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Hardware Guide Part I (Processors)

Processor Sockets

Current Desktop Processor Sockets

Manufacturer Socket Introduction Description XPCs

Intel

 

423

Nov 2000

The first socket design for Pentium 4 and did not have a long life. -

478

July 2001

Socket 478 accommodates high- and low-end processors, including Pentium 4, Pentium 4 Extreme Edition and Celeron/Celeron-D with several core designs (Willamette, Northwood and Prescott) and FSB speeds (400, 533, 800 FSB). No more processors are being developed for it, and processor production for this socket is gradually declining during 2005. SB51G
SB52G2
SB61G2
SB62G2
SB65G2
SB75G2
SS50
SS51G
SS56G/L
ST61G4
ST62K

775

June 2004

Socket 775 is also called Socket T or LGA 775 and is Intel's latest CPU socket for desktop processors. LGA stands for Land Grid Array, which means that the pins are on the motherboard, not the processor. This socket offers a maximum Front side bus of 1066 MHz. One thing to mention though is that LGA 775 processors are actually cheaper than equivalents for Socket 478. SB77G5
SB81P
SB83G5/M
SB86i
SB87G5
SB95P
SS58G2/SE
SS59G

479

March 2003

Socket 479 is used for Intel's Pentium M and Celeron M (Mobile) processors, which were originally designed for use in laptop PCs. Unlike Socket 478, the Socket 479 is latched with a screwdriver instead of a usual lever. Once the CPU is sitting flush in the socket, use a flat-head screwdriver to lock the chip in place by turning clockwise. SD11G5
M1000

AMD

A
(462)

June 2000

Socket A (also known as Socket 462) is used for AMD Athlon (Thunderbird) and Athlon XP (Palomino, Thoroughbred, Barton) processors and AMD budget processors including the Duron and Sempron (Thoroughbred). Processors for Socket A are about to disappear from the market during the second half of 2005. SK41G
SK43G
SN41G2
SN45G
SS40G

754

Sept 2003

Socket 754 is designed for the average user who doesn't care about every ounce of performance, since it does not support Dual Channel and only has 800MHz Hyper Transport bus. Still not a bad solution as it competes very well with other plattforms and is cheap. Finally, AMD shifts the socket 754 into the value segment with a series of new Sempron models. SK83G
SN85G4
SK21G

939

June 2004

Socket 939 features Dual Channel and 1000MHz Hyper Transport and supports latest 90nm AMD processors (fast and cool). It is a good plattform for highend gaming with an excellent price/performance ratio. SN21G5
SN25P
SN26P
SN95G5
ST20G5

AM2
(940)

May 2006

Socket AM2 supports the new Rev F processors, which use the same naming scheme as their predecessors. Athlon Processors with socket AM2 feature a dual channel DDR2-800 memory controller with a theoretical peak bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s, that's twice the bandwidth of Socket 939 Rev E CPUs with 128-bit DDR-400 controller. SN27P2

Processor Overview

Intel Pentium 4

Intel Pentium 4 - Mainstream Desktop Processors

CPU core

Type

Socket

Cache

FSB

Model / Frequency

Features

Willamette
180nm

Celeron
Pentium 4

478
423, 478

128 kB
256 kB

400 MHz
400 MHz

1.7-2.0 GHz
1.3-2.0 GHz
SSE 1
SSE 1

Northwood
130nm

Celeron
Pentium 4

478
478

128 kB
512 kB

400 MHz
800/533/400 MHz

1.8-2.8 GHz
1.6-3.4 GHz
SSE 1-2
SSE 1-2
Prescott
90nm
Celeron-D
Pentium 4
Pentium 4
478
478
478
256 kB
1 MB
1 MB
533 MHz
533 MHz
800 MHz
315-350 / 2.26-3.2 GHz
2.8 GHz
2.8-3.4 GHz
SSE 1-3
SSE 1-3
SSE 1-3, HT
Prescott
90nm

Celeron D
Celeron D
Pentium 4
Pentium 4
Pentium 4
Pentium 4
Pentium 4

775
775
775
775
775
775
775

256 kB (3xx)
256 kB (3xx)
1 MB (5xx)
1 MB (5x0)
1 MB (5x1)
2 MB (6xx)
2 MB (6x2)

