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- Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:23906 comp.arch:9338
- Path: sparky!uunet!noc.near.net!mars.caps.maine.edu!maine.maine.edu!ree700a
- Organization: University of Maine System
- Date: Thursday, 10 Sep 1992 13:44:04 EDT
- From: <REE700A@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
- Message-ID: <92254.134404REE700A@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.arch
- Subject: Disabling an FPU (was Re: Does a 487sx shut down the 486sx??
- References: <1992Aug26.173519.22421@unislc.uucp>
- <1992Aug27.183804.8605@tandon.com> <GLEW.92Sep9195211@pdx007.intel.com>
- <1992Sep10.134414.1607@crd.ge.com>
- Lines: 12
-
- IMHO - this is not a big deal, testing is often done before the wafers
- are even sawn, using probe stations. Devices that only fail FPU can have
- selected interconnects laser-vaporized and will become SX's. Those that
- pass everything will become DX's and those that fail everything will become
- keychains!
- I am not certain that Intel uses wafer probe, but I would be amazed if
- they wasted the effort of packaging and bonding bad die! Once the faulty
- subsection was disconnected (electrically) who cares what goes on within it?
- It would not be connected to any power or signal traces, in effect it is
- just dead space.
-
- Jeff Andle
-