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I don't understand, when I buy a processor I expect it to work 100% load for all of the instruction set. Anything less is a defective product, and should be ret

I don't understand, when I buy a processor I expect it to work 100% load for all of the instruction set. Anything less is a defective product, and should be returned. Furthermore, it should be able to do this 24/7 for years at a time. This test, assuming it actually does kill the processor or stops executing, clearly indicates it should be returned.

paulmd 7y ago
It's fine at normal clocks. Not good for the chip, but it won't kill it within the normal operating lifetime (say, 3-5 years). That's why chips ship with a little more voltage than they need, so that they can suffer some electromigration and still function. Overclocking? Yeah, it'll kill it quick, and that's your problem, because you're operating it outside normal specifications (more voltage than designed). If that's your standard, that you should be able to overclock and then redline the chip 24/7 for an unlimited period of time and it should never kill the chip, then you're going to be disappointed. The fact that Threadripper is having problems is definitely a fault but it's something that you really shouldn't be doing anyway (and it sounds like the problem is the motherboard not the processor). More generally: this is like arguing that you should be able to buy a camry and run redlined 24/7 and get the inevitable engine failures covered by warranty. If the manufacturer finds out you're doing that, they're not going to cover it, because it's not normal usage. Somehow people think it's a reasonable expectation for processors.
- jotm 7y ago
  I agree Prime95 is overkill, but a processor should be able to handle it. This is like the cooling argument all over again - "your cooling system is good enough for normal workloads". No, it must be good enough for permanent full load! Like a CPU under Prime95. If your heatsink lets it overheat, it's defective. You saved a few pennies on the copper and now it's a defective product. Same for Prime95, the CPU must be able to run it for days at end and last ~5 years. Doesn't seem like too much to ask for, imo. Intel says their chips will run at 98 degrees for years, so why would a full load like Prime95 kill them in days? One other thing, overclocking these days is actually undervolting combined with raising clocks. The old school "just raise the voltage" is a bad way to do it on any Intel chips post-Sandy Bridge...
  - vbezhenar 7y ago
    If you overclock CPU, you lose warranty. Even if it's K-series which is made for overclocking. And stock settings probably are safe.
    - jotm 7y ago
      Yeah I did mean at stock settings. If you overclock, you're responsible. Losing warranty sounds acceptable to me. Better than manufacturers doing everything to make overclocking impossible. To me, it's a great way to get more performance out of an old chip, the warranty would be expired at that point. It is hard to prove a CPU was overclocked though, so I can see some people taking advantage of that.
- illumin8 7y ago
  Did you notice that in the original article he is running the stock clock speed? If a CPU can't handle any instructions it supports at stock clock and voltage for any period of time it is defective, full stop.
jdietrich 7y ago
Change the word "processor" for "car" and the absurdity of your argument should be fairly obvious. Most ordinary cars will provide reliable transport for many years, but will literally catch fire after a few hot laps on a racetrack. It makes no sense to design a passenger car with brakes, suspension, cooling and tyres that are massively over-engineered for normal use just in case the owner wants to go endurance racing.
- betaby 7y ago
  3970x is a race car in your analogy, and thus should not catch fire

paulmd 7y ago

It's fine at normal clocks. Not good for the chip, but it won't kill it within the normal operating lifetime (say, 3-5 years). That's why chips ship with a little more voltage than they need, so that they can suffer some electromigration and still function. Overclocking? Yeah, it'll kill it quick, and that's your problem, because you're operating it outside normal specifications (more voltage than designed). If that's your standard, that you should be able to overclock and then redline the chip 24/7 for an unlimited period of time and it should never kill the chip, then you're going to be disappointed. The fact that Threadripper is having problems is definitely a fault but it's something that you really shouldn't be doing anyway (and it sounds like the problem is the motherboard not the processor). More generally: this is like arguing that you should be able to buy a camry and run redlined 24/7 and get the inevitable engine failures covered by warranty. If the manufacturer finds out you're doing that, they're not going to cover it, because it's not normal usage. Somehow people think it's a reasonable expectation for processors.

jotm 7y ago
I agree Prime95 is overkill, but a processor should be able to handle it. This is like the cooling argument all over again - "your cooling system is good enough for normal workloads". No, it must be good enough for permanent full load! Like a CPU under Prime95. If your heatsink lets it overheat, it's defective. You saved a few pennies on the copper and now it's a defective product. Same for Prime95, the CPU must be able to run it for days at end and last ~5 years. Doesn't seem like too much to ask for, imo. Intel says their chips will run at 98 degrees for years, so why would a full load like Prime95 kill them in days? One other thing, overclocking these days is actually undervolting combined with raising clocks. The old school "just raise the voltage" is a bad way to do it on any Intel chips post-Sandy Bridge...
- vbezhenar 7y ago
  If you overclock CPU, you lose warranty. Even if it's K-series which is made for overclocking. And stock settings probably are safe.
  - jotm 7y ago
    Yeah I did mean at stock settings. If you overclock, you're responsible. Losing warranty sounds acceptable to me. Better than manufacturers doing everything to make overclocking impossible. To me, it's a great way to get more performance out of an old chip, the warranty would be expired at that point. It is hard to prove a CPU was overclocked though, so I can see some people taking advantage of that.
illumin8 7y ago
Did you notice that in the original article he is running the stock clock speed? If a CPU can't handle any instructions it supports at stock clock and voltage for any period of time it is defective, full stop.

jdietrich 7y ago

Change the word "processor" for "car" and the absurdity of your argument should be fairly obvious. Most ordinary cars will provide reliable transport for many years, but will literally catch fire after a few hot laps on a racetrack. It makes no sense to design a passenger car with brakes, suspension, cooling and tyres that are massively over-engineered for normal use just in case the owner wants to go endurance racing.

betaby 7y ago
3970x is a race car in your analogy, and thus should not catch fire