533 MHz
533 MHz
533 MHz
800 MHz
800 MHz
800 MHz
800 MHz

325-345(J) / 2.53-3.06 GHz
326-355 / 2.53-3.33 GHz
506+511 / 2.66+2.80 GHz
520-570(J) / 2.8-3.8 GHz
531-571 / 3.0-3.8 GHz
630-670 / 3.0-3.8 GHz
662-672 / 3.6-3.8 GHz
SSE 1-3 (XD)
SSE 1-3, XD, EM64T
SSE 1-3, HT, XD, EM64T
SSE 1-3, HT (XD)
SSE 1-3, HT, XD, EM64T
SSE 1-3, HT, XD, EM64T
SSE 1-3, HT, XD, EM64T, VT
Smithfield
90nm
Pentium D 775 2x 1MB (8xx) 533 MHz
800 MHz
805 / 2,66 GHz
820-840 / 2,8-3,2 GHz
SSE 1-3, XD, EM64T,
Dual Core
Cedar Mill
65 nm
Celeron D
Pentium 4
775 512 kB (3xx)
1 MB (6x1)
533 MHz
800 MHz
352-356 / 3.2-3.33 GHz
631-661 / 3.0-3.6 GHz
SSE 1-3, XD, EM64T
SSE 1-3, XD, EM64T
Presler
65nm
Pentium D 775 2x 2MB (9xx) 800 MHz 920-950 / 2.8-3.4 GHz SSE 1-3, XD, EM64T, VT
Dual Core

Intel Pentium M (Mobile)

Intel Pentium M and Celeron M - Socket 479 (Mobile prozessors)
CPU core Name FSB Cache Number Clock TDP
Banias
130nm
Celeron M 400 MHz 512 kB 310~340 1.2~1.5 GHz 24.5 W
Pentium M ULV 400 MHz 1 MB 713 1.1 GHz 7 W
Pentium M LV 400 MHz 1 MB 718 1.3 GHz 12 W
Pentium M 400 MHz 1 MB 1.2~1.7 GHz 24.5 W
Dothan
90nm
Celeron M 400 MHz 1 MB 340~370 1.3~1.5 GHz 21 W
Celeron M ULV 400 MHz 512 kB 373 1 GHz 5 W
Pentium M ULV 400 MHz 2 MB 723~753 1.0~1.2 GHz 5 W
Pentium M LV 400 MHz 2 MB 738~758 1.4~1.5 GHz 10 W
Pentium M 400 MHz 2 MB 715~765 1.5~2.1 GHz 21 W
Pentium M 533 MHz 2 MB 730~770 1.6~2.13 GHz 27 W

AMD

AMD Socket A (Socket 462) - Mainstream Desktop Processors

Type

Core

Process

FSB

Cache

Model / Frequency

Features

Duron

Spitfire
Morgan
Applebred

180 nm
180 nm
130 nm

266 MHz
200 MHz
200 MHz

64kB
64kB
64kB

600-950 MHz
900-1300 MHz
1400-1800 MHz
MMX, 3DNow!
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!

Sempron

Thoroughbred "B"
Barton

130 nm
130 nm

333 MHz
333 MHz

256 kB
512 kB

2200+ - 3000+ / 1.5 - 2.0 GHz
3000+ / 2.0 GHz
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
Athlon "B"
Athlon "C"
Thunderbird
Thunderbird
180 nm
180 nm
200 MHz
266 MHz
256kB
256kB
650-1400 MHz
1000-1400 MHz
MMX, 3DNow!
MMX, 3DNow!
Athlon XP

Palomino
Thoroughbred "A"
Thoroughbred "B"
Thoroughbred "B"
Thorton
Thorton
Barton
Barton

