P4 news.
Straight_Man
Geeky, in my own wayNaples, FL Icrontian
Folks who want to know more about the next gen P4s might look HERE.
Basicly, a few things-- Prescott is not unlocked 64 bit, but is hyperthreaded. The interesting thing is, that the Northwood 3.06 GHz IS ALSO HT CAPABLE(this is an interesting release, it is at slower FSB but multipiped and HT able). But, it will be cache strapped compared to a Prescott. Basically, it was released as an interim chip for those who want HT and not the cost of a Prescott board, but would say to use a Prescott and Prescott capable board instead if you can afford to AND if you really want to stick with Intel after reading the next two paragraphs.
Note on second page of this article, the table, which summarizes caching well.
I could gather other links to confirm this, but the P4 will not be the first Intel CPU with the 64 bit unlocked-- XEON family will be. Intel is taking the step of doing server chip release first, and it will not be FULL 64 bit, it will be internal to CPU only. THEN, later Prescotts might be and a later P4 GEN WILL be 64 bit capable. For 64 bit, I would stick with AMD for the next year to 18 months.
One other reason for this is that the 64 bit extensions, according to some who have gotten a closer look at them, look and feel like AMD implementation of 64 BIT. Rather than built a radically different standard, looks like Intel will be first echoing the workings of AMD chips (not copying totally, but the strategies look similar except fro caching differences). Intel said at IDF that basicly they would NOT be making their own 64 bit standard unto themselves, looks like they are building circuits that act similar to AMD, so in this case, would stick with the first kid on that block and take advantage of earlier price drops-- consider that informed opinion and recommendation. As more solid info comes out, might eat my words in small part.
I was thinking about sticking this in Club 64, but the Northwood HT inclusion and the Prescott limits as to 64 bit said no....
John D.
Basicly, a few things-- Prescott is not unlocked 64 bit, but is hyperthreaded. The interesting thing is, that the Northwood 3.06 GHz IS ALSO HT CAPABLE(this is an interesting release, it is at slower FSB but multipiped and HT able). But, it will be cache strapped compared to a Prescott. Basically, it was released as an interim chip for those who want HT and not the cost of a Prescott board, but would say to use a Prescott and Prescott capable board instead if you can afford to AND if you really want to stick with Intel after reading the next two paragraphs.
Note on second page of this article, the table, which summarizes caching well.
I could gather other links to confirm this, but the P4 will not be the first Intel CPU with the 64 bit unlocked-- XEON family will be. Intel is taking the step of doing server chip release first, and it will not be FULL 64 bit, it will be internal to CPU only. THEN, later Prescotts might be and a later P4 GEN WILL be 64 bit capable. For 64 bit, I would stick with AMD for the next year to 18 months.
One other reason for this is that the 64 bit extensions, according to some who have gotten a closer look at them, look and feel like AMD implementation of 64 BIT. Rather than built a radically different standard, looks like Intel will be first echoing the workings of AMD chips (not copying totally, but the strategies look similar except fro caching differences). Intel said at IDF that basicly they would NOT be making their own 64 bit standard unto themselves, looks like they are building circuits that act similar to AMD, so in this case, would stick with the first kid on that block and take advantage of earlier price drops-- consider that informed opinion and recommendation. As more solid info comes out, might eat my words in small part.
I was thinking about sticking this in Club 64, but the Northwood HT inclusion and the Prescott limits as to 64 bit said no....
John D.
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