What stepping means?

[Stupido]

Can anyone explain me what exactly stepping means?

Thanks!

 

[Grimmy]

What is a CPU stepping?

 

[descendency]

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.aspx?i=6

In essence, it's a version number.

 

[Freightshaker]

"stepping" refers to the version or rather the revision number of a CPU.
newer "steppings" are thought to be more stable or faster

 

[Stupido]

Thanks !

Can you see the stepping somewhere when buying a processor?

 

[Stupido]

I mean on the box...

 

[Grimmy]

Yes.

For Intel CPU's, if you look at the Processor Spec Finder and put in what is on the box, like for example Q6600:

BX80562Q6600

or

HH80562PH0568M

You can find the different steppings, as well as the sSpec#, which you can tell that a SL9UM is a B3 stepping, and SLACR is the G0 stepping.

The sSpec# is on the box it came in (retail) IHS as well, which would even be on an OEM CPU.

Not sure about how AMD is, since it's been a long time that I've own one.

 

[notherdude]

Shall we assume what seems obvious, that the name 'stepping' comes from the idea of a 'step', i.e. an incremental movement, from one version to another? Or does it come from something else?

 

[Stupido]

Thanks Grimmy