180 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm
130 nm

266 MHz
266 MHz
266 MHz
333 MHz
266 MHz
333 MHz
333 MHz
400 MHz

256 kB
256 kB
256 kB
256 kB
256 kB
256 kB
512 kB
512 kB

1500+ - 2100+ / 1.33 - 1.73 GHz
1700+ - 2100+ / 1.467 - 2.133 GHz
1600+ - 2600+ / 1.4 - 2.133 GHz
2600+ - 2800+ / 2.083 - 2.25 GHz
2000+ - 2400+ / 1.667 - 2.0 GHz
2600+ / 2.08 GHz
2500+ - 3000+ / 1.833 - 2.167 GHz
3000+ - 3200+ / 2.1 - 2.2 GHz
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE
MMX, 3DNow!, SSE

AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron Processors (K8 architecture, Socket 754/939)

Socket

Memory

HT

Name

Core (Process)

Model / Frequency

Cache

754

Single
Channel
DDR400

800 MHz
1600 MT/s
Hyper-
Transport

Sempron

Paris (130nm)

3000+ / 1.8 GHz
3100+ / 1.8 GHz
128kB
256kB

Sempron

Palermo (90nm)

2600+ - 3300+ / 1.6 - 2.0 GHz
2500+ - 3100+ / 1.4 - 1.8 GHz
128kB
256kB
Sempron with 64bit extension 2600+ - 3300+
Athlon 64 Newcastle (130nm) 2800+ - 3400+ / 1.8 - 2.4 GHz 512kB

Athlon 64

Clawhammer (130nm)

2800+ - 3000+ / 1.8 - 2.0 GHz
3200+ - 3700+ / 2.0 - 2.4 GHz
512kB
1MB
939 Dual
Channel
DDR400
1000 MHz
2000 MT/s
Hyper-
Transport
Sempron Palermo (90nm) 3000+ - 3200+ 128kB
256kB
Athlon 64 Newcastle (130nm) 3500+ - 3800+ / 2.2 - 2.4 GHz 512kB
Athlon 64
Athlon 64 FX
Clawhammer (130nm) 4000+ / 2.4 GHz
FX53 - FX55 / 2.4 - 2.6 GHz
1MB
1MB
Athlon 64 Winchester (90nm) 3000+ - 3500+ / 1.8 - 2.2 GHz 512kB
Athlon 64 Venice (90nm) 3000+ - 3800+ / 1.8 - 2.4 GHz
3700+ / 2.2 GHz
512kB
1MB
Athlon 64
Athlon 64 FX
San Diego (90nm) 3700+ - 4000+ / 2.2 - 2.4 GHz
FX55 / 2.6 GHz
1MB
1MB
Athlon 64 X2 Manchester (90nm)
Toledo (90nm)
4200+ - 4600+ / 2.2 - 2.4 GHz
4400+ - 4800+ / 2.2 - 2.4 GHz
512kB
1MB

Instruction set: All Athlon 64 and Duron support MMX, 3DNow!, SSE1, SSE2 and NX - but the Paris core do not support NX. All Athlon 64 support AMD64 extensions. 90nm processors with E3-stepping support SSE3 instructions set. Sempron supports Cool'n'quite since 3000+
Introduction date:
Oct '04: Athlon 64 Winchester, April '05: Sempron, June '05: Athlon 64 X2 (Dual Core)

AMD Desktop Processor Quick Reference
Processor Architecture Socket 64-bit? Target markets
Athlon 64 FX 8th Generation 939 Yes Enthusiast, Extreme Gamer
Athlon 64 X2 8th Generation 939 Yes Digital Content Creation, Power User
Athlon 64 8th Generation 939 Yes Performance, Mainstream
Athlon 64 8th Generation 754 Yes Performance, Mainstream
Sempron 8th Generation 754 since July 05 Value
Sempron 7th Generation A (462) No Budget-Conscious
Athlon XP 7th Generation A (462) No Mainstream

Processor features

Extended Instruction Set
The x86 architecture was invented in 1978, it has been extended several times since then, to add new features used by new classes of application: MMX (1996), 3DNow! (1997), SSE (1999), SSE2 (2001). The SSE3 instruction set is supported by Intels Pentium 4 Prescott core (2004) and AMDs Athlon 64 Venice/San Diego cores (2005).

