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Processor Upgrades
Questions
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to an AMD 5x86-133 processor (X5)?
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Cyrix 5x86 processor (M1sc)?
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Pentium OverDrive processor (P24T)?
- Upgrading with the AMD K5 (SSA5/5k86).
- Upgrading with the AMD K6, K6-2 (Chompers), and K6-III (Sharptooth).
- Upgrading with the AMD Athlon and Sempron (K7/K75/Thunderbird/Palomino/Thoroughbred/Barton/Thorton) and Duron (Spitfire/Morgan/Applebred).
- Upgrading with the AMD Athlon 64 (Clawhammer/Sledgehammer/San Diego/Newcastle/Winchester/Venice/Orleans/Lima), Athlon 64 FX (Sledgehammer/San Diego/Toledo), Athlon 64 X2 (Manchester/Toledo/Windsor/Brisbane), and Sempron (Paris/Palermo/Manila/Sparta).
- Upgrading with the AMD Phenom X3/X4 (Toliman/Agena).
- Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86 (M1) and 6x86L (M1L).
- Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX (M2).
- Upgrading with the IDT Winchip (C6) and Winchip-2 (C6Plus).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Classic (P54C).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium with MMX (P55C).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium OverDrive (P5T/P54CT/P54CTB/P6T).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Pro (P6).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium II (Klamath/Deschutes) and Pentium III (Katmai/Coppermine/Coppermine-T/Tualatin).
- Upgrading with the Intel Celeron (Covington/Mendocino/Coppermine-128/Tualatin/Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill/Conroe-L/Conroe).
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium 4 (Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill), Pentium D (Smithfield/Presler), and Pentium Extreme (Gallatin/Prescott 2M/Smithfield/Presler).
- Upgrading with the Intel Core 2 Duo (Allendale/Conroe/Wolfdale), Pentium (Conroe), and Core 2 Extreme (Conroe/Kentsfield/Yorkfield/Harpertown).
- Upgrading with the Rise mP6.
- Upgrading with the VIA Cyrix-III (Samuel) and C3 (Samuel 2/Ezra).
- Aren't there adapters that can fit newer processors into older motherboards?
Answers
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to an AMD 5x86-133 P-75 processor (X5)?
- Firstly, AMD does not consider the 5x86-133 P-75 to be an 'upgrade' processor unless it is sold as an upgrade using the 208-pin SQFP version of the chip and is bundled with a voltage adapter, heatsink, and fan by a third party adapter vendor.
- The 5x86 is a 168-pin 3.45 volt processor that has a P24D pinout. By itself, the 5x86 can only function in the low voltage compatible Socket 3 motherboard. In order to use this CPU in the original 486 socket, Socket 1, or Socket 2, a voltage adapter is necessary. Also, this chip cannot function in an 'upgrade' socket since it has no way of disabling the on-board processor. Although some motherboards have a jumper that disables the onboard processor. This may allow the 5x86 to work in an upgrade socket. The Trinity Works version of the 5x86 comes with the extra 169th KEY pin for proper orientation in the upgrade socket, and should work automatically. The Evergreen 586 is also able to work in the OverDrive socket since it has a jumper on the adapter itself which activates the chip's 'float pin' and seizes control of the computer. This is specifically used on motherboards that do not have their own jumper to disable the onboard processor.
- This chip also requires a motherboard that supports write-back L1 cache. Or the chip would have to be allowed to switch into write-through mode. Some motherboards may not allow the chip to properly choose WB or WT mode, making the computer very flakey. A voltage adapter that is capable of disabling the write-back mode on the chip would make it compatible with non-compliant motherboards. The Computernerd, Gainbery, and Trinity Works adapters disable write-back mode automatically and the Evergreen chip can be switched with an onboard jumper. Other chips may have these features as well.
- If the motherboard takes a processor type of 'Am5x86' or 'X5' or '5x86' or 'Am486DX2 Enhanced' or 'Am486DX4 Enhanced' or 'P24D' (486DX2 Write-Back), then the 5x86 should run fine in the system without having to use an adapter. If the AMD chip is identified as a Cyrix chip, the BIOS will have to be upgraded or another motherboard would have to be used. If the chip is identified as a Cyrix, it will seem to run fine for a while, but will eventually have problems operating correctly. If none of the above settings are available, a 486DX or 487SX (486 OverDrive) CPU type may work, but chip speed will be reduced because the L1 cache will operate in Write-Through mode rather than the faster Write-Back. Unfortunately it may may be necessary to set the chip as a 486DX CPU type for motherboards that do not support the L1 cache in Write-Back mode.
- The chip runs on a 33MHz bus and 2.0x multiplier. The CPU itself will actually run at a 4.0x multiplier when the 2.0x is selected on the motherboard. If the 3.0x setting on the motherboard is selected, it will run at 100MHz (33x3.0).
- Some motherboards may require a BIOS upgrade.
- The P-75 is a performance rating comparing the 486-class 5x86-133 to an Intel Pentium-75 processor. The 5x86 matches up well against the slower Pentium chips. But, of course, it can't touch their FPU performance.
- Please note that the AMD 5x86 and Cyrix 5x86 chips are *NOT* the same chip. Simply because a motherboard supports one does not mean that it will support the other. This is not an unimportant point.
- A page on upgrading to the AMD 5x86: AMD 5x86-133 Upgrade Info.
- AMD's page on the 5x86-133: Am5x86-P75.
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Cyrix 5x86 processor (M1sc)?
- Firstly, Cyrix does not consider the 5x86 to be an 'upgrade' processor.
- The Cyrix 5x86 comes in 100MHz (33x3.0) and 120MHz (40x3.0) varieties. It has 168 pins, a P24D pinout, and runs at 3.45 volts. The Cyrix is only voltage compatible with Socket 3 motherboards, but an adapter will allow it to run in the original 486 socket, Socket 1, and Socket 2. And like the AMD 5x86, it also comes in a QFP package bundled by a third party vendor with a voltage regulator, heatsink, and fan.
- Unlike the AMD, the Cyrix is more tolerant of motherboards that do not support write-back L1 cache. The processor will automatically choose which mode to run in (write-back or write-through), but write-back is certainly preferred. A jumper on the motherboard or setting in the BIOS may allow for this to be changed.
- This chip can only replace a processor, and will not work in a secondary 'upgrade' socket. Although some motherboards have a jumper that disables the onboard processor. This may allow the 5x86 to work in an upgrade socket.
- The processor runs on motherboards that support the Intel 486DX2 write-back enhanced processor (P24D), although a BIOS upgrade is likely necessary.
- Although the 5x86-120 is not officially rated against an Intel Pentium, its performance matches that of the Pentium 90.
- Please note that the AMD 5x86 and Cyrix 5x86 chips are *NOT* the same chip. Simply because a motherboard supports one does not mean that it will support the other. This is not an unimportant point.
- What does it take to upgrade my 486 to a Pentium OverDrive processor (P24T)?
- The Pentium OverDrive processor for the 486 (P24T - PODP5V), requires a computer that is compatible with write-back mode for the L1 (on-chip) cache. Or it must be allowed to switch into write-through mode. Otherwise, an interposer would have to be used to disable write-back mode. Lack of support for write-back mode will often show up as a malfunctioning floppy drive after the CPU upgrade. Strange but true. This only applies to motherboards based on the SiS 85C471 chipset.
- The chip also requires a computer that accepts the unique P24T pinout, which is different from the 486DX or 486SX pinouts on previous Intel 486 processors. The P24T has a pin that disables any on-board processor, but in some cases (with older P24T's), this may not work properly and the motherboard would need to have a jumper that manually disables any on-board chip. The CPU is either a 237-pin (83MHz) or 235-pin (63MHz) chip that only fits in sockets 2 and 3. It accepts a 5 volt setting and has a fixed 2.5x multiplier. The 83MHz version takes a 33MHz bus, and the 63MHz version takes a 25MHz bus.
- Note that the original shipped version of this processor had no fan, and was found to be thermally incompatible with the blue Socket 2 'upgrade' socket. The white Socket 3 'upgrade' socket is fine. All newer versions of the chip ship with an attached fan, and do not have these problems with either socket.
- The 63MHz version of the chip may or may not have a pin located at position A4. The pin at A4 was supposed to be a ground pin but some motherboards with the OPTi 895 chipset thought this should be a power pin. The resulting incompatibility would not only make the chip flaky, but could eventually damage both the processor and the motherboard. So this was clipped off (by Intel). If your chip has a round gold circle where a pin used to be, you have one of these chips. If the CPU does not have a pin missing (it's along the side, near pin One), then it may be electrically incompatible with some motherboards. An interposer will fix this incompatibility but it will also disable write-back mode for the on-chip L1 cache, which slows down the machine.
- Any systems with a 25MHz bus can use the 83MHz version of the chip, but because of the bus speed the chip will only run at 63MHz (25x2.5). A jumper to change the bus speed on the motherboard to 33MHz would be really nice. :-)
- The PODP5V comes with some 'fan monitoring' software to alert you if the fan stops working (since this could be dangerous to the chip). Unfortunately, this software is very incompatible with Windows 95, so don't install it. Don't worry, that fan should last quite a long time, and if it does stop working, the chip will sense the failure and reduce its speed to bus speed.
- Upgrading with the AMD K5 (SSA5/5k86).
- The AMD K5 is a strange beast. It has unusual multipliers and doesn't run at the speed that's given in its name. See Pentium Rating for more details. The K5 was AMD's first foray into the 586 Realm. And unfortunately, their first attempt wasn't that successful. The SSA5 was the original incarnation of the K5 and came in 75, 90, and 100 versions. But this processor had some compatibility and stability problems.
- The next version of the K5 was the 5k86 (don't confuse this with the 5x86, they're two completely different animals). The 5k86 is a much more capable and stable offering. It comes in 120, 133, 150, and 166 flavors. But unlike the older SSA5 chips, these newer models do not run at the speed given in their name. Instead, they are Pentium-Rated. The K5 performs very well compared to their Intel counterparts, although they will still lag behind in the FPU department.
- The K5 uses a P54C pinout, runs at 3.52v, and gives off a good deal of heat; requiring a sizeable heatsink attached with thermal compound and a fan.
- The chip may run in a Socket 5 board, but that board must deliver 3.52 volts (VRE). A BIOS upgrade might help the board better recognize the chip speed, but it will always call it a 'Pentium'. The chip would not likely function in a motherboard made by Intel, atleast not without a third party BIOS upgrade (such as one from Mr. BIOS, among others). Only the K5-75, 90, 100, 120, and 133 will run in a Socket 5 board, if at all. Trinity Works made processor adapters (P6x and P7x) for Socket 4 and Socket 5 boards based on the newer K5 chips, as did CCT.
- The K5's multipliers do not conform to the standard multiplier settings. The K5 interprets a 1.5x or 2.0x jumper setting on the motherboard as 1.5x. The 2.5x is interpreted as 1.75x, and the 3.0x setting is interpreted as 2.0x. The 2.0x multiplier is used in the K5-PR200 processor (133MHz - 66x2.0), but the chip was not widely released.
- K5 PR75 - 75MHz (50x1.5) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR90 - 90MHz (60x1.5) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR100 - 100MHz (66x1.5) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR120 - 90MHz (60x1.5) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR133 - 100MHz (66x1.5) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR150 - 105MHz (60x1.75) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR166 - 116MHz (66x1.75) - 3.52v.
