Intel's Pentium 4 1.8GHz. Processor
Yielding additional gains in performance

By, Dave Altavilla
July 2, 2001


You may have heard this before but as the old saying goes, "image is everything".  When it comes to microprocessors, MHz./GHz. speeds are typically what draw a consumer to a product.  At this stage of the game, Intel seems to have that part of the routine down cold.  Our latest lab test of the Pentium 4 Socket 423 Processor clocks in at 1.8GHz., a full 400MHz. ahead of their rival (now nemesis) AMD. 

 

Even though the numbers don't lie, so to speak, clock speed only paints half the picture.  As such, in an effort to get you on the inside track, with respect to first hand performance characteristics of Intel's new Sugar Daddy,  we'll give you the world's first "official" benchmarks of the soon to be released Pentium 4 1.8GHz. Processor.  All that and more in these pages to follow.

 

 

Specifications of the Pentium 4 1.8GHz. Processor
Hyper Pipelined and ready for action - Highlights

  • Available at speeds ranging from 1.30 to 1.80 GHz
  • Featuring the new Intel NetBurst micro-architecture
  • Supported by the Intel® 850 chipset
  • Fully compatible with existing Intel Architecture-based software
  • Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions 2
  • Intel® MMX™ media enhancement technology
  • Memory cacheability up to 4 GB of addressable memory space and system memory scalability up to 64 GB of physical memory
  • Support for uni-processor designs
  • Based upon Intel’s 0.18 micron manufacturing process
  • 1.7 to 1.75 operating voltage range

 

 

We won't go into too much detail with respect to the overall architecture of the Pentium 4 and its i850 platform.  The product has been maturing for months now.  If you need a refresher course, please head over to our Pentium 4 Bench Test article from November 2000.  That should get you up to speed.

 

This version of the Pentium 4 needs a tad more voltage than its 1.5GHz. little brother.  Specifically, 1.75V is what you'll need to keep things rock stable.  Another interesting variation to the theme versus P4s that have hit the lab here in the past, was the heat sink included.  It seems Intel may be moving away from the copper base plate version we've seen on the 1.5G and 1.7G models.  The all aluminum version we tested, that was sent to us with this 1.8GHz. chip,  did a nice job of keeping this new high clock speed CPU cool under pressure.

 

 

If I remember correctly, I think I may have made a little wager that Intel would be releasing next generation clock speeds for the P4, almost at will.  Well now, I don't think I was too far from wrong.  It seems like only yesterday we were testing the 1.7GHz. P4

 

Now, at the start of a new calendar quarter, we see the 1.8GHz. CPU show up on our doorsteps without notice.  So, as any self respecting technology addict would surmise, this 1.8GHz. speed step is nice but what lies ahead?  Let's see what Intel has in store for us.

 

 

(courtesy of Intel Corp.)

 

 

Here we see the P4 cranking up to 2GHz. some time in the second half of this year.  We realize this chart is a little too vague but the war for Intel is tough in the trenches versus AMD. This is all that we could pry loose in terms of this kind of info.  On this chart you can also see that the i845 (Brookdale) chipset is to be introduce in the second half.  This solution will provide DDR and SDR support for the P4 (much to the chagrin of RAMBUS) as well as the new Socket 478 form factor.  We've been told that SDR support will come first in the second half of 2001 and DDR support in Q1 2002.

 

Well now, there's nothing like living in the present.  So then, let's fire up the 1.8GHz. Pentium 4 and take it for a spin. 

 

 

 

 


 

 

The Setup and Preliminary Testing