Semiconductor manufacturing process (180, 130, 90 nm, ...)
It was Intel's founder, Gordon Moore, who, in 1965, claimed that the number of transistors on a chip would roughly double every two years. The transistors become smaller over the years and new features, techniques and structures could be integrated on a chip. The size and spacing of the processor's transistors (silicon etchings) is measured in nanometers, which is one-billionth of a meter. Die shrinks enables not only cost reduction, it has also been proclaimed as the way to lower power and higher speed for a number of years. On the other hand, with every die shrink, the ratio between leakage and operating currents has gone in the wrong direction at an alarming rate. Nevertheless, AMD managed to reduce the power consumption of their Athlon 64 processors: the 90nm Winchester core (since October 2004) consumes less power than its 130nm counterparts (67W versus 89W). A shrink in the manufacturing process will happen every 2-3 years, this is probably also true for the future: 350nm (1994), 250nm (1996), 180nm (1998), 130nm (2000), 90nm (2003), 65nm (2005), 45nm (2007), 32nm (2009), 22nm (2011).

Bit definition - AMD64 and EM64T
Everything in the digital world is measured in bits and bytes (8 bits equals 1 byte). Processors are divided by the size of their internal registers. This is the computer's "word" size, which is the amount of data the CPU can compute at the same time. When Intel introduces the world's first single-chip microprocessor in 1971, it supports 4 bit data words. Following processors support 8 bit (1972), 16 bit (1978), 32 bit (1985), and 64 bit (2003). Intel had originally decided to completely drop x86 compatibility with the 64-bit generation but due to the success of the AMD64 line of processors Intel introduced a similar technology, called EM64T. The 64-bit operating system "Windows XP Professional x64 Edition" has been released in April 2005.

Integrated DDR memory controller (AMD)
Allows for a reduction in memory latency, thereby increasing overall system performance. Depending on socket design it support single (socket 754) or dual channel (socket 939) memory access.

Front-side bus (system bus)
Originally, this bus was a central connecting point for all system devices and the CPU. However, in recent years FSB means the connection between the CPU and the northbridge of the mainboard chipset. In general, a faster front side bus means higher processing speeds and a faster computer for a number of reasons. All Pentium 4 systems use a Quadruple Data Rate (QDR) bus, which transfers four units of data in each cycle - the same principle as AGP 4X. For example: when the processor uses a 200MHz reference clock, the effective clock rate is 800MHz. Read more

HyperTransport (AMD)
Is a point-to-point bus used by AMD for their Athlon64, AthlonFX, and Opteron lines of CPUs. From the technical side, it is not a front side bus. The HyperTransport bus is used to connect parts of the system together. This is listed because it is the only bus that allows communication between the processor and the rest of the system, which was traditionally one of the functions of the frontside bus. On AMD-64 CPUs, the frontside bus, which connected the CPU to the northbridge, has been removed in favor of an on-die memory controller. HyperTransport Technology to I/O Devices: One 16-bit link supporting speeds up to 1 GHz (2000 MT/s = Mega-Transfers per second) or 4 Gigabytes/s in each direction.

Hyper Threading (Intel)
Starting with Pentium 4 3.06GHz in 2002 Intel introduced Hyper Threading technology to process two threads at a time. In certain ideal situations, it leaves the system much more responsive to user input by allowing background tasks to run on the second logical unit. Read more

Non-execute (NX), Execute Disable Bit (XD)
This functionality can prevent certain classes of malicious "buffer overflow" attacks when combined with a supporting operating system. It allows the processor to classify areas in memory by where application code can execute and where it cannot. When a malicious worm attempts to insert code in the buffer, the processor disables code execution, preventing damage or worm propagation. Depending on manufacturer, this feature has different names and must be supported by CPU and operating system:

Maker Name supported by
AMD NX-Bit (non-execute)
EVP (Enhanced Virus Protection)
all Sempron / Athlon 64/FX/X2 processors for Socket 754 and 939 except the first Sempron with Paris core
Intel XD-Bit, EDB (Execute Disable Bit) Intel Pentium 4 5xxJ / 6xx / 8xx
Celeron-D 3xxJ
Microsoft EDB (Execute Disable Bit) Windows XP with SP 2
Windows Server 2003 SP 1
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition
Linux DEP (Data Execution Prevention) Linux 2.6.8 and higher
SUSE Linux 9.2
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Upd. 3