- K5 PR200 - 133MHz (66x2.0) - 3.52v.
- Not all the K5 chips have all the multipliers available. The SSA5 (Model 0) chips have 1.5x and 2.0x multipliers. K5-PR120~133 (Model 1) only have 1.5x available, even though it added a second multiplier pin. The PR150 and PR166 (Model 2) have 1.5x and 1.75x multipliers. And the PR200 (Model 3) has 1.5x, 1.75x, and 2.0x multipliers.
- AMD's page on the K5: AMD K5.
- Upgrading with the AMD K6, K6-2 (Chompers), and K6-III (Sharptooth).
- The K6 is a sixth generation chip that fits in a Socket 7 motherboard. The AMD K6 does not follow the Pentium-Rating convention of the K5, so its processor names correspond to the speed they actually run at. However, AMD initially chose to compare the sixth generation K6 to the sixth generation Intel Pentium II, and so it gets a 'PR2' in its name, but the processor still runs at the speed indicated. Note that the 'PR2' designation has been removed from the later versions of the chip. The K6 uses a split-rail (dual voltage) setting to reduce power consumption. Older Socket 7 motherboards do not support the split voltage scheme, and so a voltage adapter would be required.
- The K6-166 and 200 run at 2.9v/3.3v split voltage and the 233MHz version requires a very unusual 3.2v/3.3v setting [the newest version of the 233 also runs at 3.3v/3.3v]. A BIOS upgrade really isn't necessary for the K6, although there is a special feature of the K6 (write-allocate) which will not function unless the CPU is properly identified. This will cause the loss of a little performance in certain circumstances, but the speed difference is very slight.
- A processor adapter may allow the K6 to be used in a Socket 5 board, but the 233MHz version puts off too much heat and draws too many amps to function reliably in a Socket 5 mainboard or an older Socket 7 motherboard. A good Socket 7 board design is definitely preferred for this power hog of a chip. Computer Nerd, Concept Manufacturing, Evergreen, Kingston, and Power Leap all made processor adapters based on the K6 and K6-2 chips.
- The K6 requires some serious cooling efforts. AMD provides a page on thermal considerations. The 233MHz version requires some of the best heatsink/fan combinations available for Socket 7 chips. The use of thermal compound goes without saying, so don't forget it. Note that in some motherboards with passive voltage regulators, the K6-233 can really heat these regulators up. Even to the point where the regulators would need their own small fan. Although the newer revision 'C' chips seem to run a bit cooler than the revision 'B' chips.
- One other anomaly of the 233MHz version is its use of a 3.5x multiplier. Few motherboards even have a setting for 3.5x on them, so the K6 uses the setting for 1.5x, and interprets it internally as 3.5x. In fact, the chip doesn't even have a 1.5x setting on it. Its lowest setting is 2.0x.
- The chips available include:
- K6 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- K6 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- K6 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 3.2v/3.3v split
- K6 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 3.3v/3.3v split
- K6 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6 266 - 266MHz (66x4.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6 300 - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.2v/3.45v split
- K6-2 266 - 266MHz (66x4.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 300 - 300MHz (100x3.0) or 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 333 - 333MHz (95x3.5) or 333MHz (66x5.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 350 - 350MHz (100x3.5) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 366 - 366MHz (66x5.5) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 380 - 380MHz (95x4.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 400 - 400MHz (100x4.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 450 - 450MHz (100x4.5) - 2.2v/3.3v or 2.4v/3.3v split
- K6-2 475 - 475MHz (95x5.5) - 2.2v/3.3v or 2.4v/3.3v split
- K6-2 500 - 500MHz (100x5.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 533 - 534MHz (97x5.5) - 2.2v/3.3v split
- K6-2 550 - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 2.3v/3.3v split
- K6-III 400 - 400MHz (100x4.0) - 2.2v/3.3v or 2.4v/3.3v split
- K6-III 450 - 450MHz (100x4.5) - 2.2v/3.3v or 2.4v/3.3v split
- Some of the newer versions of the K6-233 are marked with a 3.3v core and 3.3v I/O, which is a slightly higher setting than the typical 3.2v/3.3v. AMD did this to try to increase its yields on usable 233MHz chips. A good heatsink and fan is a must with either version of the K6-233. Even though it appears that both of the 233MHz chips (3.2v core and 3.3v core) will accept Standard voltage (3.3v), in most cases motherboards which were not designed for the K6-233 will not accept the chip. And putting it in an older motherboard can be hazardous to its health. See the section on running a K6 at standard voltage for more details.
- Be aware that some boxed versions of the K6 come with a 3.4V CORE stamping on the chip. This is a mis-print. It should read 3.2V CORE.
- AMD also produced low power .25 micron versions of the K6 chip running at 233, 266, and 300MHz. The 233MHz chip is only being used by OEMs for mobile systems. All of these chips are 2.2v Model 7 chips. The older 2.9v, 3.2v, and 3.3v core chips are Model 6 chips.
- Unlike previous K6 chips, the newer processors that use multipliers higher than 3.5x require the motherboard to have a jumper to properly set the third multiplier pin (BF2). The older Model 6 chips automatically pulled pin BF2 'High' so that any multiplier from 2.0x up through 3.5x was possible. So even motherboards that didn't have a specific 3.5x setting on them could use their 1.5x setting instead to achieve a 3.5x multiplier. But with the newer chips that need 4.0x or higher, pin BF2 must be pulled 'Low'. This is not the chip's natural state, so the motherboard must have a specific setting for 4.0x. When pin BF2 is pulled 'Low', multipliers from 4.0x up through 5.5x are possibilities.
- AMD currently offers the K6-2 (formerly K6 3D) in speeds ranging from 266MHz up through 500MHz. The 266 chip and OEM-only 366 are based on a 66MHz bus speed. The 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500MHz chips are based on a 100MHz bus. And the 333, 380, and 475 are based on the unusual 95MHz bus. The K6-2 300 and 333 also come in versions based on a 66MHz bus, and are marked with 'AFR-66' indicating it should be run on a 66MHz bus. These two chips are meant specifically for upgrading older motherboards that max out at a 66MHz bus speed. These two chips really don't run very well at 95 or 100MHz bus speeds.
- All currently manufactured K6-2 chips (model 8, stepping C (12)) come with a new CPU core called CXT. This core adds a 6.0x multiplier in place of the old 2.0x multiplier and adds some enhancements to the L1 cache that can speed up operation if the motherboard's BIOS is aware of the changes. c't magazine has a utility called SetK6v3 that can also turn on this new cache feature. You can also try Grzegorz Mazur's MXK6OPT. The K6-III has this write-combining feature as well.
- The K6-2 and K6-III chips contain a new set of instructions called 3DNow!. These instructions provide a significant boost to 3D games that support them. However, for the games to take advantage of the 3DNow! instructions, the game must be written specifically for them (with its own API) or the game must run under Microsoft's DirectX-6 (or later) drivers. The K6-2 processor is the Model 8 K6 chip and, like the low power Model 7 chip, requires a motherboard that is able to supply 2.2 volts CORE and has the proper multiplier settings (a third jumper for 4.0x up through 5.5x). Many of the K6-2 chips run on a 100MHz bus, and use one of the newer 'Super 7' Socket 7 motherboards to run at its peak performance. These chips don't require a faster bus, but because the L2 cache on the motherboard would be running at a 100MHz speed rather than 66MHz, you'll get decently better performance with the higher bus speeds.
- Be aware that the faster K6-2 chips (366MHz and above) draw more than 10 amps on the core voltage side of the chip. Many pre-Super7 motherboards cannot handle drawing more than 10 amps through its core voltage regulator (even a switching voltage regulator has its limits). So even if your board can deliver the proper voltages, running one of these chips in an older board may cause flaky behaviour and could possibly end up damaging the motherboard (but only if the VRMs are linear. Switching VRMs usually have over-amp protection). You might try to check with the manufacturer about which chips are compatible with your motherboard. See my Electrical Specs page for more info on the electrical requirements of various chips.
- Update: The newest K6-2-400AFR chip only draws 10 amps maximum. The older AFQ chip could draw up to 11.25A. So the newer chip, released in late August 1999, with the 'AFR' marking will work fine in boards whose CPU VRMs max out at 10 amps.
- An update to Windows 95b may be needed if your K6-2 chip runs at 350MHz or faster. A timing loop bug causes Windows to crash when using faster K6-2 and K6-III chips. This fix is only for Windows 95b (OSR2.0 or 2.1). It won't install on Win95a, unfortunately.
- The AMD K6-III (formerly K6+ 3D) starts at 400MHz and introduces a 256KB on-die L2 cache (similar to the Pentium Pro except the L2 is mounted on the chip die itself). With this configuration, L2 cache on the motherboard will become L3 cache. The K6-III runs at either 2.2 or 2.4 volts, slightly different from its K6-2 brother. It contains AMD's 3DNow! instructions, and should work in most any motherboard that can handle the 400MHz K6-2.
- The K6-2 550 is AMD's last Super-7 desktop chip. The K6-2+ chip with 128KB on-Die L2 cache and K6-III+ with 256KB on-Die L2 are intended for the mobile arena only. In fact, these chips may have problems running in existing motherboards because of BIOS issues. AMD does not support their use in anything but OEM-designed mobile systems.
- See Alternative CPU's K6 FAQ for more information on the AMD K6 processor.
- See Alternative CPU's K6-2 FAQ for more information on the AMD K6-2 processor.
- AMD's page on the K6: AMD K6.
- AMD's page on the K6-2: K6-2.
- AMD's page on the K6-III: K6-III.
