|
|
|
Pentium
processors |
Click the buttons to
the right to navigate this page. |
|
|
|
| Pentium
Intel introduced the Pentium in 1993. Due to copyright laws,
the new chip was called Pentium rather than 80586. Pentium is based on the Greek
word for five. although market acceptance was initially lackluster, Intel had to
introduce this chip in response to the popularity of RISC chips being introduced by their
competition.
There are 3.1 million transistors in the chip. The Pentium
uses a 64-bit data path and comes in speeds from 66MHz to 200Mhz. Significantly
faster than the 80486, this processor can process up to four instructions per clock cycle,
two on each of two separate paths.
One of the factors affecting Pentium's increased performance is
that Intel took many processor features previously handled by software and made them part
of the chip hardware.
Another factor affecting the speed of the Pentium is the
cache. The Pentium has two 8K caches, one for data and one for program code.
Without going into the details of cache algorithms, it suffices to say the Pentium
utilizes its caches much more efficiently than its 486 predecessors.
The Pentium chip is also a combination of two chips inside one;
this is essentially parallel processing. Intel, however, calls it superscaler.
Since the Pentium is also designed to be fault tolerant, on a motherboard designed for
fault tolerance one chip does the work while the other monitors. If a malfunction
occurs, the second chip takes over.
The first generation of Pentium chips ran at 185 degrees
Fahrenheit. Computers that were not designed to handle those high temperatures
consistently failed. The newer versions of the Pentium run somewhat cooler, and the
circuit boards and internal components of the computer are designed to handle the higher
temperatures. What is significant from a service standpoint, however, is that
caution much be exercised when "mixing and matching" internal components.
Not all components are ready for Pentium!
Systems based on this processor are most often found in
applications where high-speed and high levels of processing power are needed, such as in
Windows NT, OS/2 and file server applications such as Novell NetWare. Other uses
include advanced desktop applications such as desktop video conferencing, multimedia, CAD
design, and voice recognition programs. |
| Pentium Processor CPU Chart
| Overall CPU Rating |
Motherboard Speed |
CPU Clock Multiplier |
| Pentium 60 |
60MHz |
0 |
| Pentium 66 |
66MHz |
0 |
| Pentium 75 |
50MHz |
1.5 |
| Pentium 90 |
60mhz |
1.5 |
| Pentium 100 |
66MHz |
1.5 |
| Pentium 120 |
60MHz |
2 |
| Pentium 133 |
66MHZ |
2 |
| Pentium 150 |
60MHz |
2.5 |
| Pentium 166 |
66MHz |
2.5 |
| Pentium 180 |
60MHz |
3 |
| Pentium 200 |
66mHz |
3 |
|
 |
Speed The
Pentium is available in 60, 66, 75, 90, 100, 120, 133, 150, 166, and 200mhz. |
|
Memory Just
like the 486 and the 386, the Pentium is able to address up to 4Gb of memory. |
|
Buss size The
Pentium uses a 64-bit external bus and 64-bit internal bus. The 64-bit bus
capability has not yet been widely implemented. The second generation of local bus
standards, as they become more readily implemented, will take full advantage of the 64-bit
external bus. |
|
Support circuitry Circuitry
installed commonly includes one or two serial ports, a parallel port, video support, a
mouse port and an integrated disk controller. |
|
Software support The
Pentium has the same capabilities, and uses all the same operating modes, as its
predecessors, the 386 and the 486. Single-tasking operating systems are still
supported through the Real Mode, and full support for multitasking environments includes
Windows, OS/2 and UNIX. While operating in the virtual mode, multiple Real Mode
emulation sessions can be simultaneously supported. |
|
identification The
Pentium is approximately 1.94 inches by 1.94 inches in size. First-generation chips
(Pentium 6o and 66) have 273 pins and operate at +5VDC. Second- and
third-generation chips (Pentium 75, 90, 100, 120, 133, and 166) have 296 pins and operate
at +3.3VDC. |
|
|
 Back to Top
|
|
|
| MMX
Intel's MMX (Multi Media Extensions) technology is now standard on
newer Pentium Processors. It includes three architectural design enhancements.
- There are 57 new instructions specifically designed to manipulate
and process video, audio, and graphical data. theses instructions are aligned to the
repetitive sequences found in multimedia.
- A process called SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) allows one
instruction to perform the same function on multiple pieces of data. It reduces the
chip's computer-intensive loops common with video, audio, graphics, and animation.
As an analogy, consider a teacher telling an entire classroom to begin an exercise, rather
than telling each individual student one at a time.
- More cache built into the chip allows more instructions and data
can be stored on the chip, reducing the number of times the processor has to access other
slower areas of the computer for information.
For more information about MMX technology, see:
http://www.intel.com/mmx/ |
|
Back to Top |
| Pentium Pro
The Pentium Pro is Intel's next level of processor beyond the
Pentium. The Pentium Pro line offers processors at 150MHz, 166MHz, 180mhz, and
200MHz, and is scaleable to up to four microprocessors and 4Gb of memory. The
Pentium Pro delivers more performance than previous processors through a new feature
called Dynamic Execution.
Dynamic Execution is a three-tiered architecture of processing
techniques. the first technique, Multiple Branch Prediction, looks ahead in
the application and predicts which instructions are to be processed next. The second
technique, Dataflow Analysis, then analyzes these instructions to enhance the
schedule of which commands to perform for optimum output. Using the third technique,
Speculative Execution, the instructions are then performed base on the optimized
schedule. These three together keep the chip's processing power busy and boost
overall software performance.
The Pentium Pro is physically larger than the Pentium chip and has
a higher speed (L2) chache. Recent benchmark tests show that a 200MHz when running
32-bit applications.
The Pentium Pro has 387 pins and operates at +2.9DVC.
For more information on the design of the Pentium Pro, see:
http://developer.intel.com/design/pro/ |
Back to Top |
| Pentium II
The Pentium II is Intel's next level of processor beyond the
Pentium Pro. It offers a line of processors at 233MHz, 266MHz and 300MHz. This
Processor utilizes a dual independent bus architecture but adds an advanced system bus
that provides multiple simultaneous transactions. Intel's MMX technology is built in
adding higher performance for media, communications, and 3-D applications.
Dynamic Execution, as used on the Pentium Pro, speeds up software
performance and the newest development, the Single Edge Contact (SEC) cartridge provides a
new packaging design for this and future processors. This new design places the core
and the L2 cache fully enclosed in a plastic and metal cartridge.
The Pentium II processor connects to a motherboard via a single
edge connector instead of the multiple pins used in existing processor packages. The
SEC cartridge is designed for both single- and dual-processor computers.
For more information about the Pentium II, see
http://www.intel.com/PentiumII/specs/index.htm |
Back to Top |
|
