While you may be satisfied with what you’re getting in a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor-equipped netbook, did you know that you could have had the same netbook with a slightly better processor that’s clocked at 1.86GHz? Yes, a 1.86GHz Intel Atom processor is available in the form of the Intel Atom Z540, but manufacturers aren’t in a hurry to offer this variant of the Atom in their products. Why? Because it costs more–twice more, to be exact–than the 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. Yes, it offers a higher CPU clock speed, but at a 100% increase in price, it’s hard to say it will be worth it, especially since netbooks with 1.6GHz Atoms seem to be doing pretty well in the market. Here’s hoping Intel wakes up to reality and lowers their price for these, so we can, you know, experience using it in future netbooks to see if it’s really any better.

Mobile Pentium MMX

Intel Mobile Pentium MMX 120 - TT80503120 (TT120)
120 MHz

TT80503120 is the slowest Pentium MMX processor ever produced by Intel. This processor was only manufactured in Tape Carrier Package (TCP) and used in mobile applications. The CPUs in this package type had to be soldered, and to simplify laptop part manufacturing and replacement the microprocessors were usually mounted on separate CPU boards, There were a few different types of CPU boards for laptops, and one board type was simply a socket 7-compatible PGA adapter with soldered microprocessor (pictured).

Mobile Pentium

Intel Mobile Pentium 75 - A8050275

All mobile Pentium microprocessors, with an exception of some mobile Pentium 120 CPUs, had lower core voltage, and consequently 20% - 30% lower power consumptions than their desktop counterparts. Mobile Pentiums had exactly the same low-power modes as desktop CPUs, and didn't have any additional power-saving features. Many mobile CPUs were packaged in the same ceramic PGA package as desktop processors (shown on the picture). Other mobile Pentiums were manufactured in Tape Carrier Package, which was much thinner and lighter than the PGA package, but had to be soldered on an adapter board or a motherboard.

Pentium overdrive

Intel Pentium overdrive 133 - PODP5V133
120/133 MHz
320-pin staggered ceramic PGA

Pentium overdrive 133 is the only overdrive processor that upgrades socket 4 Pentium processors. This overdrive CPU can replace both Pentium 60 and 66 CPUs. Depending on the bus frequency it will run either on 120 MHz or 133 MHz, so to get maximum performance out of this processor it is advisable before installation of the overdrive processor to change bus frequency of the upgraded system to 66 MHz.

Desktop Pentium MMX

Intel Pentium MMX 200 - BP80503200
200 MHz
296-pin ceramic staggered PGA

Top view

Boxed version of Pentium MMX processor. These processors were sold with integrated heatsink and fan, which, coupled with Zero-Insertion Force (ZIF) sockets, made processor upgrade much easier. Markings on these CPUs were on the heatsink below the fan, under normal conditions (with fan installed) the markings are not visible. But even then it's still possible to tell the processor speed by looking in the left-lower corner of the CPU - the number in this corner is the speed of the microprocessor in megahertz.

Desktop Pentium

Intel Pentium 60 - A80501-60
60 MHz
273-pin ceramic Pin Grid Array

Pentium 60 MHz microprocessor was the first from Pentium series, and it was the slowest one. The CPU was shipped in pin grid array package similar to 80486 - the CPU bottom side looked like a bigger version of 80486. Like older 80486 processors, the Pentium 60 required 5 Volt. High core voltage and big die size were the primary reasons of the processor running very hot even with factory supplied heatsink. Short term fix for this problem was adding an integrated heatspreader that helped to dissipate the heat (see other pictures). The heat problem was solved in the next generation of Pentium chips by switching from 0.8 micron to 0.6 micron manufacturing process, and reducing core voltage to 3.3 Volt.

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor

Any computer enthusiast in the know will be drooling over Intels Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor. This processor simply is one of the most advanced, most powerful, and most efficient computer processors in production today.

The fact that the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor is the worlds first ever quad-core desktop processor should clue you in as to how advance its technology really is. Made using cutting-edge 45nm manufacturing technology and featuring the latest Intel cooling solutions, this processor is able to reach higher clock speeds, processing capabilities and overall performance while consuming less energy and producing less heat.




The Call it Extreme for a Very Good Reason



Running at an impressive speed of 3.00 GHz, you’ll be able to open all your applications and access your folders and documents faster than you can say “Intel.” In tandem with the processor’s industry-leading 12MB L2 cache size and fast front-side bus that runs at 1333 MHz, your view on desktop computing will be entirely changed. Desktop computing has never been this smooth, fast, or hitch-free until the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor came along.

