Pentium 4 Extreme Edition - P4C 3.2/800 with 2MB L3!

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tart666

Golden Member
May 18, 2002
1,289
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The 2MB on-die L3 cache takes the Northwood's 55 million transistors and balloons it to an incredible 108 million transistors, which is still less than the Prescott's 125 million transistors.

Hold up here. L1 and L2 are made in SRAM, which requires 6 transistors per bit. 2MB of that = 96 M transistors. Obviously, that leaves not enough transistors for logic, right? Prescott will have 1MB L2 using SRAM, so 125M transistors makes sense there.

so... this L3 must be DRAM: 1 transistor + 1 cap. Much slower technology than SRAM, mind you. Sounds like an Apple-style gimmick to me...
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: OddTSi
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
That or Intel plans on having an "Extreme Edition" of Prescott as well :Q. Hmmm... Architectural improvements, 1 MB L2 cache, 2 MB L3 cache, 1066 MHz FSB... hypothetically, I'm sure it would kick ass. Let the chip wars begin! :beer::D


This article would indicate that it's not just a "buy us some time" chip since they plan on eventually making it on the 90nm process. Seems like it's here to stay.

While it may be continued alter on, its release just before Prescott, surely shows their need to get a CPU out before A64. I see what you're saying in that it will go on to the prescott and to the next set of CPU's possibly later on, but for the time being, its only buying them some time.
 

Pariah

Elite Member
Apr 16, 2000
7,357
20
81
Originally posted by: tart666
The 2MB on-die L3 cache takes the Northwood's 55 million transistors and balloons it to an incredible 108 million transistors, which is still less than the Prescott's 125 million transistors.

Hold up here. L1 and L2 are made in SRAM, which requires 6 transistors per bit. 2MB of that = 96 M transistors. Obviously, that leaves not enough transistors for logic, right? Prescott will have 1MB L2 using SRAM, so 125M transistors makes sense there.

so... this L3 must be DRAM: 1 transistor + 1 cap. Much slower technology than SRAM, mind you. Sounds like an Apple-style gimmick to me...

I think he has his numbers wrong. The Xeon MP w/ 2MB L3 has 190 million transistors. The P4 Extreme based on the same core should have the same number. The 125million transistor count is likely the 1MB L3 version.
 

wetcat007

Diamond Member
Nov 5, 2002
3,502
0
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Originally posted by: Wingznut
Originally posted by: INemtsev
it would be like 0-6% difference......A64 will handle it for sure.....if not my vapochill will make it
Two days ago you posted: "I just started learning about cpu.ocing...etc.....I am confused why.....is Intel such a popular cpu...and how come there's so many intel-fan boys around?"

And now you are an expert enough to be able to predict how much performance would be gained with a new P4 that isn't even out yet.

(Who's the "fan boy" around here???
rolleye.gif
)

lol yeah man have fun with ur 103 watts of heat from ur prescott...
 

orion7144

Diamond Member
Oct 8, 2002
4,425
0
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Originally posted by: wetcat007
Originally posted by: Wingznut
Originally posted by: INemtsev
it would be like 0-6% difference......A64 will handle it for sure.....if not my vapochill will make it
Two days ago you posted: "I just started learning about cpu.ocing...etc.....I am confused why.....is Intel such a popular cpu...and how come there's so many intel-fan boys around?"

And now you are an expert enough to be able to predict how much performance would be gained with a new P4 that isn't even out yet.

(Who's the "fan boy" around here???
rolleye.gif
)

lol yeah man have fun with ur 103 watts of heat from ur prescott...

They have already stated that they are changing the steppings on the Prescott so the heat disapation will not be as high.
 

OddTSi

Senior member
Feb 14, 2003
371
0
0
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Originally posted by: OddTSi
Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
That or Intel plans on having an "Extreme Edition" of Prescott as well :Q. Hmmm... Architectural improvements, 1 MB L2 cache, 2 MB L3 cache, 1066 MHz FSB... hypothetically, I'm sure it would kick ass. Let the chip wars begin! :beer::D


This article would indicate that it's not just a "buy us some time" chip since they plan on eventually making it on the 90nm process. Seems like it's here to stay.

While it may be continued alter on, its release just before Prescott, surely shows their need to get a CPU out before A64. I see what you're saying in that it will go on to the prescott and to the next set of CPU's possibly later on, but for the time being, its only buying them some time.

Agreed.
 

KenAF

Senior member
Jan 6, 2002
684
0
0
The 2.8GHz Xeon MP with 2Mb L3 cache and 400MHz FSB already beats the P4 3.2GHz in a lot of benchmarks, so the P4 3.2GHz with 2Mb L3 and 800MHz FSB should be a very competitive part.

For those who doubt that the extra cache will make a difference with the P4, check out some of the benchmarks on GamePC right here and here.

In these benchmarks, a Xeon 3.0 with 1Mb L3 cache and 533MHz FSB outperforms a standard Xeon 3.0 by 21% in Photoshop, 13% in 3D Studio Max, 9% in Maya, and 9% in Sciencemark Primordia. Of course, the upcoming P4 Extreme Edition will have twice as much L3 cache and a faster 800MHz bus to better take advantage of that cache.
 

