Your opinion on Intel engineering sample (ES) cpus

[formulav8]

I'm gonna start writing ES on all my possessions just in case this is true. That way no one can ever repossess any of my belongings.

Yuk Yuk Yuk

Seriously though, if Intel makes you sign an nda (which to get an actual ES you should have to, which is the real contract) then they are 'loaning' it to you. But if the cpu just says Intel Confidential with the model number or something then that can mean you got the cpu from an event, you won a prize, your buddies with Intel and so on.

It would be funny though if you could claim in court that you have ES on my stuff so noone can take ownership. Or if you have ES on your cars windshield and back glass then it can't be repoed. (Corny I know, I don't care :hmm


Jason

 

[Idontcare]

I'd like to see some info on Intel every really doing that? Especially to a normal guy with a Intel Conf. (With or Without ES) cpu and selling to someone?

(Edit - To clarify: It looks like I said ES chips in a post. It should be Intel Conf and not ES (At least I don't recall them saying ES, I'm to lazy to edit the posts). They were Intel Conf. e6300/e6400/ect.. Unfortunately they did Not have unlocked multipliers. I tried My sister-in-laws brother has the e6300 cpu now.)

Anyways, as i've been saying the whole time, just because Intel gave you chips behind closed doors or the chips has Intel Conf doesn't mean it wasn't 'given' to the person who now 'owns' it. I doubt Intel Reps with links to Intel Conf chips would do anything illegal. Anytime they give you something that is to continue their property they MAKE you fill out an nda of some sort.

This is the source of the confusion in this thread. Every Intel CPU is stamped "Intel Confidential"...that is not what makes it an Engineering Sample or ES.

Your boss was given non-ES samples, likely OEM if it was in fact still in a tray and not retail packaged.

ES chips mean a very specific thing, and they are property of Intel. If an Intel employee "gives" you one it is no different than if they stole a bunch of printer toner or copier paper from the office stockroom and gave that to you as well.

 

[Borealis7]

isn't it right that after 2-3 years you're allowed to do whatever you want with it?

my cousin, who's an intel employee, has a wolfdale QX9770 ES and from what i recall thats what he told me.

 

[Idontcare]

isn't it right that after 2-3 years you're allowed to do whatever you want with it?

my cousin, who's an intel employee, has a wolfdale QX9770 ES and from what i recall thats what he told me.

Recognize there is a difference between doing something legally versus doing something illegally but with little risk of being prosecuted for it.

If the posted speed-limit is 25mph and you are going 26mph then you are violating the law, you are speeding in excess of the posted speed-limit, but the likelihood of being pulled over by a police officer for going 26 in a 25 is rather low. But no one can tell you that it won't happen because you will be, technically, breaking the law.

Intel may not care to prosecute people who resell their antiquated ES chips but there are no statute of limitations on stolen property, you do so at your own peril and risk of being prosecuted should Intel, for whatever reason, elect to exercise their rights to pursue such with you (or your cousin in this case).

Buying an ES is like buying an enterprise version of MS Office from some dude on Ebay, even if it is a legit version of MS Office and comes with all the original COA's the transaction itself would still be illegal per Microsoft's terms and conditions of the transference of the license for an enterprise edition of MS Office. It falls into the same category as piracy.

I would not want to purchase an ES and forever be wondering if the day is coming when I'll get a knock on the door and be handed a court summons. No amount of temporary gain or pleasure from the ES would supplant the mental wear and tear of that concern weighing on my mind.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is the source of the confusion in this thread. Every Intel CPU is stamped "Intel Confidential"...that is not what makes it an Engineering Sample or ES.

I think that you are incorrect. Retail chips do not say "Intel Confidential", only ES chips. Which really IS how you tell they are ES.

 

[Idontcare]

I think that you are incorrect. Retail chips do not say "Intel Confidential", only ES chips. Which really IS how you tell they are ES.

