Modern Intel processors

We are presenting some reference information on Intel's CPUs, chipsets, and platforms topical for the "spring/summer 2007" season. This is not the first roundup material of the kind on our site - for instance, in autumn 2005 the article Intel processors today and tomorrow had an immense success, and quite recently we published something similar about 3D graphics - Modern graphic processors - 2007. As the practice has shown, our readers are not only interested in reviews only, but primarily in the exhaustive set of reference data collected in one place and, preferably, regularly updated.

Starting with this publication onwards and meeting the desires of our readers, we intend to present to your attention a complete and varied reference information in a tabular form on processors and not only on them. In view of the huge amount of data to be processed, at this stage we decided to confine to only Intel CPUs for desktop and mobile systems,.leaving out [for now] the server sector. Anyway, the pattern of Intel platforms is not complete without server solutions, that is why the come up in some tables.

Also, for the purpose of expediency, we have included only the processors topical today or in only the nearest future, and only their key specifications. Perhaps with time we'll get round to a complete listing of chip identifications and even go deep into the past presenting you a full history of the CPUs – despite the little importance of this information from the modern practical viewpoint, such data is anyway important in some specific cases like upgrade, historical research, etc.

Needless to say, the information presented in the tables is getting outdated almost every day. Hardly more than a month passes and new processors emerge (quite possibly, some of the newly released have not been included into the table through our oversight); at the same time, subscription on Intel product line updates regularly brings data of another CPU model phasing out on the grounds of restructuring the production lines for newer chips.

If the initiative proves to be in demand, we'll proceed with the publications, and first of all we'll be preparing reference materials on those computer components and products which are of most interest among the readers.

Most probably, the most practical way of maintaining such reference information will be its regular update - say, once a season (spring/autumn), on a quarterly or monthly basis. At the same time, we would be indeed appreciated to our readers for support of this project. We would welcome your remarks on noticed errors and omissions, your suggestions and ideas on improving the form of presentation of data, and your requests for desired data, so that we could jointly make an exhaustive and handy reference resource.

Another thing to note. From time to time, the tables present names of not yet officially presented Intel's future CPUs, chipsets, platforms and architectures. Of course, this info is unofficial and is included into the data as a reference point (not a guideline).

Marking of modern Intel processors

Just to warm up - a few words on the marking of Intel's modern processors. I presume, the pinout of the new processors is clear - it is the well-known and familiar LGA775. All the more or less modern Intel CPU models - both high-end and mainstream - have long migrated to LGA775.

But the marking of CPUs has undergone serious changes and now is made up of 5 elements - a combination of the letter prefix followed by a 4-digit numerical index. It makes sense decoding the 5-digit marking of Intel CPUs with the letter index which identifies the TDP of the processor, without any relation to the form factor.

In its turn, the 4-digit index also has the following meaning: the higher the 4-digit number in the CPU marking, the higher performance and power consumption it offers. At the same time, the first digit means the belonging of the chip to a certain product family, and the second one stands for the respective ranking within the family. Therefore, the greater the figure is, the higher is the performance of the chip.

Here are a few examples of how the marking of modern processors looks and what stands behind the notation:

• Core 2 Extreme X6800 – 2.93 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB
• Core 2 Duo E6600 – 2.4 GHz, 4 MB L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB
• Core 2 Duo E6400 – 2.13 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 1066 MHz FSB
• Core Duo T2500 – 2 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 667 MHz FSB
• Core Duo U2500 – 1.06 GHz, 2 MB L2 cache, 533 MHz FSB

Then, there follows a list of key connectors and contact systems for Intel processors. Incomplete, of course. In future, it is planned to add all the types of contact systems for Intel CPUs, including the options for onboard soldering.

Key connectors/contact systems of Intel CPUs
Socket-W	Socket 423 (for desktop PCs. Taken out of production)
Socket-N	Socket 478 (for desktop PCs. Taken out of production)
Socket-F	Socket 603 (for server systems)
Socket-T	LGA775 (Land Grid Array. T - Tejas)
Socket-C	The socket was originally planned for use with Cedar Mill. Cancelled.

