Digital Media Boost... Let's Call It SSE4?
The ALU typically breaks instructions into two blocks, which results in two micro ops and thus two execution clock cycles. Intel now extended the execution width of the three ALUs and the load/store units to 128 bits, allowing for eight single precision or four double precision blocks to be processed per cycle. The feature is called Advanced Digital Media Boost, because it also applies to SSE instructions. This is called Single Cycle SSE and, for example, allows for merging four 32 bit element vectors into one 128 bit element.
Intel expects this to make a tremendous difference for all types of media processing applications (encoding, transcoding, compressing, etc.) and it even says the Core offers the highest IA computation density for vector processing.
Processor Models And Pricing
| Model | Clock Speed | Price | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xeon 5110 | 1.6 GHz - FSB1066 | $ 209 | 65 W |
| Xeon 5120 | 1.86 GHz - FSB1066 | $ 256 | 65 W |
| Xeon 5130 | 2 GHz - FSB1333 | $ 316 | 65 W |
| Xeon 5140 | 2.33 GHz - FSB1333 | $ 455 | 65 W |
| Xeon 5148 | 2.33 GHz - FSB1333 | $ 519 | 40 W (!) |
| Xeon 5150 | 2.66 GHz - FSB1333 | $ 690 | 65 W |
| Xeon 5160 | 3.0 GHz - FSB1333 | $ 851 | 80 W |
Quad Cores Will Be Here Soon!
Test Setup
| System Hardware | |
|---|---|
| Processor(s) | 2x Intel Xeon Processor (Woodcrest core)
3.0 GHz, FSB1333, 4 MB L2 Cache |
| Platform | Intel S5000 (LGA 771)
Intel Blackford MCH Chipset, BIOS 04/04/2006 |
| RAM | Micron MT18HTF12872FDY (DDR2-533 FB)
4x 1 GB, CL4-4-4-12 Timings |
| System Hard Drive | Hitachi T7K250
164 GB, 7,200 rpm, 8 MB Cache, SerialATA/300 |
| Mass Storage Controller(s) | Intel ESB-2 I/O bridge |
| Graphics Card | On-Board Graphics
ATI ES1000, 8 MB |
| System Benchmarks | |
| Performance | SiSoft Sandra 2007 1098 |
| System Software & Drivers | |
| OS | Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, Service Pack 1 |
| Platform Driver | Intel Chipset Installation Utility 7.3.1.1013 |
| Graphics Driver | Default Windows Graphics Driver |
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