Since the chip contains four cores which can work simultaneously with each other, it’s like having multiple CPUs in one PC. That is the way multi-core and parallel computing work—it gives you the power of multiple CPUs with the energy consumption and the generated heat of a single processor, thus resulting in greater computing efficiency. In easier terms, that means being able to do several tasks such as Internet surfing, using basic productivity software, editing videos and photos, and playing games all at once without having to worry about problems of malfunction due to overheating. Thanks to the power of multi-core computing, you’ll still be able to run background applications such as virus scans and file transfers simultaneously with the tasks mentioned above. That is the power quad-core processing gives you.

But is the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor the right processor for you? Indeed, this quad-core processor was primarily designed for consumers who need to run multiple resource-hungry applications all at once and for gamers who want to play the latest games. They are probably the ones who will benefit the most out of this processor’s power.




However, the processor does offer a host of technologies that can make it attractive to casual users as well. One of these is the Intel Boost HD feature which improves the way computers run mainstream high-definition media. Another one is the Execute Disable Bit technology which helps protect PCs from viruses. Though these may hardly seem like significant improvements, once you start enjoying and making full use of these features, it will be hard to go back to your old processor.

For extreme performance, nothing else comes close to the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor. If you need to have the latest and the greatest, then this is it. It is true that CPU advances at a rapid rate, but with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor’s combination of speed, power, efficiency and multi-core computing capabilities, competitors have a lot of ground to make up for.

Intel Pentium micro processor family

Fifth generation of x86 family, Intel Pentium microprocessor was the first x86 superscalar CPU. The processor included two pipelined integer units which could execute up to two integer instructions per CPU cycle. Redesigned Floating Point Unit considerably improved performance of floating-point operations and could execute up to 1 FP instruction per CPU cycle. Other enhancements to Pentium core included:
To improve data transfer rates the size of data bus was increased to 64 bits.
At first Pentium processors featured separate 8 KB code and 8 KB data caches. The size of both data and code L1 caches was doubled in Pentium processors with MMX technology.
Intel Pentium CPU used branch prediction to improve effectiveness of pipeline architecture. Branch prediction was enhanced in Pentium MMX processors.
Many desktop Pentiums could work in dual-processor systems.
To reduce CPU power consumption the core voltage was reduced on all Pentium MMX, and many mobile and embedded Pentium processors.

Intel manufactured desktop, mobile and embedded versions of Pentium microprocessors. Distinguishing between different versions of Pentiums is not always easy because desktop, mobile and/or embedded Pentiums often used the same part numbers. In some cases Pentium processors with the same part and S-spec numbers were offered as desktop and embedded, or mobile and embedded microprocessors.

Later versions of Pentium processors - Pentium MMX - included 57 new instructions. These instructions could be used to speed up processing of multimedia and communication applications. Like the Pentium processors, the Penium MMX CPUs were also produced in three different versions - desktop, mobile and embedded processors.

A Brief Introduction

A Brief Introduction






Intel Wolfdale color-enhanced die-shot.

Processors come in various revisions as the manufacturers test and modify the circuits that comprise the finished product. The previous Wolfdale stepping, C0, was introduced with all previous versions of the E8xxx, E7xxx, and Q9xxx series processors. If you need a quick refresher on what was introduced with the original 45nm processors, check out Nate's Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Processor Review.


The differences between the C0 and E0 steppings aren't much on paper. There is a new function called the Power Status Indicator that will let motherboards drop their VRM down from a multi-phase circuit to a single-phase circuit to save power when at idle. There were also two additional instructions added to the instruction set, XSAVE and XRSTOR, neither of which are world changing. This stepping also features a step towards being green with the introduction of a halide-free package, just another step towards being cleaner like the move to lead-free processors. So, since the processors are electrically, mechanically, and thermally identical to the C0 stepping, why do they deserve a brief review? Simply, it's all about that need for speed and the E8600 delivers.


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Intel Core i7 Processor

The big news at the tail end of last year was the launch of Intel's brand new Core i7 chip. Codenamed Nehalem, the Quad Core chip features a brand new architecture, which represents one, if not the biggest architectural shifts in Intel processors for ten years.

