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Pentium
View on WikipediaThis article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Needs updated introduction and newer products. (September 2024) |
First Pentium logo (1993) | |
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Launched | March 22, 1993 |
| Discontinued | 2023[1] |
| Marketed by | Intel |
| Designed by | Intel |
| Common manufacturer |
|
| Performance | |
| Max. CPU clock rate | 60 MHz to 4.4 GHz |
| FSB speeds | 50 MHz to 800 MT/s |
| DMI speeds | 2 GT/s to 16 GT/s |
| Architecture and classification | |
| Technology node | 800 nm to Intel 7 |
| Microarchitecture | |
| Instruction set | IA-32, x86-64 |
| Instructions | x86 |
| Physical specifications | |
| Cores |
|
| Sockets | |
| Products, models, variants | |
| Brand names | |
| Variant | |
| History | |
| Predecessor | i486 |
| Successors | Core, Intel Processor |
Pentium is a series of x86 architecture-compatible microprocessors produced by Intel from 1993 to 2023. The original Pentium was Intel's fifth generation processor, succeeding the i486; Pentium was Intel's flagship processor line for over a decade until the introduction of the Intel Core line in 2006. Pentium-branded processors released from 2009 onwards were considered mid-range budget products[2][3] positioned above the entry-level Atom and Celeron series, but below the faster Core lineup and workstation/server Xeon series.
The later Pentiums, which have little more than their name in common with earlier Pentiums, were based on both the architecture used in Atom and that of Core processors. In the case of Atom architectures, Pentiums were the highest performance implementations of the architecture. Pentium processors with Core architectures prior to 2017 were distinguished from the faster, higher-end i-series processors by lower clock rates and disabling some features, such as hyper-threading, virtualization and sometimes L3 cache. In 2017, the Pentium brand was split up into two separate lines using the Pentium name: Pentium Silver, aiming for low-power devices using the Atom and Celeron architectures; and Pentium Gold, aiming for entry-level desktop and using existing architectures such as Kaby Lake or Coffee Lake.
In September 2022, Intel announced that the Pentium and Celeron brands were to be replaced with the new "Intel Processor" branding for low-end processors in laptops from 2023 onwards.[1] This applied to desktops using Pentium processors as well, and was discontinued around the same time laptops stopped using Pentium processors in favor of "Intel Processor" processors in 2023.
Overview
[edit]During development, Intel generally identifies processors with codenames, such as Prescott, Willamette, Coppermine, Katmai, Klamath, or Deschutes. These usually become widely known, even after the processors are given official names on launch.[4]
The original Pentium-branded CPUs were expected to be named 586 or i586, to follow the naming convention of prior generations (286, i386, i486). However, as the firm wanted to prevent their competitors from branding their processors with similar names (as AMD had done with their Am486), Intel filed a trademark application on the name in the United States, but was denied because a series of numbers was considered to lack trademark distinctiveness.[5] Instead, they would name their processors as "Pentium" rather than using numbers, which Andrew Grove wanted to trademark that generation processor.[6]
Following Intel's prior series of 8086, 80186, 80286, 80386, and 80486 microprocessors, the firm's first P5-based processor was released as the original Intel Pentium on March 22, 1993. Marketing firm Lexicon Branding was hired to coin a name for the new processor. The suffix -ium was chosen as it could connote a fundamental ingredient of a computer, like a chemical element,[7] while the prefix pent- could refer to the fifth generation of x86.[5]
Due to its success, the Pentium brand would continue through several generations of high-end processors. In 2006, the name briefly disappeared from Intel's technology roadmaps,[8][9] only to re-emerge in 2007.[10]
In 1998, Intel introduced the Celeron[11] brand for low-priced processors. With the 2006 introduction of the Intel Core brand as the company's new flagship line of processors, the Pentium series was to be discontinued. However, due to a demand for mid-range dual-core processors, the Pentium brand was repurposed to be Intel's mid-range processor series, between the Celeron and Core series, continuing with the Pentium Dual-Core line.[12][13][14]
In 2009, the "Dual-Core" suffix was dropped, and new x86 processors started carrying the plain Pentium name again.
In 2014, Intel released the Pentium 20th Anniversary Edition, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Pentium brand. These processors are unlocked and highly overclockable. From 2015 onwards, the "20th Anniversary Edition" wordmark was dropped from the name, branding it simply as the Pentium.
In 2017, Intel split the Pentium branding into two line-ups. Pentium Silver targets low-power devices and shares architecture with Atom and Celeron, while Pentium Gold targets entry-level desktops and uses existing architecture, such as Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake.
In September 2022, Intel announced that the Pentium and Celeron brands were to be replaced with the new "Intel Processor" branding for low-end processors in laptops from 2023 onwards.[1] This applied to desktops using Pentium and Celeron processors as well, and both brands were discontinued in 2023 in favor of "Intel Processor" branded processors.
| Brand | Microarchitecture | Desktop | Laptop | Server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentium Pentium OverDrive |
P5 | P5 (0.8 μm) P54C (0.6 μm) P54CS (0.35 μm) |
||
| Pentium MMX Pentium OverDrive MMX |
P55C (0.35 μm) Tillamook (0.25 μm) | |||
| Pentium Pro | P6 | P6 (0.5 μm) P6 (0.35 μm) | ||
| Pentium II Pentium II Xeon Pentium II OverDrive Mobile Pentium II |
Klamath (0.35 μm) Deschutes (0.25 μm) |
Tonga (0.25 μm) Dixon (0.25 μm) Dixon (0.18 μm) |
Drake (0.25 μm) | |
| Pentium III Pentium III Xeon Mobile Pentium III Pentium III M |
Katmai (0.25 μm) Coppermine (180 nm) Tualatin (130 nm) |
Coppermine (180 nm) Tualatin(130 nm) |
Tanner (0.25 μm) Cascades (180 nm) | |
| Pentium 4 Pentium 4 Extreme Edition |
NetBurst | Willamette (180 nm) Northwood (130 nm) Gallatin (130 nm) Prescott-2M (90 nm) Prescott (90 nm) Cedar Mill (65 nm) |
Northwood (130 nm) Prescott (90 nm) |
Rebranded as Xeon |
| Pentium D Pentium Extreme Edition |
Smithfield (90 nm) Presler (65 nm) |
|||
| Pentium M | P6 based | Banias (130 nm) Dothan (90 nm) | ||
| Pentium Dual-Core | Yonah (65 nm) | |||
| Core | Allendale (65 nm) Wolfdale-3M (45 nm) |
Merom-2M (65 nm) | ||
| Pentium | Core | Wolfdale-3M (45 nm) | Penryn-3M (45 nm) | |
| Nehalem | Clarkdale (32 nm) | Arrandale (32 nm) | ||
| Sandy Bridge | Sandy Bridge (32 nm) | |||
| Ivy Bridge | Ivy Bridge (22 nm) | |||
| Haswell | Haswell (22 nm) | |||
| Broadwell | Broadwell (14 nm) | |||
| Skylake | Skylake (14 nm) | Braswell; Goldmont | ||
| Kaby Lake | Kaby Lake (14 nm) | Goldmont Plus (Gemini Lake) | ||
| Coffee Lake | Coffee Lake (14 nm) | |||
| Comet Lake | Comet Lake (14 nm) | |||
Pentium-branded processors
[edit]

P5 microarchitecture based
[edit]The original Intel P5 or Pentium and Pentium MMX processors were the superscalar follow-on to the 80486 processor and were marketed from 1993 to 1999. Some versions of these were available as Pentium OverDrive that would fit into older CPU sockets.
