Intel Plans New Stepping for its 2.66GHz Core i7 920 Processor

Intel has announced plans to supply its partners and distributors with a new batch of Core i7 920 processors, that have their stepping updated from the current C-0 to D-0. Ready to ship on March 2nd, the new stepping will feature:

• New S-spec (from SLBCH to SLBEJ) and Material Master numbers for the converting products.
• CPUID will change from 0x000106A4 to 0x000106A5.
• The electrical, mechanical and thermal specifications remain within the current specifications. Intel anticipates no changes to customer platforms designed to previous Intel guidelines.
• Readable serial number will be removed from the package ink swatch to fully mitigate the potential risk of the IHS cosmetically overlapping a marked serial number. There is no change to the ULT matrix content which continues to contain the serial number.

A motherboard BIOS update will be required to identify the new stepping CPUs correctly.