Maximum PC is reporting something that fans of the Core i7 CPUs from Intel will really like. The magazine has found that the mid-range 940 and budget 920 CPUs are multiplier unlocked. Typically, you have to pony up for the Extreme Edition parts to get unlocked multipliers from Intel.

According to Maximum PC, it has found that the QPI on the lower-end parts is locked to 4.8GT/s to keep the 940 and 920 parts from hitting the faster 6.4GT/s speeds that the Extreme Edition is capable of. Memory ratios on the parts are in fact unlocked as well.

That means you can run DDR3 RAM and even the 920 and 940 can be set to the QTI speed of the Extreme Edition at 6.4GT/s. this is an odd feature that pretty much makes the extra cash you would plunk down on the much more expensive i7 Extreme Edition wasted money, but it is great news for shopper looking for the 920 or 940 parts.

Via Maximum PC