Intel Pentium 4 Processor Overview

By Author: Andrew E
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The Intel® Pentium® 4 processor family supporting Hyper-Threading Technology† (HT Technology) delivers Intel's advanced, powerful processors for desktop PCs and entry-level workstations, which are based on the Intel NetBurst® microarchitecture. The Pentium 4 processor is designed to deliver performance across applications and usages where end-users can truly appreciate and experience the performance. These applications include Internet audio and streaming video, image processing, video content creation, speech, 3D, CAD, games, multimedia, and multitasking user environments. The Pentium 4 processor is available in 570, 560, 550, 540, 530 and 520Δ (5xx) supporting Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology and 1-MB L2 cache. The Pentium 4 processor is also available in 660, 650, 640 and 630Δ (6xx) supporting Hyper-Threading Technology, and additional overall performance with the 2-MB L2 cache plus advanced technologies to improve system utilization. The Intel® Pentium® 4 processor Extreme Edition supporting HT Technology features 3.46 GHz with 2 MB of L3 cache and 3.73 GHz with 2 M of L2 cache to offer high ...
... levels of performance targeted specifically for high-end gamers and computing power users.

With Hyper-Threading Technology, desktop users can experience greater system responsiveness and performance when multitasking. At home, users can encode audio and video at the same time, or run a virus scan in the background while continuing to play their favorite game. In the office, HT Technology enables IT managers to deploy PC services such as encryption, compression or backup technologies while minimizing the impact on PC user productivity. In addition, multitasking business workers can experience greater system responsiveness, enabling increased productivity. In summary, the Pentium 4 processor supporting HT Technology delivers a new level of performance and PC responsiveness for consumers and business professionals.

The Pentium 4 processor 6xx and 3.73 GHz Extreme Edition provide flexibility for operating systems and future software with Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel® EM64T)Φ support for 64-bit computing to help handle the applications of tomorrow. Additionally, the Pentium 4 processor 6xx also provides power saving capabilities with Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology.
Product Highlights
Pentium 4 processors 5xx support 800, 533, or 400 MHz system bus speeds, as well as HT Technology. The highest core speed is 3.80 GHz. Pentium 4 processors 6xx support 800 MHz system bus speed, as well as HT Technology, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology and Intel EM64T to core speed of 3.60GHz.
The Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition with core speed of 3.46 GHz includes an integrated 2 MB of L3 cache, supports HT technology, and is available with an advanced 1066 MHz system bus. The Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition with highest core speed of 3.73 GHz includes an integrated 2 M of L2 cache, supports HT Technology, Intel EM64T, and is available with an advanced 1066 MHz system bus.
Pentium 4 processors based upon Intel 90 nm process technology have 1MB L2 (5xx) and 2MB L2 (6xx) Advanced Transfer Cache, 16-KB L1 data cache, and Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3). The 90 nm process technology includes next generation transistor advantages, such as strained silicon lattice to deliver faster transistors and increase performance.
The Pentium 4 processors Extreme Edition 3.46 GHz and the Pentium 4 processors 3.40 GHz, 3.20 GHz, 3 GHz and 2.80 GHz are available in the mPGA-478 or FCLGA-775 form factors. The Pentium 4 processors Extreme Edition 3.73 GHz and the Pentium 4 processors 5xx / 6xx are only available in the FCLGA-775 form factors.
Pentium 4 processors feature Intel NetBurst microarchitecture, Intel® MMX™ brand media enhancement technology, support uniprocessor designs, and are compatible with existing Intel architecture-based software.
The Pentium 4 processor 5xx is supported by the Intel® 925X, Intel® 925XE, 915 Express chipset family, Intel® 875P and Intel® 865 Express chipset family. The Pentium 4 processor 6xx is supported by the, Intel® 925X, Intel® 925XE, and Intel® 915 Express chipset family. The Pentium 4 processor Extreme Edition 3.73 GHz is supported by the Intel® 925XE Express chipset.
Intel Express chipsets enabled for HT Technology and currently supported by their respective Pentium 4 processor are: Intel 925XE, 925X, 915G,915GV, 915GL, 915P, 915PL, 875P, 865G, 865PE, 865P, 850E, 845GE, 845PE, 845GV, 845G2 and 845E Express chipsets¹.
Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3) includes 13 new instructions designed to reduce the number of instructions needed to execute program tasks. The new instructions are added to improve specific application areas such as media and gaming.
Below are the available Pentium 4 processor family line items:

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