Basics of Modern Intel CPUs

Doggie Fizzle writes "For those who think you can drop a Xeon into your Celeron system for an upgrade... 'Although there are currently only two main players in the CPU market, AMD and Intel, the number of choices is still enough to make the typical consumer's head spin. Each manufacturer has a few different models to promote, and many of these models can be found in a few different form factors (namely, the "sockets" to which they connect) that exclude interchangeability. This two-part series of Tech Tips will look at a few details of each of the currently-supported CPU (Central Processing Unit) sockets and how they are all similar and different from one to another' "

Comments

Confusion

[ackthpt]

Also AMD is casting doubt on Intel's claim of dual core. Explains how Intel beat them to market, just do a cheap shortcut.

As if sockets aren't enough, there's now two video card standards AGP and SLI (card: PCI-E) which caught me by surprise. I had to change my order before shipping as I didn't realise I could not use an AGP card with the new SLI/PCI-E configuration. Better? I don't need to spend $$$, my existing video card works fine, I just wanted to upgrade the mobo and CPU.

Re:Confusion

[stienman]

Explains how Intel beat them to market, just do a cheap shortcut.

The article explains:
Although Intel was the first to launch its dual-core processor solution for desktop PCs, Richard commented that a real dual-core processor should be one that integrates two cores onto the same die.

Ah yes, that old trick.
1) Notice other company has beat you to market
2) Panic!
3) Define technology to exclude competitor's product
4) Indicate that you actually beat them to market with a "technically correct (according to our definition)" solution

There are two cores inside one chip package. Who cares whether they are on the same die?

Intel does, that's who. This increases output, since one bad core won't take out a whole chip. Further, the larger the single die, the more likely a problem will occur that ruins the chip.

Eventually it'll make economic and production sense to have them on one die.

Some may think of it as a "cheap trick", but the reality is that
1) The result is the same
2) They went to market first with a working dual-core processor.

AMD will have an easier time overall since their chips run cooler.

-Adam

Re:Only two ?

[spaceyhackerlady]

On a day-to-day basis I run in to four kinds of CPUs: x86 (typing this on one), UltraSPARC (most of the boxes at work, plus an Ultra 5 I bought on EBay to play with), ARM (my Palm - one of the new ones), Power PC (stuff at work) and several 68k derivatives (various boxes at work from little to seriously studly).

This doesn't include the niche processors, Analog Devices and TI DSPs, various PICs, and so on.

...laura who actually owns a DragonBall development board