Dual Core Opteron Thread #2

[nYdGeo]

Hello! I am currently using a 4400+ @ 240x11=2.64GHz using 1.5v. I have overkill liquid cooling, and the temps range from 17C idle to an Orthos-induced max of 26C. I am staying with this system until the end of the year, and would like to upgrade as much as I can. I know that I can find an FX-60 rolling around, but as I have a DFI Expert and PC-4000, I really just need a multi of 11 for reasonable maximum potential (300 x 11 = 3.3GHz (I wish)).

Anyway, I recently read something quite odd; it suggested that all Opterons of a given stepping are the same; i.e. a 170 & a 185 of the same stepping are identical except for the 170 having the multi capped at 10, where the 185 is capped at 13. This suggested that assuming that they are both of the same stepping, and the multi was set to 10, they would both have approximately the same maximum speed potential.

This is a wild thought, but not completely unreasonable. So first of all, can anyone give me info along these lines? Is this true or does potential in Opty's work just like most other CPUs with faster-rated CPUs having a higher speed potential?

Secondly, I keep reading about how varying the potential is using this stepping or that; can anyone tell me if there is anyway to obtain new CPUs of specific steppings, or is it just all based on luck? Depending on what info I gather here, I'd like to order my new Opty in the next day or so, probably from newegg since they have all of the socket-939 Optys in stock (unless someone knows of a better source?), and would just like to make the best possible decision. Thank you in advance for any information that might help me make this call.