The end of overclocking near?

phreenet · 03-25-2003, 12:58 PM

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8518

Looks bad, any thoughts? Sure there will be work arounds and or hacks. This could be a bad thing.

Since87 · 03-25-2003, 01:30 PM

Technology wise, the workaround is easy enough. Just replace the 32.768 KHz clock with an alternate clock to fool the processor into thinking it is not overclocked.

Practically speaking it's an uglier hack job than most would want to tackle.

32.768 KHz is used for the real time clock. Just replacing that crystal with a faster one would make the real time clock run fast.

Instead of replacing the crystal, the connection between the CPU and the 32.768 KHz signal could be broken and a faster frequency from another device put in, but not many will be up for that. It may not even be necessary to inject another signal. It looks from the schematic as if just tying the 32.768 KHz input pin either high or low might disable this "feature".

Motherboard manufacturers can probably put in a workaround.

airspirit · 03-25-2003, 01:40 PM

Something to consider is that Intel PATENTED this method. Methinks that it would be unlikely to see AMD license this kind of nonsense, especially since they cater to the enthusiast market. Even if Intel decides to permalock their chips (which is virtually impossible as stated above, but just for the sake of argument ... ), would those of us who already refuse to purchase Intel products care? It would be a WONDERFUL thing for AMD if this happened.

Balinju · 03-25-2003, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by airspirit
Something to consider is that Intel PATENTED this method. Methinks that it would be unlikely to see AMD license this kind of nonsense, especially since they cater to the enthusiast market. Even if Intel decides to permalock their chips (which is virtually impossible as stated above, but just for the sake of argument ... ), would those of us who already refuse to purchase Intel products care? It would be a WONDERFUL thing for AMD if this happened.

i totally agree with you

phreenet · 03-25-2003, 01:53 PM

Doesn't mean that can't or will not try to do something similar. I don't think AMD caters to the overclockers market, they cater to the enthuist that build their own computers. Merely a coinsidence that overclockers build their own machines too. They have in the past tried to shut us down. I remember the laser cut bridges

bigben2k · 03-25-2003, 02:03 PM

Actually, it's more likely that they will do the same as Nikon did with their camera: trigger something inside that would indicate that the CPU has been overclocked.

I don't think Intel nor AMD would purposely lock their CPUs that way.

airspirit · 03-25-2003, 02:42 PM

AMD definitely caters to the overclockers market: during their Xtreme Performance tour (or whatever the fsck it was called) they demo'd multiple OC'd machines. Laser cut bridges were just a way to make it harder for the stupid and unskilled to unlock their chips, though those with a bit of knowledge (or those that could read a FAQ) could do it relatively easily. The newest chips aren't even locked anymore ....

Brad · 03-25-2003, 02:47 PM

good news for amd, who cares if intel takes themselves out of the enthusiast market?

airspirit · 03-25-2003, 04:20 PM

So ... if Intel weighs the same as a duck ... that makes Intel a witch ... BURN HER!

deeppow · 03-25-2003, 07:17 PM

I gave up on Intel several years ago just because I thought they really didn't care about me as a user. The money is in domination of the OEM market I would think so I can't seriously blame them.

On the other hand, some times you might patent something just to control it, not necessarily use it. Less hope for our fellow Intel OCers that is the case now.

Since87 · 03-25-2003, 09:26 PM

The patent document is here.

I looked at it briefly. It appears that the patent is focused on implementing this in the chipset rather than the CPU itself.

Interesting to note that a patent attorney appears to have used a spell checker, and replaced the word "quartz" (as in "quartz crystal") with the word "quart" throughout the document.

Hmm. Anyone want to file the same patent application with "quartz" spelled correctly, and see if they can get royalties out of Intel, if Intel tries to implement this with a quartz crystal?

03-25-2003, 12:58 PM	#1
phreenet Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Gloucester, Virginia Posts: 356	The end of overclocking near? http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8518 Looks bad, any thoughts? Sure there will be work arounds and or hacks. This could be a bad thing. __________________ Dual Pentium!!! 933@1107 Liquid Cooled.

