Pentium Processors:
The first commercial processor was Intel's 4004, introduced in 1971. Considered the world's first microchip, the 4004 was not very powerful. In fact, its most notable abilities were performing simple addition and subtraction with a 4-bit-wide bus.
Although the 4004 is primitive by today's standards, fitting the 4004's processing functions onto a single chip was a major accomplishment in 1971. Before the advent of the 4004, computers were built from multiple chips or collections of hundreds of interconnected transistors. The 4004 is remembered for being small and all-inclusive and for powering the first electronic calculator.
As the microchip evolution continued, Intel introduced the 8080 chip in 1974. It had an 8-bit bus.
The 8080 was the first processor to power a personal computer. Introduced in 1979, the 8088 was the first processor to enjoy widespread success.
By 1982, Intel’s 8088 chip was standard in IBM's first line of personal computers. The 8088 chip enjoys a rich history because it was the forerunner to the Pentium computer line.
Intel's processors have powered IBM and IBM-compatible computers since the early 1980s. Following is a brief timeline of Intel's chips along with a brief discussion beginning with more recent CPUs:
2011 –Intel Xeon processor E7 and E3
Continuing the Xeon Intel Core microarchitecture, the E7 and E3 family is designed to enhance performance, reliability, and security for server workloads.
2011 –Intel Atom™ Processor Z670 Series
Continuing its line of ultra low votage CPUs designed for mobile Internet devices, this small processor represents a second generation built for tablets with day long battery life and enhanced performance.
2009 –Intel Xeon processor 5500
Based on Nehalem architecture, this follows Xeon Intel Core microarchitecture. This series improves server performance by automatically adjusting to meet application needs.
2008– Pentium Core i7
Following the Intel Core 2 family, these high end desktop processors features four processing cores with 64 KB L2 cache per core. This is the first processor released with Nehalem architecture, which features and Integrated graphics processor (IGP), a new point to point processor interconnect (Quickpath Interconnect), and simultaneous multithreading (SMT) by multiple cores.
2008 –Intel Atom
Designed specifically for mobile Internet devices, this is Intel’s smallest and lowest power processor. Based on new microarchitecture, it bundles 47 million transistors on a single chip to deliver services for mobile devices, netbooks, and nettops that consume low watts of power.
2006 – Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Duo Extreme
The Core 2 Duo takes the Core Duo a step further with 64-bit processing and speeds of 1.6GHz to 2.7GHz. L2 Cache size is 2MB and 4MB with front side bus speeds of either 667MHz or 1066MHz. Both the Core Duo and The Core 2 Duo series use the LGA775 socket.
The Core 2 Duo processor's specifications increase its effectiveness with animation and high level graphics, which makes it perfect for multimedia designers and gaming machines. The Core 2 Duo Extreme is a higher level version that has a higher clock speed and other features that improve its effectiveness with animation, video, and graphical design. Intel has also released a quad-core processor version of the Core 2 Duo which runs at a 2.93GHz and has an 8MB L2 Cache.
The Core 2 Duo series has removed the bus ratio lock, called overspeed protection, and users are now again able to overclock the processor without performing electrical and mechanical surgery on the processor and motherboard to bypass the protection.
2006 – Core Duo
Intel continues the dual processor line with the Core Duo processor, which replaced the Pentium M and is also used in laptops. Processor speeds range from 1GHz to 2.3GHz and the L2 Cache size is at 2MB. Front side bus speeds range from 533MHz to 667MHz.
The Core Duo is only a 32-bit processor and this was not improved until Intel created the Core 2 Duo.
During early manufacturing of the Core Duo, problems caused one of the two cores to not work. Although this problem was fixed, the defective processor design wasn't wasted, but was sold as the Core Solo processor. The Core Solo's specifications are therefore similar to the Core Duo.
2005 – Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition
Both chips use dual core technology and were available in 2005. The Pentium Extreme Edition has Hyper Threading technology while the Pentium D does not. They both use the Land Grid Array 775 (LGA775) socket. This means that the pins now exist on the motherboard and the chip is almost completely flat. Finally, no more pins on the CPU to get bent up, and heat dissipation should be improved by this new design.
2003 – Pentium M
Created for power efficiency, the Pentium M is a mobile processor with speeds of 1.3GHz to 2.2GHz. The Pentium M has an L2 cache size of 1 or 2MB. In order to improve the processor's power consumption, Intel used SpeedStep 3 technology, which changes the clock speed to perform with only the minimum amount of needed power to perform tasks in an adequate time frame. Users can adjust this balance between the amount of power used and processor speed to suit their needs. Less power means tasks take longer, but battery power drains more slowly and heat dissipates more easily.
