webpointmorpheus Computer Info
CPU Characteristics

     Pentium      Pentium Pro      Pentium II      Pentium III      Pentium IV
     Pentium Clones      Slot & Socket Specs      General Notes

©2005 - material compiled by Bob Carnaghi, www.webpointmorpheus.com

CPU Characteristics

This page lists, in table form, the individual characteristics of the Pentium Class processors. Introduction of the Pentium processor made a quantum leap in processor technology from the previous x86 technology. While this table is not an exhaustive treatment of the Pentium class processor, it should serve to give an overview of some parts of the historical and technical progression of this processor. Finally, there is a lumped collection of the class known as 'Pentium Clones'. The Clones are competitively priced, tend to function well, and have a substantial market share today.

CPU Characteristics* See General Notes Below
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentiuma	273 PGA	64 bitb	32 bit	Socket 4 or 5	60-200 MHz	50-66 MHz	+5 Vdcc	16 KBd	No
	Notes:     Top of page The Pentium class CPU initiated a concept known as 'superscalar' - which means that multiple instructions could be pipelined, or executed simultaneously. This class of CPU uses a 'U' & 'V' pipe to move instructions incrementally. The Pentium processor, with the 64 bit data width, is capable of Quad Word or Qword data transfers, an amazing feat for its time. The +5 Vdc standard is high compared to the voltages that are applied today. This processor consumed large amounts of power, generated a lot of heat, and required the use of a cooling fan. This cache was divided into two separate areas, one for code instructions, one for data.
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium Generation 2a	296 SPGAb	64 bit	32 bit	Socket 4 or 5	75 - 166 MHzc	50-66 MHz	3.3d	16 KB	No
	Notes:     Top of page Also known as P54C. This configuration makes these CPUs incompatible with the Pentiums. May be found in the following increments: 75, 90, 100, 120, 133, 150, 166 MHz, depending on the clock multiplier used. In essence, all Pentium processors use 50, 60, or 66 MHz external frequencies. The listed speeds are accomplished by the use of an internal clock multiplier, controlled by jumpers on the board, which make the internal CPU operate at a multiple of the external bus. This provides an effective increase of processing speed. This lower voltage caused the unit to consume less power, while providing faster operating speeds by mofing the high & low logic levels closer together.
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium Generation 3a,b	296 SPGA	64 bit	32 bit	Socket 7	166 - 233 MHzc	66 - 75 MHz	2.5 - 3.6 V	32KB	256/512KB
	Notes:     Top of page Also known as P55C This processor was called MMX for its available Multi Media Extensions which supported graphics, games, etc. 166, 180, 200, 233 MHz, depending on the clock multiplier used. In essence, all Pentium processors use 50, 60, or 66 MHz external clock frequencies. The listed speeds are accomplished by the use of an internal clock multiplier, controlled by jumpers on the board, which make the internal CPU operate at a multiple of the external bus. This provides an effective increase of processing speed.
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium Proa	387 SPGA	64 bit	36 bit	Socket 8b	166-200 MHz	60-66 MHz	2.0 - 3.5 V	16 KB	256/512KB
	Notes:     Top of page Also known as the P6. This class of processor took the Pipelining process a step further to 'Quad Pipelining'. The processor could handle four separate pipelines simultaneously. This was the equivalent of three simultaneous processes. Unique to the Pentium Pro.
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium IIa,b	242 SECC	64 bit	36 bit	Slot 1, SECCc	233-450 MHz	66-100 MHz	1.5 - 2.5 V	32 KB	512 KB
	Notes:     Top of page The slot 1 design is radically different from the PGA/SPGA types. A couple of noteworthy improvements in the overall architecture of this processor: the fan heat sink, Tag Ram (which could track attributes of the data written,) and L2 Burst Ram. The Pentium II inherited multimedia capabilities from the MMX processor. The Pentium II made a major change in style by implementing the Single Edge Contact Cartridge. See the Slot & Socket Specs below.
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium IIIa	SECC	64 bit	36 bit	Socket 370 Slot 1	450 MHz - 1 GHz	100 - 133 MHz	Varies	32 KB	512KBb
Celeronc	Varies	64 bit	36 bit	Slot 1 SECC	266-766 MHz	66 MHz	Varies	16KB	128KB
Xeond,e	SECC-2	64 bit	36 bit	Slot 2	450 MHz - 1 GHz	66 MHz	1.5 - 2.5 V	16KB	512 KB, 1 MB, & 2 MBd
Notes:     Top of page This package introduced a new design architecture (IA-32 NetBurst) similar to .18 micron technology that made possible speeds up to 1.3GHz. Capable of transfers on every clock cycle The Celeron can be a diminutive of the Pentium II, III, or IV processor. Note the differences between the two as listed. Not all classes are considered in this table. The Xeon is another version of the Pentium III class processor. This processor came in three basic versions with different levels of L2 cache. There are other design differences as the Xeon can be found based upon the Pentium II or the Pentium III architecture. Typically produced to fulfill higher end demands (servers, etc.)
CPU	PGA	Data Bus	Address Bus	Slot/Socket	Processor Speed(s)	FSB	Voltage	L1 Cache	L2 Cache
Pentium IVa	423 or 478 PGAb	128 bit	36 bit	Socket 423 Socket 478	1.3 GHz +	400 MHz	1.7 V	128 KB	256 or 512 KBb
	Notes:     Top of page A host of improvements that define a quantum step in the Pentium architecture. A 20-step pipeline, graphic enhancements, four data transfers per internal clock cycle, etc. There were two generations of this processor produced.
Pentium Clone Equivalents
This section lists the processors that have proven to be noteworthy competitors to Intel. AMD is the major competitor. Cyrix held a market share for several years, but has fallen considerably as of this writing. The processors listed here compare in class, typically speed. The early versions interchanged on the motherboard, but proprietary design ceased this capability.   The specific designs of these Clones are not stated. For specific design parameters, refer to the manufacturer's specifications. The comparison extends to the general class only.
Intel		AMD Equivalent				Other
Pentium		K5				NextGena, Cyrix M1
Pentium MMX		K6				Cyrix M2
Pentium Pro		K6PLUS-3D
Pentium IIb		K7b				Cyrix M3
Pentium IIIb		Athlonb, K75 - Thunderbird
Celeron		Duron				Cyrix III
Notes:     Top of page Produced some proprietary models that had diminished performance. Eventually purchased by AMD. It is not uncommon that AMD produced a chip which exceeded the Pentium chip that it cloned. Check the manufacturer's specifications for details.