Marking of modern Intel processors

The table collects the so-called "working names" of Intel CPUs for desktop PCs which are used unofficially before the date of announcement, together with the matching names of Intel's micro-architectures and the retail names of the chips.

The same - working names of Intel CPUs with the matching names of micro-architectures and the retail names of the chips, for mobile PCs.

For reference - the same regarding the names Intel CPUs for server systems. Here is a complete list of CPUs of the recent years, including chips of the IA64 Itanium architecture.

In view of Intel's new marketing strategy aimed primarily at the promotion of comprehensive platform solutions (and not specific components as before),it is indeed topical to include a list of working names of platforms within which Intel is generating hardware-software systems for desktop, mobile, and server systems.

It is not easy to make a decision regarding Intel's chipsets which are of no real interest to the modern buyer. The modern buyer is heterogeneous.

We now move on to the specifications of CPUs directly.

Intel processors for desktop PCs

Quad-core Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs for desktop PCs

Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs (working name Kentsfield) are made on the base of the 4-core Intel Core architecture, and from the technical viewpoint are two dual-core Conroe cores interlinked on a single substrate. Core 2 Extreme QX6xxx chips offer 8 MB of total L2 cache (4 MB of distributed L2 cache per each pair of cores), which provides support for four physically independent threads and in theory allows for additional performance boost if there is support from the software part of the platform. Core 2 Extreme QX6xxx CPUs are compatible to motherboards based on the i975X and other chipsets which offer a power supply module and meet the VRM 11 specifications, as well as have the matching BIOS firmware.

Core2 Quad CPUs offer all the key advantages of the new Intel Core micro architecture, including support for Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Intel Wide Dynamic Execution, Intel Intelligent Power Capability, Intel Advanced Smart Cache, Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost, and Intel Smart Memory Access. For details of novelties in the Intel Core micro architecture, read our article Evolution of the multi-core Intel Core processor architecture: Conroe, Kentsfield....

Multi-core Intel Core 2 Extreme CPUs for desktop PCs

The Intel Core 2 Extreme series includes both the dual-core (X6800) and quad-core version (QX6700). In fact, Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 is different from the higher-end models of Intel Core 2 Duo E6xxx having the Conroe core in only higher clock speeds, which is caused by the high TDP - over 75 W, and automatically moved this processor to a class of chips with the letter index X.

From the technical viewpoint, the 4-core Core 2 Extreme QX6700 appears to be two dual-core chips of the Core 2 Duo E6700 (Conroe) class integrated within a single package. Therefore, the overall L2 cache size makes 8 MB, or 4 MB per each pair of cores, with the remaining key specifications being similar to Core 2 Duo E6700.

Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs for desktop PCs

The Intel Core 2 Duo series based on the modern Intel Core micro architecture is a family of Intel's most interesting processors in terms of performance per watt and efficiency.

Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo chips for desktop PC (Conroe core) offer 4 MB or 2 MB of distributed L2 cache, FSB up to 1066 MHz, support Intel Wide Dynamic Execution, Intel Intelligent Power Capability, Intel Smart Memory Access, Intel Advanced Smart Cache, and Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost.

Dual-core Intel Pentium Extreme Edition for desktop PCs

Pentium Extreme Edition CPUs (or Pentium XE) became the first 2-core chips for desktop platforms made by Intel. Intel Pentium Extreme Edition CPUs based on the Smithfield core offer support for the 1066 MHz system bus, are equipped with 4 MB or 2 MB of L2 cache, 2 MB or 1 MB per each core. Pentium XE processors support the Intel Extended Memory 64 technology (support for 32-bit and 64-bit addressing), Hyper-Threading (up to four software threads simultaneously), Execute Disable Bit (if supported by the operating systems, protects against viruses that exploit memory buffer overflow errors).

Originally, Pentium XE processors were positioned for use with systems based on the Intel 955X Express chipset with support for up to 8 GB 2-channel ECC DDR2-667/533 memory with error correction (ECC).

