Intel Core i7 2920XM Extreme

[hmetin]

I just bought an Asus Laptop with Intel Core i7 2920XM Extreme Series Processor. I just received it yesterday. I installed CPU-Z to recognize the processor, but I received that information from CPU-Z (Intel Core i7 2920XM Extreme (ES) after I started it.

The processor model and the step information like the below.

Family 6
Model A
Step 6
Revision D1

Is it the Engineering Sample or OEM / Retail?

What is the differences between them because Windows 7 rates this processor with 7.4 from 7.9 even it is the fastest processor of the market. Can you give me some idea about that processor? Should I return that laptop for the processor replacement? Thanks

 

[hmetin]

I think no one has any knowledge regarding my question right?

 

[cjl]

Plenty of people have told you that your processor isn't ES, you just don't want to believe them.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

Hmetin,
First of all, it would be unheard of for a major computer manufacturer to sell an ES or engineering sample of a processor in a laptop. Since a ES processor would have been released over 4 months ago the manufacturer and then a laptop would be made with that processor and then returned because it had a “B2” then remade with a “B3” stepping board and then for you to pick it up does seem to be a little bit of a far shot to me. I would guess that CPU-Z hasn’t been updated with information on the release of this processor http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52237&processor=i7-2920XM&spec-codes=SR02E. Btw this processor does support up to 16GB of RAM. The way that you can be sure is to open up the laptop and remove the heatsink and on it will be an sSpec# for this processor if it is a release processor it would be SR02E.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

 

[hmetin]

Hmetin,
First of all, it would be unheard of for a major computer manufacturer to sell an ES or engineering sample of a processor in a laptop. Since a ES processor would have been released over 4 months ago the manufacturer and then a laptop would be made with that processor and then returned because it had a “B2” then remade with a “B3” stepping board and then for you to pick it up does seem to be a little bit of a far shot to me. I would guess that CPU-Z hasn’t been updated with information on the release of this processor http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52237&processor=i7-2920XM&spec-codes=SR02E. Btw this processor does support up to 16GB of RAM. The way that you can be sure is to open up the laptop and remove the heatsink and on it will be an sSpec# for this processor if it is a release processor it would be SR02E.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team

Hi Mr. Wood,

I would like to say thank you for your respond. However, I will have very simple question for you

Could you please look the below link from Tom'swardware.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-2920xm-core-i7-980x-sandy-bridge,2851.html

If you look at it carefully, you can see that CPU-Z version is 1.56 in that article and it shows the specifications or the processor is;

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2920XM CPU @ 2.50Ghz. and it is stepping A7 and Revision D2. Which proofs that 1.56 version recognizes the processor on right way. ( I also tried 1.56 version CPU-Z and received the same information as 1.57.1 provided.)

My CPU-Z version is 1.57.1 which is 2 version higher than whichever has been by Tom'shardware during the test in this article, and it gives that information as its specification Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2920XM CPU @ 2.50Ghz (ES)

This article has been published at Feb. 09, 2011. If we think that Tom'shardware bought or received it from intel in middle of the January and spent 2 weeks to test it, and published with the A7 stepping and D2 revision it at Feb. 09, 2011, how can my processor be A6 D1 3 months after than that article?

Another question is; This processor has been officially released by Intel at Jan. 05, 2011. Please correct me if I am wrong until here.

Are you telling me that, Intel first released Stepping A6 and Revision D1 at Jan.05, 2011 and they immediately revised it from A6, D1 to A7,D2 the revision and the stepping in 15 days after they released it? I do not believe that and nobody will believe that.

What is your explanation under this circumstances?

 

[hmetin]

Plenty of people have told you that your processor isn't ES, you just don't want to believe them.

My previous respond is also for you!

 

[hmetin]

Hmetin,
First of all, it would be unheard of for a major computer manufacturer to sell an ES or engineering sample of a processor in a laptop.

For this information, I can technically say; I do not care if they are a major brand or not. I only care what I have in my hand and paid over $3000 for what?

 

[cbrunnem]

For this information, I can technically say; I do not care if they are a major brand or not. I only care what I have in my hand and paid over $3000 for what?

he works for intel directly. he would know. if its that big of a deal then how come you havent called the manufacturer and got this taken care of.

 

[ghnader hsmithot]

he works for intel directly. he would know. if its that big of a deal then how come you havent called the manufacturer and got this taken care of.

Sorry mate.Most of the guys here dont like mobile technology.Cuz we cant upgrade it.Sorry for being harsh.

 

[hmetin]

he works for intel directly. he would know. if its that big of a deal then how come you havent called the manufacturer and got this taken care of.

