Into the Core - Intel's New Core CPU

Tyler Too writes "Hannibal over at Ars Technica has an in-depth look at Intel's new Core processors. From the article: 'In a time when an increasing number of processors are moving away from out-of-order execution (OOOE, or sometimes just OOO) toward in-order, more VLIW-like designs that rely heavily on multithreading and compiler/coder smarts for their performance, Core is as full-throated an affirmation of the ongoing importance of OOOE as you can get.'"

Comments

Re:AMD Vs Intel: Round 8

[tpgp]

I will now support the underdog even if Intel drops below AMD just to insure stiff competition. You can call me a young idealist about capitalism!

Hmmmmn, I think I'll actually call you someone who needs to read up a bit on both idealism and capitalism!

Also, on a somewhat note - never care about a company, because the company cannot reciprocate your feelings.

If Intel comes out with a better, cheaper processor tomorrow, don't buy the AMD one, buy the intel one. Their is no point treating a company like a person.

Re:AMD Vs Intel: Round 8

[evilviper]

If Intel comes out with a better, cheaper processor tomorrow, don't buy the AMD one, buy the intel one. Their is no point treating a company like a person.

Clearly you've never heard of a boycott, picket, or any other similar form of consumer revolt.

Re:Apple's noisy Dual Core MacBooks-PCs seeing thi

[tayhimself]

Ian. These are often inductor coils on the MB power circuitry making this noise. Go to silentpcreview.com forums and search for coil whine. It happens in PSU coils or/and more frequently on MB power circuitry coils. It is a combination of components that causes it and unfortunately there is not much you can do other than change the PSU/video card etc which are not possible on a laptop. You can douse the coils in electronics grade silicone (which is acid free) but I am not suggesting this. Send it back for servicing if they take it.

Article summary

[Animats]

Here's the short version:

• Intel has a new x86 CPU coming out. It's basically an improved version of their last few CPUs, but because fabs have improved, they can fit more execution units in.
• The wide "vector"-like instructions now have real 128 bit execution units.
• There's a new branch prediction scheme for loop exit, which seems clever.
• Hoisting of loads from an unknown address is now performed more speculatively than it used to be, at the cost of some complexity in the retirement unit.
• The author of the article has no clue that the retirement unit is the hard part. That's where all the hard cases end up being unwound.
• No benchmarks yet.

That's what's in there.