Intel's 15 Most Unforgettable x86 CPUs

Pentium 4 Gets 64-bit And Another Core

In 2005, Intel improved its Pentium 4 twice. First, with the Prescott-2M, and then with Smithfield. The former was a 64-bit processor, based on the Prescott design, and the latter was a dual-core processor. They are fairly similar and have the same problems as other Pentium 4s: low instructions per cycle (IPC) throughput and difficulty in increasing the clock frequency due to current losses. These two processors, intended to limit losses while awaiting the Core 2 Duo, are not among Intel’s most highly regarded. And while the Pentium D (the commercial name of the Smithfield) does have two cores, in reality it’s an assembly of two Prescott dies in the same package.

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Code namePrescott-2MSmithfield
Date released20052005
Architecture64 bits64 bits
Data bus64 bits64 bits
Address bus64 (actual 36) bits64 (actual 36) bits
Maximum memory64 GB64 GB
L1 cache16 KB + 12 Kµops2 x 16 KB + 12 Kµops
L2 cache2,048 KB2 x 1,024 KB
Clock frequency3–3.6 GHz2.8–3.2 GHz
FSB800 MHz800 MHz
SIMDMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
SMT/SMPHyper-Threadingdual cores (Hyper-Threading on certain models)
Fabrication process90 nm90 nm
Number of transistors169 million230 million
TDP84-115 W95-130 W
Voltage1.2 V1.2 V
Die surface area135 mm²206 mm²
ConnectorLGA775LGA775

An interesting point is that whereas the Pentium 4 processors intended for the consumer market did not use the PAE technology (which enables 36-bit, as opposed to 32-bit memory management) and were therefore limited to 4 GB of RAM, these models can go beyond that limit. In practice, the address bus is still limited to 36 bits (40 bits on the Xeon), but PAE (management in 4 GB pages) is now ancient history—a 64-bit program is capable of making full use of the available memory.

Hyper-Threading, an Intel SMT technology, was available on certain models (Xeon and Extreme Edition). Finally, a 65 nm version (the 9x0 series) of the Pentium 4 was released later, but made no major improvements.

  • Arkz
    great article with only a few slight errors (like saying the core2duo has 1-4 cores... i don't think there's a 1 cored version lol)

    Looking forward to the AMD article.
    Reply
  • aleluja
    To correct you. Core 2 Duo has ONLY 2 cores, not more, not less.
    Core 2 Quad, has 4 cores and Core Solo has 1 core.
    Reply
  • @Arkz

    Yes there is a singal core,

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors#Single-Core_Mobile_processors

    Ok it is not under the same branding but it is part of the same microarchitecture
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    I might be wrong, but i resemble that the Pentium 166 (32bits adress bus and all) had support for 4Gb of memory. I remember IBM sold it's top line (at that time) with 64Mb support (even with SDR PC100/66 support). Correct me if i'm wrong please.
    Reply
  • neiroatopelcc
    The core 2 does supply 1-4 cores - 2 cores per die, where one might be disabled, and one or two dies on a socket. It's no less right to call a core2duo a cpu with 1-4 cores, than it is to put the pentium d on the same page as a single core prescot, as it's the very same principle.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    Arkzgreat article with only a few slight errors (like saying the core2duo has 1-4 cores http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coree ... i don't think there's a 1 cored version lol)Looking forward to the AMD article.
    Thanks for the heads-up! I tweaked that passage to better represent the Core 2 architecture's available configurations!
    Reply
  • randomizer
    vosesterOk it is not under the same branding but it is part of the same microarchitecture Exactly. The article says:

    ArticleThere are many versions of the architecture, resulting in configurations with a different number of cores
    There is no mention of the branding, so there is no actual error there, just misinterpretation.
    Reply
  • ImSpartacus
    Arkzgreat article with only a few slight errors (like saying the core2duo has 1-4 cores... i don't think there's a 1 cored version lol)Looking forward to the AMD article.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116039

    Yes, it isn't called a "Core 2 Duo," but it uses the Core architecture and only has a single core enabled.

    But I will have to say, there aren't any 3 core models...
    Reply
  • magicandy
    Good to hear you're not only doing an AMD article, but an ATI one as well (in response to the Nvidia article you did earlier, assuming). A sign of class from the new Tom's is a welcome one.
    Reply
  • harrycat88
    I wish they would get rid of those stupid SNAP Linkbubless and Inteltex misguiding links. Who ever invented those stupid annoying double lined text popups should have been burned at the stake
    Reply