Core i7 systems are shipping now from the specialist systems builders such as CAD2, Xworks and Scan, and we should start to see Core i7-based workstations from the likes of HP, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens and Lenovo in the next month or so.

So what is all the fuss about? There are three major architectural changes to
Core i7 that not only look good on paper, but should have a real impact on the way users work with CAD/CAM/CAE and rendering applications, so let's have a look at each of these in turn.

FASTER MEMORY
At the heart of this new architecture is a change in the way the chip accesses memory. Instead of the CPU communicating with the memory via the Front Side Bus, Core i7 can receive data directly from the system RAM. If this sounds familiar, that's because it is, as AMD pioneered this integrated controller strategy with its Athlon & Opteron processors a few years back.

With Intel's Front Side Bus architecture, which is used on the Core 2 Duo and many generations before, there was a lot more latency when accessing memory. Now with Core i7, applications that access a lot of memory, frequently, will see a benefit. This is why AMD's Opteron has remained a popular choice with certain CAE users, despite it being slower in most mainstream applications.

The other change in the memory architecture is that the new memory controller has three channels to the RAM which means that Core i7 systems will work best when memory modules are in multiples of three, as opposed to two. This means we are likely to see workstations with 3GB, 6GB and 12GB memory instead of the usual 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB.

HYPERTHREADING
All Core i7 CPUs have four cores as standard, but they also feature a technology called HyperThreading, which simulates additional threads so each chip actually has eight logical cores.
HyperThreading first came to market with the Pentium 4, but was abandoned for the Core 2. It uses spare CPU cycles on each physical core to simulate additional cores, and these can be seen when you bring up the Windows System Performance Dialogue.

The technology only works with certain multi-threaded applications, and can cause confusion when a process assigns itself to a 'logical core' even when there is a physical core sitting around doing nothing. Our limited tests show that it does make a small but significant difference in rendering applications such as 3ds Max.

TURBO MODE / OVERCLOCKING
Core i7 features a new Turbo Mode technology which can automatically adjust the speed of the cores dynamically. The chip can literally switch off those cores that are not being used and channel additional power to the remaining cores.
Intel claims that for single threaded applications (of which most CAD applications are) the speed of a single core can be boosted by around 400MHz.

While Turbo Mode can dynamically adjust the speed of the CPU, specialist workstations manufacturers are looking to get more out of each piece of silicon by overclocking or permanently increasing the speed of chips.
With Core i7 and indeed Core2 Duo, Intel has built in a lot of headroom into its chips. Some say this is because it has no real incentive to sell faster CPUs at this moment in time, because it could jeopardise future sales if the performance leap is too high.

The good news is that those in the know are able to get more out of the chips for no additional cost, safely overclocking them by around 20%.

Overclocking has never really been used in the CAD/CAM/CAE sector, simply because reliability has been deemed more important than performance. However, even with standard cooling solutions, specialist workstation vendors are now offering overclocked systems. But this is not pony tailed geeks in bedrooms with soldering irons, the system builders are extremely confident that the silicon will not be damaged by overheating and this is being backed up with three year warranties.

At DEVELOP3D, we don't expect overclocking to be embraced wholeheartedly by customers, simply for fear of unreliability. However, if confidence grows, and specialist workstation manufacturers continue to push overclocked systems, it will be very interesting to see what impact this has on the Tier One Vendors as the likes of HP, Dell and Lenovo will have to play by the rules and ship systems at Intel's published speeds. And with the top-end 3.2GHz Core i7 chips costing around £700 it's not only a performance advantage that we're talking about here. Specialist system manufacturers are already offering 2.66GHz Core i7 chips clocked up to 3.2GHz for under £300, so price/performance could also become a major differentiator.

CONCLUSION
Core i7 is a huge leap forward for Intel, introducing a number of new technologies, which not only improve efficiency in multi-threaded applications but enhance performance in single threaded applications. As with any new technology, prices are high at the moment, but deals can be had on overclocked systems and expect significant cuts later this year.

Why Does the Intel® Xeon® Processor 5500 Series Support a Third Memory Channel?

Looks like the Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series is making lots of noise in HPC. The QPI and integrated memory controller are really providing the boost necessary to make it an all around performance leader for HPC applications. With all this performance why did Intel add a third memory channel?