Dual-core Intel Pentium D for desktop PCs

First announced in May 2005, the 2-core Intel Pentium D processors are currently presented with models made following the 65-nm and 90-nm process technologies. The chips are equipped with 2 MB or 1 MB L2 cache per each core (4 MB altogether), 2 õ 16 K of L1 cache per each core, and 2 Execution Trace Caches which are able storing up to 12K of decoded micro-ops. Intel Pentium D CPUs support the Intel Extended Memory 64 (Intel EM64T), Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep (in a number of chips), and the SSE3 instruction set. Essentially, Intel Pentium D processors are chips based on the NetBurst architecture - two Pentium 4 per chip.

The main distinction of 2-core Pentium D processors from the Pentium XE series in the lack of support for the Hyper-Threading Technology.

Intel Pentium 4 6xx for desktop PCs

Intel Pentium 4 600 (Prescott 2M) CPUs offer support for the Hyper-Threading and 2 MB L2 cache. The series includes CPUs of clock speeds within 3.0 GHz to 3.80 GHz. The declared TDP of Intel Pentium 4 660 and 670 processors is 115 W, others - 84 W.

Intel Pentium 4 series 600 processors are based on the Intel NetBurst architecture, offer support for the FSB 800 MHz, Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology (EIST), Intel EM64T. The main distinction of Pentium 4 series 600 processors (Prescott 2M core) from the already phased-out Pentium 4 500 series (Prescott core) is in the doubled capacity of L2 cache at lower clock speeds.

Intel Pentium 4 5xx for desktop PCs

The main distinction of Pentium 4 series 500 series (Prescott core) from the higher-end Pentium 4 600 series (Prescott 2M core) is in the L2 cache size twice as little. Intel Pentium 4 series 500 processors are made following the norms of the 90 nm process technology in LGA 775 packages, contain about 125 mln transistors. The declared TDP of the Pentium 4 550 and higher processors is 115 W, other chips - 84 W.

Intel Celeron D for desktop PCs

Intel Celeron D processors of clock speeds up to 3.36 GHz (Celeron D 360) offer the options typical for most Prescott processors, with the difference in lower FSB=533 MHz supported. The L2 cache size of "old" 90 nm models is 256 K, whereas new models made following the 90-nm norms - 512 K.

Intel Celeron D series processors are produced in two makes of the housing design - LGA775 and mPGA478. The whole line Celeron D supports the SSE3 instruction set, and a number of models support the EM64T.

Intel CPUs for mobile and compact PCs

Intel processors for mobile PCs - Pentium M or Celeron M - are inseparably linked with the integrated Centrino platform for mobile PCs promoted by the company for several years, which includes Intel's best technologies for notebook PCs.

Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs for mobile and compact PCs

From a certain time, the new Intel Core architecture has been topical for all the market sectors - mobile, desktop, and server systems. Having inherited the philosophy of efficient power consumption first implemented in Intel Pentium M for mobile PCs with the working name Banias, owing to new technologies and implementation of some developments of the new NetBurst architecture, the new generation architecture has improved the ratings. Here are the key innovations of Intel's new CPU architecture:

• The Intel Wide Dynamic Execution technology is to provide a greater number of instructions executed per cycle, thus improving the efficiency of running applications and reducing the power consumption. Each core of the processor that supports this technology is now able executing up to four instructions simultaneously using the 14-stage pipeline.
• The Intel Intelligent Power Capability that enables specific components of the chip only when needed allows to achieve a substantial reduction in the power consumption of the system on the whole.
• The Intel Advanced Smart Cache technology implies using a unified L2 cache memory common for all the cores, whose joint use allows to cut down the power consumption and raise the performance. At the same time, one of the processor cores may use up the whole volume of the cache memory whenever needed, with the other core disabled dynamically.
• The Intel Smart Memory Access technology increases the system performance due to the reduced memory response time and thus optimized bandwidth of the memory subsystem.
• The Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost technology allows processing all the 128-bit SSE, SSE2, and SSE3 commands widely used in multimedia and graphic applications in one cycle, which increased their speed of execution.

Intel Core 2 Duo with the 2-core Merom design aimed at mobile and economy PCs are represented by the Ò series whose TDP is rated within 25 to 49 W.