[SunRescue] Ultrasparc CPU dismantling

[Gregory Leblanc]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Kozlowski [mailto:razer at ultra.darkcartel.com]
> Sent: Monday, November 01, 1999 7:31 PM
> To: rescue at sunhelp.org
> Subject: Re: [SunRescue] Ultrasparc CPU dismantling
> 
> 
> Okay, here's the story on the UltraSPARC IIi processors.
> Apparently, the speed of the processor is controlled by
> the little module board, and the rated speed is ignored
> by an Ultra 5.  It is easy to swap CPUs between boards.
> The speed of the CPU moves with the board.  Which leads
> me to an interesting question -- the boards are relatively
> simple, and it is possible that mere resistors are indicating
> to the Darwin at what speed it is to run -- how would we
> modify them to overclock our CPUs?  The 333 mhz CPU that
> I took apart actually held a 360 mhz rated UltraSPARC...

I don't suppose you could take a quick snapshot of that thing for those of
us who don't have Ultras, could ya?  I'd love to see where all of the traces
and resistors are going.  
On a similar note, I've determined that the "clock-locking" done on Intel
P-II and P-III CPUs is part of the cartridge, and not part of anything else
(like a prom).  I would guess that Sun has done the same thing, although
it's not as big a deal for them, because they don't have to worry about
people "stealing" clock cycles from their CPUs as Intel does.
	Greg
> 
> Just food for thought and you electrical engineers out
> there ;-)
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
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