topic Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors! in PCs & Accessories

Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Woody27 — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 23:30:36 GMT

There seems to be some confusion as to what the various Intel procesors are and what features they have. I hope this quick guide will help new and old users alike! :smileygrin:

Intel Pentium 4:

Processor used mainly in desktop machines but also found in many of the VAIO laptops. Can get hot in a laptop as it produces a lot of heat (which is harder to disipate in a laptop). Usually has around 1 Mb of cache. Currently the fastest chip, but eats batterys.

Intel Pentium 4HT:

Same as the above but with 'Hyper-Threading'. This allows the chip to conduct more that one 'Thread' (task) at once, speeding the machine up. However, the software HAS TO BE WRITTEN SPECIFICALLY for HT enabled chips (i.e. not much is!). Non optimised programs can actually run slower on HT enabled P4's. Rare on VAIOs but is on some high end models (e.g. the GRT range).

Intel Pentium 4HT EXTREME EDITION:

Same as above but with optimised cache and some other speed enhancing features! Gets VERY HOT! It is not currently available in VAIO laptops... ...with good reason, strictly a desktop processor!

Intel Pentium 4M:

Mobile version of the Pentium 4 , runs cooler slightly less powerfull for the equivalent clock speed. Used in a small minority of VAIOs.

Intel Pentium-M

A new chip (not to be confused with the Pentium 4M, Intel like to confuse the public) based around a new architecture. Runs much cooler that a P4 and slower. However, it does approx. twice as much per clock cyle so is roughly equivalent to a P4 of twice the speed. It also uses much less power and can regulate the power it requires and its clock speed better than a P4 or Pentium 4 M. The ideal processor for a laptops as this results in longer batter life and an end to most over-heating problems. Can have upto 2 Mb of cache. Present in the ultra-thin VAIO 505.

Intel Centrino Mobile Technology:

This is were the confusions really starts (once again Intel marketings fault)!

Centrino based laptops contain a Pentium-M processor (and all it's laptop based benefits) combined with an Intel Pro-wireless card. That is why all Centrino based products also have Wireless built in. Seen in many of the recent VAIO models.

Intel Celeron:

Cheaper version of the Pentium 4 but without the cache, so it is a little slower than a P4 of equivalent clock speed. Found in the lower end of the K range. Still gets quite hot!

There, hope that clears that up!

NOTE:

I don't know very much about AMD prcessors (apart from the fact that they are just as good as the Intel quivalents)... ...maybe someone else may want to tell us about them. However, Sony don't really seem to use them anymore (same with the Crusoe processor) so maybe this is enough info!

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

shenyap — Sun, 14 Nov 2004 23:48:02 GMT

Good informative post! More of these and we will all be walking encyclopaedias. Thanks!

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Foxhound — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 01:30:28 GMT

Great info! Thanks for clearing this out.

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

JohnRatsey — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 03:27:03 GMT

A couple of clarifications regarding the Pentium M:

1. It is based on the Pentium III, with enhancements to reduce power consumption and increase performance.

2. It is an exaggeration to claim that the Pentium M is equivalent to a P 4 with twice the clock speed. The P M has raw integer performance equivalent to a P 4 with about 80% higher speed and raw floating point performance equivalent to a P 4 with 50% higher clock speed (study the different benchmark results in Sandra from www.sisoftware.net).

John

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Woody27 — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 08:06:32 GMT

A couple of clarifications regarding the Pentium M:

1. It is based on the Pentium III, with enhancements to reduce power consumption and increase performance.

2. It is an exaggeration to claim that the Pentium M is equivalent to a P 4 with twice the clock speed. The P M has raw integer performance equivalent to a P 4 with about 80% higher speed and raw floating point performance equivalent to a P 4 with 50% higher clock speed (study the different benchmark results in Sandra from www.sisoftware.net). 

John

Thanks for the extra info John!

1. I am not sure that you are right about the Pentium M being based on a Pentium III though!

I has a quite different architecture!

If it is based on a Pentium III, the design has been modified so much that it it hard to see much of the original within it!

2. It may be a slight exaggeration about the clock speed, but for everyday real purpopses it's not too far off!

CW

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

TygerTyger — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:16:24 GMT

Grrr. I still get confused between all the 4's (Stupidly confusing), but good guide Woody thanks.

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 13:21:24 GMT

Nice guide Woody, and thanks for the extras John.

I doubt many people have the Extreme Edition of the P4, it needs so much cooling it's incredible!

I have heard Intel were stopping it too.

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Woody27 — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 14:47:30 GMT

I doubt many people have the Extreme Edition of the P4, it needs so much cooling it's incredible!

I have heard Intel were stopping it too.

Yes, I think there are just too many stability issues with it!

CW

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Psaila — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:03:19 GMT

Many Thanks Woody27 . A good read for sure

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:33:42 GMT

Yes, I think there are just too many stability issues with it!

To be honest I think you would need a fridge compressor cooler to work one of those well.

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Woody27 — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:41:52 GMT

To be honest I think you would need a fridge compressor cooler to work one of those well.

Kee-Lo,

Don't suggest that, next thing you know we'll have fridge freezers with bloody 'Intel Inside' stickers on them. I can imagine it now....

.... The new Zanussi X21 Fridge Freezer with 'Intel' Ice Box technology! Now you can run DOOM 3 at 250 fps and store that bottle of Chardonnay at the same time! ROFL

CW

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:44:58 GMT

I think Tom's Hardware Guide beat us to it, they used a fridge compressor to cool a 4Ghz chip about 2 years ago.

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

Woody27 — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:52:49 GMT

I think Tom's Hardware Guide beat us to it, they used a fridge compressor to cool a 4Ghz chip about 2 years ago.

Incredible!

Re: Quick-ish guide to the current Intel processors!

kee-lo_ — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 16:00:58 GMT

Yeah it was...