Intel Processors
I've been meaning to cover Intel's new consumer processor rating scheme on our front page, but I've saved all the info for this article instead.Breaking from a long standing tradition, Intel have ventured into the realm of model numbers to define their upcoming processor ranges. Traditional methods of describing a processor - such as frequency, cache size and front side bus frequency - won't be dropped by Intel. Instead the model number simply helps define a processors ranking within its own processor family.
Each processor family gets it own starting model number. Currently that's the Celeron range (including both Celeron D and Celeron M) which leads with 3, the Pentium 4 range which leads with 5, and finally the Pentium M range which leads with 7.
Depending on speed, cache size and front side bus speed, you get a two digit model designator to follow that starting model number. Taking a couple of upcoming LGA775 processors as an example:
Pentium 4 4.0GHz -> Pentium 4 580
Pentium 4 3.4GHz -> Pentium 4 550
If you want to see the current model lists as they stand, click here (anandtech.com).
Desktop Intel processors that support the AMD64 ISA fall outside of our Q2 window. Intel's Nocona, their AMD64 supporting Xeon, has been moved to Q3, so it too falls outside of our Q2 window.
Processors Being Introduced
The following processors are slated for release in Q2.| Model | Frequencies | Major Cache Sizes | Process | Socket |
| Pentium 4 520 | 2.80GHz, 800MHz | 1MB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium 4 530 | 3.00GHz, 800MHz | 1MB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium 4 540 | 3.20GHz, 800MHz | 1MB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium 4 550 | 3.40GHz, 800MHz | 1MB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium 4 560 | 3.60GHz, 800MHz | 1MB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Model | Frequencies | Major Cache Sizes | Process | Socket |
| Pentium Celeron D 325 | 2.53GHz, 533MHz | 256KB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium Celeron D 325 | 2.66GHz, 533MHz | 256KB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Pentium Celeron D 325 | 2.80GHz, 533MHz | 256KB L2 | 90nm Prescott | LGA775 |
| Model | Frequencies | Major Cache Sizes | Process | Socket |
| Pentium 4 Extreme Edition | 3.20GHz, 800MHz | 512KB L2, 2MB L3 | 130nm Gallatin 2M | LGA775 |
| Pentium 4 Extreme Edition | 3.40GHz, 800MHz | 512KB L2, 2MB L3 | 130nm Gallatin 2M | LGA775 |
| Model | Frequencies | Major Cache Sizes | Process | Socket |
| Pentium M 735 | 1.70GHz, 400MHz | 2MB L2 | 90nm Dothan | µFCBGA479 |
| Pentium M 745 | 1.80GHz, 400MHz | 2MB L2 | 90nm Dothan | µFCBGA479 |
| Pentium M 755 | 2.00GHz, 400MHz | 2MB L2 | 90nm Dothan | µFCBGA479 |
Model Number Notes
The Pentium M model rating highlight the fact that the designators don't scale with CPU frequency. They're just an indicator of overall performance. You can assume that a Pentium M 755 is faster than a Pentium M 745, but you can't assume for example that it's quicker by 200MHz, since that 200MHz leap doesn't apply to the 735 to 745 jump.You also can't assume that a 750 is better or faster than a 550, just because 7 is greater than 5. The leading model number simply defines a processor family.