- Upgrading with the AMD Athlon and Sempron (K7/K75/Thunderbird/Palomino/Thoroughbred/Barton/Thorton) and Duron (Spitfire/Morgan/Applebred)
- An AMD chip that looks strikingly similar to Intel's Pentium II/III chips, the Athlon put AMD back into the same league as Intel. The Athlon chip not only does very fast integer calculations, but also very fast floating point operations as well, beating the Pentium II/III/4 in various benchmarks. The chip comes in a handful of flavors:
- Athlon 500 - 500MHz (100x5.0) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K7)
- Athlon 550 - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K7)
- Athlon 600 - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K7)
- Athlon 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K7)
- Athlon 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K7)
- Athlon 550 - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 600 - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.6v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/2.5)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.7v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/2.5)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.7v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/2.5)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.8v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/3)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 950 - 950MHz (100x9.5) - 1.8v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/3)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 1G - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.8v/3.3v split - 512KB (1/3)-speed L2 (K75)
- Athlon 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 950 - 950MHz (100x9.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1G - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Thunderbird)
- Athlon 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 950 - 950MHz (100x9.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1G - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1G - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.1G - 1100MHz (100x11.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.13G - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.2G - 1200MHz (100x12.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.2G - 1200MHz (133x9.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.3G - 1300MHz (100x13.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.33G - 1333MHz (133x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.4G - 1400MHz (100x14.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon 1.4G - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Thunderbird)
- Athlon XP 1500+ - 1333MHz (133x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 1600+ - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 1700+ - 1466MHz (133x11.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 1800+ - 1533MHz (133x11.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 1900+ - 1600MHz (133x12.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 2000+ - 1666MHz (133x12.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 2100+ - 1733MHz (133x13.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon XP 1600+ - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 1700+ - 1466MHz (133x11.0) - 1.5v or 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 1800+ - 1533MHz (133x11.5) - 1.5v or 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 1900+ - 1600MHz (133x12.0) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2000+ - 1666MHz (133x12.5) - 1.6v or 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2100+ - 1733MHz (133x13.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2200+ - 1800MHz (133x13.5) - 1.6v or 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2400+ - 2000MHz (133x15.0) - 1.6v or 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2600+ - 2133MHz (133x16.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2600+ - 2083MHz (166x12.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2700+ - 2166MHz (166x13.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2800+ - 2250MHz (166x13.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon XP 2500+ - 1833MHz (166x11.0) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 2600+ - 1916MHz (166x11.5) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 2800+ - 2083MHz (166x12.5) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 3000+ - 2166MHz (166x13.0) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 3000+ - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 3200+ - 2200MHz (200x11.0) - 1.65v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon XP 2000+ - 1666MHz (133x12.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Athlon XP 2200+ - 1800MHz (133x13.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Athlon XP 2400+ - 2000MHz (133x15.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 2200+ - 1500MHz (166x9.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2300+ - 1583MHz (166x9.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2400+ - 1666MHz (166x10.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2500+ - 1750MHz (166x10.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2600+ - 1833MHz (166x11.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2800+ - 2000MHz (166x12.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Sempron 2200+ - 1500MHz (166x9.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 2400+ - 1666MHz (166x10.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 2500+ - 1750MHz (166x10.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 2600+ - 1833MHz (166x11.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 2800+ - 2000MHz (166x12.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thorton)
- Sempron 3000+ - 2000MHz (166x12.0) - 1.6v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Athlon MP 1.0G - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 1.2G - 1200MHz (133x9.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 1500+ - 1333MHz (133x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 1600+ - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 1800+ - 1533MHz (133x11.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 1900+ - 1600MHz (133x12.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 2000+ - 1666MHz (133x12.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 2100+ - 1733MHz (133x13.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Palomino)
- Athlon MP 2000+ - 1666MHz (133x12.5) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon MP 2200+ - 1800MHz (133x13.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon MP 2400+ - 2000MHz (133x15.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon MP 2600+ - 2133MHz (133x16.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Thoroughbred)
- Athlon MP 2800+ - 2133MHz (133x16) - 1.6v - 512KB L2 (Barton)
- Duron 600 - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 1.5v or 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.5v or 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.5v or 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 950 - 950MHz (100x9.5) - 1.6v - 64KB L2 (Spitfire)
- Duron 1.0G - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.75v - 64KB L2 (Morgan)
- Duron 1.1G - 1100MHz (100x11.0) - 1.75v - 64KB L2 (Morgan)
- Duron 1.2G - 1200MHz (100x12.0) - 1.75v - 64KB L2 (Morgan)
- Duron 1.3G - 1300MHz (100x13.0) - 1.75v - 64KB L2 (Morgan)
- Duron 1.4G - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.5v - 64KB L2 (Applebred)
- Duron 1.6G - 1600MHz (133x12.0) - 1.5v - 64KB L2 (Applebred)
- Duron 1.8G - 1800MHz (133x13.5) - 1.5v - 64KB L2 (Applebred)
- Even though the Athlon physically resembles the Slot 1 Pentium II, it runs on a completely different bus (the Alpha EV-6) in its own slot (Slot A). The Athlon and Pentium II/III are not physically or electrically compatible. The Athlon also has its own unique chipsets. The first to arrive is AMD's reference chipset (the 750). Consisting of the 751 northbridge and 756 southbridge, the chipset delivers a 100MHz clock to the CPU (hitting on the rising and falling edges of that clock which gives an effective 200MHz speed). Unlike many P6 chipsets, system memory does not necessarily run at the same speed as the chipset; the EV6 is a source synchronous (clock forwarded) bus and can run other buses at almost any speed. However, the 750 chipset only runs memory at 100Mhz so PC-100 SDRAM is required. Future chipsets released by manufacturers such as ALi, SiS, and VIA will likely add PC133 and DDR SDRAM support, and perhaps Enhanced SDRAM and Virtual Channel SDRAM, and maybe even Direct-RDRAM.
- Be warned that the Slot-A version of the Thunderbird Athlon is supposedly electrically incompatible with the VIA KX-133 chipset. AMD does not certify it's use with Slot-A motherboards. However, some manufacturers may tweak their motherboards to allow the use of the Thunderbird in their boards. Check with the manufacturer to see if your particular motherboard is rated as compatible. And be sure to do this before buying the CPU.
- The Thunderbird Athlon comes in both Slot-A and Socket-A packages. The Duron is Socket-A only. The slotted Thunderbird, however, is only supposed to go to OEMs, and is not intended for direct end-user purchase.
- Like the Pentium III, the Athlon chips come with either 512KB of L2 cache mounted to the SEC running at 1/2 core processor speed or 256KB of on-Die L2 cache running at the same speed as the processor core. And like the K6-III, the Athlon contains 3DNow! extensions. But the Athlon adds 12 new MMX instructions and 12 new 3DNow! instructions to assist speech recognition software and video processing as well as sound processing.
- The Athlon sets its voltage the same way the Intel P6 chips do; through the use of voltage identification (VID) settings. Also similar to the Pentium II and III, the Athlon has internal clock multipliers that are all but unalterable. To set the multiplier, you would need to remove the casing (voiding any warranty) and use a special port device that plugs into the top of the SEC substrate.
- While the chip runs at a nice, low voltage, it actually produces a large amount of heat (up to 72 watts for the 1.4GHz Thunderbird chip). AMD recommends a good heatsink/fan solution as well as a good power supply (minimum of 250 watts), strongly preferring a 300 watt version. This is because of a high amperage draw on the power supply's 3.3v and 5v lines. The newer Athlon (K75/Thunderbird) chips aren't as power hungry as their counterparts, but still require a good quality power supply. Be sure to check out AMD's list of recommended power supplies.
- There is a patch available for Windows 2000 users that addresses a problem with video data shared between AGP cards and the Athlon.
- Note that because of the synchronous nature of the AMD 760 DDR chipset, Athlons that run on a 100MHz bus will run the DDR SDRAM memory at a base of 100MHz (PC1600). To get PC2100 DDR memory to run at its full speed, you need to pair it with a 133MHz-based Athlon chip. The only difference between Athlons that run on a 133MHz bus as opposed to a 100MHz bus is the internal multiplier. Athlons with a 'B' in the part number are 100MHz-based (e.g. A1200AMS3B); 133MHz Athlons have a 'C' (e.g. A1200AMS3C).
- The Athlon MP chip (as well as mobile Athlon 4 and Athlon XP; both based on the Palomino core) and the 'Morgan' Duron introduce hardware prefetch to AMD CPUs. Prefetch fetches the next bit of data out of memory and copies it to the CPU's cache, even if that data isn't needed yet. This can have a significant positive impact on performance, especially when paired with high-bandwidth memory. Upcoming desktop Palomino chips as well as future AMD cores will also have this very nice feature.
- Mobile Athlon 4 and Duron chips, even though they are "Socket-A compatible", have extra pins defined that support their PowerNow! features, and so these mobile parts are not pin-out compatible with existing desktop sockets.
- The Athlon XP chips, based on the Palomino core, come with a new speed designator. The name of the chip expresses its power with respect to the existing Athlon CPU. It does not reflect the actual MHz the chip runs at. Note that although it is similar in nature, this is not a "Pentium-Rating"; the Athlon's performance is not being compared to an Intel chip, but rather to AMD's older Thunderbird processor.
- AMD's page on the Athlon: Athlon.
- AMD's illustrated pages on building an Athlon system: Assembly.
- AMD CPU Support
- Upgrading with the AMD Athlon 64 (Clawhammer/Sledgehammer/San Diego/Newcastle/Winchester/Venice/Orleans/Lima), Athlon 64 FX (Sledgehammer/San Diego/Toledo), Athlon 64 X2 (Manchester/Toledo/Windsor/Brisbane), and Sempron (Paris/Palermo/Manila/Sparta)
- The Athlon 64 is the first 64-bit chip available for desktop systems.
- Athlon 64 2800+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Clawhammer - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3000+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Clawhammer - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3200+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Clawhammer - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3400+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Clawhammer - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3700+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Clawhammer - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 2800+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3000+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3200+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3400+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3500+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3800+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Newcastle - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 4000+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Sledgehammer - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 4000+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (San Diego - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3000+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Winchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3200+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Winchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3500+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Winchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3000+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - ?v - 512KB L2 (Venice - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3200+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - ?v - 512KB L2 (Venice - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3500+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - ?v - 512KB L2 (Venice - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 3800+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - ?v - 512KB L2 (Venice - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 LE 1600 - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 LE 1620 - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3000+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3200+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3500+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3800+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 4000+ - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Orleans - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3500+ EE - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.35v - 512KB L2 (Lima - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 3800+ EE - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Lima - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 FX 51 - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Sledgehammer - Socket 940; 128-bit DDR; registered DDR only)
- Athlon 64 FX 53 - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Sledgehammer - Socket 940; 128-bit DDR; registered DDR only)
- Athlon 64 FX 53 - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Sledgehammer - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 FX 55 - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.5v - 1MB L2 (Sledgehammer - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 FX 57 - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (San Diego - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 FX 60 - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.35v - 1MB L2 (Toledo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 FX 62 - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Toledo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 FX 62 - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Toledo - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 2x 512KB L2 (Manchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 4200+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 2x 512KB L2 (Manchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 4600+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 2x 512KB L2 (Manchester - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 4400+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 2x 1MB L2 (Toledo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 4800+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 2x 1MB L2 (Toledo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.075v or 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4000+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.25v or 1.35v or 1.4v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4200+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4400+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4600+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4800+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5000+ - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5200+ - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.25v or 1.35v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5400+ - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5600+ - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.35v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - 3000MHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 6400+ - 3200MHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 2x 1MB L2 (Windsor - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon X2 BE 2300 - 1900MHz (200x9.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon X2 BE 2350 - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon X2 BE 2400 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 3600+ - 1900MHz (200x9.5) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4000+ - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4050e - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4400+ - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4450e - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4600+ - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.375v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4800+ - 2500MHz (200x12.5) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 4850e - 2500MHz (200x12.5) - 1.25v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5000+ - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5200+ - 2700MHz (200x13.5) - 1.375v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5400+ - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 5800+ - 3000MHz (200x15) - 1.35v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Athlon 64 X2 6000+ - 3100MHz (200x15.5) - 1.4v - 2x 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Business-Class Athlon 1640B - 2700MHz (200x13.5) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Business-Class Athlon X2-4450B - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Business-Class Athlon X2-5000B - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.375v - 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Business-Class Athlon X2-5200B - 2700MHz (200x13) - 1.375v - 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Business-Class Athlon X2-5400B - 2800MHz (200x14) - 1.35v - 512KB L2 (Brisbane - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 2600+ - 1200MHz (200x6) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Paris - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 2800+ - 1400MHz (200x7) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Paris - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3000+ - 1600MHz (200x8) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Paris - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3100+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Paris - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3300+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Paris - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 2500+ - 1400MHz (200x7) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 2600+ - 1600MHz (200x8) - 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 2800+ - 1600MHz (200x8) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3000+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3100+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3300+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3400+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 754; 64-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3000+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3200+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3400+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Sempron 3500+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Palermo - Socket 939; 128-bit DDR)
- Sempron 2800+ - 1600MHz (200x8) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3000+ - 1600MHz (200x8) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3200+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3400+ - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3500+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.25v or 1.4v - 128KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3600+ - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron 3800+ - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Manila - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron LE 1100 - 1900MHz (200x9.5) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Sparta - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron LE 1150 - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 (Sparta - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron LE 1200 - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Sparta - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron LE 1250 - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Sparta - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Sempron LE 1300 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.4v - 512KB L2 (Sparta - Socket AM2, AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Even though the Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX are 64-bit chips, they can still run 32-bit applications on 32-bit operating systems, so you aren't required to upgrade to Windows XP 64-bit to be able to take advantage of these new CPUs. The CPUs can, however run just fine on 64-bit operating systems like Windows XP Professional 64-bit edition and various versions of Linux.
