Editing Clock rate (section)

=== Binning ===
[[File:Clock signal and clock rate.png|thumb|upright=1.8|Representation of a clock signal and clock rate]]
Manufacturers of modern processors typically charge higher prices for processors that operate at higher clock rates, a practice called [[Product binning|binning]]. For a given CPU, the clock rates are determined at the end of the manufacturing process through testing of each processor. Chip manufacturers publish a "maximum clock rate" specification, and they test chips before selling them to make sure they meet that specification, even when executing the most complicated instructions with the data patterns that take the longest to settle (testing at the temperature and voltage that gives the lowest performance). Processors successfully tested for compliance with a given set of standards may be labeled with a higher clock rate, e.g., 3.50&nbsp;GHz, while those that fail the standards of the higher clock rate yet pass the standards of a lower clock rate may be labeled with the lower clock rate, e.g., 3.3&nbsp;GHz, and sold at a lower price.<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=6826738|title=Optimization of die placement on wafers|url=http://www.google.com/patents/US6826738}}.</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=6694492|title=Method and apparatus for optimizing production yield and operational performance of integrated circuits|url=http://www.google.com/patents/US6694492}}.</ref>