Jump to content

What is the silicon lottery?

AMDftw99
 Share
Go to solution Solved by TheSLSAMG,

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

 

For example, a Celeron is the outer edge, and an i7 is the near the middle.

 

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

 

CPUs have variances in how they overclock. No two OC the same. Therefore, we coined a term for it.

 

5139050017_309e9d80fc_z.jpg

 

This is the disc. And it looks fantastic. But, it is also immensely powerful.

Posted
  • Solution

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

 

For example, a Celeron is the outer edge, and an i7 is the near the middle.

 

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

 

CPUs have variances in how they overclock. No two OC the same. Therefore, we coined a term for it.

 

5139050017_309e9d80fc_z.jpg

 

This is the disc. And it looks fantastic. But, it is also immensely powerful.

Main Rig: CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) KLEVV CRAS XR RGB DDR4-3600 | Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX | Storage: 512GB SKHynix PC401, 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 2x Micron 1100 256GB SATA SSDs | GPU: EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra 10GB | Cooling: ThermalTake Floe 280mm w/ be quiet! Pure Wings 3 | Case: Sliger SM580 (Black) | PSU: Lian Li SP 850W

 

Server: CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) Crucial DDR4 Pro | Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B550-PLUS AC-HES | Storage: 128GB Samsung PM961, 4TB Seagate IronWolf | GPU: AMD FirePro WX 3100 | Cooling: EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB | Case: Corsair 5000D Airflow (White) | PSU: Seasonic Focus GM-850

 

Miscellaneous: Dell Optiplex 7060 Micro (i5-8500T/16GB/512GB), Lenovo ThinkCentre M715q Tiny (R5 2400GE/16GB/256GB), Dell Optiplex 7040 SFF (i5-6400/8GB/128GB)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

because of the way chips are produced they vary in quality with the extremes usually being around 10% (very small chance to get this lucky thus lottery) and they can cool more effectively etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Getting a GPU/CPU that overlocks like a beast, even way beyond what it's supposed to do is a good reason to 'hit the silicon lottery'

 

Essentially a component that goes above and beyond what's considered above and beyond. So, not my Core i3 :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

It means a CPU that can OC with low voltages.

 

Not every chip is the same, for instance one chip may need more voltage to match the same frequency/GHz of another when OC'ing. Or one chip may not be stable beyond a certain speed.

Shot through the heart and you're to blame, 30fps and i'll pirate your game - Bon Jovi

Take me down to the console city where the games are blurry and the frames are thirty - Guns N' Roses

Arguing with religious people is like explaining to your mother that online games can't be paused...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Not all Silicon chips are created equally. Some overclock better than others. "Winning" the Silicon lottery means your CPU or GPU overclocks like a champ. Getting a "dud" means that it doesn't like to overclock at all.

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

basically it means that 2 identical CPU's or GPU's will have different overclocking potential because of small differences in the chips when they were made. So you can either be really lucky and get a chip that has amazing overclocking potential or you could get a chip that is horrible at overclocking.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

 

For example, a Celeron is the outer edge, and an i7 is the near the middle.

 

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

 

CPUs have variances in how they overclock. No two OC the same. Therefore, we coined a term for it.

 

 

 

This is the disc. And it looks fantastic. But, it is also immensely powerful.

^This

Spoiler

Prometheus (Main Rig)

CPU-Z Verification

Laptop: 

Spoiler

Intel Core i3-5005U, 8GB RAM, Crucial MX 100 128GB, Touch-Screen, Intel 7260 WiFi/Bluetooth card.

 Phone:

Spoiler

TruPureX, Asus Zenwatch 3.

 Game Consoles:

Spoiler

Softmodded Fat PS2 w/ 80GB HDD, and a Dreamcast.

 

If you want my attention quote my post, or tag me. If you don't use PCPartPicker I will ignore your build.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Higher quality silicon that directly relates to how well it overclocks. The higher the overclock you can achieve with as low of a voltage, the more you've won the loterry.

