Quote Originally Posted by roller11 View Post
There is nothing "concrete" about the so-called "default" setting of 2.67 Ghz in the case of a i7 920. 2.67 has no technical significance, it's just another setting on the continuum of settings from zero to infinity and in fact, the CPU has no default because Bclk is generated by the motherboard, not the CPU. The word "stability" as it's commonly used is actually a way of saying that the CPU is within it's AC limits. The AC limit is the clock value beyond which the flip flops can no longer change state fast enough to propagate the correct value (0 or 1)
to the next stage in worst case situations. Notice that there is mention of software here because any software would run properly if the CPU is within it's AC limits. Any choice of "stability tool" is strictly arbitrary because no software can create every worst case situation (aka 'race condition') inside the CPU. So there is no validity in claiming "stability" just because your CPU has run 100 passes of linpack because another program might cause your computer to crash.
This is only bringing the same circular argument down a peg. Another set of variables and subjective viewpoints rolls right along with it. I could easily say there is no such thing as stability and talk my way out of it. I honestly won't because it is a waste of time and I don't really care enough, but you should understand where I am going here.

The term "stability" should be used loosely. The range of its usage and interpretation is as ambiguous as finding what looks aesthetically pleasing in a work by Picasso. The range can go from an LN2 overclocked CPU viewpoint to the viewpoint at the transistors level or even lower.

Take the term with a grain of salt. Use context clues to "infer" what the individual is speaking of. Honestly all of us here have a common understanding of stability (well the more knowledgeable anyway), so as long as the subject matter isn't way off, let the term run its course. The catalyst here was when a specific member broke that common understanding with the prime stable claim. He was called out and the brains here know what the truth is. Next!

With that said, let us get back on topic . I'm personally waiting on the 975 for my results but I have some choice friends hovering around with D0 on the horizon........