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"I should have yelled Two"
One core, two cores...
What’s the difference? |
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Your
customers depend on you to help them understand the performance
benefits of the various processor technologies including the latest
Dual Core offerings from Intel. Join ASI University today to learn
more about integration considerations as well as selling strategies
for the Intel Pentium D family of CPUs.
Click here for
Marketing Spin
or click here for Technical Info
(always the better choice)
Marketing Spin:
For
years the advantages of multiple processors was only utilized in
servers where many users accessing the same computer could benefit
from multitasking. Today, multiple processor capability is not
only available to desktop users by incorporating one of Intel's
Pentium D Dual core processors, but its also extremely beneficial
due to changes in how your clients are using their computers as
well as how they want to use their computers in the future.
Most
people understand the concept of how dual core processors help
with multitasking efficiency, but precious few have a real
understanding of what true multitasking is and how improvements in
this area will change the way people user their computers.
Therefore, it's important to understand the concept of
true multitasking.
In
addition, we have all heard the terms Digital Home/Digital Office
and most of us have been at a loss to understand what these
concepts are, how people would be using their computers in these
environments, and more importantly how the industry would benefit
by providing the hardware solutions required by these users. The
truth is, that until recently there wasn't a hardware solution
available that would really allow these usage models to ignite (Ok
that is an Intel term in case you weren't paying attention). So,
what is the Digital Home/Digital Office? Well, the easiest way to
define these terms is to simply understand that the Digital
Home/Digital Office is actually real multitasking.
The
term multitasking has been around for years and most people think
of this as being able to have multiple applications open
while switching from one to the other simulating the performance
of multiple tasks or being able to use your computer while
countless resources such as virus scans run in the back ground.
While this is multitasking it is not high level multitasking
and doesn't stress the capability of today's single core
processors so this is not where the benefits of the Intel Pentium
D will be realized.
True
Multitasking in a true Digital Home/ Digital Office environment is
however where the Intel Pentium D Dual core processor will excel.
Therefore, to understand the value of this CPU and to understand
the new usage model all you need to know is what is true
multitasking? Multitasking in a digital environment involves
processor intensive tasks such as burning a photo CD
while completing a work project in excel, or downloading a movie
clip while playing a computer game or sharing music files while
recording a TV show and so on. In addition, current as well as
future applications and computer games that are specifically
written for dual core processors will also see dramatic
performance gains as a result of the Intel Pentium D processor
making it an ideal choice for all types of users.
The
conclusion is that the dual core Intel Pentium D processor
delivers solid performance in today's most common environments and
provides dramatic gains as the users expertise improves over time
and as they engage in more multitasking activities.
Technical Info: (enough of that marketing
hot air...)
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Intel's Desktop
Dual Core Processors
Explained! |
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Recently, Intel announced and began shipping their first
"Dual Core" processors for desktop computers with more to
follow in the coming quarters, especially in Q1 2006. ASI
has slowly started to receive the dual core
Intel® Pentium® Processor Extreme
Edition for PC enthusiasts and systems using the
955X chipset, and the dual core
Intel® Pentium® D processor for
mainstream PC users using the 945
chipset family.
The new Pentium D processor
brand name was formerly code-named "Smithfield"
in case you heard that name. The Pentium Processor Extreme
Edition, which includes a new brand logo, differs from the
Pentium D solely by including Hyper-Threading technology,
which gives the capability of processing four threads or
instructions simultaneously versus single and dual threads
from one and two-core processors. The more than 15
dual/multi-core processor projects underway will be the
engines that fuel Intel’s digital home, digital office,
mobile and enterprise platforms, which address new and
different multi-tasking, multi-user and usage opportunities
for our customers and their end-users. |
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The
Need for Dual Core Desktop Processors:
Whether performing video editing functions, playing graphic
intensive games or running multiple
 background
tasks simultaneously, users today have high expectations for
their PC's performance with little tolerance for degradation
in this experience. For people who run multiple demanding
applications simultaneously, Intel's new dual core
processors are the preferred desktop processor for this
usage model.
Intel's dual-core processors
provide two execution cores in one physical processor,
both running at the same frequency,
both cores share the same CPU packaging and
the same interface with the chipset/memory.
These
changes allow the platform to do more in less time, provide
exceptional functionality and performance so consumers get
the most productivity and enjoyment from their PCs when one
or more people are running multiple applications at the same
time. Imagine that a
dual-core processor is like a four-lane highway — it can
handle up to twice as many cars as its two-lane predecessor
without making each car drive twice as fast.
Similarly, with
an Intel dual-core processor-based PC, people can perform
multiple tasks such as downloading music and gaming
simultaneously. In a technical nutshell, Intel believes
multi-core processing will support several key capabilities
that can enhance the user experience, including the number
of PC tasks a user can do at one time, and the ability to do
multiple bandwidth-intensive activities and increase the
number of users utilizing the same PC at the same time.
