The Intel-AMD processor race revs up

Intel’s new emphasis on low power suits me to a T. The company’s present take on low power is backed with some specious marketing that pretends the CPU is the only system component that draws current. Even so, Intel earns my nod for moving its Core microarchitecture, the son of a son of a Pentium III, to the top shelf. Core and the rest of Intel’s road map are not, however, secret weapons that will slice AMD to little bits. AMD is not standing still.

There will always be a need for mainstream CPUs that meet the challenge of “damn the kilowatts, full speed ahead!” AMD’s Opteron, Athlon FX, Turion, and Athlon X2 CPUs own the high-performance mantle; Intel will not recover it, and it knows that. Intel is playing on the fact that the coming round of high-performance server and desktop AMD64 processors, due midyear and dubbed Revision F, look like monsters compared with Intel’s tiny Core. AMD64 Revision F uses a bigger die and therefore a bigger socket. Rev F CPUs will consume more power.

Increases in heat and size are unavoidable, given that AMD chose to put a lot more iron inside the chip. But AMD will put more innovation inside as well, innovation that serves customers now and signals where AMD is likely to go when it shifts to a 65-nanometer manufacturing process in 2007.

To refresh your memory, today’s dual-core Opteron is an x86-compatible server CPU that comprises a pair of totally independent cores, each of which is identical to a discrete Opteron processor. Each Opteron core has its own Level 2 cache, an approach that differs from Intel’s shared cache. But Intel’s vaunted shared core advantages are offset by Opteron’s Direct Connect architecture that runs dedicated HyperTransport bus links among all cores in a multiprocessor, multicore server, not just across cores within a single physical CPU. Opteron also incorporates on-chip memory and I/O controllers, the architectural features that leave Intel in the dust on performance no matter how fast Intel cranks its FSB (front-side bus) -- the link between CPUs and peripherals -- and memory hub. Opteron has neither an FSB nor a memory hub. These are not only factors in performance but also in total system power consumption -- the basis of an honest performance-per-watt analysis -- because Opteron systems are simpler in design and require fewer components than Intel’s.

AMD is blending a couple of new ingredients into Revision F. The first is an upgrade to Opteron’s on-chip memory controllers that makes the CPUs compatible with DDR2 memory. That boost will have more impact on Opteron performance than Intel’s embrace of DDR2 had on its x86 designs, simply because there’s no glue circuitry between Opteron CPUs and memory. Intel can implement whatever flavor of memory-to-CPU glue it likes, but as long as it’s off-chip, much of the performance gain is lost to collisions among CPUs and with I/O traffic. In an Opteron server, there is one dedicated memory controller for each physical CPU.

AMD64 Revision F will also ring in hardware virtualization, formerly known as Pacifica but now bearing the more descriptive and virile moniker Secure Virtual Machine.

Next week, I’ll lay out the details of SVM and discuss what Revision F and AMD’s coming shift to a 65-nanometer process portend for the x86 race and for IT.

AMD & Intel Processor Lineups

It never fails. Just after you upgrade your CPU, Intel or AMD announces a new processor, pushing technology to new limits — at least its next processor. To make things even more muddled, AMD and Intel each offers multiple families of processors ranging from those designed for value-oriented family PCs to powerhouse CPUs designed to run most tasking 3D games smoothly. Added into the mix are a host of additional featuresis as well as a new selection of dual-core processors designed for 32-bit or 64-bit computing. If you find yourself looking through computer store flyers and wondering exactly what an "Athlon 64 X2" is or what the difference between a Pentium 4 and a Pentium D is, then this is a good place to start. We provide an overview of some of the newer and more common families of processors from Intel and AMD. To make understanding processor technology a little easier, you can use our "Key Terms" list to decipher some of the technical processor lingo, view reviews and specifications for each type of processor, and, of course, check out the links page to follow-up for more information.

Key Terms To Understanding Processors microprocessor A silicon chip that contains a CPU. In the world of personal computers, the terms microprocessor and CPU are used interchangeably. At the heart of all personal computers and most workstations sits a microprocessor. clock speed Also called clock rate, the speed at which a microprocessor executes instructions. dual-core Dual-core refers to a CPU that includes two complete execution cores per physical processor.

AMD Sempron
The AMD Sempron processor is designed to meet the needs of home and business PC users. AMD Sempron processors are 32-bit and offer capabilities that include HyperTransport technology, up to 512K total high-performance cache, advanced 333Mhz frontside bus and an integrated DDR memory controller.

AMD Sempron Web page	AMD provides product briefs, benchmarks, technical documentation and more for their Sempron processors.
Sempron 3400+ Processor Review	Review by SharkyExtreme - "The main part of the Sempron market appeal is related to its low price and high value, and even though the Sempron 3400+ is the top performer in the AMD entry-level line, relative pricing actually took a slight dip."
The Duron Successor	From Tom's hardware Guide - AMD's AthlonXP + The Athlon64 = Sempron

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core
The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor contains two processing cores, residing on one chip, which increases efficiency and speed while running multiple programs and multi-threaded software. It enables a seamless transition from 32-bit to 64-bit applications. Both 32- and 64-bit applications can run virtually simultaneously and transparently on the same platform.

AMD Athlon 64 Web page	Includes links to information on Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 x2 Dual-core, 64 Processor for Desktops, and Mobile Athlon 64
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Processor Review	Review by SharkyExtreme - "The Athlon 64 X2 processors are the first true dual core processors for the desktop, and compared to the Intel Pentium D/Pentium EE design, offer a more streamlined and forward-thinking architecture."