- Like the server-class AMD Opteron chips, the Athlon 64 series comes with built-in memory controllers on the CPU die. This allows for very fast operation and low overhead. The 754-pin variety only supports a 64-bit memory interface, while the 939 and 940-pin varieties support a 128-bit interface (DDR DIMM pairs). And be aware that the Athlon-64 chips only take unbuffered DDR DIMMs up to PC3200 speeds. And, more importantly, the 940-pin Athlon 64 FX chips only support registered DDR DIMMs. On many motherboards that support the Athlon 64 FX and 939-pin Athlon 64 chips you can opt to use one DIMM in Single channel mode or a matched pair in Dual channel mode. Registered DDR is uncommon (usually only found in server systems), and can be quite expensive as well. So choose your CPU carefully.
- The Athlon 64 comes in a 754-pin µPGA package while the Athlon 64 FX comes in a 940 µPGA package, and so the CPUs are not interchangeable. In 2004 AMD introduced a 939-pin socket that accepts Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, and Athlon 64 X2 chips that support unbuffered DDR DIMMs.
- The introduction of a new socket -- AM2 -- changes Athlon CPU support to DDR2 RAM (except for the single FX-62 Toledo chip which still supports DDR). The new socket has 940 pins, but is not compatible with existing Socket 940 CPUs. The new socket carries Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2, and Sempron CPUs. It also requires a new retention mechanism and heatsink.
- The early Sempron chips do not support 64-bit operations; they can only run a 32-bit operating system. Some later revisions of the Palermo chips support 64-bit processing, as do the Manila Semprons.
- The various AM2-compatible CPUs support a variety of memory speeds.
- Because of the amount of power drawn by the CPU, Athlon 64 motherboards require use of the (ATX12V) power plug.
- AMD CPU Support
- AMD Dual-Core Utilities and Updates
- Upgrading with the AMD Phenom X3/X4 (Toliman/Agena)
- An update to the Athlon 64 line, the AMD Phenom adds support for Hyperthreading 3.0.
- Phenom 9500 - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Phenom 9600 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Phenom X3 8400 - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Phenom X3 8450 - 2100MHz (200x10.5) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X3 8600 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Phenom X3 8650 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X3 8750 - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9100e - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.15v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2)
- Phenom X4 9150e - 1800MHz (200x9) - 1.125v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9350e - 2000MHz (200x10) - 1.125v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9550 - 2200MHz (200x11) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9650 - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9750 - 2400MHz (200x12) - 1.25v or 1.3v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9850 - 2500MHz (200x12.5) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom X4 9950 - 2600MHz (200x13) - 1.3v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Business-Class Phenom X3 8600B - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 3x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Toliman - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Business-Class Phenom X4 9600B - 2300MHz (200x11.5) - 1.25v - 4x 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Agena - Socket AM2+; 128-bit DDR2, B3)
- Phenom processors are natively compatible with the updated AM2+ socket, and remain backwards compatible with existing AM2 sockets (depending on motherboard support). Hypertransport 3.0 is not available in AM2 boards, only AM2+.
- Upon the introduction of the 'X4' name extension, the newer chips (B3-step) correct the TLB erratum present in the original 9500 and 9600 Phenoms.
- The "Black Edition" Phenoms have their multipliers unlocked to assist in overclocking.
- AMD CPU Support
- Phenom Utilities
- Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86 (M1) and 6x86L (M1L).
- For the complete skinny on using the Cyrix 6x86 chip, see Alternative CPU's 6x86 FAQ at Real World Technologies.
- When upgrading with any of these processors, be sure to use the correct voltage (there are 3.3v and 3.52v versions of the 6x86). And use a good heatsink/fan combination (along with thermal grease, of course).
- 6x86 PR-90+ - 80MHz (40x2.0) - 3.3v
- 6x86 PR-120+ - 100MHz (50x2.0) - 3.3v
- 6x86 PR-133+ - 110MHz (55x2.0) - 3.3v
- 6x86 PR-150+ - 120MHz (60x2.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- 6x86 PR-166+ - 133MHz (66x2.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- 6x86 PR-200+ - 150MHz (75x2.0) - 3.52v
- 6x86L PR-120+ - 100MHz (50x2.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- 6x86L PR-133+ - 110MHz (55x2.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- 6x86L PR-150+ - 120MHz (60x2.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- 6x86L PR-166+ - 133MHz (66x2.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- 6x86L PR-200+ - 150MHz (75x2.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- An 80MHz version of the 6x86 (the PR90+) does exist. It takes the very unusual 40MHz bus speed, but was only distributed in a few OEM machines, so finding one would be difficult.
- Many of the Cyrix/IBM 6x86 chips run quite warm. A good heatsink and fan are highly recommended.
- Officially, the Cyrix 6x86 processor only has 2.0x and 3.0x multipliers (though 1.0x and 4.0x do seem to exist). And some of these chips have unusual bus speeds (40, 55, and 75MHz). The 6x86L is the split-voltage low power version of the chip, and requires a later Socket 7 motherboard or a voltage adapter.
- Computer Nerd, Concept Manufacturing, Evergreen, and Power Leap all made processor adapters based on the 6x86 chip.
- Note that Socket 5 boards were not designed to deal with the amperage and heat demands of the Cyrix 6x86 chip. You can contact your motherboard manufacturer to see if your particular motherboard can handle this chip. But in most cases, it probably can't.
- Upgrading with the Cyrix/IBM 6x86MX (M2).
- Alternative CPU has an excellent 6x86MX FAQ hosted by Real World Technologies. It'll answer all your questions about the 6x86MX processor.
- Existing 6x86MX / M-II processors:
- 6x86MX PR-166 - 150MHz (60x2.5) or 133MHz (66x2.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- 6x86MX PR-200 - 166MHz (66x2.5) or 150MHz (75x2.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- 6x86MX PR-233 - 200MHz (66x3.0) or 188MHz (75x2.5) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- 6x86MX PR-266 - 208MHz (83x2.5) - 2.9v/3.3v split
- 6x86MX PR-300 - 233MHz (66x3.5) or 225MHz (75x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - IBM Only
- 6x86MX PR-333 - 250MHz (83x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - IBM Only
- MII 233 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 266 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 300 - 233MHz (66x3.5) or 225MHz (75x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 333 - 250MHz (100x2.5) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 333 - 250MHz (83x3.0) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 366 - 250MHz (100x2.5) - 2.9v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 400 - 285MHz (95x3.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- MII 433 - 300MHz (100x3.0) - 2.2v/3.3v split - Cyrix Only
- Many of the 6x86MX chips come in two versions (different speed settings) for each chip. The correct setting is labelled on top of the chip. The chip will be unreliable if set to run at the wrong speed.
- The 6x86MX chips generally have a high amperage draw and can produce a great deal of heat. For the fastest 6x86MX chips, a very good heatsink and fan are recommended. And be aware of excessive amperage draw; some motherboards may not be able to handle the chips adequately. Check with the motherboard manufacturer for compatibility information.
- Note that Cyrix has adjusted its PR rating system (the MII-333 changed bus speeds as well as manufacturing processes) to now be compared with AMD processors. So the actual speeds the chips are running at is now lower than when the chips were rated to perform against Intel's processors. This is likely what happened to the MII-233 and MII-266 which both run at the same 200MHz (66x3.0) speed.
- The Cyrix III VIA microprocessor (a Socket 370 chip codenamed 'Samuel' (Winchip-4)) is listed below. The Joshua chip (formerly 'Gobi' and previously 'Jedi' - based on the Cayenne core) was never finished.
- Power Leap made a processor adapter based on the 6x86MX chip.
- Upgrading with the IDT Winchip (C6) and Winchip-2 (C6Plus).
- The IDT C6 (Winchip) is a low-cost Socket-7 compatible MMX chip. The chip isn't as fast as the Pentium w/ MMX or the AMD K6, but it is certainly adequate for most typical business applications and games that are not FPU intensive.
- Unlike the other current Socket 7 chips, the C6 does not require a dual voltage. There are two versions of each chip that run at either Standard voltage (3.3v) or at VRE (3.5v). This is a very nice feature for all of those who are stuck with older Socket 7 motherboards that can't supply dual voltages that most of the MMX-compatible chips require.
- Even though the C6 runs at 3.3v or 3.5v, it consumes very little power. The 240MHz C6 only dissipates a maximum 12.5 watts (compare that to the 30.2 watts dissipated by the 3.3v K6 chip). Because of the low power dissipation numbers, these chips are good candidates for use as mobile processors.
- The available chips include:
- Winchip 150 - 150MHz (50x3.0) - 3.3v - Engineering Sample only
- Winchip 180 - 180MHz (60x3.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip 225 - 225MHz (75x3.0) - 3.52v
- Winchip 240 - 240MHz (60x4.0) - 3.52v
- Winchip-2 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 3.3 or 3.52v
- Winchip-2 225 - 200MHz (75x3.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip-2 240 - 240MHz (60x4.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip-2A 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip-2A 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 3.3v or 3.52v
- Winchip-2A 266 - 233MHz (100x2.33) - 3.52v
- The C6 chip is similar to the older Cyrix 6x86 chips in that it only supports whole number multipliers. 2.0x, 3.0x, 4.0x, and 5.0x are the only possibilities. If set to run at 1.5x or 3.5x, the chip will run at 4.0x. The Winchip-2A and Winchip-3 add 3 new multipliers into the mix: 2.33x, 2.66x, and 3.33x. See my CPU Speeds Chart for more information. Note that the Winchip-3 never made it beyond engineering samples.
- Like other non-Intel chips, improper identification of the C6 chip on a motherboard is often not fatal (the chip will usually run just fine). But be careful of Intel-made motherboards in OEM systems. Non-Intel chips may not function at all without a third party BIOS upgrade in some Intel mainboards that are used by OEM system manufacturers.
- The following is from IDT's technical datasheet on the C6 processor:
- "Older BIOS revisions from the following vendors may not allow proper operation due to the BIOS's inability to recognize the IDT WinChip processor. The BIOS can act as a lock, preventing unsupported CPU's from running, by checking the CPUID string or writing to proprietary Model Specific Registers. Verify your BIOS with the following:
- AMI BIOS version 6.27.02 or later. Some earlier AMI BIOS releases do not work with an IDT WinChip C6, AMD K6, or Cyrix 6x86MX processor. AMI BIOS will only work with CPU's that the motherboard manufacturer explicitly supports. Most motherboards recently released (September 1997) with AMI BIOS will support the IDT WinChip C6.
- Award BIOS Compile date of September 1, 1997 or later will support the IDT WinChip C6 processor. Older Award BIOS releases will allow an IDT WinChip C6 to boot even though it does not recognize the CPU. The IDT WinChip C6 may be identified as a MMX CPU, 80486DX2, etc. The system will function normally. Contact your motherboard manufacturer for a BIOS update that will correctly identify the IDT WinChip C6.