You are right:

 

[formulav8]

I am going to try and get my sister in laws brother to bring me his computer back so I can look at the cpu again. I don't recall it saying ES on it. Only Intel Conf and some model info or whatever. I do know it is Not unlocked, I tried to change multiplyers and it wouldn't. I would think actual ES would be unlocked? :/

 

[Zap]

Buying an ES is like buying an enterprise version of MS Office from some dude on Ebay, even if it is a legit version of MS Office and comes with all the original COA's the transaction itself would still be illegal per Microsoft's terms and conditions of the transference of the license for an enterprise edition of MS Office. It falls into the same category as piracy.

It is not always piracy. It is breaking a contract which in theory is legally binding. That you specified "Enterprise" version makes it a bit trickier. It will not have a COA. Also, organizations need to pay licensing fees (maybe per system or head?). If it is sold on eBay (which does happen) then likely licensing fees have not been paid, thus it is piracy as well as breaking a contract. However, doing stuff like selling NFR versions, selling Academic versions without checking student/teacher status and selling OEM versions without bundling is not piracy, but breaking a contract.

At least, that's how I understand "software piracy" to mean.

I don't recall it saying ES on it. Only Intel Conf and some model info or whatever. I do know it is Not unlocked, I tried to change multiplyers and it wouldn't. I would think actual ES would be unlocked? :/

I don't think any Intel CPU actually says "engineering sample" on it. They always say either what the CPU actually is (AKA it is an OEM or retail chip suitable for sale in a system or alone) or it says "Intel Confidential" on it, I guess meaning it is NFR. Engineering samples would be a part of that.

BTW "ES" doesn't necessarily mean unlocked either. Yes, there have been those in the past, but I don't think we'll see that many of those for newer chips since Intel officially supports unlocked multipliers on certain CPUs. I think the point of the unlocked multiplier was to use one CPU to emulate multiple CPU versions.

 

[Gillbot]

Recognize there is a difference between doing something legally versus doing something illegally but with little risk of being prosecuted for it.

If the posted speed-limit is 25mph and you are going 26mph then you are violating the law, you are speeding in excess of the posted speed-limit, but the likelihood of being pulled over by a police officer for going 26 in a 25 is rather low. But no one can tell you that it won't happen because you will be, technically, breaking the law.

Intel may not care to prosecute people who resell their antiquated ES chips but there are no statute of limitations on stolen property, you do so at your own peril and risk of being prosecuted should Intel, for whatever reason, elect to exercise their rights to pursue such with you (or your cousin in this case).

Buying an ES is like buying an enterprise version of MS Office from some dude on Ebay, even if it is a legit version of MS Office and comes with all the original COA's the transaction itself would still be illegal per Microsoft's terms and conditions of the transference of the license for an enterprise edition of MS Office. It falls into the same category as piracy.

I would not want to purchase an ES and forever be wondering if the day is coming when I'll get a knock on the door and be handed a court summons. No amount of temporary gain or pleasure from the ES would supplant the mental wear and tear of that concern weighing on my mind.

This ^

I am going to try and get my sister in laws brother to bring me his computer back so I can look at the cpu again. I don't recall it saying ES on it. Only Intel Conf and some model info or whatever. I do know it is Not unlocked, I tried to change multiplyers and it wouldn't. I would think actual ES would be unlocked? :/

ES chips are NOT unlocked.

It is not always piracy. It is breaking a contract which in theory is legally binding. That you specified "Enterprise" version makes it a bit trickier. It will not have a COA. Also, organizations need to pay licensing fees (maybe per system or head?). If it is sold on eBay (which does happen) then likely licensing fees have not been paid, thus it is piracy as well as breaking a contract. However, doing stuff like selling NFR versions, selling Academic versions without checking student/teacher status and selling OEM versions without bundling is not piracy, but breaking a contract.

At least, that's how I understand "software piracy" to mean.



I don't think any Intel CPU actually says "engineering sample" on it. They always say either what the CPU actually is (AKA it is an OEM or retail chip suitable for sale in a system or alone) or it says "Intel Confidential" on it, I guess meaning it is NFR. Engineering samples would be a part of that.

BTW "ES" doesn't necessarily mean unlocked either. Yes, there have been those in the past, but I don't think we'll see that many of those for newer chips since Intel officially supports unlocked multipliers on certain CPUs. I think the point of the unlocked multiplier was to use one CPU to emulate multiple CPU versions.

