Can I tell and know which one I am getting if I order soon from Newegg?

Sorry for the bad question, but I google G0 and get nothing but OC reports and comparrisons.

Thanks for the clarification,
Andrew

 

[mello_newf]

You will need to call the egg and ask if it's G0 stepping. You want G0 stepping because it will allow for higher overclocks.

 

[Athlon2K15]

i believe its like a revision where they update if there are bugs found..to make it more efficient and whatnot usually they clock better also...

 

[Namslas90]

I wouldn't worry about the GO stepping verses the B3 stepping. The first run of B3 stepping chips had a manufacturing problem, they found the problem and fixed it.
There are members of TPU that have B3's running 3GHz, and others more than 3Ghz right now.
The only way to be sure to get a GO stepping chip is to pay for the guaranteed Go stepping delivery available from some sellers.
IMHO it's not worth the extra money.
I would worry more about my motherboard and memory's ability to OC the chip than the stepping of the chip itself.

 

[niko084]

I wouldn't worry about the GO stepping verses the B3 stepping. The first run of B3 stepping chips had a manufacturing problem, they found the problem and fixed it.
There are members of TPU that have B3's running 3GHz, and others more than 3Ghz right now.
The only way to be sure to get a GO stepping chip is to pay for the guaranteed Go stepping delivery available from some sellers.
IMHO it's not worth the extra money.
I would worry more about my motherboard and memory's ability to OC the chip than the stepping of the chip itself.

Exactly don't worry about it unless you are trying to set some record.

 

[nflesher87]

fairly valid points namslas though you forgot one big detail
resale value...
B3 have/will have a much lower resale value if you can sell one at all

 

[niko084]

fairly valid points namslas though you forgot one big detail
resale value...
B3 have/will have a much lower resale value if you can sell one at all

Resale value..... Please, used components are not worth anything to start with.... By the time most people get rid of their stuff its pretty much outdated anyways.

 

[nflesher87]

Resale value..... Please, used components are not worth anything to start with.... By the time most people get rid of their stuff its pretty much outdated anyways.

there's plenty of people that go through parts monthly/weekly
and yes, barely used are...

 

[niko084]

there's plenty of people that go through parts monthly/weekly
and yes, barely used are...

Worth 3/4 of what you got it for maybe..... Barely used...

 

[Namslas90]

fairly valid points namslas though you forgot one big detail
resale value...
B3 have/will have a much lower resale value if you can sell one at all

Not true, if you can "verify" the overclock-ability of chip, with an ORB link or other acceptable method.

 

[nflesher87]

Not true, if you can "verify" the overclock-ability of chip, with an ORB link or other acceptable method.

irregardless, they produce more heat clock for clock among other subtleties, no escaping that

 

[niko084]

Not true, if you can "verify" the overclock-ability of chip, with an ORB link or other acceptable method.

Heh ya.. My e6420 has B2 and I have hit 3.2 with 1.2 volts stable.
Considering its 1.3 volts stock, I would consider that pretty good.

 

[niko084]

irregardless, they produce more heat clock for clock among other subtleties, no escaping that

Ya but most don't know/nor care on lets say Ebay...

 

[nflesher87]

Ya but most don't know/nor care on lets say Ebay...

I suppose, o0o0o I see Wile_E observing, let's see what he has to say

 

[Wile E]

Ya but most don't know/nor care on lets say Ebay...

But in this domain, we do care.

I suppose, o0o0o I see Wile_E observing, let's see what he has to say

LOL. Nothing exciting.

 

[niko084]

But in this domain, we do care.

But lets be honest here most things sold here in this domain are sold at a lower price then you could sell them for on ebay

I mean seriously I was offered $200 for my e6420 knowing it was used.....
Heck I sold a Intel 915D on ebay for $107
*Figured I would add that was about 3 months ago*

 

[Wile E]

But lets be honest here most things sold here in this domain are sold at a lower price then you could sell them for on ebay

I mean seriously I was offered $200 for my e6420 knowing it was used.....
Heck I sold a Intel 915D on ebay for $107

Yeah, but many of us here aren't out for just the money. Some of us are also here to help out our fellow enthusiasts. For example, I just sold my X2 4000+ Brisbane to a friend in need in Seattle, for $35 shipped. I could've easily gotten more for it on eBay, but I would rather help someone out, than to turn a quick buck on a noob.