I've seen an FX-8320 undervolted achieve an overclock of 4.2GHz, which would be a winner in the silicon lottery.

if you have to insist you think for yourself, i'm not going to believe you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

Higher quality silicon that directly relates to how well it overclocks. The higher the overclock you can achieve with as low of a voltage, the more you've won the loterry.

I've seen an FX-8320 undervolted achieve an overclock of 4.2GHz, which would be a winner in the silicon lottery.

I get my 8320 at 4.4 GHz I think 4 or 6 notches below stock voltage. I haven't had time to go further yet.

Intel Core i7-5820K (4.4 GHz) | Gigabyte GTX 970 G1 Gaming | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB  | 2x 360mm Custom Loop (Noctua iPPC) | ASRock X99 Extreme6 | Samsung 840 EVO 250GB | Fractal Design Define S | Corsair HX750 | Windows 10 | Corsair M65 RGB PRO | Corsair K70 RGB LUX (CherryMX Brown) | Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro & Creative Sound Blaster Z | Nexus 6P (32GB Aluminium) | Check out my setup: Project Kalte Here!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

 

For example, a Celeron is the outer edge, and an i7 is the near the middle.

 

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

 

CPUs have variances in how they overclock. No two OC the same. Therefore, we coined a term for it.

 

5139050017_309e9d80fc_z.jpg

 

This is the disc. And it looks fantastic. But, it is also immensely powerful.

best explanation.

 

op mark solved w/ this 

My Rig  

 
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/kGNksY

 

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($379.00 @ shopRBC) 

CPU Cooler: RAIJINTEK THEMIS 65.7 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler  ($34.99 @ NCIX) 

Motherboard: MSI CSM-H87M-G43 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($78.83 @ DirectCanada) 

Memory: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($139.99 @ Memory Express) 

Storage: Kingston Fury 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($71.34 @ DirectCanada) 

Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive  ($92.95 @ Vuugo) 

Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card  ($298.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case  ($125.98 @ Newegg Canada) 

Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($66.99 @ NCIX) 

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - 64-bit (OEM) (64-bit)  ($116.00 @ shopRBC) 

Case Fan: Cougar Turbine 120 (4-Pack) 60.4 CFM 120mm  Fans  ($23.99 @ NCIX) 

Monitor: HP 22xi 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($187.11 @ Amazon Canada) 

Monitor: HP 22xi 60Hz 21.5" Monitor  ($187.11 @ Amazon Canada) 

Keyboard: Logitech G710 Wired Gaming Keyboard  ($114.99 @ NCIX) 

Mouse: Razer DeathAdder 2013 Wired Optical Mouse  ($76.99 @ Amazon Canada) 

Headphones: Kingston HyperX Cloud Pro Headset  ($78.98 @ DirectCanada) 

Total: $2074.22

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when availableGenerated by PCPartPicker 2015-04-10 15:33 EDT-0400Build log http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/303263-the-dell-from-hell/#entry4121100 

Phone Compassion Spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EN6s426gyxqPloIqT4wQ7Y7yovkkQy_5B3djVN-N-R8/edit#gid=0


Gta V Pc Online Crew http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/344773-unofficial-linus-tech-tips-gta-v-crew-pc/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

A CPU die is made out of a disc of silicon. The closer to the center of this disc you get, the better the CPU made out of it will be.

 

For example, a Celeron is the outer edge, and an i7 is the near the middle.

 

The silicon lottery usually refers to overclocking limits. A better overclocking CPU is considered "winning the silicon lottery."

 

CPUs have variances in how they overclock. No two OC the same. Therefore, we coined a term for it.

 

5139050017_309e9d80fc_z.jpg

 

This is the disc. And it looks fantastic. But, it is also immensely powerful.

 

^This

'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.'

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted

I see the words 'silicon lottery' everywhere on forums. What is that?

It's a lottery, similar to a monetary lottery, but you can win silicon instead. :P:D JK

ON A 7 MONTH BREAK FROM THESE LTT FORUMS. WILL BE BACK ON NOVEMBER 5th.


Advisor in the 'Displays' Sub-forum | Sony Vegas Pro Enthusiast & Advisor


 † Tech Tips Christian Fellowship Founder & Coordinator †

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing CPUs, Motherboards, and Memory

×