In Search of A perfect Processor

Intel first launched P6 processor; the PentiumPro in1995. It was the first processor Intel that was designed to provide support to speculative execution. Another trait of the PentiumPro was its super pipelined architecture — work was divided into 12 stages, against the five steps used in the Pentium processor. This allowed the PentiumPro processor to achieve a higher processor clock speed. Before we proceed further we should devout few lines for Pentium 4, which was launched by Intel using Netburst micro architecture to answer the shortcomings of Pentium-3. In designing Pentium 4, Intel sacrificed a number of commands that the CPU could carry out per execution clock cycle (IPC) for higher processor clock speeds. Remember, as a universal rule of thumb a CPU’s processing power comes from two major areas: commands per clock cycle (IPC) and board’s clock speed.

The method is:  Performance = IPC x Board’s Clock Speed. While designing Pentium-4, Intel has not thought about what will happen if it is scaled to a very high speed. It produced excess of heat. For the last two year Intel’s desktop processor has not been good enough to work. Both Pentium 4 and the Pentium D have not been able to run at comparatively high clock speed. More importantly, in recent times their performance has been comparatively low, if we compare it with AMD, their steep competitor. Since they draw excess of power while working, they generate tremendous heat in the process. Despite good hard work by Intel’s manufacturing and engineering cell, these chips, which based on Netburst micro architecture haven’t been able to prevail over their problems and limitations to keep up with the pace of Athlon 64. Therefore, Intel determined to scrap the Netburst and devote all its attention on high-performance.

As a result we now see the Pentium M desktop processor. The efforts of the engineering team brought a new color in the form of a new CPU micro architecture known as the Core, of which the Core2Duo and Core2Extreme are amid the first two implementations designed especially for desktop PCs. There has been a lot of hype regarding the Core design for quite some time now. And series of technological details, semi-official standard previews, and review of pre-release yield feeding the expectation. Clearly, when companies like Intel stumble as badly as it has, PC lovers and others in the PC industry are eager to see how the new desktop processor starting to deliver exciting results. Now, the wait for Core2processors is over. Intel has determined to make everything public about its new CPUs, with an anticipation of releasing its chips to the public within few days.

Fish have got to swim, and politicians have got to quibble, and TR has got to check hardware, so also we’ve had the Core2Duo processors on the testbench here in Labs for a methodical workout beside AMD’s finest energy proficient version of the Athlon64X2. After long hours of examining and texting, we’re pleased to declare that the Core2Duo chips live up to our expectation. Intel has taken a giant stride, repeating its winning habit and leaving every one behind. In March of this year we first previewed the chip code-named Conroe and now we at last have got it in our hands. In spite of all the hype, the Core2Duo processor itself is a rather modest bloke that looks just like the Pentium CPUs that preceded it. Like others, it is packaged in an LGA775-style processor socket and usually runs on a front side buss at 1066MHz.