Pentium
[edit]| Core p | Process | Clock rates | L1 cache | FSB | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P5 | 0.8 μm | 60–66 MHz | 16 KB | 60–66 MHz | Socket 4 | March 1993 |
| P54C | 0.6 μm | 75–120 MHz | 16 KB | 50–66 MHz | Socket 5 | October 1994 |
| P54CS | 0.35 μm | 133–200 MHz | 16 KB | 60–66 MHz | Socket 7 | June 1995 |
| P55C | 0.35 μm | 120–233 MHz | 32 KB | 60–66 MHz | Socket 7 | January 1997[15] |
| Tillamook | 0.25 μm | 166–300 MHz | 32 KB | 66 MHz | Socket 7 | August 1997 |
P6 microarchitecture based
[edit]
In parallel with the P5 microarchitecture, Intel developed the P6 microarchitecture and started marketing it as the Pentium Pro for the high-end market in 1995. It introduced out-of-order execution and an integrated second-level cache on dual-chip processor package. The second P6 generation replaced the original P5 with the Pentium II and rebranded the high-end version as Pentium II Xeon. It was followed by a third version named the Pentium III and Pentium III Xeon respectively. The Pentium II line added the MMX instructions that were also present in the Pentium MMX.
Versions of these processors for the laptop market were initially named Mobile Pentium II and Mobile Pentium III, later versions were named Pentium III-M. Starting with the Pentium II, the Celeron brand was used for low-end versions of most Pentium processors with a reduced feature set such as a smaller cache or missing power management features.
Pentium Pro
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | FSB | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P6 | 0.5 μm | 150 MHz | 256 KB | 60–66 MHz | Socket 8 | November 1995 |
| P6 | 0.35 μm | 166–200 MHz | 256–1024 KB | 60–66 MHz | Socket 8 |
Pentium II
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | FSB | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Klamath | 0.35 μm | 233–300 MHz | 512 KB | 66 MHz | Slot 1 | May 1997 |
| Deschutes | 0.25 μm | 266–450 MHz | 512 KB | 66–100 MHz | Slot 1 | January 1998 |
| Tonga | 0.25 μm | 233–300 MHz | 512 KB | 66 MHz | MMC-2 | April 1998 |
| Dixon | 0.25 μm | 266–366 MHz | 256 KB | 66 MHz | MMC-2 | January 1999 |
Pentium III
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | FSB | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katmai | 0.25 μm | 450–600 MHz | 512 KB | 100–133 MHz | Slot 1 | February 1999 |
| Coppermine | 0.18 μm | 400 MHz–1.13 GHz | 256 KB | 100–133 MHz | Slot 1, Socket 370, BGA2, μPGA2 | October 1999 |
| Tualatin | 0.13 μm | 700 MHz–1.4 GHz | 512 KB | 100–133 MHz | Socket 370, BGA2, μPGA2 | July 2001 |
NetBurst microarchitecture based
[edit]In 2000, Intel introduced a new microarchitecture named NetBurst, with a much longer pipeline enabling higher clock frequencies than the P6-based processors. Initially, these were named Pentium 4, and the high-end versions have since been named simply Xeon. As with Pentium III, there are both Mobile Pentium 4 and Pentium 4 M processors for the laptop market, with Pentium 4 M denoting the more power-efficient versions. Enthusiast versions of the Pentium 4 with the highest clock rates were named Pentium 4 Extreme Edition.
The Pentium D was the first multi-core Pentium, integrating two Pentium 4 chips in one package and was available as the enthusiast Pentium Extreme Edition.
Pentium 4
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | FSB rates | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willamette | 180 nm | 1.3–2.0 GHz | 256 KB | 400 MT/s | Socket 423, Socket 478 | November 2000 |
| Northwood | 130 nm | 1.6–3.4 GHz | 512 KB | 400 MT/s–800 MT/s | Socket 478 | January 2002 |
| Gallatin | 130 nm | 3.2–3.46 GHz | 512 KB + 2 MB L3 | 800–1066 MT/s | Socket 478, LGA 775 | November 2003 |
| Prescott | 90 nm | 2.4–3.8 GHz | 1 MB | 533 MT/s–800 MT/s | Socket 478, LGA 775 | February 2004 |
| Prescott-2M | 90 nm | 2.8–3.8 GHz | 2 MB | 800–1066 MT/s | LGA 775 | February 2005 |
| Cedar Mill | 65 nm | 3.0–3.6 GHz | 2 MB | 800 MT/s | LGA 775 | January 2006 |
Pentium D
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | FSB rates | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield | 90 nm | 2.66–3.2 GHz | 2 MB | 533–800 MT/s | LGA 775 | May 2005 |
| Smithfield XE | 90 nm | 3.2 GHz | 2 MB | 800 MT/s | LGA 775 | May 2005 |
| Presler | 65 nm | 2.8–3.6 GHz | 4 MB | 800 MT/s | LGA 775 | January 2006 |
| Presler XE | 65 nm | 3.46–3.73 GHz | 4 MB | 1066 MT/s | LGA 775 | January 2006 |
Pentium M microarchitecture based
[edit]In 2003, Intel introduced a new processor based on the P6 microarchitecture named Pentium M, which was much more power-efficient than the Mobile Pentium 4, Pentium 4 M, and Pentium III M. Dual-core versions of the Pentium M were developed under the code name Yonah and sold under the marketing names Core Duo and Pentium Dual-Core. Unlike Pentium D, it integrated both cores on one chip. From this point, the Intel Core brand name was used for the mainstream Intel processors, and the Pentium brand became a low-end version between Celeron and Core. All Pentium M based designs including Yonah are for the mobile market.