Intel Extreme Edition (EE) and AMD Athlon 64 FX
These are the flagship desktop processors of Intel and AMD which is targeted primarily at gamers.
Intel: the first Extreme Edition processor was based on a modified 130nm Gallatin-core (from Xeon MP) with 2MB Level 3 cache for Socket 478 at 3.2GHz/800FSB speed. Then Intel upgrade step by step: Socket 775 (3.4 GHz), 1066MHz FSB (3.46 GHz), Prescott core with 2MB L2 cache (3.73 GHz), and in April 2005: Pentium 4 EE 840 (dual core, 3.2GHz, 2x 1MB L2-Cache), which is a Pentium D 840 plus Hyper-Threading support. Extreme Edition Processors are supported by Shuttle XPCs SB75G2, SB77G5, SB95P (at 800MHz FSB) and SB95PV2 (at up to 1066MHz FSB, single core).
AMD: The first Athlon 64 FX-51/53 with Socket 940 requires expensive registered ram and phased out after a short period of time. The current Athlon 64 FX-51/53/55 models were designed for Socket 939 based on the 130nm Clawhammer core. Athlon 64 FX is supported by all XPC with Socket 939.

Intel Pentium - Extreme Edition (EE)

Model

Socket

FSB

Core Frequency

Core

Cache size

Features

positioned (XPC)

Pentium EE 840

775

1066 MHz

3.2 GHz

Dual Core 90nm 2x 1MB (L2) + Dual Core i945/955X-chipset (SD??)

Pentium 4 EE

3.73 GHz

Prescott 90nm

2 MB (L2) + SSE3, NX, EM64T i925XE-chipset (SB95PV2)
3.46 GHz

Gallatin/Northwood-2M
130nm

512kB (L2)
2 MB (L3)
MMX, HT, SSE 1-2

800 MHz

3.4 GHz

i925X/i875P-chipset (SB95P, SB77G5)
478 3.4 GHz i875P-chipset (SB75G2)
3.2 GHz

Dual Core - Intel Pentium D and AMD Athlon 64 X2
Due to thermal dissipation issues, processors can no longer be given substantial clock speed improvements. This has led to many months of performance stagnation. Finally, Intel and AMD have come up with the latest concept in increasing performance levels, by integrating two processor cores into one chip. The real benefit of multicore processing is that it allows you to run multiple processor-intensive tasks at the same time - each core taking care of different applications. You could, for instance, run a game and a PVR program at the same time and experience minimal performance degradation. Running those programs on a single-core processor will likely result in choppy frame rates or poor video recordings. But it is better on single-core processors at elevated frequencies when you only run a single non-thread-level optimized application (like current games). The x86 dual-core era began in April 2005 with the official introduction of Intels Flagship Pentium Extreme Edition 840 and AMDs Dual-core Opteron for server platforms. The more affordable Intel Pentium D and AMD Athlon 64 X2 models have followed two month later.

AMD's Cool’n’Quiet and Intel's EIST Technology
AMD's Cool'n'Quiet can be found on all Socket 754 and Socket 939 Athlon 64 processors. Intel's Enhanced SpeedStep technology (EIST) ist supported by Pentium 4 600-series and later. Enabling this technology, the processor will lower its operating frequencies when idle, to help conserve power and create less heat.

CPU Stepping
Throughout the life of a processor life cycle, the processor may go through several steppings or versions. Newer steppings typically have some type of improvement over previous steppings of the processor. Steppings can be identified by the CPUID String, which is a four character string. The first character is typically a 0 and the second and third characters represent the family and model number. The fourth character represents the processor stepping.

Thermal Design Power (TDP)
The maximum amount of heat which a thermal solution must be able to dissipate from the processor so that the processor will operate under normal operating conditions.

Boxed retail and OEM tray Processor
An boxed processor is sometimes referred to as a retail box. Boxed means the processors comes in a box, and not OEM which is usally a little bag. The boxed retail processor comes including fan and extended warranty from the manufacturer. An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) processor, sometimes referred as a tray processor, is a processor that is sold to an OEM manufacturer or distributor intended for installation. The warranty varies in length and is provided by the place of purchase.

Related Links:

Date: July 2005. All information is subject to change without notice.

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