What is "Stepping"

Jimmy · 10-21-03, 04:58 PM

From my 2nd replacement Axim that I received today... Still don't have A05 :bang:
What is A0 Stepping mean. Why does Dell send me A04 ROM(PPC 2002)

Model: Dell Axim X5
CPU: Intel® PXA255 400 MHz A0 Stepping
Flash: 28F192 / 48 MB
RAM: 64 MB
ROM Version: A04 (05200300EN)
OS Version: 3.0.11171 (Build 11178)

10-21-03, 06:34 PM

i got my replacement a week ago, and the guy that i talked to from dell said it will come with ppc2003(a05) but it came with pp2002(a02)!!! well i cant really do anything about it since i had ppc2002 with my old axim. but it still pisses me off, i was all happy that i was going to save 30 bucks on upgradeing to pp2003 and then i start up my new replacement x5, and it says 2002.....

mintshows · 10-21-03, 06:47 PM

A04 is the latest update for PPC2k2 (released 10/14).

The A0 stepping is kinda like a model number that dell assigns to your processor. The 255 is the upgrade from the PXA250 processor that was shipping with all original axims.

Jimmy · 10-21-03, 08:14 PM

Quote:

i got my replacement a week ago, and the guy that i talked to from dell said it will come with ppc2003(a05) but it came with pp2002(a02)!!! well i cant really do anything about it since i had ppc2002 with my old axim. but it still pisses me off, i was all happy that i was going to save 30 bucks on upgradeing to pp2003 and then i start up my new replacement x5, and it says 2002.....

Me too. Actually this is my 2nd replacement. 1st one was A04 PXA250. This one is A04 PXA255, so at least it's the newest model. I'm still working with tech support and trying to convince that they owe me A05. I'll let you know if it works.

:approve:

cribbagewiz · 10-21-03, 08:23 PM

The stepping of a processor is a method of determining which hardware revision you have. When a CPU manufacturer makes a line of CPUs, they will almost inevitably make some refinements over time, even if they are only minor. When that is done, the chip has to be identifiable by any subcomponent or software that might care (a PC's BIOS is a good example).

Rather than incrementing the product name (you wouldn't want to buy a Pentium79 if you knew a Pentium80 was available), they increment the stepping. A0 is generally the first run of a particular chip, followed by A1 or B0 if big enough changes took place. When REALLY big changes occur, you essentially have a new model chip, and a name change such as from PXA250 to PXA255 is in order.

Think of stepping like a point release (from 1.0 to 1.01 or 1.1) and you have the right idea.

Hope that helps.

mintshows · 10-21-03, 09:01 PM

you said it much better than I

deftech · 10-22-03, 01:53 AM

Very good explanation cribbagewiz....couldn't have said it better myself. Heck, probably not even as good. :p

Jimmy · 10-22-03, 07:52 AM

Thanks for the excellent explaination.

That's why I come here for all of my Axim answers.

Have a happy Axim day!:D

deftech · 10-22-03, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy
Have a happy Axim day!:D

Is that a nationally recognized holiday? Does this mean we all can skip out on work and/or school today? :p

cribbagewiz · 10-22-03, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by deftech
Very good explanation cribbagewiz....couldn't have said it better myself. Heck, probably not even as good. :p

Thanks! I spent around 4 years as a telephone tech support rep, so I have developed fairly decent explanation skills. It also helps that I am a software test engineer working for a hardware company (we give away software to help sell the hardware) and I work with revisions such as steppings pretty much every day.