I have already contacted with the company where sold this laptop me. They said they sometimes use (ES) processor on their laptop, but they cannot know which processor they had used in my laptop. That's why I am trying find out what this processor is

 

[hmetin]

I have just figured it out. This processor is not actually Engineering Sample (ES) It is an Qualification Sample (QS)

 

[spl323]

I have just figured it out. This processor is not actually Engineering Sample (ES) It is an Qualification Sample (QS)

Intel® Engineering Sample Processors ("Intel ES Processors"), also known as Intel® Qualification Sample Processors, are pre-production processors loaned to Intel's Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to be used in the product design cycle prior to product launch.

These processors often include additional features that production processors do not include for customer pre-production evaluation and test purposes. The following conditions apply to Intel® ES Processors:

Intel ES Processors are the sole property of Intel
Intel ES Processors are Intel Confidential
Intel ES Processors are provided by Intel under nondisclosure and/or special loan agreement terms with restrictions on the recipient's handling and use
Intel ES Processors are not for sale or re-sale
Intel ES Processors may not have passed commercial regulatory requirements
ES Processors are not covered under Intel warranty and are generally not supported by Intel
How Do I Identify Intel® ES Processors?

The easiest way to tell if you have an Intel® ES Processor is to look at the processor topside markings. If you have a 4 or 5 digit Qspec listed like the one pictured below, you have an engineering sample. A production processor will have a 5 digit sSpec, usually beginning with S, such as SLB9L on the topside markings.

If no ink or laser markings are found, the processor may be an "unmarked" Intel ES Processor. Contact Intel if you are in possession of an unmarked Intel ES Processor.

The Intel® Processor Identification Utility ( http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/processors/toolspiu) can also be used to help identify whether a particular processor is an Intel ES processor.

Once you install and run Processor ID on an Intel ES Processor, the following message will appear in the text box:

"The following Intel processor appears to be an engineering sample, not a production processor. The utility is designed to support Intel production processors only. Sample processors are not warranted by Intel and are not intended for resale."

 

[spl323]

URL correction: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-015477.htm

 

[hmetin]

Intel® Engineering Sample Processors ("Intel ES Processors"), also known as Intel® Qualification Sample Processors, are pre-production processors loaned to Intel's Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to be used in the product design cycle prior to product launch.

These processors often include additional features that production processors do not include for customer pre-production evaluation and test purposes. The following conditions apply to Intel® ES Processors:

Intel ES Processors are the sole property of Intel
Intel ES Processors are Intel Confidential
Intel ES Processors are provided by Intel under nondisclosure and/or special loan agreement terms with restrictions on the recipient's handling and use
Intel ES Processors are not for sale or re-sale
Intel ES Processors may not have passed commercial regulatory requirements
ES Processors are not covered under Intel warranty and are generally not supported by Intel
How Do I Identify Intel® ES Processors?

The easiest way to tell if you have an Intel® ES Processor is to look at the processor topside markings. If you have a 4 or 5 digit Qspec listed like the one pictured below, you have an engineering sample. A production processor will have a 5 digit sSpec, usually beginning with S, such as SLB9L on the topside markings.

If no ink or laser markings are found, the processor may be an "unmarked" Intel ES Processor. Contact Intel if you are in possession of an unmarked Intel ES Processor.

The Intel® Processor Identification Utility ( http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/processors/toolspiu) can also be used to help identify whether a particular processor is an Intel ES processor.

Once you install and run Processor ID on an Intel ES Processor, the following message will appear in the text box:

"The following Intel processor appears to be an engineering sample, not a production processor. The utility is designed to support Intel production processors only. Sample processors are not warranted by Intel and are not intended for resale."

As I posted on previous message, I found out what it was. It was not an ES. It was a QS and all QS processors can be identified by Processor ID Utility of intel.

 

[hmetin]

I also believe that ES series are different than QS series because as you mentioned in your message Intel Processor Identification utility does not recognize ES series processors, but it recognizes QS series processors.

 

[ValkerieFire]

I just stumbled upon this thread through google. I found it helpful since I am considering buying a i7-2720qm ES. To the OP, congrats on figuring out what your processor was. I wonder why the retailer gave you a QS, you should have gotten an OEM/production version. You may want to try notebookreview.com forums. Everyone there is on a laptop, so there are none of these Desktop/laptop arguments.

Later

 

[alvenyang]

Buy these laptop from reliable retailers like newegg, or tigerdirect, some sellers from ebay will use discounted ES models in your PC or laptops, and believe me you can get these ES models at 70% discounted price in China. I am not saying these ES model is bad, but they are not as good as the offical ones, and they don't have any warranty on them. BTW, if you bought a customized laptop from ebay or some unknown webistes, mostly the warranty is voided due to the upgrades.