AMD Athlon 64
AMD64 provides full support for x86 code base for 32-bit computing and is ready for 64-bit applications. AMD64 technology doubles the number of processor registers and increases the system memory addressability.

AMD Athlon 64 Web page	Includes links to information on Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 x2 Dual-core, 64 Processor for Desktops, and Mobile Athlon 64
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ Review	The guru of 3D offers this Athlon 64 4000+ Review

AMD Opteron
The AMD Opteron processor offers simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing, using AMD's Direct Connect Architecture. It's designed to run existing 32-bit applications and offer simplified migration path to 64-bit computing. The AMD Opteron processor is available in 1 to 8-way servers and 1 to 4-way workstation solutions.

AMD Opteron Web page	Includes links to information on the AMD Opteron.
An Introduction to the AMD Opteron	HardwareExtreme provides this Introduction to the AMD Opteron.

Intel Celeron D
The Intel Celeron D is a value-priced processor. The Celeron D processors include a larger integrated L2 cache and faster processor system bus when compared to Celeron processors. Celeron processors are available at speeds ranging from 1 GHz to 2.80 GHz. Celeron D processors offer a 533 MHz multi-transaction processor system bus with 256-KB Level 2 cache. Intel added Extended Memory 64 Technology to its value oriented Celeron D line.

Celeron D Processor Brief	Intel's Celeron D Product Brief Web page.
Intel Celeron D: New, Improved & Exceeds Expectations	AnandTech provides an introduction to Intel's Celeron D processors.
Value Overclocking Guide	This SharkyExtreme overclocking guide compares the Celeron D to the Sempron 3100+.

Intel Pentium 4
The Intel Pentium 4 processor family supporting Hyper-Threading Technology (HT Technology) is best-suited to desktop PCs and entry-level workstations. The Pentium 4 processor is designed to deliver performance across applications and uses where end-users can appreciate and experience the performance. These applications include Internet audio and streaming video, image processing, video content creation, games, multimedia and multitasking user environments.

Pentium 4 Extreme Edition
The Intel Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition supporting HT Technology features 3.46 GHz with 2 MB of L3 cache and 3.73 GHz with 2 M of L2 cache to offer high levels of performance targeted specifically for high-end gamers and computing power users. It provides flexibility for future applications that support both 32-bit and 64-bit computing with Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology and is a dual-core processor (two physical cores in one processor support better system responsiveness and multi-tasking).

Pentium 4 6x Series
The Intel Pentium 4 6x series offers 2MB L2 Cache and clock speeds of 3 to 3.80 GHz. Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology is available on the 600x processors. This provides flexibility for future applications that support both 32-bit and 64-bit computing.

Pentium 4 5x Series
The Intel Pentium 4 5x series offers 1MB L2 Cache and clock speeds of 2.80 to 3.80 GHz. Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology is available on the 600x processors is available only on some of the 5x models (571, 561, 551, 541, 531, and 521).

Intel Pentium 4 Specifications	The Intel Pentium 4 Web site with specifications, briefs, Technology Overview & More.
Pentium 4 Technology Explained	SharkyExtreme's Hardware Guide explains the technology behind the Intel Pentium 4

Intel Pentium D
Intel Pentium D processors are designed to provide users with more power while running multiple applications (for example, editing videos while downloading files). Pemtium D processors offer 2x1MB L2 cache, clock speeds ranging from 2.80 GHz to 3.20 GHz and an 800 MHz frontside bus. These processors are dual-core and offer Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology as well.

Intel Pentium D Processors	Intel's Pentium D Web page offers specifications, briefs, Technology Overview & More.
Pentium 4 670 & Pentium D 820 Processors	SharkyExtreme takes a look at the Pentium 4 670 & Pentium D 820 in this review.

Intel Pentium 3 (Pentium III)
Intel builds on the technology it developed with the Pentium II microprocessors. The Pentium III processor comes with a Synchronized Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), allowing for an extremely fast transfer of data between the microprocessor and the memory. Pentium III's offer enhanced multimedia and 3D performance with 100 MHz front-side bus speed, a muti-transaction system bus, and MMX support.

Processors Toolkit

This evaluation of current desktop processors utilises over 60 benchmark tests including office and multimedia software, 3D games, Internet applications, video rendering and compression. We have used benchmarks that are relevant to a range of market sectors in order to get a balanced view of CPU performance. However, in an ideal world, you should also run your own mission-critical applications on any processor that you're considering.

Of course, performance is only one aspect of a processor purchase decision. For example, the Athlon 64's support for the NX (No Execute) feature safeguards it from certain virus attacks, and could be reason enough to choose an AMD processor. And if you're after a quiet PC, then AMD's chips have clear advantages over Intel's latest 'Prescott' Pentium 4. The power consumption of the Athlon 64 is lower than that of the Pentium 4 thanks to AMD's use of Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. The Athlon's 64's 64-bit capability is also a potential advantage, although this feature remains largely unused because of the missing operating system support -- 64-bit Windows XP has now been delayed until 2005.

Power consumption
System	Idle	Max
Athlon 64 3800+ (Nforce 3)	91W	172W
Athlon 64 3800+ (KT800 Pro)	82W	162W
Pentium 4 560 (925X)	155W	258W