2002 – Pentium IV with Hyper-Threading Technology
Drived from the Intel Xeon processor’s super-threading technology, Simultaneous multithreading technology is called Hyper-Threading by Intel. This technology improves computer performance under certain conditions where a dual processors could take advantage of execution units that would otherwise be waiting.
Hyperthreading is not equal to the performance of dual core or dual CPU systems, but it does take advantage of SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) operating systems and SMP coded applications to deliver great performance for very little investment on the CPU’s die. Besides that, a CPU with Hyperthreading Technology looks and responds like a dual processor to motherboards.
2001 – Pentium 4 Xeon processor
A server version of the Pentium IV, the Xeon, was released in 2001. The server chip is almost identical to the original Pentium IV. Newer versions of Xeon will feature larger L2 caches, (an increase from the 256KB L2 cache in current Pentium IVs). The Xeon uses the Socket 603 interface and has 603 pins.
2000 – Pentium IV Processor
By the year 2000, Intel realized that it was time for a change. It was getting harder and harder to increase the speed of the Pentium III, and it became obvious that Pentium Pro technology had been pushed to the limit.
Evidence of the need for a change came from the surging popularity of AMD's Athlon processor, which outperforms the Pentium III.
Unlike the release of major CPU architecture changes in the past, Intel has chosen to stick with the basic Pentium IV architecture and tweak it over time to extract the maximum performance from it. Between 2000 and 2005, the CPU has gone from a 1.3GHz clock speed to 3.8GHz. It has had its L2 cache doubled from 256KB to 512KB. A special high-end version called the "Extreme Edition" featuring a 2MB L3 cache was released in 2003. The 2003 Pentium 4 Extreme Edition should not be confused with the Pentium Extreme Edition which was released in 2005. Intel continued to tweak the Pentium IV architecture into 2005 before releasing a radically redesigned CPU.
Netburst Technology:
The Pentium IV, featuring Netburst Technology, boasts a completely new design and does not show a single trace of the Pentium Pro’s old core. Basing development on current market trends, Intel determined that the next big wave in home user technology was pure multimedia: MPEG, MP3, DVD, streaming video, and audio and graphics. Intel’s new CPU is designed to excel in these areas.
Despite improvements, the Pentium IV is not perfect. Performance tests have shown that the Pentium IV lags behind AMD's Athlon as well as the Pentium III processor in some word processing, spreadsheet, and computer aided design (CAD) applications. Nonetheless, when it comes to the Pentium IV’s target area (multimedia), it outclasses all CPUs on the market. It is the ideal choice for digital video and audio editing.
Intel designed the Pentium IV for future expansion. Intel estimates that it will reach 10GHz or more in just a few years. The Pentium IV is currently available at speeds ranging from 1.3GHz to 3.8GHz. The Pentium IV’s local bus runs at 100MHz and transfers data four times per clock cycle, allowing four times more data to flow to and from the CPU.
Pentium IV RAM Requirements:
To optimize the Pentium IV's speed, Intel decided they needed faster memory technology. Consequently, early Pentium IV motherboards required Direct Rambus DRAM (DRDRAM). Although Intel claims that DRDRAM is the only memory capable of keeping up with the Pentium IV, its release generated a storm of controversy. This reaction stemmed from the fact that DRDRAM is a proprietary technology, and much more expensive than the SDRAM used by Pentium II, Pentium III, and Athlon processors.
In an effort to spark consumer interest, new chipsets were released that allowed Pentium IV processors to work with cheaper non-proprietary SDRAM and DDR SDRAM. Performance, however, is often not as good as with DRDRAM.
Pentium IV Interface:
There are two interfaces for the Pentium IV. The older interface is called Socket 423 and supports 423-pin CPUs from 1.3GHz to 1.8GHz. The new interface is called Socket 478 and supports 478-pin Pentium IV CPUs from 1.7GHz and up.
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AMD and Cyrix Processors
While Intel may be the most widely recognized manufacturer of microprocessors, it is certainly not the only manufacturer. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Cyrix both offered microprocessors comparable to Intel chips at lower, more competitive prices. Cyrix no longer produces processors, but AMD has been competing with Intel since it produced its first processor, with mixed results.
Some AMD processors didn't quite match up with Intel's but were substantially cheaper. Other AMD processors have beaten comparable Intel processors in bench tests, but only in certain aspects. Comparing AMD processors to Intel processors is not easy since there are many factors to consider. Be sure to research prices, features, and bench tests of comparable AMD and Intel processors before deciding which processor to purchase.