The third memory channel enables the platform to support a boat load of memory. Matter-of-fact, up to 192GB can be supported in a two socket configuration. It wasn’t too long ago when only 32GB was supported in a dual socket configuration. By having the ability to support so much memory you can now meet the needs of almost every HPC application. The 5500 series is intended for all server markets, but let’s face it, with the design changes Intel made with the new architecture the server segment gaining the most benefit appears to be HPC.

It seemed like yesterday when the only way to have access to large memory configurations was through expensive, proprietary SMP systems. The HPC market for large SMP systems is still out there but it is shrinking…fast. Today, we are clustering low cost solutions to create some of the most powerful systems in the world. Standard components are leading to lower and lower system costs, delivering a price/performance advantage alternative solutions cannot meet.

Now that a single dual socket node can support up to 192GB’s it is important to understand how to get there. First, to enable 192GB you need 16GB DIMMs x 12 memory slots. There will be a premium for a 16GB DIMM. Knowing the options and determining the best, most cost effective solution is going to be dependent upon your environment. When a large memory node is required, do you purchase the 16GB DIMM’s or go up to a Multi-socket solution? If I decide to scale back on the memory (use 4GB or 8GB DIMMs instead of 16GB DIMMs) what is the performance impact to my application? If I am cost sensitive, will the lower cost outweigh the lack of performance? Can I use SSD’s (Solid State Disk drives) to compensate for any performance loss due to lower memory capacity? There are many questions to think about when deciding the right configuration for your application and environment and I certainly can’t answer them here.

Let’s not forget the third memory channel enables a different set of optimal memory configurations. Think x3 when deciding on how much memory to install into your node; 12GB, 24GB, 48GB, etc. What happens when you don’t use an optimal configuration? Well it depends, in most cases the impact is minimal, but let me add a bit of context around minimal:

· Low bandwidth sensitivity (more dependent upon the processor for performance)

– E.g. Monte Carlo, Black-Scholes (financial modeling), BLAST (bioinformatics), AMBER (molecular dynamics)

– Expect less than a 2% difference between memory configurations*

Ÿ Medium bandwidth sensitivity (somewhat balanced between memory and CPU usage)

– E.g. CFD, Explicit FEA, Implicit FEA (with robust I/O system)

– Expect approx. 5% degradation for non-optimal symmetrical configurations*

Ÿ High bandwidth sensitivity (high access to the system memory)

– E.g. WRF (weather), POP (climate), MILC (physics), Reservoir Simulation

Expect approx. 10% degradation for non-optimal symmetrical configurations*

The results are interesting. In all three cases above, the degraded performance is always better than the performance you would have with only two memory channels.

When you hear about performance impact of non-optimal memory you can see by the examples above, it is application dependent and will not have a severe impact on your overall system performance.

The Intel Xeon processor 5500 series offers support for huge memory nodes with the addition of the third memory channel. Memory configurations in multiples of three are ideal, but if you decide to stay with a power of two configuration the performance should still exceed that of a solution based upon only two memory channels.

Intel demos first-ever 32nm processors

Intel had a little roadmap event today to shed some light on its massive $7b fab investment, and the focus was mostly on the upcoming transition to 32nm processors -- highlighted by the first-ever demo of a working 32nm Nehalem-based Westmere chip. It was just a demo, so there aren't any hard benchmarks available, but eventually the tech will show up in the Calpella platform's dual-core Clarkdale laptop processors that integrate two processor cores, a graphics core, and a memory controller all in a chip the size of one 45nm quad-core Clarksfield chip. (Yes, the codenames are confusing as hell.) Intel wouldn't lock down the schedule for any of this stuff, but when we asked them about the rumored Calpella delays we heard about this morning we were told that parts of the platform will definitely go into production sometime in 2009. Video, slides, and the full press release after the break.

SoftLayer First to Offer Next Generation Intel Processors

Xeon 5500 Series Servers Feature New Nehalem Microarchitecture
DALLAS--(Business Wire)--
SoftLayer Technologies today announced it is the first hosting service provider
to offer servers featuring new Intel Xeon 5500 processors, built with Intel`s
Nehalem microarchitecture. The new line of processors provides up to 125% higher
compute performance over the prior generation while maintaining similar power
consumption. The processors also offer up to two times more virtualization
performance, allowing more virtual machines per physical server.

