Intel Desktop CPUs - Pentium 4
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Intel Pentium 4 (800 MHz bus)
- On April 14, 2003, Intel announced the Pentium 4 processor with
Hyper-Threading Technology operating at 3 GHz with an 800 MHz system
bus instead of 533 MHz, the previous highest speed bus.
Per Intel, "The new 800 MHz bus can transmit information
within the PC up to 50 percent faster than the previous version. With
Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology, users can perform multiple complex
tasks with greater responsiveness from their PCs. For desktop applications,
these tasks include accessing instant messaging while playing a favorite
online game or downloading music while manipulating digital photos.
Advanced digital content creation tasks such as 3-D modeling, rendering
and video editing are some of the workstation applications that benefit
from these new features.
"Designed specifically to support the Intel Pentium
4 processor with HT Technology, the Intel 875P chipset, formerly codenamed
Canterwood, supports dual-channel DDR400 MHz system memory, providing
exceptional performance across a full range of multimedia and 3-D
intensive applications. The chipset introduces two significant platform
innovations: Intel Performance Acceleration Technology (PAT) and Communications
Streaming Architecture (CSA). PAT speeds data flow between the processor
and system memory to increase performance. The 875P chipset also offers
a dedicated networking bus based on Intel's new Communications Streaming
Architecture. CSA, in conjunction with the new Intel® PRO/1000
CT Desktop Connection gigabit Ethernet controller, doubles the networking
bandwidth possible with today's PCI bus based solutions.
"Additionally, the 875P chipset includes a high-performance
AGP8X graphics interface for an advanced graphics experience, integrated
Hi-Speed USB 2.0* and Serial ATA, and dual independent DMA audio engines
enabling a user to make a PC phone call while playing digital music
streams. The new 875P chipset offers built-in RAID capabilities utilizing
the latest Serial ATA interface for accelerated disk I/O. Error Correction
Code is supported for users that demand memory data reliability and
integrity. Additional technical information on these chipsets is available
at http://developer.intel.com/design/chipsets."
On May 21, 2003, Intel announced three Intel® Pentium®
4 processors supporting Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology and a trio
of chipsets enabling faster and more feature-rich corporate and consumer
PCs at mainstream price points. The new Intel Pentium 4 processors
-- 2.80C, and 2.60C, and 2.40C GHz -- come equipped with HT Technology
and an advanced 800 MHz system bus that allows information to flow
to and from the processor more quickly.
Also launched were the Intel® 865G and 865PE chipsets,
formerly code-named Springdale, supporting HT Technology and Intel's
advanced 800 MHz system bus and other industry leading features that
deliver excellent performance for desktop computer users. The chipsets
improve productivity and enable richer digital media, gaming, and
broadband experiences.
The Intel 865G and 865PE chipsets are designed specifically
to support the Intel Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology and Intel's
advanced 800 MHz system bus.
They also include a high-performance AGP8x graphics interface for
an advanced graphics experience, integrated Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and Serial
ATA 1.5Gb/s (150MB/s). Intel also offers these chipsets with optional
built-in RAID capabilities utilizing the latest Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s
interface for accelerated disk I/O. Additionally, the Intel® 865P
chipset, was also launched today. The Intel 865P chipsets offer the
above features with support for Intel's 400MHz and 533MHz system buses.
The Intel 865G chipset supports dual-channel DDR400/333/266
memory, providing exceptional performance across a full range of multimedia
and 3-D intensive applications. It also incorporates a new generation
of integrated graphics, named Intel® Extreme Graphics 2, and is
targeted at the high-volume business and consumer desktop market segments.
The 865G chipset also offers a dedicated networking
bus based on Intel's new Communications Streaming Architecture (CSA).
CSA works in conjunction with the new Intel® PRO/1000 CT Desktop
Connection to double the Gigabit Ethernet networking bandwidth available
on today's PCI bus based solutions.
The Intel 865PE chipset with support for 800MHz system
bus and dual-channel DDR400 memory, works with today's advanced AGP8x
graphics cards to provide flexibility for consumers, and higher end
performance for graphics intensive applications. A third chipset,
the Intel 865P, supports dual-channel DDR333/266 memory, AGP8x graphics
cards and both 533 and 400 MHz system buses.
On June 23, 2003 Intel introduced the 3.2 GHz version
of this CPU.
