List of Areas
List of Areas
List of Areas
I7 Processor – An Introduction
About Processor
Types Of Processors
Types Of Platforms
Operation Of Processor
Performance Of Processor
Ram Vs Processor
I5 Processor Vs I7 Processor
Conclusive Report
Works Cited
The Intel i7 Processor
i7 PROCESSOR: AN INTRODUCTION
Product Overview:
You'll multi-task applications faster and unleash incredible digital media crea-
tion. And you'll experience maximum performance for everything you do,
thanks to the combination of Intel Turbo Boost technology and Intel Hyper-
Threading technology (Intel HT technology), which maximizes performance to
match your workload.
Intel Core i7 is Intel's brand name for several families of desktop and laptop 64-
bit x86-64 processors using the Intel Nehalem micro architecture. It is a succes-
sor to the Intel Core 2 brand. The Core i7 identifier was first applied to the ini-
tial family of processors codenamed Bloomfield introduced in 2008. In 2009 the
name was applied to Lynnfield and Clarkefield models. Prior to 2010, all mod-
els re quad-core processors. In 2010, the name was applied to dual-core Arran
dale models, and the Gulf town Core i7-980X Extreme processor which has six
hyper threaded cores.
Launch of i7 Processor:
Product information:
Intel officially unveiled all details regarding its Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7
Mobile as ll as Desktop processors in CES 2010. The introduction of new chips
coincides with the arrival of Intel’s new 32 nm architecture, manufacturing pro-
cess and integration high-definition graphics inside the processor. It is the suc-
cessor of the 45 nm architecture.
Intel is expecting good results from better-integrated graphics of the Core i3 and
i5 processors, as the sales in the last two years re rather flat. The new “Arran
dale” graphics technology has 20% more shades which is an important compo-
nent for 3D graphics, Intel senior vice president Sean Maloney said. Intel claims
that the graphics performance is roughly 70% better than the integrated graphics
in the current Core 2 Duo.
ABOUT PROCESSOR
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) or the processor is the portion of a computer
system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, and is the prima-
ry element carrying out the computer's functions. This term has been in use in
the computer industry at least since the early 1960s. The form, design and im-
plementation ofCPUs have changed dramatically since the earliest examples,
but their fundamental operation remains much the same.
TYPES OF PROCESSORS
Reduce costs and increase productivity with the new 2010 Intel Core processor
family. Delivering intelligent performance and energy efficiency, processors
from Intel offer the best choice for smart, safe, and reliable computing in the of-
fice, at home, and on-the-go. Integrating advanced hardware-based technologies
built-in, the Intel Core processor family has Intel Turbo Boost Technology and
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel HT Technology) to bring even greater
performance and productivity by automatically adapting to each user's unique
needs.
1) Desktop processors:
4) Laptop processors:
Shatter Your Limits: It’s time for digital content creation that’s lim-
ited only by your imagination. Experience total creative freedom with the
poor to encode video up to 40% faster.5 and enjoy incredible perfor-
mance on other multimedia tasks like image rendering, photo retouching,
and editing.
TYPES OF PLATFORMS
Mobile Platform:
Just three months after their Developer Forum 2009 in September, Intel has in-
troduced new dual-core 2.66GHz Intel Core i7-620M processor with TDP rating
of 35W. Four other dual-core Intel Core i7 chips re introduced of which two are
for low-voltage family (2.0GHz Core i7-620LM and 2.13GHz Core i7-640LM)
and other two are for ultra-low voltage family (1.06GHz Core i7-620UM and
1.2GHz Core i7-640UM).
Both pairs of low-voltage and ultra-low voltage processors will offer Intel Tur-
bo Boost Technology to increase the performance. The low-voltage Intel Core
i7 mobile chips have TDP rating of 25W while the ultra-low Core i7 chips have
TDP rating of 18W.
Two new Intel Core i3 and three new Core i5 mobile processors re also unveiled
at the same time. Out of these the new Core i3 processors are clocked beten
2.13GHz for Core i3-330M and 2.26GHz for Core i3-350M. Both processors
have Thermal Design Poor rating of 35W. These Core i3 are mostly made for
light-light notebooks but won’t offer Intel Turbo Boost Technology to increase
the CPU clock speed for higher performance.