Intel designed the Nehalem microarchitecture from the ground up to capitalize on
all the advantages of their industry-leading 45-nanometer Hi-k metal gate
silicon technology. Advantages of the microarchitecture include:

* Dynamically managed cores, threads, cache, interfaces, and power
* Simultaneous multi-threading (SMT), enabling more energy efficiency while
increasing multi-threaded workload performance
* Innovative extensions to the Intel Streaming SIMD Extensions 4 (SSE4) that
enhance XML, string, and text processing performance
* Superior multi-level cache, including an inclusive shared L3 cache
* New high-end system architecture that delivers from two to three times more
peak bandwidth and up to four times more realized bandwidth (depending on
configuration) as compared to today`s Intel Xeon processors
* Performance-enhanced dynamic power management

"Intel collaborated with SoftLayer to offer leading-edge technology for
on-demand data center services and technology innovation to its customers," said
Jason Waxman, General Manager of High Density Computing at Intel. "We are
pleased that Intel`s next generation microarchitecture in the Xeon 5500 series
servers will provide breakthrough virtualization performance and enterprise
class features to meet SoftLayer`s growing industry demand."

"SoftLayer is excited to lead the industry in offering this new line from
Intel," said Lance Crosby, SoftLayer Chief Executive Officer. "We constantly
strive to offer our customers the most advanced server technology and with the
introduction of Intel`s Xeon 5500 series, we will be able to provide some of the
most efficient solutions in the marketplace."

About SoftLayer Technologies

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, SoftLayer delivers world-class, on-demand virtual
data center services on a global basis from facilities located in Dallas, TX;
Seattle, WA; and Washington, DC. SoftLayer integrates all facets of IT to
innovate industry-leading solutions that are fully automated. This empowers
customers with complete control, security, scalability, and ease-of-management
for their IT environment. For more information please visit www.softlayer.com or
call 866.398.7638.

With Netbooks, Intel Playing a Dangerous Game

“The most crowded tables at CES Unveiled last night were all netbook vendors. And unlike last year when I was one of the few covering the show with Asus Eee PC, netbooks are being used everywhere I turn,” Kevin Toefel emailed from Las Vegas.

These little machines have caught the imagination of many and sold millions of units this past holiday season. Personally, I am staying on the sidelines, happy with a Macbook Air and the touchscreen joys of an iPhone; but the trend continues unabated, as more and more devices come to market. The growing popularity of these low-cost netbooks, which are now mimicking regular laptops, is a scary prospect for PC component makers, especially Intel.

So far, Intel is holding its own in the category, but it has two worries: the success of ARM-based netbooks and whether such devices will steal sockets from its higher margin chips. When it reports earnings on Jan. 15, analysts are sure to ask if Atom is cannibalizing sales of Intel’s higher-end processors, such as Celeron and Pentium Dual Core.

In its third-quarter earnings call in October, Intel said that the margins on its Atom chips are equal on a dollar basis to the margins on its Celeron chips used in lower-end computers and laptops and actually are higher on a percentage basis. But if consumers choose a netbook over a higher-end notebook, then cannibalization becomes a real concern.

Sales of these devices have increased from 1 million units in 2007 to an estimated 14 million in 2008, according to research from DisplaySearch. Still, that’s just a small fraction of the 80.6 million total PCs (including netbooks) Gartner estimates were sold in the third quarter of 2008. However, with the recession in full swing, netbooks could be gaining ground.

Mika Kitagawa, principal analyst for Gartner’s Client Computing Markets group, said in his her October report on third-quarter PC sales, “In the North America market, the economic crunch created more interest in the sub $500 segment. Because the mini-notebook is still a new segment, it is too early to determine if the emerging segment created new market opportunities, or if it cannibalized lower priced systems.”

Such cannibalization is easier when computer manufacturers link their netbook branding with the names of their more powerful notebooks. C’mon, even Toyota keeps its luxury Lexus brand far away from its everyday Toyota Camry and Corolla brands. In its “Netbooks are the Third PC Form Factor” report, Forrester Research warned:

Consumer products strategists at key vendors have mistakenly named their netbooks as extensions of their laptop lines: The Dell inspiron mini is closely linked in nomenclature to the inspiron notebook line. Similarly, lenovo’s S10 is an ideaPad, while Acer’s one is an Aspire. Even HP’s mini-Note suggests a “miniature notebook.” This branding strategy is dangerous — it cultivates consumers’ confusion about whether netbooks are, in fact, laptops or something else. Craft a completely new sub-brand to market these devices appropriately.