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Intel Desktop Dual Core
Product Info Chart
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LGA775, 90nm technology |
Processor
Family |
Processor
Number |
ASI
SKU |
Clock
Speed |
Intel
Product Code |
Bus
Speed |
L2
Cache |
HT |
XD |
EM64T |
Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology (EIST) |
|
 |
840 |
37376 |
3.20 GHz |
BX80547PG3600FT |
800 MHz |
2 x 1MB |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
 |
840 |
37375 |
3.20 GHz |
BX80551PG3200FN |
800 MHz |
2 x 1MB |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
830 |
37374 |
3.00 GHz |
BX80551PG3000FN |
800 MHz |
2 x 1MB |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
820 |
37373 |
2.80 GHz |
BX80551PG2800FN |
800 MHz |
2 x 1MB |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Understanding
Multi-Core Processor Architecture & Difference to
Hyper-Threading:
Explained most simply, multi-core processor architecture
entails silicon design engineers placing two or more
processor “execution cores,” or computational engines,
within a single processor. This multi-core processor plugs
directly into a single processor socket, but the operating
system perceives each of its execution cores as a discrete
logical processor, with all the associated execution
resources.
The idea behind this implementation of the chip’s internal
architecture is in essence a “divide and conquer” strategy.
In other words, by divvying up the computational work
performed by the single processor execution core in
traditional microprocessors and spreading it over multiple
processor execution cores, a multi-core processor can
perform more work within a given clock cycle. Thus, it is
designed to deliver a better overall user experience. To
enable this improvement, the software running on the
platform must be written such that it can spread its
workload across multiple execution cores. This functionality
is called thread-level parallelism or “threading,” and
applications and operating systems (such as Microsoft
Windows XP) that are written to support it are referred to
as “threaded” or “multi-threaded.”
A processor equipped with hardware thread-level parallelism
can execute completely separate threads of code
simultaneously. This can mean one thread running from an
application and a second thread running from an operating
system, or parallel threads running from within a single
application. (Multimedia applications are especially
conducive to thread-level parallelism because many of their
operations can run in parallel.) As software developers
continue to design more threaded applications that
capitalize on this architecture, multi-core processors can
be expected to provide new and innovative benefits for PC
users, at home and at work. Multi-core capability can also
enhance the user experience in multitasking environments,
namely, where a number of foreground applications run
concurrently with a number of background applications such
as virus protection and security, wireless, management,
compression, encryption and synchronization.
Like other hardware-enhanced threaded capabilities advanced
at Intel, multi-core capability reflects a shift to parallel
processing — a concept originally conceived in the
supercomputing world. For example, Hyper-Threading (HT)
Technology, introduced by Intel in 2002 enables processors
to execute tasks in parallel by weaving together multiple
“threads” in a single-core processor. But whereas HT
Technology is limited to a single core’s using existing
execution resources more efficiently to better enable
threading, multi-core capability provides two or more
complete sets of execution resources to increase overall
compute throughput. As more multithreaded applications come
to market, Intel dual-core processor-based PCs will be ready
to deliver better computing experiences and will really
shine.
As seen in the chart below, the top
graphic shows that a Pentium D (Dual-Core processor without
Hyper-threading) can process two threads concurrently in
parallel (one by each processing core). The bottom graphic
shows a Pentium Processor Extreme Edition (Dual-Core
processor with Hyper-threading) can process 4 threads in
parallel. |
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Intel's new Dual Core
Processors includes several new performance
enhancing features:
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Dual-core:
The Power of
dual-core
Delivers
Exceptional
Benefits to Your
Platform: Intel
dual-core
processors have
two complete
execution cores
in one processor
package running
at the same
frequency. The
two physical
cores in one
package have
their own set of
registers and
cache. |
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Level 1
Execution Trace
Cache:
The Intel
Pentium D
processor
features two
16KB data
caches. In
addition to the
data cache, each
core includes an
Execution Trace
Cache that
stores up to 12K
decoded
micro-ops in the
order of program
execution. This
increases
performance by
removing the
decoder from the
main execution
loop and makes
more efficient
usage of the
cache storage
space since
instructions
that are
branched around
are not stored. |
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2MB Level 2
Cache (2 x 1MB):
The Intel
Pentium D
processor based
upon Intel 90nm
process
technology has a
1MB L2 Advanced
Transfer Cache
for each core
(2MB total)
enabling
improved overall
system
performance by
allowing each
processor core
to have faster
access to larger
amounts of the
most often used
data. |
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Enhanced
Intel SpeedStep®
Technology (EIST):
Available on
Intel Pentium D
processors 830
and higher (not
available on the
Intel Pentium
processor
Extreme
Edition); when
running
applications
that demand less
processor power,
the Operating
System will slow
the processor
clock speed
down. Enabling
of EIST can lead
to power
efficient
systems that can
run quieter and
cooler3.
