Intel Software Spots Overclocked Processors

Welcome Guest. | Log In| Register | Membership Benefits

November 11, 1999 (12:00 AM EST)

By David Gabel,

VARs building white-box systems or reselling those made at a third-party shop might be interested in a new release of Intel software.

The software tests the clock speed of the processor installed in a PC. In the case of Pentium III processors, it can tell whether the CPU is overclocked or whether it is running at its design speed.

Dominick Attasani, Intel's software product line manager for the frequency utility line, said some remarketers open the Slot 1 packages PIIIs come in, change the timing capacitors on the board inside the package to overclock the chip, and then mark the package as though the processor was supposed to operate at the higher frequency. This practice can shorten the life of the chip, thus causing user angst and service calls to the computer builder.

"We know that hobbyists will overclock the chips, and this is not intended to stop them from doing that," Attasani said. "We want to allow a means for legitimate resellers to determine if the chip they're using is overclocked."

The program is available for download at Intel's website.

Anyone can download the program, but Intel wants each person to download the product themselves to ensure that each user gets the proper code.

There will be another upgrade in the first quarter of 2000, which will support new processors running at higher speeds. VARs who discover they are using overclocked chips have the option of pursuing the issue with law enforcement personnel.