But back on point, the fact of the matter is, the G0 chips are, on average, more efficient than their B3 brethren. They also clock better, again -on average, than the B3s. We have members with G0 Q6600s at 3.9GHz on water. I haven't seen any water cooled B3s hit that yet. Maybe on Phase or TEC, but not on water.

As far as the board limiting quad clocks, both 680i A1, and P35 have pretty much put us past that point.


EDIT: I wanted to add, if you don't plan to overclock, the B3 would be just fine. There is nothing actually wrong with it, it just doesn't usually clock as well as B0.

 

[niko084]

Ya I understand that not turning money on idiots, I didn't expect the 915 to go for that much and well my 6420, I told him to order a e4400 and more ram.

More or less pointing it out on the resale value point... If money is the object...

 

[nflesher87]

As far as the board limiting quad clocks, both 680i A1, and P35 have pretty much put us past that point.


EDIT: I wanted to add, if you don't plan to overclock, the B3 would be just fine. There is nothing actually wrong with it, it just doesn't usually clock as well as G0.

very correct sir, B3 and G0 begin to diverge at around 3.0 and that being on air cooling
after 3.0 temps begin to become more significant because of the fact that there are 4 cores and there is so much more heat produced than with the duos

 

[Namslas90]

But back on point, the fact of the matter is, the G0 chips are, on average, more efficient than their B3 brethren. They also clock better, again -on average, than the B3s. We have members with G0 Q6600s at 3.9GHz on water. I haven't seen any water cooled B3s hit that yet. Maybe on Phase or TEC, but not on water.

I agree with that, but not for the reason you would think. I agree, because the enthusiast overclockers mostly bought the GO's and not the B3's.

 

[Mussels]

G0 is colder. Therefore quiter, since intel have a temp controlled stock fan. Go for it.

G0 also allows better OC if you go that route, check my specs.

 

[hat]

G0 is just a revision in the stepping of the CPU. Most Q6600's and Q6700's today are G0, but some are B3. The B3 stepping tops out around 3GHz and runs hotter = louder, the G0 OC's to around 3.9 safely and runs cooler = quiter. If you get a B3 or G0, 4 cores at 3GHz is a hell of a lot of power.

 

[t_ski]

If you want to be sure to get a G0, ClubIT has them:

http://www.clubit.com/product_brows...t1=Intel Desktop&scat2=Socket 775 Core 2 Quad

By the way, I'm one more vote for the resale value of quality parts being worth more than regular parts. I bought a 2x512MB set of used Patriot PC4800 for $135 shipped. Eventually, one guy joined up here at TPU just to ask me to sell mine to him, and offered me $185 for them. I turned around and bought a 2x1GB set of OCZ (what I have now) for $180. I made money on the deal and got double the ram.

 

[HookeyStreet]

I wouldn't worry about the GO stepping verses the B3 stepping. The first run of B3 stepping chips had a manufacturing problem, they found the problem and fixed it.
There are members of TPU that have B3's running 3GHz, and others more than 3Ghz right now.
The only way to be sure to get a GO stepping chip is to pay for the guaranteed Go stepping delivery available from some sellers.
IMHO it's not worth the extra money.
I would worry more about my motherboard and memory's ability to OC the chip than the stepping of the chip itself.

I would rather pay the extra and be sure of getting the G0 stepping revision I think the small price difference is worth it (its only £10 in the UK)

 

[nflesher87]

as for actually buying a guaranteed G0, see my hot deals thread for the best deal on the internet (It's where I bought mine, $275 shipped and retail) it's cheaper than ClubIT though there's no free game like at ClutIT.
at hat B3s go higher than 3.0 it was mainly boards that can't push higher than 3.0 such as 975X and the lower end 680is