Pentium M
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L1 cache | L2 cache | FSB | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banias | 130 nm | 0.9–1.7 GHz | 64 KB | 1 MB | 400 Mhz (== MT/s) | Socket 479 | March 2003 |
| Dothan | 90 nm | 1.00–2.26 GHz | 64 KB | 2 MB | 400–533 Mhz (== MT/s) | FC-uBGA | June 2004 |
Pentium Dual-Core
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L1 cache | L2 cache | FSB rates | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonah | 65 nm | 1.6–1.86 GHz | 64 KB | 1 MB | 533 MT/s | Socket M | January 2007 |
Core microarchitecture based
[edit]The Pentium Dual-Core name continued to be used when the Yonah design was extended with 64-bit support, now named the Core microarchitecture. This eventually replaced all NetBurst-based processors across the four brands Celeron, Pentium, Core, and Xeon. Pentium Dual-Core processors based on the Core microarchitecture use the Allendale and Wolfdale-3M designs for desktop processors and Merom-2M for mobile processors.
Pentium Dual-Core
[edit]
| Core | Process | Clock rates | L1 cache | L2 cache | FSB rates | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merom-2M | 65 nm | 1.46–2.16 GHz | 64 KB | 1 MB | 533–667 MT/s | Socket P | Q4 2007 |
| Allendale | 65 nm | 1.6–2.4 GHz | 64 KB | 1 MB | 800 MT/s | Socket 775 | June 2007 |
| Wolfdale-3M | 45 nm | 2.2–2.7 GHz | 64 KB | 2 MB | 800 MT/s | Socket 775 | August 2008 |
Pentium (2009)
[edit]| Core | Process | Clock rates | L1 cache | L2 cache | FSB rates | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfdale-3M | 45 nm | 2.8–3.2 GHz | 64 KB | 2 MB | 1066 MT/s | Socket 775 | May 2009 |
| Penryn-3M | 45 nm | 2.0–2.3 GHz | 64 KB | 1 MB | 800 MT/s | Socket P | January 2009 |
| Penryn-3M ULV | 45 nm | 1.3–1.5 GHz | 64 KB | 2 MB | 800 MT/s | BGA 956 | September 2009 |
| Penryn-L ULV 1 | 45 nm | 1.3–1.4 GHz | 64 KB | 2 MB | 800 MT/s | BGA 956 | May 2009 |
| Codename | Brand name | Model (list) | Cores | L2 cache | Socket | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale | Pentium Dual-Core | E2xxx | 2 | 1 MB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
| Merom-2M | Mobile Pentium Dual-Core | T2xxx T3xxx |
2 | 1 MB | Socket P | 35 W |
| Wolfdale-3M | Pentium Dual-Core | E2xxx | 2 | 1 MB | LGA 775 | 65 W |
| E5xxx | 2 MB | |||||
| Pentium | E6xxx | |||||
| Penryn-3M | Mobile Pentium | T4xxx | 2 | 1 MB | Socket P | 35 W |
| SU4xxx | 2 MB | μFC-BGA 956 | 10 W | |||
| Penryn-L | SU2xxx | 1 | 5.5 W |
In 2009, Intel changed the naming system for Pentium processors, renaming the Wolfdale-3M based processors to Pentium, without the Dual-Core name, and introduced new single- and dual-core processors based on Penryn under the Pentium name.
The Penryn core is the successor to the Merom core and Intel's 45 nm version of their mobile series of Pentium processors. The FSB frequency is increased from 667 MHz to 800 MHz, and the voltage is lowered. Intel released the first Penryn Core, the Pentium T4200, in December 2008. In June 2009, Intel released the first single-core processor to use the Pentium name, a Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage (CULV) Penryn core named Pentium SU2700.
In September 2009, Intel introduced the Pentium SU4000 series together with the Celeron SU2000 and Core 2 Duo SU7000 series, which are dual-core CULV processors based on Penryn-3M and using 800 MHz FSB. The Pentium SU4000 series has 2 MB L2 cache but is otherwise basically identical to the other two lines.
Nehalem microarchitecture based
[edit]The Nehalem microarchitecture was introduced in late 2008 as a successor to the Core microarchitecture, and in early 2010, a new Pentium G6950 processor based on the Clarkdale design was introduced based on the Westmere refresh of Nehalem, which were followed by the mobile P6xxx based on Arrandale a few months later.
| Core | Process | Clock rates | L2 cache | L3 cache | I/O bus | Socket | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkdale | 32 nm | 2.8 GHz | 512 KB | 3 MB | DMI | Socket 1156 | January 2010 |
| Arrandale | 32 nm | 1.2–1.86 GHz | 512 KB | 3 MB | DMI | Socket 988 BGA |
Q2 2010 |
| Codename | Brand name | L3 cache | Socket | TDP | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkdale | Pentium G6xxx | 3 MB | LGA 1156 | 73 W | Integrated GPU |
| Arrandale | Pentium P6xxx | 3 MB | LGA 1156 | 35 W | Integrated GPU |
| Pentium U5xxx | BGA | 18 W |
On January 7, 2010, Intel launched a new Pentium model using the Clarkdale chip in parallel with other desktop and mobile CPUs based on their new Westmere microarchitecture. The first model in this series is the Pentium G6950. The Clarkdale chip is also used in the Core i3-5xx and Core i5-6xx series and features a 32 nm process (as it is based on the Westmere microarchitecture), integrated memory controller and 45 nm graphics controller and a third-level cache. In the Pentium series, some features of Clarkdale are disabled, including AES-NI, hyper-threading (versus Core i3), and the graphics controller in the Pentium runs at 533 MHz, while in the Core i3 i3-5xx series they run at 733 MHz, and Dual Video Decode that enables Blu-ray picture-in picture hardware acceleration, and support for Deep Color and xvYCC.[citation needed] The memory controller in the Pentium supports DDR3-1066 max, the same as the Core i3 i3-5xx series.[16] The L3 cache is also 1 MB less than in the Core i3-5xx series.
Sandy Bridge microarchitecture based
[edit]The Sandy Bridge microarchitecture was released in the Pentium line on May 22, 2011.
- aAll models share the following details: 2 cores, 2 logical processors (4 on Pentium 3xx with hyper-threading), CPUID signature 206A7, family 6 (06h), model 42 (02Ah), stepping 7 (07h)
- bTranslation lookaside buffer (TLB) and cache 64-byte prefetching; data TLB0 2-MB or 4-MB pages, 4-way associative, 32 entries; data TLB 4-KB pages, 4-way set associative, 64 entries; instruction TLB 4-KB pages, 4-way set associative, 128 entries, L2 TLB 1-MB, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size; shared 2nd-level TLB 4 KB pages, 4-way set associative, 512 entries.
