MaximumPC 2004 03

Sometimes more gets said when nothing changes

than when big changes occur. Take for example,

Intel’s shiny new CPU, code-named Prescott.

Despite several marked changes, Intel is downplay-

ing the much anticipated release of a CPU that

could have easily warranted a Pentium 5 label.

New SSE instructions almost single-handedly

compelled Intel to drop the Pentium II name for

Pentium III. Similarly, when Intel instituted SSE

instructions and a completely redesigned core, it

couldn’t help but adopt the Pentium 4 moniker.

Prescott features a new instruction set called SSE3, a

redesigned pipeline that will take the chip up to 5GHz,

double the cache, and a major die shrink. Thus the

question: Why isn’t Intel calling this new chip Pentium

5? And why the muted fanfare surrounding Prescott?

And does it contain dormant 64-bit extensions?

We’ve got answers. Ë

MARCH 2004 MAXIMUMPC 29

Pr escott at a glance

NAME...........................................................................Pentium 4

CODE-NAME.................................................................Prescott

CLOCK SPEED.........................................................3.4GHz “E”

DIE SIZE.........................................................................112mm^2

TRANSISTORS.........................................................125 million

L1 CACHE...........................................................................16KB

L2 CACHE............................................................................1MB

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS.............................................MMX,

SSE, SSE2, SSE

PROCESS.............................................................90 nanometer

using strained silicon

Why Isn’t Prescott

Pentium 5?

How does Intel’s new Prescott CPU stack up? Is it worthy

of residence in your existing motherboard? Maximum PC

Senior Editor Gordon Mah Ung investigates the low-key

release of a redesigned, feature-laden chip that deserves

to be called Pentium 5, yet surprisingly isn’t

BY GORDON MAH UNG