- Phoenix BIOS Compile date of October 13, 1997 or later will support the IDT WinChip C6.
- SystemSoft BIOS Compile date of September 1 or later.
- If your notebook supports a Socket 7 CPU, then older revisions of SystemSoft BIOS will allow a C6 to work but incorrectly identifies the CPU. Contact your notebook manufacturer for a BIOS upgrade that fully supports the C6.
- The Winchip is a Socket-7 compatible chip. Even though it will support either 3.3v or 3.5v, IDT does not recommend its use in Socket 5 motherboards (unless the Evergreen MxPro upgrade is used) because of lack of proper multipliers and possible BIOS issues. Though the 240 chip (using a 4.0x multiplier) may work just fine; the Winchips interpret a 1.5x setting on the motherboard as 4.0x internally.
- The Winchip-2 adds AMD's 3DNow! instructions to the processor.
- Evergreen and PowerLeap made processor adapters based on the Winchip.
- See Alternative CPU's Winchip FAQ for more info on the IDT Winchip.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Classic (P54C).
- The Pentium Classic (the Socket 5 chips that came after the Pentium 60 and 66) comes in a wide range of flavors from 75MHz all the way up to 200MHz.
- Pentium 75 - 75MHz (50x1.5) - various voltages.
- Pentium 90 - 90MHz (60x1.5) - various voltages.
- Pentium 100 - 100MHz (66x1.5) or (50x2.0) - various voltages.
- Pentium 120 - 120MHz (60x2.0) - various voltages.
- Pentium 133 - 133MHz (66x2.0) - various voltages.
- Pentium 150 - 150MHz (60x2.5) - various voltages.
- Pentium 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - VRE.
- Pentium 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - VRE.
- The Pentium Classic also comes in a enormous variety of voltages. Some mobile versions even came with the now familiar split voltage (2.8v core, 3.3v I/O).
- STD: 3.3v (3.135v ~ 3.465v) - Standard Voltage.
- VR: 3.38v (3.300v ~ 3.465v) - Voltage Regulated.
- VRE: 3.52v (3.450v ~ 3.600v) - (B-step) Voltage Regulated Extended.
- VRE: 3.5v (3.400v ~ 3.600v) - (C2 step and later) Voltage Regulated Extended.
- VRT: (2.9vcore / 3.3vI/O) - split Voltage Reduction Technology (mobile only).
- These processors work in all Socket 7 motherboards, and the 75 through 133MHz versions will work in Socket 5 boards as well. The 150, 166, and 200 Pentiums do not work in Socket 5 boards because those boards usually only have multipliers as high as 2.0, meaning the best setting that can be reached is 133MHz (66x2.0). Also be aware that some Socket 5 boards only support Pentiums up to 120MHz.
- Computer Nerd and Power Leap both made processor adapters based on the Pentium chip.
- Intel's Page on the Pentium Classic: Intel Pentium.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium with MMX (P55C).
- Intel's last incarnation for Socket 7 motherboards is the Pentium with MMX technology. It currently comes in three sizes: medium, large, and extra large. Sorry, I meant 166, 200, and 233MHz. All versions take a 2.8v/3.3v setting, and are decently faster than the Classic Pentiums of the same speed. In fact, the 166MHz MMX edges out the 200MHz Classic in overall performance.
- Pentium w/ MMX 150 - 150MHz (60x2.5) - 2.8v/3.3v split - Engineering Sample only
- Pentium w/ MMX 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- Pentium w/ MMX 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- Pentium w/ MMX 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 2.8v/3.3v split
- These chips will only function in Socket 7 motherboards that are capable of supplying dual voltages, although a voltage adapter may be used for non-compliant boards. All of the chips take a 66MHz bus speed, but with different multipliers. With many of the newer 166MHz versions, Intel has begun fixing the clock multiplier to 2.5x to inhibit remarking the chip to a higher speed, which also prevents overclocking. See Windwalker's Disabled Intel Multipliers page for more details.
- Concept Manufacturing, Kingston, and Power Leap all make processor adapters based on the Pentium with MMX chip. For any OEM (Gateway, Packard Bell, etc.) motherboards that don't allow non-Intel processors to upgrade their system, the Pentium MMX in a voltage adapter may be a good option to try.
- The 233MHz version has the unusual 3.5x multiplier. This is achieved by setting the multiplier on the motherboard to 1.5x, which the chip interprets as 3.5x. The 3.5x multiplier was added with the xB1 manufacturing stepping of the chip. Chips which have the older 5-4-4 (Family, Model, Step) stepping do not have the 3.5x multiplier. Only the 5-4-3 stepping will have this feature, and only on chips that have not had higher multipliers disabled.
- Be aware that Intel changed the default multiplier pin setting on their Pentium w/ MMX processor (P55C). If a Pentium w/ MMX 200 or 233 only runs at 133 or 166MHz, the motherboard may assume the chip automatically pulls pin BF0 'high', and not bother to properly set the pin. In this case, the P55C would only be able to achieve a maximum speed of 166MHz. Unfortunately, a BIOS upgrade cannot solve this problem, only a motherboard swap will do. What's worse, the BIOS would not likely show that the CPU was running at anything other than what the jumper pins show it to be set for. So be sure to run those diagnostic programs.
- Intel recently released their Tillamook mobile Pentium w/ MMX processor at 266MHz. The Tillamook is a mobile-only chip. Even though it is based on the P55C, it isn't compatible with Socket 7 motherboards. It is, in fact, a surface mounted chip that is attached to an Intel Mobile Module which also contains the Intel 430TX chipset and L2 cache. The 233MHz chip is, unfortunately, Intel's final Socket 7 processor.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium OverDrive (P5T/P54CT/P54CTB/P6T)
- The Intel Pentium OverDrive for 486 (P24T) is listed above.
- Pentium OverDrive processors come with their own voltage adapter and heatsink built-in. They are generally Plug and Play, although the 120 and 133MHz versions for Socket 4 boards may require the use of an interposer. And some OverDrive chips may require a BIOS upgrade. There are basically four versions of the Pentium OverDrive:
- Pentium OverDrive 120 - 120MHz (60x2.0) - 5v
- Pentium OverDrive 133 - 133MHz (66x2.0) - 5v
- Pentium OverDrive 125 - 125MHz (50x2.5) - 3.135v~3.600v
- Pentium OverDrive 150 - 150MHz (60x2.5) - 3.135v~3.600v
- Pentium OverDrive 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - 3.135v~3.600v
- Pentium OverDrive w/ MMX 150 - 150MHz (60x2.5) - converts 3.3v to 2.8v
- Pentium OverDrive w/ MMX 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - converts 3.3v to 2.8v
- Pentium OverDrive w/ MMX 180 - 180MHz (60x3.0) - converts 3.3v to 2.8v
- Pentium OverDrive w/ MMX 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - converts 3.3v to 2.8v
- Pentium II OverDrive 300 - 300MHz (60x5.0) - converts 3.3 to 2.0v/2.5v/3.3v split - 512KB L2
- Pentium II OverDrive 333 - 333MHz (66x5.0) - converts 3.3 to 2.0v/2.5v/3.3v split - 512KB L2
- The 120 and 133MHz (PODP5V) versions are upgrades exclusively for Pentium 60 and 66 machines (Socket 4). Both have 273-pins and a set (unalterable) 2.0x multiplier. Depending on the motherboard, these chips may require the use of an interposer to correct for clock circuitry problems on the motherboard. This OverDrive was discontinued on March 31, 1998.
- The 125, 150, and 166MHz OverDrive processors (PODP3V) are upgrades for the earlier Pentium Classic chips (Pentium-75, 90, etc.). They run at a set multiplier (2.5x), and have a wide range of voltage tolerance. These chips will function in either Socket 5 or Socket 7 ZIF boards. They won't fit into 296-pin LIF (Low Insertion Force) sockets because of the number of pins on the chip. Note that these chips were replaced with the PODPMT OverDrive with MMX chips in 1997.
- The Pentium OverDrive with MMX technology (PODPMT) can upgrade either a Socket 5 or Socket 7 ZIF board, but not those with LIF sockets. The processors have either a set 2.5x or 3.0x multiplier. The processor accepts 3.3 volts and converts it into 2.8 for the chip. These chips may function fine in the older Socket 5 boards, but a BIOS upgrade might be needed. And the 200MHz version will only work in Socket 5 boards that conform to Socket 7 specifications (17 watts power dissipation, minimum 5 amp supply).
- The Pentium II OverDrive for Socket 8 Pentium Pro systems can upgrade most Pentium Pro systems. It comes with a fixed 5.0x multiplier and can run on a 60 or 66MHz bus speed. The processor runs at either a 300 or 333MHz core speed, depending on the bus speed. Its 512KB on-die L2 cache runs at full core speed. The chip can be used in either a single or dual processor environment. A BIOS upgrade may be necessary for some motherboards. According to Intel, there is no test for BIOS compliance, so you would need to contact your manufacturer. Note that some systems may also need a new VRM (voltage regulator module), especially in a dual OverDrive configuration.
Be aware that Socket 8 systems that have a LIF (low insertion force) socket rather than ZIF (the one with a handle) can not be upgraded. The original chip was inserted into the motherboard's socket by a special machine, and attempting to insert the OverDrive by hand will likely result in damage to the socket and/or processor. These systems are not considered upgradeable by Intel or by OEMs.
- If no BIOS upgrade is necessary (contact your system manufacturer to check), then just dropping the CPU into the socket is all it should take. But it's a good idea to look through the manual to see what processors may be compatible with your machine. If you have a 75MHz Pentium, a 150MHz OverDrive with MMX may be all your system can take. But if your system is able to supply a 66MHz bus speed, then the 166MHz or even 200MHz Pentium OverDrive may be an option. Just because your current system has a CPU with a 50MHz bus speed doesn't mean that you are limited to upgrades based on the 50MHz bus. However, in some systems, 50MHz may be the only speed available to the motherboard. Most Socket 5 boards will have 60 and 66MHz options (check your manual). Although be aware that some very slow memory SIMMs (80ns or slower) may not like running at 66 MHz bus speed.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium Pro (P6)
- With a very strong floating point unit (FPU) and large amounts of fast L2 cache, the Intel Pentium Pro was Intel's premier workstation/server-level chip. It is often found in dual and even quad CPU configurations. Its chipsets don't suffer from limits on RAM cacheability (the processor handles that) like many Socket 7 boards and always support error correction for maximum reliability. Of course, this all comes at a price. Over the years, Intel has claimed many of their chips to be "server only", but the Pentium Pro is the only one to retain that distinction; mainly because of the price of the chip and motherboard.
- The Pentium Pro uses a unique (and proprietary) connection to the motherboard called 'Socket 8'. The socket is a 387-pin modified staggered pin grid array. The processor has a unique on-chip L2 cache that runs at the same speed as the CPU core, giving a nice performance boost over other chips that have the L2 cache on the motherboard (Socket 7 chips) or running at half core speed (older Pentium II chips). The L2 caches come in different sizes.
