Requirements for Hyper-Threading - modified bios and the latest chipset.

The 3 GHz barrier has been broken; the new P4 with "HT" runs at 3066 MHz. This is close to the limit of what is achievable with the 0.13 micron design. Also new is the increased core voltage of 1.550 V.

The 3066 MHz P4 is not too different from its lower clock-speed predecessor with the Northwood core. Internally, the CPU is manufactured using the PX60 process with 0.13 micrometer tracks and a CMOS transistor gate length of 0.065 micrometers. Intel is producing its latest chips from 300 mm wafers, whose higher yields provide cost benefits in production. In contrast with its direct predecessor, the 2.8 GHz P4, the new CPU has a major new benefit - its Hyper-Threading technology has now been enabled. What has been hidden from the user up until now is that Intel already integrated its Hyper-Threading technology into the Willamette core two years ago. Software developers were able to access this function right from the start for research purposes. It is not possible to activate HT on older P4 CPUs, because certain settings in these chips are permanently disabled.

The "WCPUID" utility does not yet identify the P4/3066 as an HT CPU.

A view of the Control Panel in Windows XP Pro SP1.