- cAll models feature: on-chip floating-point unit, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), Intel 64, XD bit (an NX bit implementation), Intel VT-x, Smart Cache.
- dAll models support: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2
- eHD Graphics (Sandy Bridge) contain 6 EUs and HD Graphics 2000, but does not support these technologies: Intel Quick Sync Video, InTru 3D, Clear Video HD, Wireless Display, 3D Video, or 3D graphics acceleration.
| Codename | Brand namea | L3 cacheb | Socket | TDP | Featuresc,d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandy Bridge | Pentium 3xx | 3 MB | LGA 1155 | 15 W | hyper-threading, ECC |
| Pentium 9x7 | 2 MB | BGA1023 | 17 W | Integrated GPU | |
| Pentium B9x0 | 2 MB | rPGA988B | 35 W | Integrated GPU | |
| Pentium G6xxT[17] | 3 MB, 8-way set associative, 64 byte line size |
LGA 1155 | 35 W | Integrated GPUe | |
| Pentium G6xx[18] | 65 W | ||||
| Pentium G8xx[19][20] | 3 MB, 12-way set associative, 64 byte line size | ||||
| Sandy Bridge-EN | Pentium 140x | 5 MB | LGA 1356 | 40–80 W | ECC, AVX, TXT, Intel VT-d, AES-NI |
Ivy Bridge microarchitecture based
[edit]Currently, there exist Ivy Bridge models G2010, G2020, G2120, G2030, and G2130. All are dual-core and have no hyper-threading or Turbo Boost. They were the last processors that were made by Intel under the Pentium brand to fully support Windows XP and Vista.
| Codename | Brand name | L3 cache | Socket | TDP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivy Bridge | G2010, G2020, G2030, G2120,[21] G2130 | 3 MB | LGA 1155 | 55 W | w/o hyper-threading |
Haswell microarchitecture based
[edit]Several Haswell-based Pentium processors were released in 2013, among them the G3258 "Anniversary Edition", first released in 2014 by Intel to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the line. As with prior-generation Pentium processors, Haswell and Haswell Refresh-based parts have two cores only, lack support for hyper-threading, and use the LGA1150 socket form factor.
Broadwell microarchitecture based
[edit]Broadwell-based Pentiums[specify] were launched in Q1 2015 using a 14 nm process (e.g. the dual-core 1.9 GHz Intel Pentium 3805U with 2 MB cache). They used the FCBGA1168 socket.
Skylake microarchitecture based
[edit]Skylake-based Pentium processors support up to 64 GB RAM. Features like Turbo Boost, Intel vPro, Hyper-Threading are not available. Supports AES-NI and RDRAND.[22]
Integrated graphics are provided by Intel HD Graphics 510, utilizing a maximum of 1.7 GB of memory, for resolutions up to 4096×2304 @ 60 Hz using Display Port supporting up to 3 displays.[23]
Skylake-based Pentium processors are the last Intel processors made under the Pentium brand on which Windows earlier than Windows 10 are officially supported by Microsoft,[24] although enthusiast-created modifications are available that disabled the Windows Update check and allowed Windows 8.1 and earlier to continue to receive Windows Updates on this and later platforms.[25][26][27]
Kaby Lake microarchitecture based
[edit]In Q1 2017 Intel released the Kaby Lake-based Pentium G4560; it is the first Pentium-branded CPU since the NetBurst-based Pentium 4 to support hyper-threading, a feature available in some "Core"-branded products. Features include a clock speed of 3.5 GHz with four threads, 3 MB of L3 cache and Intel HD 610 integrated graphics.
Coffee Lake microarchitecture based
[edit]All Coffee Lake Pentium processors support Hyper-threading,[28] and integrated Intel UHD Graphics.
Comet Lake microarchitecture based
[edit]All Comet Lake Pentium processors support Hyper-threading, and integrated Intel UHD 610 Graphics.
Pentium-compatible Intel processors
[edit]Due to its prominence, the term "Pentium-compatible" is often used to describe any x86 processor that supports the IA-32 instruction set and architecture. Even though they do not use the Pentium name, Intel also manufactures other processors based on the Pentium series for other markets. Most of these processors share the core design with one of the Pentium processor lines, usually differing in the amount of CPU cache, power efficiency or other features. The notable exception is the Atom line, which is an independent design.
- Celeron, a low-end version
- Core, the mainstream version including Core 2, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9, now placed above Pentium
- Xeon, a high-end version used in servers and workstations
- A100 (discontinued), an ultra-mobile version of Pentium M, succeeded by Intel Atom
- EP80579, a system-on-a-chip based on Pentium M
- Xeon Phi, a high-end version used in servers and workstations
- Intel Quark, a now-discontinued, low-power reimplementation of the Pentium architecture for use as microcontroller and in other embedded applications
See also
[edit]- List of Intel Pentium processors
- Intel Inside
- Pentium FDIV bug, a well-publicized flaw in the original processor
- Performance Rating, informally termed Pentium Rating
- "It's All About the Pentiums", a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic
- Athlon, AMD's line of processors that competed with Pentium
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Warren, Tom (September 16, 2022). "Intel Processor will replace Pentium and Celeron in 2023 laptops". The Verge. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ "Processor Names and Numbers". Intel. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ "Intel Processors". Intel. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
- ^ "Names of processors". IA State.
- ^ a b Colapinto, John (October 3, 2011). "Famous names". The New Yorker. pp. 38–43. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
- ^ Intel Corporation, "NewsBits: Intel Unveils Name Of Fifth-Generation Processor", Microcomputer Solutions, November/December 1992, page 1
- ^ Burgess, John (October 20, 1992). "Intel's fifth-generation chip no longer goes by the numbers". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ Huynh, Anh Tuan (September 20, 2006). "Intel "Conroe-L" Details Unveiled". DailyTech. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2007.
- ^ Thatcher, Michelle; Brown, Rich (April 23, 2008). "The multicore era is upon us". CNET. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- ^ "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily. August 6, 2007. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2007.
- ^ "Microprocessor Hall of Fame". Intel. Archived from the original on July 6, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2007.
- ^ Brown, Rich; Thatcher, Michelle (April 23, 2008). "The multicore era is upon us: How we got here – Where we stand today". CNET Asia. Archived from the original on September 15, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
- ^ Shilov, Anton. "Intel Readies Pentium E2000-Series Processors". X-bit Labs. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
- ^ "Intel to unify product naming scheme". TG Daily. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
- ^ "Intel introduces The Pentium Processor With MMX Technology". Intel. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ^ "Intel Core i3-350M Processor (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz) Product Specifications".