Intel Pentium 4 (533 MHz
bus) - On May 6, 2002 Intel introduced the Intel Pentium 4 processors
at 2.53, 2.40, and 2.26 GHz which used a 533 MHz system bus and were
built with Intel's 0.13 micron technology.
Previous Pentium 4 processors interacted with the rest
of the system using a 400 MHz system bus. Intel also introduced the
850E chipset, which is designed to operate at the new system bus speed.
On August 27, 2002 Intel introduced the 2.50, 2.60,
2.66, and 2.8 GHz Pentium 4.
Per Intel, "With high-performance PCs, consumers
can dramatically reduce the time it takes to encode digital media
such as music, pictures, and movies. A computer based on the Pentium
4 processor operating at 2.8 GHz can convert more than five one-hour
videotapes to MPEG-4 digital video in the same time a 500 MHz PC can
convert a one-hour videotape. Compared to a 500 MHz PC, consumers
can edit photos more than four times faster with a PC based on the
Pentium 4 processor 2.8 GHz."
Chipsets that support the 533 MHz bus. The Intel®
850 chipset family supports dual-channel RDRAM memory. The Intel®
845G and 845E chipsets provide both 533 and 400 MHz system bus support
and integrated Hi-Speed USB 2.0.
2.2 and 2.4 GHz Pentium 4
(0.13 micron) - The 2.20 and 2.4 GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 processors
are based on Intel's 0.13 micron manufacturing process. The new Pentium
4 processor increases the performance scalability of the Intel® NetBurst™
micro-architecture by delivering higher clock speeds with lower thermal
power and doubling the Level 2 cache to 512K. The 2.2 GHz Pentium
4 was introduced on January 7, 2002 and the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 was
introduced on April 3, 2002.
845 Chipset. Also announced on January 7, 2002,
was the 845 chipset. Per Intel, "The Intel® 845 chipset features
support for PC133 SDRAM and DDR200/266 SDRAM, providing a significant
increase in the performance of a Pentium 4 processor-based system
at a relatively low cost. The 845 chipset features a Write Cache that
prevents writes from conflicting with critical reads, Flexible Memory
Refresh for the most efficient use of memory, and up to 24 Open Memory
Pages that increase access to memory for better system multitasking."
Pentium 4 (0.18 microns)On
November 20, 2000 Intel Corporation introduced the Intel Pentium(R)
4 processor at 1.5 and 1.4 GHz. In December 2000, Intel began shipping
a 1.3 GHz version of the Pentium 4 processor to help establish the
brand at mainstream price-points. On April 23, 2001 Intel announced
it was shipping the 1.7 GHz Pentium 4 and on July 02, 2001 Intel announced
the 1.6 and 1.8 GHz Pentium 4 CPUs. On August 27, 2001 the 2 GHz Pentium
4 was shipped.
The 1.3 - 2 GHz Pentium 4s were manufactured using a 0.18 micron process
and had a 256K Level 2 cache.
Per Intel,"The Pentium 4 processor delivers a new generation
of performance for processing video and audio, exploiting modern Internet
technologies, and displaying 3-D graphics. Its foundation is the new
Intel(R) NetBurst(TM) micro-architecture, a collection of unique technologies
that will power Intel's most advanced 32-bit processors for consumer
and business users over the next several years of computing."
Intel® Pentium® 4 processor logo
(Photo Courtesy of Intel)
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The Pentium 4 processor is designed to give users performance
where they can appreciate it most," said Paul Otellini, executive
vice president and general manager, Intel Architecture Group. "Whether
streaming content, playing interactive games, encoding video and MP3
files, or creating Internet content -- the Pentium 4 processor is
designed to meet the needs of today's most demanding computer users."
The Intel(R) NetBurst(TM) Micro-Architecture and Intel(R) 850 Chipset.
The Pentium 4 processor with Intel NetBurst technology is the first
completely new desktop processor design from Intel since the Pentium
Pro processor, with its P6 micro-architecture, was introduced in 1995.
Highlights include Hyper Pipelined Technology, which enables the Pentium
4 processor to execute software instructions in a 20-stage pipeline,
as compared to the 10-stage pipeline of the Pentium III processor.
Hyper Pipelined Technology supports a new range of clock speeds, beginning
today with 1.5 and 1.4 GHz, with plenty of headroom for the future.
For higher performance, the Rapid Execution Engine allows frequently
used Arithmetic Logic Unit instructions to be executed at double the
core clock. The industry's first 400 MHz system bus speeds the transfer
of data between the processor and main memory. In addition, 144 new
instructions have been added to further speed the processing of video,
audio and 3-D applications. These and other technical innovations
make Pentium 4 processor-based PCs the ideal machines for creating
and experiencing Internet media.