Desktop Platform:
For the desktop segment, the “Clarkdale” processors include two Core i3 and
four Core i5 processors. The two dual-core Core i3 processors include 2.93GHz
Core i3-530 and 3.06GHz Core i3-540 processor. These processors won’t have
Intel Turbo Boost Technology support but can support Intel Virtualization
Technology. These Core i3 chips will have TDP rating of 73W.
Moving ahead, the four dual-core Core i5 chips include 3.2GHz Core i5-650,
3.33GHz Core i5-660, 3.33GHz Core i5-661 and 3.46GHz Core i5-670 micro-
processors. These Core i5 chips will feature Intel Turbo Boost technology, Intel
Virtualization Technology and will have TDP of 73W while Core i5 will have
TDP of 83W.
OPERATION OF PROCESSOR
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) are two units that perform different opera-
tions, but in similar operations. The Arithmetic unit processes the data for math
purposes or for additional processing like combination or deletion or interrup-
tion processes. That is done with the logic unit.
Registers are special memory elements used by the CPU for storing data tem-
porarily during execution of instruction. For instance, the Instruction Register
(IR) holds the instruction being executed. Meanwhile the Process Status Regis-
ter holds "processor bit" about operations done by ALU. These registers are
pseudo memory modules; useful because they don't have to leave the CPU so
they are in the same "room" when the ALU or Control unit needs them again.
The Program Counter (PC) holds the address of next instruction to be execut-
ed. While the Instruction Decoder is a device which interprets the instruction to
be executed. Accumulator (ACC) stores intermediate and final results of calcu-
lation. It's the main working area of ALU.
The fundamental operation of most CPUs, regardless of the physical form they
take, is to execute a sequence of stored instructions called a program. The pro-
gram is represented by a series of numbers that are kept in some kind of com-
puter memory. There are four steps that nearly all CPUs use in their operation:
fetch, decode, execute, and write back.
2) Decode: The instruction that the CPU fetches from memory is used to de-
termine what the CPU is to do. In the decode step, the instruction is broken up
into parts that have significance to other portions of the CPU. The way in which
the numerical instruction value is interpreted is defined by the CPU's instruction
set architecture (ISA). In older designs the portions of the CPU responsible for
instruction decoding re unchangeable hardware devices.
3) Execute: During this step, various portions of the CPU are connected so
they can perform the desired operation. If, for instance, an addition operation
was requested, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) will be connected to a set of in-
puts and a set of outputs. The inputs provide the numbers to be added, and the
outputs will contain the final sum. The ALU contains the circuitry to perform
simple arithmetic and logical operations on the inputs.
4) Write back: Simply "writes back" the results of the execute step to some
form of memory. Very often the results are written to some internal CPU regis-
ter for quick access by subsequent instructions. In other cases results may be
written to slot, but cheaper and larger, main memory. Some types of instructions
manipulate the program counter rather than directly produce result data. These
are generally called "jumps" and facilitate behaviours like loops, conditional
program execution (through the use of a conditional jump), and functions in
programs. Many instructions will also change the state of digits in a "flags" reg-
ister.
The way a CPU represents numbers is a design choice that affects the
most basic ways in which the device functions. Some early digital comput-
ers used an electrical model of the common decimal (base ten) numeral
system to represent numbers internally. A few other computers have used
more exotic numeral systems like ternary (base three).
Nearly all modern CPUs represent numbers in binary form; with each
digit being represented by some two-valued physical quantity such as a
"high" or "low" voltage related to number representation is the size and
precision of numbers that a CPU can represent. In the case of a binary CPU,
a bit refers to one significant place in the numbers a CPU deals with. The
number of bits (or numeral places) a CPU uses to represent numbers is of-
ten called "word size", "bit width", "data path width", or "integer precision"
when dealing with strictly integer numbers (as opposed to floating point).
This number differs beten architectures, and often within different parts of
the very same CPU.
PERFORMANCE OF PROCESSOR
--The performance or speed of a processor depends on e.g. the clock rate and
the Instructions per Clock (IPC), which together are the factors for the Instruc-
tions Per Second (IPS) that the CPU can perform.
-- Many reported IPS values have represented "peak" execution rates on artifi-
cial instruction sequences with few branches, whereas realistic workloads con-
sist of a mix of instructions and applications, some of which take longer to exe-
cute than others.