 

Slot & Socket Specifications     Top of page
Slot/Socket	Pin Configuration	Voltage	Processors	Notes
Socket 1	169 PGA	5 V	486, SX/DX, DX4 Overdrivei	Pre-Pentium class(es) of processors.
Socket 2	238 PGA	5 V	486 SX/DX, Pentium Overdrivei
Socket 3	237 PGA	5 V- 3.3 V	486 SX/DX, Pentium Overdrivei
Socket 4	237 PGA	5 V	Pentium 60/66 & Overdrivei
Socket 5	320 SPGA	3.3 V	Pentium 75-133 & Overdrivei
Socket 6	235 PGA	3.3 V		This design was never marketed.
Socket 7	321 SPGA	2.5 - 3.6 Vii	Pentium 75-200 & Overdrivea
Super Socket 7	321 SPGA	2.0 - 3.5 Vii	AMD K6 series, Pentium MMX & Pro	Note mix of Clone Processor w/Pentium Class.
Socket 8	387 SPGA	2.2 - 3.5 Vii	Pentium Pro
Socket 370v	370 SPGA	1.1 - 2.5 Vii	Celeron, Cyrix III, Pentium III	Note mix of Clone Processor w/Pentium Class.
Socket A	462 SPGA	1.2 - 2.2 Vii	AMD Duron & Athlon
Slot A	242 Slot A	1.2 - 2.2 Vii	AMD Athlon
Slot 1	242 SECC/SEPPiii,iv	1.5 - 2.5 Vii	Pentium II, Pentium III, Celeron	Note the relationship above between the Pentium III and the Celeron.
Slot 2	330 SECC-2iii	1.5 - 2.5 Vii	XEON
Slot & Socket Notes Overdrive processors can be upgraded or overclocked. Voltage Regulator Model SECC: Single Edge Contact Cartridge SEPP: Single Edge Processor Package With the Celeron using the Socket 370 configuration, Intel also introduced the FC-PGA (Flip Chip Pin Grid Array) and the PPGA (Plastic Pin Grid Array)
*General Notes for entire table:     Top of page This table begins listing CPU characteristics with the Pentium class. Prior to the Pentium CPU, which is also called the 586, Pentium made what is often referred to as the '86' class line. This line includes any of the 80x86 processors: 80286, 80386, 80486, etc. Overclocking is the process of increasing the internal processor multiplier beyond that which is recommended in the specification. This process may increase the processor speed, but is also prone to instability. ZIF - Zero Insertion Force sockets permit easy CPU replacement with little chance of damage to the CPU. Starting with the Pentium and continuing through the series, the Math Co-Processor is onboard the CPU chip.