Intel Model/Step Numbers

i don't know for amd, but i've read that intel processors are grouped according to three classifications: family, model, stepping.

family tells you what it is (p2,p3,p4).. model tells you the available difference in L2 cache (for p3, model 8 had 256K while model B had 512K).. step tells you the frequency stepping (for p3 with family 6, model 8, step 3=744MHz, step 6=800MHz, step A=1GHz)

so in order to tell if it's a p3 or p4, u need to know what family it is for sure. but i recall pentium mmx and p3 mostly had model 8s with a p4 having a model 2.

i'm sure someone has a decoder table handy though...

<font color=green> there's more to life than increasing its speed -Ghandi</font color=green>