29
7
I recently purchased a processor off eBay that was labelled as an Intel Core i5-2520M. It came shipped in just a tray, not the original box, but the processor and all its markings look perfectly legitimate.
My system BIOS reports it as a Genuine Intel(R) CPU 0 @ 2.50GHz
and shows the CPU-ID as 206A5
, which, when I stick it into Google, turns up the Intel Core i7-2720qm instead.
The CPU seems to work fine for the most part and runs Windows 8 64-bit without issues, although it is giving me some trouble with AMT, but I'm not sure whether this is a CPU or a motherboard issue.
So, this leaves me with a couple of questions:
- Is it possible to update the microcode of a CPU to pass it off as a different one?
- Is it normal that a genuine CPU gets reported as "CPU 0" in the BIOS rather than its actual ID?
- Could this chip be an engineering sample?
- Is there a software tool that will check whether a processor is genuine?
I ran CPU-Z and it reports the following:
Name Intel Core i5 2450M (hmmm...)
Code Name Sandy Bridge
Max TDP 35 W
Package Socket 988B rPGA
Technology 32 nm
Core Voltage 0.792 V
Specification Genuine Intel(R) CPU 0 @ 2.5 GHz (ES)
Family 6
Ext. Family 6
Model A
Ext. Model 2A
Stepping 5
Revision D0
Instructions MMX,SSE,SSE2,SSE3,SSSE3,SSE4.1,SSE4.2,EM64T,VT-x,AES,AVX
Should it look like this for a 2520M CPU?
1Intel doesn't sell mobile CPUs in retail boxes anyway, only in trays. Only desktop and server CPUs are sold in both boxes and trays. – Michael Hampton – 2015-02-10T04:35:55.290
@MichaelHampton I didn't know that! I've been trying to avoid tray-only products where possible, but if this is actually a legitimate packaging, I might be able to go for some of the better deals next time! Thanks! (↑) – Markus A. – 2015-02-10T18:13:58.373
Right. If you look up the CPU on ARK it will tell you which packaging the CPU is (or was) available in. Though either is legitimate; tray packaging is meant for computer manufacturers and system builders who don't need all the extra cardboard or the heatsink/fan, and who often buy in bulk.
– Michael Hampton – 2015-02-10T18:22:27.420@MichaelHampton: some mobile CPUs are available boxed, but they are rare and expensive. Example: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Core-i7-4910MQ-Quad-core-Processor/dp/B00K0VA3LA (Haswell Socket G3; part number BX80647I74910MQ)
– bwDraco – 2015-07-15T04:25:52.240@DragonLord Yes, that's true. Also seems to be relatively new. Anyway, anyone can look this info up at http://ark.intel.com/
– Michael Hampton – 2015-07-15T04:43:44.2673what're you using for the information? On the off chance someone has the same processor, you might be able to check with them. I'm also wondering, since this is a mobile chip, it might be some bios/firmware wierdness with the motherboard. The big difference between a core i7 and a core i5 of the same generation would be the l3 cache, and you can check that - the processor you think you have has 4mb, and the other has 6 I believe – Journeyman Geek – 2013-08-23T02:55:09.113
Mind running cpuz and showing what it reports? http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z/versions-history.html
– spuder – 2013-08-23T02:56:23.793hmm http://prd1glbser.cps.intel.com/gserial/home.aspx might be of use, you can use the ULT number to try to work out more details on it.
– Journeyman Geek – 2013-08-23T03:07:27.203@spuder Done... See above – Markus A. – 2013-08-23T03:08:11.110
http://ark.intel.com/products/53452/ intel page on the 2450M – Journeyman Geek – 2013-08-23T03:08:27.397
@JourneymanGeek Unfortunately it didn't come in a box, just the tray... – Markus A. – 2013-08-23T03:08:37.347
@JourneymanGeek I guess I mistyped it in Google... This would explain why AMT is not working... – Markus A. – 2013-08-23T03:10:54.483
@MarkusA: You could ULT number on the processor a shot anyway. Chances are this is a OEM chip, but worth a try, nonetheless – Journeyman Geek – 2013-08-23T03:10:57.407
5"CPU 0" would be the number of the CPU in the system (i.e. the first CPU enumerated). – Simon Richter – 2013-08-23T07:06:20.153
Related: Is it possible to make illegal clones of an Intel Core i7? (@JourneymanGeek pointed it out in a comment to the accepted answer but I think it belongs here).
– a CVn – 2013-08-23T07:30:34.363Yeah, though in this case cause it mentioned the engineering samples - which @dragonlord had mentioned. – Journeyman Geek – 2013-08-23T07:43:51.683
Just curious: is the capitalization really "INtel(R)" or was that a typo? – rbrito – 2013-08-26T23:48:03.320
@rbito Sorry, that was a typo, I'll fix it... – Markus A. – 2013-08-27T15:10:01.963
@SimonRichter "CPU 0" actually was not just the CPU number, it truly is the CPU ID given by Intel (see my answer). – Markus A. – 2013-08-29T04:04:30.457