Lyfer

Diamond Member
May 28, 2003
5,842
2
81
How much is this "gamers dream" cpu gonna cost? Doesn't the Xeon 2.8 w/2mb cache carry a $3K+ price tag?:)
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
16,968
2
0
Originally posted by: Lyfer
How much is this "gamers dream" cpu gonna cost? Doesn't the Xeon 2.8 w/2mb cache carry a $3K+ price tag?:)
Read Sohcan's first post in this thread (Post #26).

 

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
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ostif.org
Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Originally posted by: kuk
Looks like the we're reaching another consumer golden age in computer hardware.

ATI vs. nVidia vs. XGI
Athlon64 vs. P4 EE
Better LCDs
Cheaper and faster DVD-Writers
5+MP digital cameras

Feel the excitement? :D

Yes I do! Don't forget 8x DVD Burners!

PCI Express
72GB Raptors ;)
 

KenAF

Senior member
Jan 6, 2002
684
0
0
I've heard some references to the Athlon64.

Remember peopie, the P4 Extreme Edition is not meant to compete with the $420-$475 Athlon64 3200. Rather, it's meant to compete with the high-end Athlon64 FX51. Companies are taking preorders on the Athlon64 FX51 at between $800 and $900, as you can see here, here, here, and here.
 

tart666

Golden Member
May 18, 2002
1,289
0
0
The Xeon MP w/ 2MB L3 has 190 million transistors. The P4 Extreme based on the same core should have the same number. The 125million transistor count is likely the 1MB L3 version.[/quote]

Did somebody say that P4E is the same product as Xeon MP ?
 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
3,899
0
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If you read the Anand article, he states the estimated cost is ~$740 in quanties of 1000. So it's about +20% from the regular 3.2C chip.
 

tart666

Golden Member
May 18, 2002
1,289
0
0
has anyone said anything about the latency of this L3? (edit: or even clock speed of the L3)

I keep suspecting it is a lot slower than Xeon MP's L3...
 

jbond04

Senior member
Oct 18, 2000
505
0
71
Originally posted by: tart666
has anyone said anything about the latency of this L3? (edit: or even clock speed of the L3)

I keep suspecting it is a lot slower than Xeon MP's L3...

Why? Why would Intel bother to change the speed?
 

zephyrprime

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,512
2
81
It is also a way of being a sort of "cash cow" for Intel, as AMD has set pricing for their FX line at an extremely high bar.
I'm not so sure about that. The thing has 168M transistors vs. 54M on the P4 regular so it's likely to be twice the die size. Plus, it doesns't have as much economy of scale in its manufacturing as the P4 regular and the Gallatin cores aren't speed binned for as low speeds as the P4's so if they only charge $800, I don't think it will be a big money maker or a money maker at all.
 

KenAF

Senior member
Jan 6, 2002
684
0
0
I'm not so sure about that. The thing has 168M transistors vs. 54M on the P4 regular so it's likely to be twice the die size. Plus, it doesns't have as much economy of scale in its manufacturing as the P4 regular and the Gallatin cores aren't speed binned for as low speeds as the P4's so if they only charge $800, I don't think it will be a big money maker or a money maker at all.
Remember, the vast majority of the costs associated with a new processor are the manufacturing, R&D, and marketing. The actual silicon and materials in a processor like the Gallatin run only a few dollars; the bulk of the manufacturing costs usually consist of the facility costs allocated to each processor.

Intel has already paid off its 0.13 facilities and the Gallatin design, so it doesn't have to buy or design anything significant to produce more of the processor, nor does any part of the 0.13 facility cost have to be allocated to the P4 EE -- thus making economy of scale irrelevant. Intel simply has to reconfigure a few idle production lines that are currently not doing anything for the company. The most significant cost of the P4 EE will probably be those associated with marketing. I would be very surprised if the the P4 EE cost Intel more than $50-$60 total per chip (current high-end P4 is somewhere around $20-$30).

For all we know, Intel has been producing and binning the Gallatin cores for some time now; there is no reason at all to believe that Intel just began binning cores last week (although they could have in the past 90 days). Intel has such great yields on 0.13um that it is also quite possible that the vast majority of Gallatin cores can be sold at 3.2GHz, just like most new P4 cores below 3.0GHz generally share the same bin as those at 3.0+. The P4 EE obviously won't be subject to the see rigorous validation testing that is used for the $3600+ Xeon MP.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: vetteguy
Originally posted by: JetBlack69
It only costs a few dollars to manufacture a cpu.

;)
Yeah, and only $50-$100 million in R&D and facility costs.

Umm..you do know he was being sarcastic vetteguy. See the winking emoticon, and did you see wingznut post "*waiting for the 'cpus only cost a few dollars to manufacture' post*"?
 

OmegaRedd

Banned
Sep 14, 2003
143
0
0
Who F-cking cares $700+ bucks for a couple of extra frames maybe 20 sec in TMPGEnc, wake me up if they they can run in a dual cpu configuration. (goes back to sleep)
rolleye.gif
 

Mloot

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2002
3,038
25
91
I'm curious about would be faster: a 3.2 "EE" with its copious amounts of cache and 800mhz FSB, or a 2.6C, overclocked to 3.2ghz and with a faster FSB? Would an oc'ed 2.4 or 2.6c be able to offer 3.2 "EE" performance levels for a fraction of the cost?