Most state Intel Confidential and ES somewhere on the IHS, though regardless of the IHS markings, if they are not OEM or Retail "S" Spec codes, they are NOT to be sold or dealt in the open market. I have seen MANY chips that have a plain IHS with no markings. Those are also ES samples and are property of Intel. PERIOD.

To answer the OP, in my experience with ES chips: Unless you get a hand picked cherry sample right from Intel (which is nearly impossible), retail chips are much better since they are less leaky and obviously less likely to have been abused by OC'ers or OEMs.

 

[KeaBorg]

This ^

ES chips are NOT unlocked.


Most state Intel Confidential and ES somewhere on the IHS, though regardless of the IHS markings, if they are not OEM or Retail "S" Spec codes, they are NOT to be sold or dealt in the open market. I have seen MANY chips that have a plain IHS with no markings. Those are also ES samples and are property of Intel. PERIOD.

To answer the OP, in my experience with ES chips: Unless you get a hand picked cherry sample right from Intel (which is nearly impossible), retail chips are much better since they are less leaky and obviously less likely to have been abused by OC'ers or OEMs.

My E8400 ES @ 4.5 would like to have a word with you.

 

[Gillbot]

My E8400 ES @ 4.5 would like to have a word with you.

Cherry picked grasshopper, Cherry picked...... :biggrin:

 

[KeaBorg]

Cherry picked grasshopper, Cherry picked...... :biggrin:

Must be the same way with my Laptop's ES -_- runs 400mhz faster then proposed with less voltage and heat then the old cpu it replaced. -_-

 

[Gillbot]

You never did appreciate the pedigree of the ES samples that were passed on to you.

 

[KeaBorg]

You never did appreciate the pedigree of the ES samples that were passed on to you.

How do you figure? Since I wasn't like you and didn't run them at stock??? CPU's are meant to be tortured and that's what I use to do to them.

 

[dmens]

How do you figure? Since I wasn't like you and didn't run them at stock??? CPU's are meant to be tortured and that's what I use to do to them.

LOL. I have a i7 975 at home which runs at 4ghz at 1.1V core voltage. Doesn't mean all ES are like that. In fact, most are garbage pieces of shit. The ES samples I used to get from the employee beta program are horrendous.

As for the 975, I cherry picked that sample. So naturally it's fast.

 

[KeaBorg]

LOL. I have a i7 975 at home which runs at 4ghz at 1.1V core voltage. Doesn't mean all ES are like that. In fact, most are garbage pieces of shit. The ES samples I used to get from the employee beta program are horrendous.

As for the 975, I cherry picked that sample. So naturally it's fast.

I never OVERLY volted mine with the exception of the e8400 of which I was told, "take it as high as you can and as fast as you can" well 4.6ghz at 1.6v later it started acting funny. Was a good cpu dont get me wrong but when told to abuse and use something that was given to you for the sole purpose of using and abusing and then turning around and saying I didn't appreciate it are two completely different things. With regards to my laptops CPU the bios hack I have that allows 9.5x multi and 1.0v that runs at 2.6~ghz when stock its only 2.4 I see nothing wrong with it since the cpu that was in it ran 10c hotter idle and 20c hotter loaded -_-

EDIT: And as you can see my i7 920 runs a whopping 4ghz at 1.28v and I'm not punishing it at all, but when told to punish something to see what it can and cannot do are two COMPLETELY different stories.

 

[aigomorla]

A company I worked for who is a decent sized computer distributor was handed a tray of Intel Conf. cpu's directly from Intel Reps (as a thankyou or a payoff). The company owner gave one of the cpu's to one of his employees. So where is the wrong in that? Just because it says ES Intel Conf. doesn't mean you can't have one.

The Intel reps literally gave a tray of cpu's to him that say Intel Conf, definitely not 'loaned' out. So you can't simply say if its Intel Conf. that you shouldn't have it.


Jason

u serious?

And u have no idea how many documents they filled out + signed + promised to intel in getting that tray?