(This feature
only available
on certain Intel
processors) |
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Intel® EM64T:
Intel® EM64T
provides an
enhancement to
Intel’s 32-bit
architecture by
enabling the
desktop
processor
platform to
access larger
amounts of
memory. With
appropriate
64-bit
supporting
hardware and
software,
platforms based
on an Intel
processor
supporting Intel
EM64T can enable
use of extended
virtual and
physical memory. |
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Execute Disable
Bit:
This feature,
combined with a
supported
operating
system, allows
memory to be
marked as
executable or
non-executable.
If code attempts
to run in
non-executable
memory the
processor raises
an error to the
operating
system. |
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Streaming
SIMD Extensions
3 (SSE3):
Single
Instruction
Multiple Data
Extensions
significantly
accelerate
performance
of 3-D graphics
and include
additional
integer and
cache ability
instructions
that improve
other aspects of
performance. |
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90nm Process
Technology:
The 90nm process
technology is
the latest in
Intel
manufacturing
and technology
leadership
allowing for
next generation
transistor
advantages, such
as
strained silicon
lattice to
deliver faster
transistors and
potentially
increase
performance. |
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Hyper-Threading
Technology
(HT
Technology)
*** ONLY on
Intel®
Pentium®
Processor
Extreme
Edition
***
In
addition to
the above
features the
Intel
Pentium
processor
Extreme
Edition
supports HT
Technology.
In desktop
PCs and
entry-level
workstations,
HT
Technology
takes
advantage of
threaded
applications
already in
the market,
and will
deliver
benefits
from the
next
generation
multi-threaded
software
applications.
Multithreaded
software
divides
workloads
into
processes
and software
threads that
can be
independently
scheduled
and
dispatched.
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Dual-Core
Platform Component
Selection: |
Motherboard Selection:
Motherboards used with the Pentium D processor in the LGA775 package must specifically support the Intel NetBurst micro-architecture 800MHz system bus. Also, the Pentium D processor in the 775-land package must be used in a motherboard with a LGA775 socket (Socket-T). It is important to verify that the specific motherboard model and revision support the specific Pentium D Processor number being used. Currently Intel 955X and the 945G/P chipset families can support the new Intel Dual Core Desktop processors.
Motherboards that support the Pentium D processor and are based on the ATX form factor specification utilize power supplies that follow the ATX12V power supply design guide. Similarly, microATX form factor motherboards that support the Pentium D processor utilize power supplies that follow the ATX12V or SFX12V power supply design guides. Both the ATX12V and SFX12V power supply design guides are available on the Form Factors website. |
Chassis Selection:
Systems based on the Pentium D Processor in the LGA775 package must use a chassis that complies with the ATX specification (revision 2.01 or later) or microATX specification (revision 1.0 or later), depending on the motherboard form factor. Intel recommends system integrators using ATX form factor motherboards to choose a chassis that complies with the ATX specification (revision 2.01 or later). Likewise, system integrators using microATX form factor motherboards should choose a chassis that complies with the microATX specification (1.0 or later).
It is recommended to use a chassis on the Tested Chassis List to
ensure proper chassis airflow, electrical support (ATX12V or SFX12V
power supply), and compatibility with boxed Intel Pentium 4
processors using an Intel® Desktop Board. Chassis that pass this
thermal testing provide system integrators with a starting place for
determining which chassis to evaluate. |
Power Supply Selection:
Power supplies must comply with either the ATX12V or SFX12V design guidelines (see the
Form Factors website for details) and supply additional current on the 12V power rail through a 2x2 connector.. All Pentium D processor-based systems require either the standard 2x10, 20-pin ATX power connector or the new 24 pin ATX power connecter as well as the 2x2, 4-pin 12V connector. The Intel® Pentium® Extreme Edition processor requires a power supply with a 2x4 connector instead of the 2x2 connector.Additionally there are specific current requirements for the 12v rails. See table below. Consult the motherboard documentation to determine additional power supply requirements. Intel tests power supplies to determine a minimum level of electrical compliance. Consult the Tested Power Supply List for more information. |
Power
Supply Requirements:
|
System
Classification |
Value
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Mainstream
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Performance
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Power
supply
requirement
for
12V
rail |
13A Continuous, 16.5A Peak for 10ms
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16A continuous, 19A peak for 10ms
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Two 12v rails each rated at: 8A continuous, 11A peak for 10ms
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Board (chipset specific)
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945 Chipset
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945/955X Chipset
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955X Chipset
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Chassis |
TAC 1.1
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Intel’s Roadmap for Multi-Core
Processors:
Intel is deploying multi-core processors
across key product lines as a pivotal piece of its new platform
focus. Intel plans to deliver additional dual-core desktop
processors based on its 65nm process technology in the first half of
2006. Initial plans for the server arena in the first quarter of
2006, Intel intends to deliver two optimized Intel Xeon™ dual-core
processors with Intel® EM64T designed for dual-processor and
multi-processor platforms. Intel expects to begin shipments of its
first mobile dual-core processor, codenamed “Yonah,” in late 2005
and go into volume production in 2006. Based on a mobile-optimized
micro-architecture and 65nm process technology, “Yonah” is designed
to provide power management capabilities and enhanced performance
for multiple demanding applications and multi-threaded applications. |
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