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Processor Frequency Barrier?
Processor Frequency Barrier?
anyone know why CPUs still don't operate above stock clocks of 3.4GHz? i mean, i have had a Pentium 4 3GHz chip for over 5 years now, and yeah now we have quad cores and soon-to-be six-core CPUs with beefy FSB's but all these chips are known to break 4GHz on stock cooling easily, why not default them to that? i'm just curious why Intel tops out at 3.33GHz and AMD at 3.4GHz for flagship Processors for "extreme" enthusiast usage.
-Austin
Screamin' BCLK:
775 System (Overclocking Platform): Q8400/Q8300/E8400/E7400/E7500 - GA-EP45-UD3R v1.1 - 4GB (2x2) OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2 1066 CL5 2.1v Corsair TX-750w
Gamer: Asrock Z77 Extreme4, i7 3770K @4.6GHz, ThermalTake Armor A90 modded, 2x4GB GSKILL RipjawsX DDR3 2133 CL9, Corsair HX-750w, MSI GTX660 Twin Frozr
Server2012: Q9300 - 8GB DDR2 - Asus P5QL Pro - Corsair CX430 - Mirrored 2TB Seagate's with 2TB WD cav for fileshare backups, 1TB WD for OS backups
Screamin' BCLK:
775 System (Overclocking Platform): Q8400/Q8300/E8400/E7400/E7500 - GA-EP45-UD3R v1.1 - 4GB (2x2) OCZ Reaper HPC DDR2 1066 CL5 2.1v Corsair TX-750w
Gamer: Asrock Z77 Extreme4, i7 3770K @4.6GHz, ThermalTake Armor A90 modded, 2x4GB GSKILL RipjawsX DDR3 2133 CL9, Corsair HX-750w, MSI GTX660 Twin Frozr
Server2012: Q9300 - 8GB DDR2 - Asus P5QL Pro - Corsair CX430 - Mirrored 2TB Seagate's with 2TB WD cav for fileshare backups, 1TB WD for OS backups
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Apoptosis
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Re: Processor Frequency Barrier?
A number of factors cause them to stop there...
power consumption, heat, yields, cost and the fact that they are adding more cores now... We have seen true physical cores go from 1 -> 2 - > 3 -> 4 - 6 on desktop processors in less than a decade. Why go faster, hotter and more expensive when you can just run software that is able to handle multiple threads? Remember system builders also have keep prices in check so heat is a major issue. All chassis have to be tests and then the cost of the cooler is also a big deal as many ODM cases are funky to say the least.
Sure you had a Pentium chip that ran 3GHz five years ago, but in a few months you'll be able to own a chip that is 6 physical cores with 12 logical threads that runs above 3GHz.
power consumption, heat, yields, cost and the fact that they are adding more cores now... We have seen true physical cores go from 1 -> 2 - > 3 -> 4 - 6 on desktop processors in less than a decade. Why go faster, hotter and more expensive when you can just run software that is able to handle multiple threads? Remember system builders also have keep prices in check so heat is a major issue. All chassis have to be tests and then the cost of the cooler is also a big deal as many ODM cases are funky to say the least.
Sure you had a Pentium chip that ran 3GHz five years ago, but in a few months you'll be able to own a chip that is 6 physical cores with 12 logical threads that runs above 3GHz.
Re: Processor Frequency Barrier?
The barrier is also there to leave plenty of overclocking room for the enthusiasts. 
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Apoptosis
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2003 8:45 pm
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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Re: Processor Frequency Barrier?
I wish that was trueibleet wrote:The barrier is also there to leave plenty of overclocking room for the enthusiasts.