- ^ "CPU ID: SR05T Intel Pentium Dual-Core G620T". cpu-world.com. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
- ^ "SR05R Intel Pentium Dual-Core G620". cpu-world.com. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ "SR05P Intel Pentium Dual-Core G840". cpu-world.com. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ "SR05Q (Intel Pentium Dual-Core G850)". cpu-world.com. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
- ^ "Intel Pentium Processor G2120 (3M Cache, 3.10 GHz) Product Specifications".
- ^ "Intel® Pentium® Processor G4400 (3M Cache, 3.30 GHZ) Product Specifications".
- ^ "Intel Pentium G4400 Processor Review - Budget Skylake". April 12, 2016.
- ^ Allan, Darren (August 31, 2016). "Intel's latest CPUs will only support Windows 10". TechRadar. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
- ^ "There's a patch to reinstate Windows 7 & 8.1 on Kaby Lake CPUs | TheINQUIRER". April 20, 2017. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
- ^ pilao (March 3, 2020), zeffy/wufuc, retrieved March 9, 2020
- ^ Przemysław (February 9, 2020), p-lider/WuaCpuFix, retrieved March 9, 2020
- ^ "Intel Pentium Gold G5420 Processor (4M Cache, 3.80 GHz) Product Specifications". ark.intel.com. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
Pentium
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Brand origins and significance
The Pentium brand originated with Intel's development of its fifth-generation x86 microprocessor, designed as a direct successor to the 80486 processor to advance performance in personal computing. Announced in early 1993, this chip marked a significant evolution in Intel's architecture, incorporating advanced features to meet the growing demands of desktop applications and multitasking environments.[2][1] The name "Pentium" derives from the Greek word penta, meaning "five," reflecting its position as the fifth iteration in Intel's x86 processor lineage after the 8086, 80286, 80386, and 80486. Initially codenamed "586" to follow the numerical convention, Intel shifted to the trademarkable word-based name to better protect its branding in the competitive market. This rebranding helped establish Pentium as a recognizable flagship for high-end consumer and professional systems.[2][12] Positioned as a premium desktop CPU, the original Pentium targeted high-performance computing segments, directly challenging rivals like AMD's Am5x86 and Cyrix's 6x86, which offered compatible alternatives at lower costs. Its key innovations included a superscalar design enabling dual instruction pipelines for improved throughput, an integrated floating-point unit (FPU) for enhanced mathematical computations, and a 64-bit external data bus that doubled memory bandwidth compared to the 80486's 32-bit bus. These advancements significantly boosted integer and floating-point performance, setting new benchmarks for PC capabilities in the mid-1990s.[4][13][14] The processor launched with initial models at 60 MHz and 66 MHz speeds in May 1993, with OEM pricing set at $878 for the 60 MHz version and $965 for the 66 MHz variant in quantities of 1,000 units. This pricing underscored its premium status, though rapid adoption drove subsequent price reductions and speed increases, solidifying Pentium's role in propelling the PC industry toward mainstream multimedia and productivity applications.[15][16]Timeline and discontinuation
The Pentium brand debuted with the original P5 microprocessor on March 22, 1993, marking Intel's entry into superscalar x86 processing.[17] Subsequent milestones included the Pentium Pro in 1995, which introduced advanced features like out-of-order execution for servers and workstations.[8] The Pentium II followed in 1997, shifting to a Slot 1 cartridge design and integrating MMX instructions for multimedia applications.[4] In 1999, the Pentium III added SSE instructions and higher clock speeds, enhancing performance for emerging internet and 3D graphics workloads.[8] The Pentium 4 launched on November 20, 2000, based on the NetBurst microarchitecture with a focus on high clock speeds up to 3.8 GHz by 2004.[18] Mobile variants evolved with the Pentium M in 2003, prioritizing power efficiency over raw speed for laptops.[19] A major shift occurred in 2005 with the Pentium D, Intel's first dual-core desktop processor using NetBurst cores to address growing multithreading demands.[8] By 2006, Pentium Dual-Core models adopted the new Core microarchitecture, improving efficiency and performance per watt compared to prior generations.[20] From 2008 onward, Pentium processors integrated into Intel's mainstream Core lines, with models like the Pentium E-series (introduced in 2007–2010, Core 2-based) and later Nehalem- and Westmere-based options serving as value-oriented alternatives.[21] This trend continued through the 2010s, with Pentium branding applied to entry-level Core-derived chips, including the Pentium G series in the 2010s and culminating in the Pentium Gold G7400 in January 2022, a dual-core Alder Lake-based processor for basic desktop tasks.[22] Intel announced the discontinuation of the Pentium brand on September 16, 2022, phasing it out alongside Celeron for entry-level processors starting in Q1 2023 in favor of a simplified "Intel Processor" designation.[23] The move aimed at brand simplification to reduce consumer confusion and overlap with low-end Core i3 models, while allowing Intel to prioritize high-performance segments like AI-accelerated computing.[24] The last new Pentium designs were released in 2022, with the brand phased out starting in 2023 and final shipments to OEMs concluding by late 2024.[25] As of 2025, legacy Pentium support persists through existing inventory and software updates, but no new SKUs under the brand are produced.[26]P5 and P6 microarchitecture processors
Original Pentium (P5)
The original Pentium processor, based on the P5 microarchitecture and introduced by Intel in March 1993, represented a significant advancement over the 80486 by adopting a superscalar design capable of executing multiple instructions simultaneously.[14] This architecture featured two parallel integer pipelines—designated U-pipe and V-pipe—allowing up to two simple integer instructions to be processed per clock cycle, alongside a dedicated floating-point unit (FPU) for handling arithmetic operations. The integer pipelines each consisted of five stages (prefetch, decode stages 1 and 2, execute, and write-back), while the FPU employed an eight-stage pipeline supporting IEEE 754 standards with 32-bit, 64-bit, and 80-bit precision, achieving one-cycle throughput for basic operations despite a three-cycle latency.[14] Branch prediction was implemented via a 256-entry, four-way set-associative Branch Target Buffer (BTB), which mitigated pipeline stalls by predicting taken branches without delay when accurate. These features enabled an instructions-per-cycle (IPC) rate of approximately 1.5 to 2.0, roughly doubling the performance of the single-issue 80486 at equivalent clock speeds.[27] Initial Pentium chips were fabricated using a 0.8-micrometer BiCMOS process, incorporating 3.1 million transistors on a die measuring 294 mm², with power consumption ranging from 11.9 W average (15.3 W maximum) at 60 MHz to around 20 W at higher speeds due to the 5 V supply.