The Pentium 4 processor platform is based on the high-performance
Intel(R) 850 chipset. The Intel 850 chipset's dual RDRAM* memory banks
complement the Pentium 4 processor's 400 MHz system bus, providing
up to 3.2 gigabytes of data per second. Intel also announced availability
of the Intel Desktop Board D850GB, which supports the new Pentium
4 processor in the ATX form factor.
Additional information about the Pentium 4 processor is available
from Intel at www.intel.com/pentium4.
Pentium 4 Performance
Initial reviews of the Pentium 4 showed it to be a mediocre
performer when running typical Windows tests and applications. It
had about the same speed as a 1 GHz Pentium III and per some tests
the 1.2 GHz AMD Athlon outperformed the new Pentium 4 at 1.5 GHz.
While the Pentium 4 was designed for graphic applications, it did
not show significant increases in speed in current day graphics applications.
There have been two chains of thought as to why the Pentium 4 is not
faster. One explanation is that current day software is not designed
to take advantage of the Pentium 4's new abilities, and others hint
that Intel may not be done with this CPU and that better and faster
CPUs will follow it. In either case, we did not recommend this CPU
when it was first produced to the average computer user as it appeared
more of a niche CPU for the future high-end gamers and graphics designers.
However with the production of the 1.7 GHz and faster GHz Pentium
4s, this CPU has the added muscle to perform all computing tasks.
Several performance evaluations of the Pentium 4:
April 20, 2001 InfoHQ Editorial - Intel's Latest
Pentium 4 Performance Tests. Intel has released new test data
outlining the speed advantages of the Pentium 4 over the Pentium III.
These tests can be found on Intel's
web site.
Highlights from the testing of a 1.5 GHz Pentium 4 against a 1 GHz
Pentium III include:
-- The Pentium 4 is 27% faster than a Pentium III at certain Internet
applications which include Adobe Acrobat, Flash, XML, and Java.
-- The Pentium 4 has 35% faster "3D visualization". Examples
of this include graphic rendering and video frame rates. (Note that
the Pentium 4 has not been shown to play most 3D games any faster
than a Pentium III. - Ed)
-- The Pentium 4 can run Adobe Premier 5.1 (a graphics creation program)
30% faster.
-- The Pentium 4 can run Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 7 about 62%
faster.
From these tests, one can only conclude that a graphics professional
would have the most to gain from using a Pentium 4. Unfortunately,
in everyday applications and games, the Pentium 4 has not shown significant
speed advantages over the Pentium III, and in most cases, the AMD
Athlon Thunderbird has been shown to out perform the Pentium 4. Instead
of its hoped for effect of showing superiority over the Pentium III,
these tests support the conclusion that the Pentium 4 is a niche CPU.
Performance of the 1.7 GHz Pentium 4. The Pentium
4 at 1.7 GHz is finally gaining some respect. It still dominates professional
type graphics, but its clock speed is helping it make up its deficiencies
in other areas. Also, some games (Quake III Arena, MBTR) are taking
advantage of the Pentium 4's new features and are running faster than
on Thunderbird Athlons.
So how to choose between an Athlon Thunderbird, Athlon
XP, or Pentium 4? In general everyday applications, it should
be assumed that a 1.2 GHz Athlon Thunderbird is as fast or faster
than a 1.5 GHz Pentium 4, and the 1.30 and 1.33 GHz Athlon Thunderbirds
would be equivalent in performance to the 1.7 GHz Pentium 4. Athlon
XPs run 25% faster than a Pentium 4 at equivalent clock speed (so
an Athlon XP 1800+ would be 25% faster than a Pentium 4 1.8 GHz CPU).
This comparison formula cannot be used with Pentium 4s faster than
2.0 GHz, as Intel went to a 0.13 micron architecture and doubled L2
cache to 512KB to produce all faster Pentium 4s.
Even though AMD went to an 0.13 micron process for the Athlon XP 2200+,
the 2200+ (at 1.8 GHz) can be considered to be even in performance
to the 2.2 GHz Pentium 4, and outclassed by all faster pentium 4s.
If you have one specific type of application that you
are most interested in running at a high speed, a visit to the manufacturer's
web site might provide CPU performance information.
In general, we recommend you decide on the performance you need, and
see which processor will provide the most power for your money.
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