03-25-2003, 01:40 PM	#3
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	Something to consider is that Intel PATENTED this method. Methinks that it would be unlikely to see AMD license this kind of nonsense, especially since they cater to the enthusiast market. Even if Intel decides to permalock their chips (which is virtually impossible as stated above, but just for the sake of argument ... ), would those of us who already refuse to purchase Intel products care? It would be a WONDERFUL thing for AMD if this happened. __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

03-25-2003, 01:53 PM	#5
phreenet Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Gloucester, Virginia Posts: 356	Doesn't mean that can't or will not try to do something similar. I don't think AMD caters to the overclockers market, they cater to the enthuist that build their own computers. Merely a coinsidence that overclockers build their own machines too. They have in the past tried to shut us down. I remember the laser cut bridges __________________ Dual Pentium!!! 933@1107 Liquid Cooled.

03-25-2003, 02:03 PM	#6
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Actually, it's more likely that they will do the same as Nikon did with their camera: trigger something inside that would indicate that the CPU has been overclocked. I don't think Intel nor AMD would purposely lock their CPUs that way. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

03-25-2003, 02:42 PM	#7
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	AMD definitely caters to the overclockers market: during their Xtreme Performance tour (or whatever the fsck it was called) they demo'd multiple OC'd machines. Laser cut bridges were just a way to make it harder for the stupid and unskilled to unlock their chips, though those with a bit of knowledge (or those that could read a FAQ) could do it relatively easily. The newest chips aren't even locked anymore .... __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

03-25-2003, 01:30 PM	#2
Since87 Pro/Guru - Uber Mod Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 834	Technology wise, the workaround is easy enough. Just replace the 32.768 KHz clock with an alternate clock to fool the processor into thinking it is not overclocked. Practically speaking it's an uglier hack job than most would want to tackle. 32.768 KHz is used for the real time clock. Just replacing that crystal with a faster one would make the real time clock run fast. Instead of replacing the crystal, the connection between the CPU and the 32.768 KHz signal could be broken and a faster frequency from another device put in, but not many will be up for that. It may not even be necessary to inject another signal. It looks from the schematic as if just tying the 32.768 KHz input pin either high or low might disable this "feature". Motherboard manufacturers can probably put in a workaround.

03-25-2003, 02:47 PM	#8
Brad Thermophile Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Nuu Zeeelin Posts: 3,175	good news for amd, who cares if intel takes themselves out of the enthusiast market? __________________ 2x P3 1100's at 1400, Abit VP6, 2x Corsair 256mb PC150 sticks, 20gb 'cuda ATA-III, 2x 40gb 'cuda ATA-IV in raid 0. 20" Trinitron. No fans 2x 2400+ at 2288mhz (16.0 x 143), Iwill MPX2, 2x Kingmax PC-3200 256mb sticks, 4x 20gb 60gxp in Raid 5 on a Promise SX6000. Asus Ti4200 320/630. Cooled by Water

03-25-2003, 04:20 PM	#9
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	So ... if Intel weighs the same as a duck ... that makes Intel a witch ... BURN HER! __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

03-25-2003, 07:17 PM	#10
deeppow Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Los Alamos Posts: 30	I gave up on Intel several years ago just because I thought they really didn't care about me as a user. The money is in domination of the OEM market I would think so I can't seriously blame them. On the other hand, some times you might patent something just to control it, not necessarily use it. Less hope for our fellow Intel OCers that is the case now. __________________ DFI nF4 SLI-DR @266Mhz, AMD64 3700+ SD (2.4Ghz@1.58V), OCZ PC4200 (2*512Mb) 2.5-3-3-8@3V ----- SB Audigy2ZS + Klipsch Promedia 4.1, eVGA7800GT, RAID0, 2 80G SATA HDDs ----- Iwaki MD-20RLZT -> Storm -> Chiller -> Resev, PC_Power P&C Tubo-Cool 510Express/SLI in Lian-Li PC-V1200

03-25-2003, 09:26 PM	#11
Since87 Pro/Guru - Uber Mod Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 834	The patent document is here. I looked at it briefly. It appears that the patent is focused on implementing this in the chipset rather than the CPU itself. Interesting to note that a patent attorney appears to have used a spell checker, and replaced the word "quartz" (as in "quartz crystal") with the word "quart" throughout the document. Hmm. Anyone want to file the same patent application with "quartz" spelled correctly, and see if they can get royalties out of Intel, if Intel tries to implement this with a quartz crystal?

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