[28][29] Later variants shifted to 0.6-micrometer and 0.35-micrometer processes for improved efficiency.[27] The processor launched with clock speeds of 60 MHz and 66 MHz using the Socket 4 interface, followed by Socket 5 models from 75 MHz to 200 MHz (e.g., Pentium 75, 90, 100, 120, 133, 150, 166, and 200), which supported up to 32-bit address buses and 64-bit data paths for enhanced bandwidth.[30] Socket 7 variants extended compatibility with later motherboards, maintaining similar speed ranges.[31] Key variants included the Pentium OverDrive processors, designed as upgrade chips for 486 systems, available at speeds like 63 MHz and 83 MHz to boost performance in legacy setups.[32] In January 1997, Intel released Pentium MMX variants on Socket 7, operating at 166 MHz to 233 MHz and adding 57 new multimedia instructions for improved video and audio processing, though these retained the core P5 architecture.[33] Performance benchmarks highlighted these gains; for instance, a 100 MHz Pentium achieved SPECint92 scores around 100-105, scaling to approximately 200-210 at 200 MHz, establishing about 4-5 times the integer performance of a comparable 80486 in UNIX workloads.[34] A notable issue arose in late 1994 with the discovery of the FDIV bug, a floating-point division error stemming from omitted entries in the FPU's lookup table for the SRT division algorithm, which inaccurately rounded results in approximately 1 in 27,000 divisions for random inputs.[35] Affecting roughly 5% of chips produced, the flaw prompted widespread scrutiny and a free replacement program by Intel, ultimately costing the company $475 million in charges and recalls.[36] The bug was resolved in subsequent manufacturing revisions without altering the core design.Pentium Pro (P6)
The Pentium Pro, codenamed P6, was Intel's first processor based on the P6 microarchitecture, released on November 1, 1995, and designed primarily for high-end workstations and servers to handle demanding 32-bit applications.[37][38] It marked a significant evolution from the prior P5 architecture by introducing Dynamic Execution, a set of innovations including advanced branch prediction, dataflow analysis, and speculative execution to optimize instruction throughput.[39] The core design employed a 3-issue superscalar pipeline with out-of-order execution, allowing up to three instructions to be dispatched, renamed, and executed simultaneously from a reservation station buffer, while maintaining in-order retirement for precise exception handling.[39] Fabricated initially on a 0.6-micrometer process and later refined to 0.35 micrometers, the processor supported clock speeds from 150 MHz to 200 MHz and featured a unique Slot 1 single-edge connector (SEC) cartridge that integrated the CPU die with L2 cache modules—typically 256 KB or 512 KB running at full core speed, with a 1 MB option available for the top 200 MHz model.[40] This internal cache integration provided low-latency access but contributed to elevated production costs due to the multi-chip module (MCM) assembly. Performance benchmarks highlighted its strengths in integer workloads, with the 200 MHz variant achieving a SPECint95 score of 8.71, representing about 70% improvement over the Pentium in integer tasks thanks to the first use of a 64-bit internal data path for cache and execution units, despite a 32-bit external bus.[41][42] Variants remained confined to enterprise segments, as the high cost—stemming from the complex MCM design and low yields—limited broader adoption, prompting Intel to develop a more affordable successor by integrating the P6 core into the consumer-focused Pentium II with external cache.[40] With a thermal design power of up to 29 W at higher speeds, the Pentium Pro generated notable heat, necessitating an integrated aluminum fin heatsink on the cartridge for passive or forced-air cooling in typical server environments.[43]Pentium II (P6)
The Pentium II processor, introduced in May 1997, represented Intel's first consumer-targeted implementation of the P6 microarchitecture, building on the Pentium Pro's design while incorporating enhancements for multimedia workloads. The initial Klamath core, fabricated using a 0.35-micron process, launched at clock speeds of 233 MHz, 266 MHz, and 300 MHz, with 512 KB of L2 cache and support for MMX instructions to accelerate graphics and audio processing.[44] In January 1998, Intel followed with the Deschutes core revision, shrunk to a 0.25-micron process for improved efficiency and higher frequencies ranging from 266 MHz to 450 MHz, maintaining compatibility with the same platform while reducing power draw.[45] These processors featured a 32 KB L1 cache split evenly between instruction and data, along with advanced branch prediction and superscalar execution to handle complex workloads more effectively than prior generations. A key design innovation was the shift to a Single Edge Contact (SEC) cartridge packaging, known as Slot 1, which housed the CPU die and off-die L2 cache (typically 512 KB in later models) on a removable module connected via a 242-pin edge connector.[44] This cartridge approach allowed for easier integration of the L2 cache at half the processor's core speed, balancing cost and performance, though it increased overall size compared to traditional pin-grid array designs. The inclusion of MMX technology extended the instruction set with 57 new operations optimized for single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) processing, enabling faster handling of video encoding, 3D rendering, and image manipulation tasks. This release necessitated a platform transition from the Socket 7 interface used by the original Pentium and Pentium MMX processors to the incompatible Slot 1, which supported a 66 MHz front-side bus and required new chipsets like the 440FX, rendering older motherboards obsolete for upgrades.[46] Performance gains were notable, particularly in multimedia; for instance, the Pentium II achieved up to twice the 3D graphics throughput of the Pentium MMX 233 MHz in the Norton Multimedia Benchmark, thanks to architectural refinements and MMX acceleration.[47] Overall integer and floating-point performance also improved by 30-50% at equivalent clocks over the Pentium MMX, establishing stronger multimedia capabilities for emerging consumer applications like digital video editing.[47] In April 1998, Intel expanded the lineup with the Mobile Pentium II variant, optimized for notebook computers with reduced voltage (1.7-2.0 V) and power consumption under 20 W, starting at 233 MHz and 266 MHz using the Tonga core derivative.[48] These mobile versions retained core P6 features like MMX but incorporated dynamic voltage scaling for better battery life. The Pentium II rapidly dominated the consumer desktop market from 1997 to 1999, powering over 80% of new PC shipments and serving as the foundation for previews of the subsequent Pentium III processor, which would add SSE instructions for further multimedia advancements.[49]Pentium III (P6)
