A look at the prototype hardware and software Intel uses for CPU validation

What simply occurred? Overclocking fanatic der8auer lately took a visit to Intel’s OC lab in Portland, Oregon. Throughout his go to, he was allowed to see how far he may push Chipzilla’s new Core i9-13900HK cellular CPU. The outcomes are spectacular and didn’t take a lot work to attain, though there are a number of footnotes to concentrate on.

Utilizing an inside Intel software referred to as ROC (brief for actual time overclocking) together with prototype {hardware}, der8auer was capable of push the 13900HK to six.0GHz with relative ease earlier than it locked up. That is fairly spectacular for a cellular chip though once more, he was utilizing prototype {hardware} and software program.

der8auer described ROC as a slim model of Intel’s Excessive Tuning Utility (XTU) that is very intuitive, lean and clear. ROC isn’t obtainable to the general public and sadly, der8auer stated he’s uncertain if that can ever change.

The air cooling resolution on the CPU can also be beefier than what you’d sometimes discover stuffed in a laptop computer (however nonetheless nothing tremendous spectacular in comparison with a excessive finish desktop cooler), so hold that in thoughts. Nonetheless, der8auer stated it’s the highest frequency he’s conscious of for a cellular chip.

A few months again, der8auer struggled to hit 5.6GHz on a pocket book CPU with dry ice.

As you willl see, the reference validation platforms featured within the video are arguably extra fascinating than the overclocking itself. The primary customized board we’re proven is overflowing with distinctive options not discovered on shopper motherboards together with a hot-swappable chipset that may be changed with out having to flash the BIOS, a one DIMM per channel reminiscence configuration, and unprecedented entry to the CPU.

Additionally it is fascinating that Intel makes use of BGA chips as an alternative of LGA processors for validation testing.

der8auer stated that along with this video, he has already shot two different segments and is planning on doing at the very least another. In case you are in any respect eager about {hardware} happenings, you will not remorse the 17-minute funding.