- The Pentium Pro comes in 150, 166, 180, and 200MHz versions. Intel's fastest Pentium Pro runs at 200MHz and has 1MB of L2 cache built in. The Pro chips run very hot and require substantial cooling efforts. Particular attention must be paid to the 200MHz w/ 1MB of L2 cache. This chip has an unusually flat top (the chip package was re-designed) to try to eliminate variance in contact with the chip's heatsink. Adequate venting of the heat within the case should also be considered when using one of these chips.
- Pentium Pro 133 - 133MHz (66x2.0) - 3.1v - 256KB L2 - Engineering Sample only
- Pentium Pro 150 - 150MHz (60x2.5) - 3.1v or 3.3v - 256KB L2
- Pentium Pro 166 - 166MHz (66x2.5) - 3.3v - 512KB L2
- Pentium Pro 180 - 180MHz (60x3.0) - 3.3v - 256KB L2
- Pentium Pro 200 - 200MHz (66x3.0) - 3.2v or 3.3v or 3.5v - 256KB or 512KB or 1MB L2
- The Pentium Pro chips have a feature called VID (voltage identification) which allows the CPU to program the motherboard's VRM (voltage regulator module) to deliver the proper voltage to the chip. Many Socket 8 motherboards still retain jumpers to allow the chip to be set manually, but not all do. So be careful of using some of the earliest Pentium Pro chips (which didn't support VID) since these chips will be unable to program the VRM, and without any jumpers on the motherboard, setting the voltage will be impossible (the computer simply won't boot). Also be aware that the new 200MHz chip w/ 1MB of L2 cache is able to run reliably at 3.2 volts. This allows the chip to run cooler than normal and doesn't affect performance or reliability of the CPU. However, in order to run the chip at this voltage, the VID signal must be ignored by the motherboard (jumpers would need to be set) otherwise, the chip would simply use its VID to run at a typical 3.3 volts.
- An upgrade for the Pentium Pro was released in the second half of August, 1998. The new chip is loosely based on the Pentium II 'Deschutes' processor core, but has 512KB L2 cache running at full core speed built onto the chip's die. It comes in the 387-pin Socket 8 configuration running at 300 and 333MHz. The 300MHz version upgrades 150MHz and 180MHz Pentium Pros (it runs on a 60MHz bus) and the 333MHz version upgrades 166MHz and 200MHz Pentium Pro processors (a 66MHz bus). The chips can be used in a single or dual processor configuration.
- Intel's support page on the Pentium Pro: Intel Pentium Pro Support.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium II (Klamath/Deschutes) and Pentium III (Katmai/Coppermine/Coppermine-T/Tualatin)
- The Intel Pentium II is an adaptation of Intel's powerful Pentium Pro chip, and uses a proprietary socket to connect to the motherboard. It is a 242-pin Single Edge Contact cartridge called Slot 1. Because the Pentium II is derived from the Pentium Pro, it uses the same chipsets as the Pro chip (although newer chipsets are being designed for the Pentium II only).
- There are various versions of the Pentium-II. The oldest chips are based on the .35µ Klamath chip, which was very amperage hungry and put off a good deal of heat. The Pentium II Deschutes is manufactured on the .25µ process, and runs much cooler than its Klamath brother. The Pentium-III is based on the Katmai core, which is a modified Deschutes that contains 70 new instructions. The Coppermine chip is based on the Katmai core, but integrates the 256KB of L2 cache onto the chip's die surface using a 0.18µ process.
- The Deschutes and Katmai cores are used in chips for both Slot 1 and Slot 2 motherboards. The Katmai core for Slot 2 is code-named 'Tanner'. The 'Coppermine' core for Slot 2 is code-named 'Cascades'. Slot 1 and Slot 2 are physically and electrically different interfaces; the processors are not interchangeable even though they're based on the same core CPU.
- Pentium II 233 - 233MHz (66x3.5) - 2.8v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Klamath)
- Pentium II 266 - 266MHz (66x4.0) - 2.8v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Klamath)
- Pentium II 300 - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.8v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Klamath)
- Pentium II 266 - 266MHz (66x4.0) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium II 300 - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium II 333 - 333MHz (66x5.0) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium II 350 - 350MHz (100x3.5) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium II 400 - 400MHz (100x4.0) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium II 450 - 450MHz (100x4.5) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Deschutes)
- Pentium III 450 - 450MHz (100x4.5) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 500 - 500MHz (100x5.0) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 533B - 533MHz (133x4.0) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 550 - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 2.0v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 600 - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 2.05v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 600B - 600MHz (133x4.5) - 2.05v/3.3v split - 512KB half-speed L2 (Katmai)
- Pentium III 533EB - 533MHz (133x4.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 550E - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 600E - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 600EB - 600MHz (133x4.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 667 - 666MHz (133x5.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 733 - 733MHz (133x5.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 800EB - 800MHz (133x6.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 866 - 866MHz (133x6.5) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 933 - 933MHz (133x7.0) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 1.0 - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 1.0B - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine)
- Pentium III 1.13 - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.8v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine) [recalled]
- Pentium III 500E - 500MHz (100x5.0) - 1.6v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 533EB - 533MHz (133x4.0) - 1.65v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 550E - 550MHz (100x5.5) - 1.6v or 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 600E - 600MHz (100x6.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 600EB - 600MHz (133x4.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 650 - 650MHz (100x6.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 667 - 666MHz (133x5.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 733 - 733MHz (133x5.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 750 - 750MHz (100x7.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 800E - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 800EB - 800MHz (133x6.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 866 - 866MHz (133x6.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.7v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 933 - 933MHz (133x7.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.0 - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 1.0B - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.7v or 1.75v or 1.76v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.1 - 1100MHz (100x11.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 1.13 - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (socketed Coppermine)
- Pentium III 866 - 866MHz (133x6.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine-T)
- Pentium III 933 - 933MHz (133x7.0) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine-T)
- Pentium III 1.0B - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine-T - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.13 - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Coppermine-T - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.0A - 1000MHz (133x7.5) - 1.475v - 256KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.13A - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.475v or 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.2 - 1200MHz (133x9.0) - 1.475v or 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.33 - 1333MHz (133x10.0) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III 1.4 - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III-S 700 - 700MHz (100x7.0) - 1.1v - 512KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III-S 1.13 - 1133MHz (133x8.5) - 1.45v - 512KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III-S 1.26 - 1266MHz (133x9.5) - 1.45v - 512KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Pentium III-S 1.4 - 1400MHz (133x10.5) - 1.45v - 512KB L2 (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Like the Pentium Pro, the Pentium II uses VID (Voltage ID) to program the motherboard's VRM for the correct processor voltage. Many of the older motherboards may need a BIOS update in order to be able to run the newer low voltage Pentium II processors. The Klamath core requires 2.8 volts; the Deschutes and Katmai are 2.0 volts. Contact the motherboard or system manufacturer for any needed BIOS upgrades.
- All the Klamath chips and early Deschutes Pentium IIs run on a 66MHz bus speed. These chips are generally associated with the older 440FX, 440LX, and 440EX motherboards which could only supply a 66MHz bus speed. Although there's no real reason why they won't work at 66MHz on a 440BX, 440ZX, or similar 66/100MHz switchable motherboard. The later Deschutes (up to 450MHz) and Katmai chips (up to 600MHz) both require a 100MHz bus, and so prefer to run on a 440BX, ZX, or other chipset that has a 100MHz bus speed. These chips may run fine in older 66MHz-based boards but won't be able to run at their rated speeds since Intel fixes the multiplier in their CPUs. To run on a 100MHz bus, the system RAM also needs to run at 100MHz, so PC100 or better is usually required to go with these chips. The Katmai chips at 533 and 600MHz run on a 133MHz bus and so need a newer motherboard to achieve their full speed. However the new chipsets (810e, 820, and the high-end 840) don't require memory that runs at 133MHz. The 810e, 820, and 840 run the system memory asynchronously from the front side bus (FSB) at 100MHz, and so only require PC100 SDRAM. In fact these chipsets can't run SDRAM at anything other than 100MHz (Direct-RDRAM is another story). On the other hand, a non-Intel chipset like the VIA Apollo Pro-133 does have the option to run system memory at 66, 100, or 133MHz while keeping the FSB at 133MHz. So you can successfully use any PC66, PC100, or PC133 SDRAM memory with this chipset (assuming the motherboard properly implements this feature).
- Side note: Not all PC133 SDRAM can be run at PC66 speeds. This is because the timings required for the chips to run at such largely differing speeds is rather wide, so some manufacturers have decided not to allow their chips to be "under-clocked" that far. Most any PC133 should run fine at PC100, and most any PC100 should run fine at PC66 speeds, but not all PC133 will run as PC66.
- The Katmai chips based on a 133MHz bus speed have had their name slightly altered to ensure they aren't confused with their older 100MHz-based brothers. The new chips come with a 'B' in their name (such as 533B and 600B) to indicate a faster bus. These chips are still based on the Katmai core. The newer chips based on the Coppermine core (that's just it's codename; it's not really made of copper) have an 'E' to indicate an enhanced core. And the Coppermines that also run on a faster bus speed will also have the 'B' designation. So a Coppermine running on a 100MHz bus will be indicated as '600E' while a Coppermine with the faster bus speed will be '600EB'. This naming scheme only applies to the CPUs whose speeds overlap; unique chips do not carry the extra markings (e.g. the 733MHz P-IIIs are actually Coppermines and run on a 133MHz bus, but the designations are left off because there are no Katmai or 100MHz-based CPUs that run at that speed).
- The Coppermine processors, released in October 1999, are SSE-enhanced Pentium III's, but unlike the Pentium II/III chips, the Coppermine processors contain 256KB on-Die L2 cache running at core CPU speed. Pentium II/III's 512KB L2 is still mounted to the SEC cartridge and runs at half core processor speed. Running at a lower voltage and on a 133MHz bus, some of the new Coppermines may require a new motherboard to achieve its full speed.
- The Coppermines come in both slotted (SECC2) and socketed (FC-PGA) versions. These new chips, while physically identical to their socketed Celeron cousins, are not meant to work in older Socket 370 motherboards. The Coppermine chip requires a lower voltage and has a slightly different pinout (pin arrangement) than the Mendocino Celeron. Contact your motherboard manufacturer to see if your motherboard supports the socketed Pentium III. Likewise, the older Slotket S-370 to Slot-1 converters are also incompatibile with the new FC-PGA chips.
- Like their Pentium Pro cousins, the Pentium II chips have 4 clock multiplier pins that are set at RESET to determine the internal multiplier the chip will use. Pentium II chips can theoretically have any multiplier between 1.5x and 8.0x, in half-multiplier increments. But in order to foil remarkers, Intel limits and sometimes even fixes their multipliers so that it can't be altered. So older Pentium II Klamath chips may have many more multipliers available to them while the newer chips have a maximum multiplier. See the page on disabled Intel multipliers for more information. The newest Pentium II and Pentium III chips are completely clock-locked at their given multiplier. Unfortunately, it isn't possible to run a 400MHz Pentium II in an older 440LX motherboard on a 66MHz bus speed at 400MHz (66x6.0). The P-II 400 has only the 4.0x multiplier available, and you would only get 266MHz (66x4.0) out of the chip.
- There are two options for the Klamath chips: ECC and non-ECC. ECC is error correction for the L2 cache, which can be vital for processors in a server environment.