:$

Even when i get 1 sample alone, i get shreded with NDA's.
Sometimes when the sample is not requested back from intel, the factory has unused CPU's.

As long as they are kept inhouse... (vendor house), the vendor can do what he wants with them.

However should a time come when intel asks for the tray back, and trust me, ive seen them asking at times, and the vendor cant... thats the last tray they will ever get again.
Ive even had my sponsor ask me for a cpu back because intel requested it back.
I had to mail it to them directly.


ES's are property of INTEL!
And at any moment in time they are fully allowed to ask for them back.

Anyone that sold u an ES did it without the rights and permission from INTEL.

Because ES's should NEVER be sold, there Loan'd / Given from Intel directly.


And u can get into serious trouble if u sell ES's also.
Intel wont say what they will do, but i can fully tell you.

If you get caught, you will get a nice letter from intel security, saying u have a breach in security.
Then they will probably ask you to forfit your paypal account acitivity or they will get a court injunction for it.

Meaning, if u want a legal battle from hell, go ahead if your buying one.
Because if your seller ever gets caught and forfits the payment method, they will come after you next.

You never did appreciate the pedigree of the ES samples that were passed on to you.

Lulz... cuz they were all loned...
You cant really brag about something thats not really yours.
You can only brag about using them, but once again it not yours..

lol..

LOL. I have a i7 975 at home which runs at 4ghz at 1.1V core voltage. Doesn't mean all ES are like that. In fact, most are garbage pieces of shit. The ES samples I used to get from the employee beta program are horrendous.

As for the 975, I cherry picked that sample. So naturally it's fast.

mmmm Cherries!

I have a few of those... banana's as well, and even a celery which thinks its fruit, but its brain dead like a vegetable.

 

[klrgoten]

So... according to Intel's page on ES processors (http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-030747.htm)....

Explain why I would have an Intel Confidential '08, SLL4R

By all of Intel's accounts on their page... thats a production processor...

 

[Nemesis 1]

hello, im thinking of getting an Xeon core ES cpu with B0 stepping and I wanted to know what do you guys think of ES cpus and how they preform vs retail, OEM versions? Thanks

I sold one in a machine befor Xmas . With the understand that I would replace the Cpu and M/B with legal parts when available. As it really a product your not allowed to buy or sell . But all is well now everthing made it back to were it belongs. Be careful

 

[Joseph F]

This is the source of the confusion in this thread. Every Intel CPU is stamped "Intel Confidential"...that is not what makes it an Engineering Sample or ES.

Your boss was given non-ES samples, likely OEM if it was in fact still in a tray and not retail packaged.

ES chips mean a very specific thing, and they are property of Intel. If an Intel employee "gives" you one it is no different than if they stole a bunch of printer toner or copier paper from the office stockroom and gave that to you as well.

I'm sorry to tell you, but you've been misinformed. I have a C2D e4300 that I pulled from an OEM computer and it doesn't say "Intel Confidential" anywhere on it. It reads:
"INTEL ® © '05
INTEL ® CORE™ 2 DUO
4300 SL9TB MALAY
1.80GHZ/2M/800/06
Q641A289"

 

[Gillbot]

Typically, if a processor has an S Spec code on it, it is ready for public consumption. If it is stamped "Intel Confidential", then it is not.

 

[Gillbot]

So... according to Intel's page on ES processors (http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-030747.htm)....

Explain why I would have an Intel Confidential '08, SLL4R

By all of Intel's accounts on their page... thats a production processor...

As stated above, if it says "Intel Confidential" then it is property of Intel.

 

[mizzou]

not sure exactly, but I know with my Phenom X2 that is actually built on a X4 wafer w/ the two cores disabled, a reviewer said that you have much better chances later in the life cycle of the chip because chances are the manufacturer has refined the wafer and they are no longer dealing with ones that HAVE to be disabled to X2 due to a defect. So basically they just take legit X4 chips and downgrade them to X2 to keep supply/demand from being chaotic

 

[Borealis7]

"posting in the wrong thread..." (sing it like "smoking in the boys room" by Motley Crew)