-Query for the tech experts. Since everything manufactured by man has a range of values when specifying quality: typically + or - some spec or perhaps stated as a "must be met" minimum value:-In a computer, ultimate performance (such as FSim Frame Rate) is dependant on a lengthy chain of components (ie chips and within, transistors etc) - all functioning, at least, at their minimum specification. -If all computer components in a given machine, functioned ONLY at their minimum specified performance, would not another, apparently, identical computer be faster if its components happened to be able to run at the upper range of specification variability?Ex. A transistor meeting a spec of 3.0 GHz +/-10% could produce significant performance variations depending on whether or not you just happened to get one of the good ones! -And given the long chain of transistors all working to generate some pixels on a screen-I wonder if this quality variability may help explain why some simmers report disappointing results while others are ecstatic over their 'puter- both having what seem to be quite similar machines or components. Do component maufacturers price on the basis of the actual chip performance - even tho' the product name/ID is the same? That is, are there faster and slower chips- but both bearing the same product ID? If so who gets the good stuff?-Perhaps like cars, there's good ones and there's dogs- but all apparently meet the same technical specs.Any electronic engineers care to comment?Alex Reid

I see what you are saying however with the way they are produced today, I think the margin is very small, and yes if you are unlucky enough to get the lowest possible values, chances are, another chip in your system will be performing above specs to balance. Even if every chip in your comp was performing at min. specs, I think you would see very very very slight changes in performance. It's not going to be a massive difference. Most likely the difference between a little microstutter on the odd occasion to no microstutters at all. Hardly noticeable.

I see what you are saying however with the way they are produced today, I think the margin is very small, and yes if you are unlucky enough to get the lowest possible values, chances are, another chip in your system will be performing above specs to balance. Even if every chip in your comp was performing at min. specs, I think you would see very very very slight changes in performance. It's not going to be a massive difference. Most likely the difference between a little microstutter on the odd occasion to no microstutters at all. Hardly noticeable.

chris- thanks for your response. Part of my curiosity is that each chip is really a chokepoint as it processes and then passes the data to the next chip in the chain. Once slowed at one chip, the data flow can never be speeded up- even if sequential chips are high performers. Like the flow of water in a rust plugged pipe- one little constriction slows the entire stream beyond!And if we substitute "transistor" for "chip"- well there are millions of them- each one potentially slowing the flow to the lowest common denominator.----------------Many years ago, I worked on an assignment for a glass manufacturer. Amongst other products, this plant produced windshields for General Motors.As the windshields came out of the oven cooling chamber on a chain conveyor, a long service employee (sitting on a rickety wooden chair!), sighted through each at an optical target. When a 'shield looked better than average, it was removed from the line and sent off to an optical lab for further tests of visual distortion.Passing these, it became a Cadillac windshield while all the others were designated as Chevrolet glass. When the Caddie quota was filled, you had the possibility of actually getting a Caddie quality windshield in your new Chevrolet!!Both had identical manufacturing specs- but the outcome was for significantly different product performance.I assume a similar production logic exists in the world of electronics!Alex Reid

Most of the times it's the slowest component that determines the speed at which a process runs. It also depends on the nature of the process itself

The variability of performance which you describe is likely due to the variability in human perception and expectations of the individual. Transistors switching @ 2.8GHz in a sample Core i7 930 will perform indentically to those in another sample i7 930. The only real variation here occurs in electrical leakage which causes excess power consumption and heat generation, neither of which affect performance unless you're past the thermal envelope at which point the CPU will begin to under-volt and under-clock to avoid damage. Now if you attempt to over-clock these two sample processors you may achieve different maximum clockspeeds, due to the aforementioned variations.

Thanks to all for your replies. Finally- do modern solid state electronic components change their operating values with usage and/or age? My recollection of vacuum tubes, resistors, capacitors etc is that they definitely did change specs with time & usage. (Anode, cathode, filament and plate - those were heady days watching a glass peanut tube filament glow when you connected the battery! Just imagine- a real radio so small it fitted into a wooden cigar box!)Alex Reid