- The older Pentium II (Klamath/Deschutes) and Pentium III (Katmai) come with a 512KB L2 cache that runs at half the core processor speed in Slot 1 motherboards. The Klamath chips and the first Deschutes chip (6-5-0 stepping) can cache up to 512MB of main memory. The later Deschutes and Katmai chips can cache up to 4GB of RAM. But only the 330-pin Slot 2 motherboards can run the off-Die L2 cache at core processor speed. Both slots support 100MHz bus speeds (and now 133MHz too), but only with select chipsets and motherboards. The Slot 2 processors are intended for use in server applications, and aren't really aimed at the home market (with dual- and quad-CPU configurations, they're supposed to replace the Pentium Pro servers). Predictably, the Slot 2 processors carry a hefty price premium, which will help keep them out of the hands of mere mortals.
- Newer Pentium II and all Pentium III chips that come in the SECC-2 cartridge require the use of the Celeron retention mechanism (or the universal one) to hold the chip in place. The older SECC mechanism won't help. The retention mechanism should come with the motherboard.
- The Pentium III processor carries Intel's Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE), formerly known as Katmai New Instructions (KNI); which are 70 new instructions designed to enhance 3D gaming, multimedia, graphics, voice recognition, and some database functions. Like AMD's 3DNow!, SSE requires driver or API or software support in order to take advantage of them but, unlike MMX, may require a BIOS upgrade so the operating system can install the proper libraries to take advantage of the new instructions.
- Be aware that the faster Pentium II and Pentium III chips draw more amperage through the motherboard's voltage regulator than previous P-II chips. Intel has a few different VRM specs to cover various chips. Contact your motherboard or system manufacturer to see if your board is rated to handle the faster processors.
- The 6-8-3, 6-8-6, and 6-8-A step FC-PGA (socketed) Coppermine chips are dual-capable; the 6-8-1 FC-PGA chips are not.
- Intel introduced a new heatsink cap to their Pentium III chips (FC-PGA2). This IHS (integrated heat spreader) is larger and thicker than the existing heatsink slug found on older P-III chips. So using an older heatsink may be a tight fit. The new cap can be found on a couple regular Coppermine chips, as well as the new Coppermine-T and Tualatin chips. But be aware that not all Coppermine-T chips use the new cap. All Tualatin chips do, however. Note that the new FC-PGA2 designation *DOES NOT* automatically indicate a change in CPU pinout; the Coppermine-T uses the same socket configuration as existing Coppermine chips. The Tualatin does not, however.
- With the introduction of the Coppermine-T and Tualatin chips comes a new AGTL bus voltage. The older 1.5v AGTL+ bus is used by existing Coppermine chips. The new 1.25v AGTL bus is used by the Tualatin chips and can be used by the Coppermine-T chips. Oddly enough, the Coppermine-T chips can actually use either voltage in single chip mode; the Tualatin chips cannot. But in a dual-processor configuration the Coppermine-T must use the lower 1.25v bus voltage. Note that the motherboard's chipset *must* support the 1.25v setting for chips to work in it. Older revisions of the Intel 815E/EP chipsets (as well as ALi, SiS, and VIA chipsets that lack the 'T' designation) will not work with the new CPUs, even if the motherboard seems to support the core voltage and amperage draw of the chip. The chipset *must* be compliant with the 1.25v AGTL voltage for a Tualatin CPU to work (the popular 440BX and 440GX chipsets are not compatible with the new bus voltage). Ask your motherboard manufacturer or OEM about specific compatibility issues.
- The Pentium III-S chips are 512KB Tualatin chips that are intended to be used in servers only. They are not certified for use in desktop motherboards. Even on boards that officially support the 256KB Pentium III Tualatin chip. The two chips have slightly different electrical specs.
- All of the Tualatin chips (including the 256KB desktop versions) can cache the full 64GB of RAM.
- The Tualatin chip introduces hardware prefetch to the Pentium-III series. Prefetch fetches the next bit of data out of memory and copies it to the CPU's cache, even if that data isn't needed yet. This can have a significant positive impact on performance, especially when paired with high-bandwidth memory.
- Various companies make Slotket adapters for fitting PGA-370 Celeron and FC-PGA Coppermines into Slot 1 boards. PowerLeap even developed a converter for FC-PGA Coppermines to PGA-370 boards.
- Intel's support page on the Pentium II: Intel Pentium II Support.
- Intel's support page on the Pentium III: Intel Pentium III Support.
- Upgrading with the Intel Celeron (Covington/Mendocino/Coppermine-128/Tualatin/Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill/Conroe-L/Conroe)
- Further adding to the Pentium II processor mix is the value version of the Pentium II/III which is sold under the brand name 'Celeron'. The original code names of the two chips to be sold under this brand are 'Covington' and 'Mendocino'. The Covington does not have any L2 cache on the processor at all. The Mendocino is the same as Covington except it contains 128KB on-Die L2 cache. The Celeron chip comes in a newly designed Slot 1 package called SEPP (Single Edge Processor Product) which is thinner than the old SEC module and requires a different motherboard support bracket, but is still physically compatible with Slot 1 motherboards. While they are based on the same processor, the Celeron chips are significantly cheaper than their Pentium II/III counterparts and are aimed at cheaper desktop systems, and do not support dual or multi-processing.
- Celeron 266 - 266MHz (66x4.0) - 2.0v - 0KB L2 cache (Covington)
- Celeron 300 - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.0v - 0KB L2 cache (Covington)
- Celeron 300A - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (Mendocino)
- Celeron 333 - 333MHz (66x5.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (Mendocino)
- Celeron 366 - 366MHz (66x5.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (Mendocino)
- Celeron 400 - 400MHz (66x6.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (Mendocino)
- Celeron 433 - 433MHz (66x6.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (Mendocino)
- Celeron 300A - 300MHz (66x4.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 333 - 333MHz (66x5.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 366 - 366MHz (66x5.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 400 - 400MHz (66x6.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 433 - 433MHz (66x6.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 466 - 466MHz (66x7.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 500 - 500MHz (66x7.5) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
- Celeron 533 - 533MHz (66x8.0) - 2.0v - 128KB L2 cache (socketed Mendocino)
Celeron 500A - 500MHz (66x7.5) - 1.5v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 533A - 533MHz (66x8.0) - 1.5v or 1.7v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 566 - 566MHz (66x8.5) - 1.5v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 600 - 600MHz (66x9.0) - 1.5v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 633 - 633MHz (66x9.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 667 - 666MHz (66x10.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 700 - 700MHz (66x10.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 733 - 733MHz (66x11.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 766 - 766MHz (66x11.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 800 - 800MHz (100x8.0) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 850 - 850MHz (100x8.5) - 1.65v or 1.7v or 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128)
- Celeron 900 - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128 - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Celeron 950 - 950MHz (100x9.5) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128 - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.0G - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128 - FCPGA or FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.1G - 1100MHz (100x11.0) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Coppermine-128 - FCPGA)
- Celeron 900A - 900MHz (100x9.0) - 1.475v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.0A - 1000MHz (100x10.0) - 1.475v or 1.5v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.1A - 1100MHz (100x11.0) - 1.475v or 1.5v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.2G - 1200MHz (100x12.0) - 1.475v or 1.5v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.3G - 1300MHz (100x13.0) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.4G - 1400MHz (100x14.0) - 1.5v - 256KB L2 cache (Tualatin - FCPGA2)
- Celeron 1.7G - 1700MHz (100x17) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Celeron 1.8G - 1800MHz (100x18) - 1.75v - 128KB L2 cache (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Celeron 1.6G - 1600MHz (100x8) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 1.8G - 1800MHz (100x9) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.0G - 2000MHz (100x20) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.1G - 2100MHz (100x21) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.2G - 2200MHz (100x22) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.3G - 2300MHz (100x23) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.4G - 2400MHz (100x24) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.5G - 2500MHz (100x25) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.6G - 2600MHz (100x26) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.7G - 2700MHz (100x27) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron 2.8G - 2800MHz (100x28) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 128KB L2 cache (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 310 - 2133MHz (133x16) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 315 - 2266MHz (133x17) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 320 - 2400MHz (133x18) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 325 - 2533MHz (133x19) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 330 - 2666MHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 335 - 2800MHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 340 - 2933MHz (133x22) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 345 - 3066MHz (133x23) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 350 - 3200MHz (133x24) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Celeron D 325J - 2533MHz (133x19) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 326 - 2533MHz (133x19) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 330J - 2666MHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 331 - 2666MHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 335J - 2800MHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 336 - 2800MHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 340J - 2933MHz (133x22) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 341 - 2933MHz (133x22) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 345J - 3066MHz (133x23) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 346 - 3066MHz (133x23) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 351 - 3200MHz (133x24) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 355 - 3333MHz (133x25) - 1.4v - 256KB L2 cache (Prescott - Socket T)
- Celeron D 347 - 3066MHz (133x23) - 1.3v - 512KB L2 cache (Cedar Mill - Socket T)
- Celeron D 352 - 3200MHz (133x24) - 1.3v - 512KB L2 cache (Cedar Mill - Socket T)
- Celeron D 356 - 3333MHz (133x25) - 1.3v - 512KB L2 cache (Cedar Mill - Socket T)
- Celeron D 360 - 3466MHz (133x26) - 1.3v - 512KB L2 cache (Cedar Mill - Socket T)
- Celeron D 365 - 3600MHz (133x27) - 1.3v - 512KB L2 cache (Cedar Mill - Socket T)
- Celeron D 420 - 1600MHz (200x8) - ?v - 512KB L2 cache (Conroe-L - Socket 775)
- Celeron D 430 - 1800MHz (200x9) - ?v - 512KB L2 cache (Conroe-L - Socket 775)
- Celeron D 440 - 2000MHz (200x10) - ?v - 512KB L2 cache (Conroe-L - Socket 775)
- Celeron D 450 - 2200MHz (200x11) - ?v - 512KB L2 cache (Conroe-L - Socket 775)
- Celeron E1200 - 1.6GHz (200x8) - 1.2v - 512MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- All of the Celeron processors at or below 433MHz come in a 242-pin slotted substrate similar to that of their Pentium-II cousins. But unlike the Pentium-II chips, the Celeron does not have a black cartridge cover. Because of this, the Celeron needs a different type of retention mechanism to hold it in place. The motherboard should come with a Celeron-specific bracket or you could also use the Universal Retention Mechanism which can support either Celeron or Pentium-II chips.
- The 300A and later versions of the Mendocino Celeron also come in a socketed 370-pin PGA package, similar to that of Socket 7 chips. However, this new socket is based on a different bus (P6) than Socket 7, and wouldn't work (or even fit) in Socket 7 boards. It is also physically incompatible with Intel's Socket 8 (Pentium Pro) even though they both use the same P6 bus. The 370-pin socket is intended only as a cost-saving measure, and has no real benefits over the 242-pin Slot 1. Be aware that many 370-pin socket motherboards will not have a 100MHz bus speed, so if future Celerons are released with a 100MHz bus, this motherboard may not be upgradeable. Although as quickly as bus speeds are changing these days, no motherboard may be able to keep up.
- There are Slotket adapters that can fit a PPGA Celeron chip into a Slot 1 motherboard. Using one of these adapters may be very helpful, and if done properly, won't even ruin your warranty with Intel. Also, Evergreen made a fully assembled Celeron-based Slot 1 adapter called the Performa.
