Intel Software Identifies Overclocked PIIIs

March 16, 1999 (11:36 AM EST)

By Mark Hachman,

Intel has developed software to identify an overclocked and remarked Pentium III, giving distributors the confidence to sell genuine Intel microprocessors.

The utility, available at http://support.intel.com/support/processors/tools/frequencyid/, asks Intel's Pentium III processor to compute a software algorithm. The time in which the microprocessor computes that algorithm is cross-referenced against the time a processor of a known clock speed should perform that task to determine if the chip is legitimately marked.

"Overclocking" refers to adjusting the processor to run at a clock speed faster than the chip's safety tolerance. Intel has taken separate steps to lock the processor at a certain speed. While a user has the right to overclock his own chip, the company considers the resale of those overclocked chips illegal.

Intel does not plan to offer a similar utility for the Pentium II, said a spokesman for Intel, in Santa Clara, Calif. Intel has conducted seminars with law-enforcement officials since the 1970s to inform them of typical forgery techniques, such as remarking Intel's chips. "The utility is our first attempt to bring the same level of awareness to consumers and systems integrators," he said.