--The performance of the memory hierarchy also greatly affects processor per-
formance, an issue barely considered in MIPS calculations.
-- Ideally, a dual core processor would be nearly twice as porful as a single core
processor. In practice, hover, the performance gain is far less, only about fifty
percent, due to, e.g. imperfect software algorithms and implementation.
RAM Vs PROCESSOR
Often, the first thing which comes to our mind when thinking of upgrading
our computer are either adding more memory modules (RAM) or going for a
faster processor (CPU).
The main reason is that these two components form the very basic core of a
machine, allowing it to store program instructions (gathered from your hard
drive) and subsequently access and process these via the CPU.
Adding more RAM to system doesn’t hurt and, if the system requires, will
certainly notice an improvement.
It isn’t recommended that upgrade one component if all the rest is terribly
outdated compared. Won’t notice any improvements and old technology won’t
be able to make use of improved.
As briefly stated in the previous paragraphs, RAM is the area of your computer
which stores information required by your operating system, games, vid-
eo/audio and other programs. This information typically needs to be accessed
quickly and it is possible, thanks to a processing unit (i.e. your CPU or one pre-
sent on a graphics card for instance), for any of this information to be gathered
at any one time: hence the word “Random” in the acronym. RAM is also vola-
tile, which means it will be flushed each time you turn your computer off.
This is where random access differs from serial access, where one needs to
search through from the very beginning in order to access the required infor-
mation. Magnetic tape is an example of serial access.
It is important to point out that RAM cannot process information but can only
serve as storage. Upgrading your computer with more or larger storage RAM
modules will not add more system resources for processing information or al-
low you to run more than one processor intensive application (as in the case of
hyper-threading or a multi-core CPU).
The CPU is the brain of your machine which gathers information, via the con-
trol unit, from your installed memory modules, and processes instructions, via
the logic unit, in order to run your programs. The CPU comes with varying
clock speeds, which determine the number of instructions executable per sec-
ond, and many other features which allow for faster and smoother execution. A
faster-clock CPU installed in your machine will allow you to perform these cal-
culations and instructions faster, which in practical terms means being able to
quickly access programs, read memory and execute the functions within those
programs. For example, in a video conversion operation (converting one format
to another), the processing times will be much less if you have a dual-core pro-
cessor installed. When using a program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, the
effects you apply to an image use processing pore also.
i5 PROCESSOR Vs i7 PROCESSOR
The Seminar Report Page 25
The Intel i7 Processor
The new Core i5 processors re released in September 2009. As the name would
suggest, these processors do not represent a new architecture but rather a main-
stream release of processors based on the Nehalem architecture, which re previ-
ously available only as part of the Core i7 line. Of course, the marketing of the
new products indicates that they are intended to be seen as less capable products
than the existing Core i7 processors.
One of the most importance differences between Core i5 and Core i7 is the use
of a new socket, known as LGA1156. This new socket will also be used by
some Core i7 products, but current Core i7s use the LGA1366 socket. The new
LGA1156 socket is partnered with a
new chipset, the P55. As those who
follow computing would guess, the
P55 is designed as a mainstream
chipset. This means fewer features,
but lot cost.
Turbo Mode:
mode. The original Core i7 processors came with a turbo mode which allowed
the processor to essentially over-clock itself automatically when some cores re
not being used.
- The Core i7-965, for example, could hit 3.46 GHz when the turbo mode was
fully active. Its stock speed is 3.2 GHz.
- Intel has said this will be enhanced with the new Core i5 products as ll as with
the new Core i7 860 and 870. The Core i5 750, for example, should be able to
accelerate from its stock speed of 2.66Ghz to speeds as high as 3.2Ghz.
- The original Core i7 products, and their associated X58 chipset, make use of
triple-channel DDR3 memory. This meant that it was best to purchase RAM
sticks in multiples of three.
- This is a turn off to many users because it makes RAM less flexible and re-
quires more spending upfront. Gamers may enjoy spending the money to see the
i7 really perform.
-Core i5, however uses traditional dual-channel memory. This should make
RAM less expensive for most users. Some new Core i7s will also support dual-
channel memory instead of triple-channel. The performance difference should
be insignificant for most users.