The Pentium III processor, codenamed Katmai, was introduced by Intel in February 1999 as the successor to the Pentium II, marking the final major evolution of the P6 microarchitecture for mainstream desktop use. Initial models operated at clock speeds ranging from 450 MHz to 600 MHz, fabricated on a 0.25-micron process, and utilized the Slot 1 packaging interface for compatibility with existing P6-based systems.[50] This release focused on enhancing multimedia and Internet-related workloads, building directly on the Pentium II's consumer-oriented design while introducing capabilities tailored for emerging digital content applications. A defining feature of the Pentium III was the introduction of Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE), a set of 70 new instructions designed to accelerate single-precision floating-point operations and parallel data processing for multimedia tasks such as video encoding, 3D graphics, and audio processing.[51][52] SSE extended the MMX instruction set by adding dedicated 128-bit XMM registers and support for non-temporal memory operations, enabling up to 2x performance gains in 3D transformation and lighting workloads compared to the Pentium II.[53] In floating-point benchmarks like SPECfp2000, SSE contributed to notable improvements; for instance, a 1.0 GHz Coppermine-based Pentium III achieved a SPECfp2000 score of 284, reflecting enhanced vectorized computation efficiency over prior P6 generations without SSE.[54][55] Subsequent revisions refined the architecture for better integration and efficiency. The Coppermine variant, launched in October 1999, shrank the process node to 0.18 microns and integrated 256 KB of full-speed on-die L2 cache, boosting overall performance and reducing latency compared to the off-die cache of earlier models; clock speeds ranged from 500 MHz to 1.4 GHz, with support for Socket 370.[56] The Tualatin core, introduced in 2001 on a 0.13-micron process, further improved power efficiency—reaching up to 1.4 GHz with 512 KB L2 cache—while maintaining SSE support and enabling lower thermal design power in later models. Coppermine's shift to Flip-Chip Pin Grid Array (FC-PGA) packaging facilitated easier installation on Socket 370 motherboards and unlocked overclocking potential through accessible voltage and bus adjustments, a popular modification among enthusiasts.[57] The Pentium III line concluded mainstream production in 2001, with the Tualatin representing the pinnacle of P6 refinements before Intel transitioned to the NetBurst microarchitecture in the Pentium 4.[55] Later revisions like Tualatin demonstrated superior power efficiency, with models at equivalent frequencies consuming up to 30% less power than Katmai due to process shrinks and cache optimizations.[58] This evolution solidified the P6's legacy in balancing performance, compatibility, and cost for consumer and professional computing.NetBurst microarchitecture processors
Pentium 4
The Pentium 4 processor, Intel's first implementation of the NetBurst microarchitecture, was introduced on November 20, 2000, with the Willamette core operating at initial clock speeds of 1.4 GHz and 1.5 GHz, scaling up to 2.0 GHz.[59] Fabricated on a 0.18-micron process with 42 million transistors, it utilized Socket 423 initially, later transitioning to Socket 478 for improved compatibility and overclocking support.[60] The design emphasized aggressive clock speed increases to achieve multi-GHz performance, marking a shift from the efficiency-focused P6 architecture used in prior Pentium models. At the heart of the NetBurst microarchitecture was a deep, hyper-pipelined design featuring a 20-stage integer pipeline to enable higher clock frequencies, though this resulted in increased branch misprediction penalties compared to shallower pipelines.[60] A key innovation was the trace cache, serving as the L1 instruction cache and holding up to 12,000 decoded micro-operations (μops) in trace format to reduce decode overhead and deliver up to three μops per clock cycle to the execution units.[60] The architecture included a double-pumped arithmetic logic unit (ALU) running at twice the core clock for integer operations, 256 KB of L2 cache in early models, and support for SSE and SSE2 instructions to enhance multimedia workloads.[61] This GHz-centric approach prioritized raw frequency for marketing appeal over instructions per cycle (IPC), leading to performance that lagged behind contemporaries like the AMD Athlon in some integer tasks despite higher clocks. Subsequent variants refined the design for better efficiency and performance. The Northwood core, launched in January 2002 on a 0.13-micron process with 55 million transistors, boosted clock speeds to 1.6–3.4 GHz, doubled L2 cache to 512 KB, and retained Socket 478 while improving power delivery with a new voltage regulation scheme. The Prescott core followed in February 2004, shrinking to 0.09-micron with 125 million transistors, supporting clocks from 2.4–3.8 GHz, expanding L2 cache to 1 MB, and introducing SSE3 instructions for enhanced vector processing; it also extended the pipeline to 31 stages for further clock scaling. The final iteration, Cedar Mill in January 2006, used a 0.065-micron process with 188 million transistors, offered 2 MB L2 cache, clocks up to 3.6 GHz, and added Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) in select models, though it marked the end of single-core NetBurst development. Hyper-Threading Technology (HT), introduced in November 2002 with the 3.06 GHz Northwood model, enabled simultaneous multithreading by presenting the single-core processor as two logical processors to the operating system, improving throughput in threaded workloads by up to 30% through better utilization of execution resources.[62] Integrated graphics were not a standard feature of the Pentium 4 CPU itself, though some motherboard chipsets like Intel's 8xx series provided onboard graphics options for budget systems, which were uncommon in high-performance Pentium 4 configurations.[63] Despite its innovations, the Pentium 4 faced criticism for performance inefficiencies, with IPC roughly 15–20% lower than the P6-based Pentium III at equivalent clocks, necessitating higher frequencies to compete and resulting in elevated power consumption—peaking at 115 W TDP for later Prescott models. This led to increased heat output and cooling demands, contributing to higher system costs and environmental concerns.[64] Nonetheless, the Pentium 4 dominated the desktop PC market throughout the early 2000s, powering the majority of consumer systems and enabling the shift to GHz-era computing, though its efficiency drawbacks accelerated the transition to the Core microarchitecture by 2006.[65]Pentium D