- Celeron processors run on the P6 bus, the same as the Pentium Pro and Pentium-II. However, Intel has designed two Celeron-specific chipsets, the 440EX and 440ZX which are cheaper and less capable versions of the 440LX and 440BX. The EX and ZX only support single processors, have a limited number of PCI/ISA slots, and have a lower maximum RAM addressability. See Intel's chart on chipset specs for more information. Note that there is no real reason why Celeron processors will not work with other chipsets (440FX, LX, BX, and other P6-bus chipsets). Just be aware that the Celeron requires a lower voltage (2.0V) than some motherboards were initially designed to deliver (though a BIOS upgrade may solve this), and motherboards not specifically designed for the Celeron may not include the proper retention bracket. The 440EX and 440ZX chipsets are often found in smaller motherboards based on the Micro-ATX form factor, which can also limit upgrade options if the case is Micro-ATX only.
- If you're having trouble finding a heatsink for a Celeron processor, try Tillmann Steinbrecher's Heatsink Guide for some links to resellers. The 370-pin socketed Celeron takes a Socket 7 heatsink, preferrably a good one (one rated for the old K6 233 or the K6-2 400).
- Be aware that the faster Celeron chips may need a motherboard BIOS upgrade in order to allow chips with higher multipliers to function in the board (though this is actually a very rare occurance) as well as for proper initialization of the L2 cache.
- The Coppermine-128 Celerons, like their Pentium-III Coppermine cousins, come with both SSE instructions and a different pinout than previously socketed Celeron chips. They may require a new motherboard or slotket adapter to get them to run. In most cases, if your board supports the Coppermine P-III and 1.5v (or 1.65v, or 1.7v, depending on the chip and its stepping), you're likely good to go. But check with the manufacturer just to be sure.
- The Celeron 500A may not actually exist. Engineering samples do exist, and the chip was given two sSpec numbers (SL3KZ and SL46R), but these references were removed from later Spec Updates. I don't know that the chip was actually released.
- The 733MHz and 766MHz Celerons with the 6-8-A stepping (at 1.75v) were never released due to Intel speeding up its roadmap.
- The 1.7GHz Celeron is the first Celeron based on the Pentium 4 Willamette core. It comes in a 478-pin configuration and requires a completely different motherboard and chipset from its previous cousins.
- The Celeron "J" chips add the NX bit (Execute Disable Bit) that allows Windows XP with Service Pack 2 to prevent the execution of some virus code.
- The Celeron 326, 331, 336, 341, 346, and 351 support EM64T in addition to the NX bit.
- Based on the Conroe core, the Celeron-D 4xx series adds more L1 cache, a higher bus speed, and a new socket: Socket 775.
- Intel's page on the Celeron: Intel Celeron.
- Intel's page on the Celeron D: Intel Celeron D.
- Upgrading with the Intel Pentium 4 (Willamette/Northwood/Prescott/Cedar Mill), Pentium D (Smithfield/Presler), and Pentium Extreme (Gallatin/Prescott 2M/Smithfield/Presler)
- The Intel Pentium 4 is Intel's high-speed chip supporting its hyperthreading acrchitecture. The P4 chip contains a small but very advanced cache subsystem, sports a 400MHz bus speed, and comes with new SSE2 enhancements to power multimedia apps.
- Pentium 4 1.3G - 1.3GHz (100x13) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.4G - 1.4GHz (100x14) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.5G - 1.5GHz (100x15) - 1.7v or 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.6G - 1.6GHz (100x16) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.7G - 1.7GHz (100x17) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.8G - 1.8GHz (100x18) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.9G - 1.9GHz (100x19) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 2.0G - 2.0GHz (100x20) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 423)
- Pentium 4 1.4G - 1.4GHz (100x14) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.5G - 1.5GHz (100x15) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.6G - 1.6GHz (100x16) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.7G - 1.7GHz (100x17) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.8G - 1.8GHz (100x18) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.9G - 1.9GHz (100x19) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.0G - 2.0GHz (100x20) - 1.75v - 256KB L2 (Willamette - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.6A - 1.6GHz (100x16) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (low-wattage Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.8A - 1.8GHz (100x18) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (low-wattage Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.0A - 2.0GHz (100x20) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (low-wattage Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.6A - 1.6GHz (100x16) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 1.8A - 1.8GHz (100x18) - 1.5v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.0A - 2.0GHz (100x20) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.2G - 2.2GHz (100x22) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.26G - 2.4GHz (133x17) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.4G - 2.4GHz (100x24) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.4B - 2.4GHz (133x18) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.4C - 2.4GHz (200x12) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.5G - 2.5GHz (100x25) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.53G - 2.53GHz (133x19) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.6G - 2.6GHz (100x26) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.6C - 2.6GHz (200x13) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.67G - 2.66GHz (133x20) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8G - 2.8GHz (133x21) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8C - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.0C - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v or 1.55v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.06G - 3.06GHz (133x23) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v or 1.55v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.2C - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v or 1.55v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.4C - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v or 1.55v - 512KB L2 (Northwood w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.26A - 2.26GHz (133x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.4A - 2.4GHz (133x18) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.4E - 2.4GHz (200x12) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8A - 2.8GHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8A - 2.8GHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8E - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 2.8E - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.0E - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.2E - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 3.4E - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 505 - 2.66GHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 505J - 2.66GHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 506 - 2.66GHz (133x20) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 2.8A - 2.8GHz (133x21) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 515 - 2.93GHz (133x22) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 515J - 2.93GHz (133x22) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 519J - 3.06GHz (133x23) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 520 - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 520J - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 521 - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 530 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 530J - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 531 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 540 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 540J - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 541 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 550 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 550J - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 551 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 560 - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 561 - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 570J - 3.8GHz (200x19) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 571 - 3.8GHz (200x19) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.2E - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.4E - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.6E - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott w/ EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.2F - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott server w/ HT, EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.4F - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott server w/ HT, EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.6F - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott server w/ HT, EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 3.8F - 3.8GHz (200x19) - 1.4v - 1MB L2 (Prescott server w/ HT, EM64T - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 630 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 640 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 650 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 660 - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 662 - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 670 - 3.8GHz (200x19) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 672 - 3.8GHz (200x19) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 631 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - ?v - 2MB L2 (Cedar Mill dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 641 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - ?v - 2MB L2 (Cedar Mill dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 651 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - ?v - 2MB L2 (Cedar Mill dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 661 - 3.5GHz (200x18) - ?v - 2MB L2 (Cedar Mill dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 805 - 2.66GHz (133x20) - 1.4v - dual 1MB L2 (Smithfield dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 820 - 2.8GHz (200x14) - 1.4v - dual 1MB L2 (Smithfield dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 830 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - dual 1MB L2 (Smithfield dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 840 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - dual 1MB L2 (Smithfield dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 915 - 2.8GHz (200x16) - 1.3v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 920 - 2.8GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium D 930 - 3.0GHz (200x15) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium D 940 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium D 945 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - ?v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium D 950 - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium D 960 - 3.6GHz (200x18) - 1.3v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.2G - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.475v or 1.5v or 1.525v or 1.55v - 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Gallatin w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.4G - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.525v or 1.55v or 1.575v or 1.6v - 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Gallatin w/ HT - Socket 478)
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.4G - 3.4GHz (200x17) - 1.6v - 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Gallatin w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.46G - 3.46GHz (266x13) - 1.6v - 512KB L2, 2MB L3 (Gallatin w/ HT - Socket T)
- Pentium 4 Extreme Edition 3.73G - 3.73GHz (266x14) - 1.4v - 2MB L2 (Prescott 2M w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium Extreme Edition 840 - 3.2GHz (200x16) - 1.4v - dual 1MB L2 (Smithfield dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit - Socket T)
- Pentium Extreme Edition 955 - 3.46GHz (266x13) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- Pentium Extreme Edition 965 - 3.73GHz (266x14) - 1.4v - dual 2MB L2 (Presler dual core w/ HT, EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket T)
- The original Pentium 4 comes in a unique 423-pin socket. And unfortunately, the Willamette chip is the only chip to use this socket interface. The Pentium 4 (Northwood) uses a 478-pin socket, and newer chips come in Socket T.
- The P4's bus signals are different from that of the Pentium Pro and Pentium II/III's GTL+ bus, and so is not compatible at all with previous motherboards. Pentium 4 chipsets run on a 400MHz (quad-pumped 100MHz), 533MHz (quad-pumped 133MHz), or 800MHz (200MHz quad-pumped) bus.
- The Pentium 4 is a very hot, power hungry chip, and requires unique cooling techniques and power supplies (ATX12V).
- The Socket 478 processor comes with an integrated FCPGA2 heat spreader. It requires a different heatsink and retention mechanism than the older Socket 423.
- The Socket T processor comes in a 775-ball FC-LGA package.
- Unlike previous desktop Intel processors, the Pentium 4 does not support multi-processing.
- The 3.06GHz Pentium 4 processor is the first desktop chip to support Jackson Hyperthreading technology.
- Some of the Northwood chips are low-wattage chips which are not supposed to exceed 45W power dissipation. These are intended for small form factor desktops.
- Some of the Socket 478 Prescott CPUs do not support Jackson Hyperthreading.
- The Socket T Prescotts with 5xx designation are desktop varieties and support Jackson Hyperthreading. The Socket T 3.2E, 3.4E, and 3.6E only support EM64T. And the 533MHz-based 2.8GHz Socket T chip supports neither. The "F" Prescott chips are server chips that support both Jackson Hyperthreading and EM64T.
- The Pentium 4 "J" chips add the NX bit (Execute Disable Bit) that allows Windows XP with Service Pack 2 to prevent the execution of some virus code.
- The dual core Pentium D Smithfield chips do not support Jackson hyperthreading, while the dual core Pentium Extreme Edition Smithfield does.
- The Pentium 4 662 and 672 chips support Intel's Virtualization Technology.
- Intel's page on the Pentium 4: Pentium 4.
- Intel's page on the Pentium D: Pentium D.
- Intel's page on the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition: Pentium 4 EE.
- Intel's page on the Pentium Extreme Edition: Pentium EE.
- Upgrading with the Intel Core 2 Duo (Allendale/Conroe/Wolfdale), Pentium (Conroe), and Core 2 Extreme (Conroe/Kentsfield/Yorkfield/Harpertown).
- The Intel Core 2 processor family is based on Intel's mobile Banias/Dothan micro-architecture. Running at a slower speed, but performing more operations per clock, the Core represents a significant shift away from Intel's previous goal of ever higher gigahertz CPUs. Core still supports EM64T, execute disable bit (NX bit) and Intel's virtualization technology (VT).
- Core 2 Duo E4300 - 1.8GHz (200x9) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Allendale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E4400 - 2.0GHz (200x10) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Allendale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E4500 - 2.2GHz (200x11) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Allendale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E4600 - 2.4GHz (200x12) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Allendale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E4700 - 2.6GHz (200x13) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Allendale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E5200 - 2.5GHz (200x12.5) - ?v - 2MB L2 (Wolfdale dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT, TXT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6300 - 1.86GHz (266x7) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6320 - 1.86GHz (266x7) - 1.2v - 4MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6400 - 2.13GHz (266x8) - 1.2v - 2MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6420 - 2.13GHz (266x8) - 1.2v - 4MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6540 - 2.33GHz (333x7) - 1.2v - 4MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6550 - 2.33GHz (333x7) - 1.2v - 4MB L2 (Conroe dual core w/ EM64T, NX bit, VT, TXT - Socket 775)
- Core 2 Duo E6600 - 2.4GHz (266x9) - 1.2v - 4