- Introduction
- A Quick Tutorial on EMT64
- Three Ways to Put 64-bit "Intel Inside" Your Desktop
- Conclusion
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Three Ways to Put 64-bit "Intel Inside" Your Desktop
EMT64-enabled Pentium 4 processors are now available in three families using Socket 775:
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
- Pentium 4 600 series
- Pentium 4 500 series
The architectural differences in the designs of all three processors are so different from the early Pentium 4s that the term "Pentium 4" is far more of a brand than a useful processor description.
Extreme Edition – A Final Upgrade?
When Intel introduced the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition in 2003, it was designed to compete with the AMD Athlon 64 and 64 FX series in 32-bit software performance. However, with the introduction of the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73GHz, the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition can finally run 64-bit software just like its AMD rival.
The Pentium 4 Extreme Edition has been extensively redesigned in other ways as well:
- Larger L2 Cache Instead of the 512KB L2 cache of previous models, the 3.73GHz EE processor uses 2MB of L2 cache
- No L3 Cache With the larger L2 cache in the 3.73GHz EE processor, there's no need for the hot-running and expensive L3 cache used in predecessor models
- Smaller Production Process The 3.73GHz EE processor uses the same 90-nanometer (0.09 micron) used by other Socket 775 processor
- Execute Disable Bit The 3.73GHz EE processor also supports protection against buffer overrun attacks when used by an operating system and BIOS that support this feature
- 1066MHz Front Side Bus The 3.73GHz EE processor is the second EE model with the faster FSB; other Pentium 4 versions run the FSB at 800MHz
- Enhanced SpeedStep An advanced processor speed-control feature controlled by Windows XP Service Pack 2, this lowers the processor speed in 200MHz increments to match the needed performance at a particular time. This feature helps the processor run cooler.
- Temperature Monitoring 2 A protection feature which slows down the processor clock speed and reduces core voltage if the processor overheats
- Enhanced Halt State C1E Stops the processor clock when there is no work to do
Except for the 1066MHz front side bus, the other "new" features of the 3.73GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition are also found in the second major Pentium 4 family to support EMT64, the Pentium 4 600 series. In fact, the 3.73GHz Extreme Edition is simply a Pentium 4 600 series running with a faster front side bus. Consequently, it's likely that the Pentium 4 600 series will replace the Extreme Edition series as the fastest Pentium 4 processor family in the not-too-distant future.
600-Series Processors: More Than Just 64-bit Support
Intel's Pentium 4 600 series was introduced in February 2005 with four members: 660 (3.6GHz), 650 (3.4GHz), 640 (3.2GHz), and 630 (3.0GHz). All members of the 600 series have these major features:
- 2MB L2 cache
- 90-namometer production process
- EM64T support
- Execute Bit Disable
- 800MHz front-side-bus
- Enhanced SpeedStep
- Temperature Monitor 2
- Enhanced Halt State C1E
In most benchmarks, the Pentium 4 660 processor barely trails the 3.73GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition. However, in a check of online pricing, the Pentium 4 660 processor is anywhere from $200 to $4000 less expensive than its Extreme Edition rival.
500-Series Processors: 64-bit Becomes Mainstream
If the 600 series is now the top of the Intel Pentium 4 family for practical purposes, the 500 series can be considered the mainstream Pentium 4 processor, and the mainstream is also moving to 64-bit processing as an option. Compared to the 600 series, the 500 series has a smaller cache (1MB) and lacks the 600 series' sophisticated thermal and power management features. However, most existing members of the 500 series will have a 64-bit counterpart, as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 – Intel Pentium 4 500-Series Processors
|
Clock Speed |
32-bit versions |
EM64T version |
|
3.80GHz |
570J* |
571 |
|
3.60GHz |
560J, 560 |
561 |
|
3.40GHz |
550J, 550 |
551 |
|
3.20GHz |
540J, 540 |
541 |
|
3.00GHz |
530J, 530 |
531 |
|
2.80GHz |
520J, 520 |
— |
*All J-series processors include the Execute Disable Bit antivirus feature