Difference in Hyper-Threading:
- While Core i7 products have all been quad-cores, they appear in Windows as
having eight cores. This further improves performance when using programs
that make good use of multi-threading.
-Some Core i5 products have this feature, but some do not. Currently, the Core
i5 750 does not have hyper-threading, but it does have four physical cores. The
dual-core Core i5 products, on the other hand, do have hyper-threading.
Multi-graphics:
- Another significant change with the Core i7/X58 landscape had to do with
graphics cards. Intel's Skull trail platform of last year supported both standards
as ll, but the specialized CPUs that made the board worthwhile re prohibitively
expensive.
- With the X58 chipset, yes, it comes on an expensive motherboard, but you can
purchase a Core i7 chip to go with it for less than $300. The Core 2 Extreme
QX9775 Skull trail CPU started at $1,500.
- Gamers who stay current with graphics cards should be especially happy with
this flexibility, as changing 3D card vendors will no longer require a wholesale
system rebuild.
-- One mechanism Intel uses to make its caches more effective is prefetching, in
which the hardware examines memory access patterns and attempts to fill the
caches speculatively with data that's likely to be requested soon.
-- Intel claims the Core i7's prefetching algorithm is both more efficient than
Penryn's—some server admin wound up disabling hardware prefect in Xeons
because it harmed performance with certain workloads, a measure Intel says
should no longer be needed—and more aggressive, as ll.
--The Core i7 can get to main memory very quickly, too, thanks to its integrated
memory controller, which eliminates the chip-to-chip "hop" required when go-
ing over a front-side bus to an external north bridge.
-- Again, this is a familiar page from AMD's template, but Intel has raised the
stakes by incorporating support for three channels of DDR3 memory.
-- Officially, the maximum memory speed supported by the first Core i7 proces-
sors is 1066 MHz, which is a little conservative for DDR3, but frequencies of
1333, 1600, and 2000 MHz are possible with the most expensive Core i7, the
965 Extreme Edition.
-- In fact, tested it with 1600 MHz memory, since this is a more likely configu-
ration for a thousand-dollar processor.
-- For a CPU, the bandwidth numbers involved here are considerable. Three
channels of memory at 1066 MHz can achieve an aggregate of 25.6 GB/s of
bandwidth.
-- At 1333 MHz, you're looking at 32 GB/s. At 1600 MHz, the peak would be
38.4 GB/s, and at 2000 MHz, 48 GB/s.
--With dual channels of DDR2 memory at 1066MHz, the Phenom's peak would
be 17.1 GB/s.
-- The Core i7 is simply in another league. In fact, our Core i7-965 Extreme test
rig with 1600MHz memory has the same total bus width (192 bits) and theoreti-
cal memory bandwidth as a GeForce 9600 GSO graphics card.
CONCLUSIVE REPORT
The first is performance, which considers how effective the Intel Core i7 pro-
cessor performs in operation against similar desktop products. While any con-
spicuous benefits to video game performance, it didn't harm frame rate, either.
The new 32nm Westmere micro architecture reduces power drain down to only
12W at idle, which is a
'Green' step in the right direc-
tion and conserves energy.
In conclusion, Intel Core i7 processor satisfies that insatiable need for enthusi-
asts to own a slice of the impossible. Tests have shown that computational tasks
such as media transcoding and compression archiving, and especially encryp-
tion, have all seen impressive gains. The added processor threads and L3 Smart
Cache will certainly help boost performance in Virtual Machine and VM Ware
environments, or professional design suites such as Adobe Photoshop and
Premiere-Pro, Auto Desk Maya and 3DS-Max, Microsoft Excel and Windows
Live Movie Maker, Sony Vegas and Acid, and also Virtual Dub.
Overclockers may be sorely disappointed if they expect the 980X to beat the i7-
975 to 5 GHz, because the extra cores make this chip a little less nimble when it
comes to dancing around boundaries. Ultimately the Intel Core i7 is not meant
to be a value-driving SKU, and the PC-hardware elite have always understood
this. Much like Lexus automobiles, which are little more than decorated Toyo-
ta's, Intel saves the bells and whistles for their exclusive Extreme Edition prod-
uct line.
WORKS CITED
i7 Processor
By Andrew S. Tavermann
Hyper -Threading
www.intel.com
www.answers.com
www.wikipedia.com