The Pentium D was Intel's first dual-core desktop processor under the Pentium brand, introduced in May 2005 as part of the NetBurst microarchitecture family.[66] The initial models, codenamed Smithfield, were manufactured on a 90 nm process and featured clock speeds ranging from 2.66 GHz to 3.2 GHz, with each processor incorporating two cores each with 1 MB of L2 cache (totaling 2 MB) and supporting the LGA 775 socket.[67] The Smithfield design was a multi-chip module consisting of two separate Prescott-derived dies. These processors were designed to address growing demands for multitasking and parallel processing in desktop applications, marking Intel's shift toward multi-core computing on the existing NetBurst platform. In late 2005 and early 2006, Intel released the Presler-based Pentium D processors on a 65 nm process, which improved upon Smithfield by providing independent 2 MB L2 caches per core (totaling 4 MB) and supporting higher clock speeds up to 3.6 GHz.[68] Unlike the initial Smithfield design, which lacked shared cache between cores, Presler introduced minor architectural tweaks for better efficiency, though it retained the NetBurst core without Hyper-Threading in standard models.[69] The Pentium Extreme Edition variants, targeted at enthusiasts, added Hyper-Threading for four threads per processor; notable examples include the 840 model at 3.2 GHz (Smithfield, released April 2005) and the 955 at 3.46 GHz (Presler, released January 2006).[70] These Extreme Edition processors also featured unlocked multipliers for overclocking and were produced through 2006.[71] Performance-wise, the Pentium D excelled in multi-threaded workloads compared to single-core predecessors, enabling better handling of simultaneous tasks like video encoding and browsing. However, it faced criticism for high power consumption and thermal output, with thermal design powers (TDP) of 95 W or 130 W depending on the model, leading to inefficiencies relative to contemporary AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors.[72] The series represented the final iteration of NetBurst-based desktop Pentiums, with production ceasing in 2006 as Intel transitioned to the more efficient Core microarchitecture.[73]Mobile Pentium developments
Pentium M
The Pentium M processor, introduced in March 2003, represented Intel's renewed focus on mobile computing with the Banias core, a derivative of the P6 microarchitecture optimized for laptops. Fabricated on a 0.13-micron process with 77 million transistors, it featured clock speeds ranging from 1.3 to 1.7 GHz, a 400 MHz front-side bus, and 1 MB of on-die L2 cache, enabling efficient performance in power-constrained environments. Unlike the power-hungry NetBurst-based mobile Pentium 4, the Pentium M prioritized balanced execution over raw clock speed, incorporating SSE2 support for multimedia tasks while maintaining compatibility with existing x86 software.[74][75] Key design enhancements over prior P6 implementations included an improved branch prediction unit with hybrid bi-mode prediction, which reduced misprediction penalties and power consumption by better anticipating control flow in workloads. The processor integrated Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology for dynamic voltage and frequency scaling, allowing seamless transitions between performance and battery-saving modes to extend laptop runtime. With a thermal design power (TDP) of 24-27 W for standard models, it achieved lower heat output than contemporaries, packaged in BGA or micro-PGA formats compatible with Socket 479, and notably omitted Hyper-Threading to further conserve energy. These features made it a cornerstone of Intel's Centrino platform, combining the CPU with integrated Wi-Fi and chipset for optimized mobile systems.[76][77] In 2004, Intel followed with the Dothan core variant, shrinking the process to 0.09 microns with 140 million transistors for greater density and efficiency, supporting clock speeds from 1.3 to 2.2 GHz, a doubled 2 MB L2 cache, and an upgraded 533 MHz front-side bus. This iteration retained the core P6 enhancements but added micro-ops fusion for better instruction throughput and deeper sleep states, maintaining the 24-27 W TDP range while boosting overall performance by up to 20% in mobile benchmarks compared to Banias. Dothan solidified the Pentium M's role in subnotebook and ultraportable designs, emphasizing sustained battery life over peak throughput.[78][79] Overall, the Pentium M delivered superior battery life—up to 20% longer than mobile Pentium III or Pentium 4 systems in typical usage—while matching or exceeding their performance at equivalent power levels, establishing it as a pivotal evolution in mobile processors. Its power-efficient P6 refinements laid the groundwork for subsequent Intel mobile lines, including the Core Solo and Core Duo, though it remained distinctly branded under Pentium for single-core laptop applications until phased out in 2009.[80][76][81]Mobile Pentium Dual-Core variants
The Mobile Pentium Dual-Core processors represented Intel's entry-level dual-core offerings for laptops, introduced as a more affordable alternative to the Core Duo and later Core 2 Duo lines, focusing on balanced performance and power efficiency for mainstream mobile computing. Based on the Yonah core, the initial models launched in early 2007 with clock speeds ranging from 1.60 GHz to 1.86 GHz, fabricated on a 65 nm process, featuring two cores sharing 1 MB of L2 cache, a 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and support for Socket M or P. These processors included SSE3 instructions for enhanced multimedia processing and Intel Enhanced SpeedStep Technology for dynamic power management, with a thermal design power (TDP) of up to 35 W, making them suitable for ultraportable and thin-and-light notebooks. Unlike higher-end siblings, the Yonah-based variants lacked 64-bit (Intel 64) support, prioritizing 32-bit compatibility and cost reduction.[82][83] Subsequent variants transitioned to the Merom core in mid-2007, expanding the lineup with speeds up to 2.16 GHz while retaining the 65 nm process and 1 MB shared L2 cache, but introducing options for a 667 MHz or 800 MHz FSB and DDR2 memory support for improved bandwidth. These models added 64-bit extension support, enabling broader software compatibility, and select configurations incorporated LaGrande security technology (later known as Intel Trusted Execution Technology) for enhanced platform protection against software-based attacks. Integrated into Intel's Centrino Duo and Pro platforms, such as the Santa Rosa chipset, the Merom-based Mobile Pentium Dual-Cores delivered efficient multitasking for office productivity and light media tasks, with power consumption optimized for battery life in mobile environments. Representative examples include the T2370 at 1.73 GHz and the T3400 at 2.16 GHz, both with 35 W TDP.[82][84][85] By 2008, the lineup evolved to the Penryn core on a 45 nm process, shrinking die size for better efficiency while boosting clock speeds to a maximum of 2.3 GHz, with 1 MB L2 cache and an 800 MHz FSB for faster data transfer. These processors maintained dual-core design, SSE3 support, Enhanced SpeedStep, and 64-bit capabilities, alongside Execute Disable Bit for security, with TDP remaining at 35 W to suit ultraportables. The Penryn variants, such as the T4300 at 2.1 GHz and T4500 at 2.3 GHz, provided incremental performance gains in power-sensitive scenarios, emphasizing conceptual improvements in thermal efficiency and integration with updated Centrino platforms. Production of Mobile Pentium Dual-Core processors phased out around 2010, as Intel transitioned to newer Core-based lines while maintaining Pentium branding for budget mobile processors until later generations.[82][84][86][87]| Core | Example Model | Clock Speed | Process | L2 Cache | FSB | TDP | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonah | T2060 | 1.60 GHz | 65 nm | 1 MB shared | 533 MHz | 35 W | SSE3, Enhanced SpeedStep, 32-bit |
| Merom | T2370 | 1.73 GHz | 65 nm | 1 MB shared | 533/800 MHz | 35 W | SSE3, Intel 64, LaGrande (select), DDR2 |
| Penryn | T4500 | 2.3 GHz | 45 nm | 1 MB shared | 800 MHz | 35 W | SSE4.1, Intel 64, Enhanced SpeedStep |