Replies to post #67092 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[alan81]

The exact note on Tcase max
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/30417.pdf
page 40:
1. Tcase max is the maximum case temperature specification which is a physical value in degrees Celsius. This value
is programmed into Rev D and later processors. Refer to the AMD Functional Data Sheet, 940 Pin Package,
order# 31412, and the THERMTRIP Status Register in the BIOS and Kernel Developer’s Guide for
AMD Athlon™ 64 and AMD Opteron™ Processors, order# 26094.
2. Tcase max is programmed during device manufacturing with part-specific values for Rev E and later processors
with 'Variable' indicated by the Case Temperature OPN character, and can be any valid Tcase max value in the
range specified for the corresponding OPN.
So AMD does program something into the device that indicates what Tcasemax is. This seems very odd to me, as it seems more like a binning parameter than an "FYI" type of parameter. I would still like to know how they expect go get more money for HE parts when somebody can just buy standard and sort for lowest Tcasemax numbers, and RMA the rest.
--Alan