2009 – AMD Athlon Neo X2 and Multi-core AMD Opteron
Designed to operate on small low power laptops, AMD's Neo X2 is a dual core processor that enhances graphics and offers more processing power. This is a significant upgrade from AMD's first Neo chip by doubling its processing power. For example, one core can run a word processing application while the second core upgrades its operating system.
Multithreading is the main benefit of dual core processors, so this meets needs of consumers who use music, video, and gaming program applications. Multi-core processors integrate two or more independent cores onto a single integrated circuit die. These are commonly used for network, embedded, and graphics applications.
2006 – Turion 64 X2 Processor
The Turion 64 X2 processor also continues AMD's 64-bit processor line and is built for laptops, but it now contains a dual core. Speeds will also be between 1.6GHz to 2.2GHz , but all models include L2 Cache sizes of 1MB.
2006 – Turion 64 Processor
The Turion 64 processor continues AMD's 64-bit processor line and, due to it's low power consumption, is built for laptops. Speeds will be between 1.6GHz to 2GHz with L2 Cache sizes of 512KB to 1MB.
2005 – Athlon 64 X2 Processor
AMD started the dual core market with the Athlon 64 X2 processor line which includes the X2 3800+, 4200+, 4400+, 4600+, and 4800+. Speeds range between 2GHz to 2.6GHz, with HT speeds at 200MHz. Cache size is 2 x 128KB for the L1 Cache and between 2 x 512KB and 2 x 1MB for the L2 Cache.
AMD’s 5th generation CPU was called the K5. The sixth and seventh generations were called the K6 and K7, respectively. AMD’s Opteron CPUs and Athlon 64 CPUs are the K8, or eighth generation.
2003 – Opteron Processor
AMD's Opteron is a server processor designed to compete with Intel's Xeon processor. There are a large variety of Opteron processors for small, medium, and large servers: the 100, 200, 800, 1000, 2000, and 8000 series. The various specifications on the many Opteron processors are too large to go into detail on, but general specifications include a 1.4GHz to 2.6GHz speed range, an HT range of 800MHz to 1000MHz, an L1 Cache size of 128KB and an L2 Cache size of 1024KB or 2 x 1024KB.
2003 – Athlon 64 FX Processor
The AMD Athlon 64 FX is an improved Athlon 64 processor. There are a variety of versions labeled FX 51, FX 53, FX 55, FX 57, and FX 59. The Athlon 64 FX has speeds between 2.2GHz to 2.8GHz. The 64 FX has HyperTransport (HT) technology, which replaces the front side bus, and HT speeds range between 800MHz and 1000MHz. L1 Cache is 128KB while L2 Cache is between 512KB and 1MB. AMD also has a Athlon 64 FX-60 dual core FX processor which has speeds of 2.6MHz, a 128KB L1 Cache and 2 x 1MB L2 Cache, and an HT speed.of 2000MHz. AMD's other dual core processors are the Athlon 64 X2 line discussed below.
2003 – Athlon 64 Processor
The AMD Athlon 64 is a 64-bit chip which uses the x86-64 instruction set, has a speed range of 1.8GHz to 2.8GHz, a 128KB L1 Cache and a 512KB to 1MB L2 Cache. The front side bus speed is either 1GHz or 2GHz. The Athlon 64 has three cores, the Clawhammer, Newcastle, and the Winchester. Although the Athlon 64 is 64-bit, it is backwards compatible with all 32-bit PC software. AMD also has a Mobile Athlon 64 processor for laptops with very similar speed and Cache size ranges.
2001 – Athlon XP Processor
The Athlon XP processors range in speeds between 1.33GHz to 2.3GHz with front side bus speeds of between 266MHz to 400MHz. XP's L2 Cache size is either 256KB or 512KB and L1 Cache size is 128KB. The speed and Cache size depended upon the XP version. AMD released 4 XP cores: Palomino, Thoroughbred, Thorton, and Barton. The AMD XP processor kept the 3DNow! instruction set, but also added Intel's Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) instruction set. This means that more games will be compatible with AMD processors instead of just games that use the 3DNow! instruction set.
AMD created a Mobile version for laptops with very similar speed and Cache size ranges called the Athlon XP-M processor. AMD also created a dual processor model that works well in high-end workstations and servers called the Athlon MP.
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AMD’s 5th generation CPU was called the K5. The sixth and seventh generations were called the K6 and K7, respectively. AMD’s Opteron CPUs and Athlon 64 CPUs are the K8, or eighth, generation.
