CPU core type

The core (Die), also known as the kernel, is the most important part of the CPU. The uplifted chip in the CPU center is the core, which is manufactured by using a single crystal silicon with a certain production process. All calculation, acceptance/storage commands and processing data of the CPU are executed by the core. All kinds of CPU cores have a fixed logic structure, and logical units such as L1 cache, L2 cache, execution unit, instruction level unit, and bus interface all have a scientific layout.

In order to facilitate the management of CPU design, production, and sales, CPU manufacturers will give corresponding code numbers to various CPU cores. This is the so-called CPU core type.

Different CPUs (different series or the same series) will have different core types (such as Pentium 4's Northwood, Willamette and K6-2's CXT and K6-2+ ST-50, etc.), and even the same core will have different versions. The type (for example, Northwood core is divided into B0 and C1 and other versions), the core version of the change is to amend some errors in the previous version, and enhance a certain degree of performance, and these changes are rarely paid attention to by ordinary consumers. Each core type has its own manufacturing process (such as 0.25um, 0.18um, 0.13um, and 0.09um, etc.) and core area (this is a key factor in determining CPU cost, and the cost is basically proportional to the core area). Core voltage, current size, number of transistors, buffer size at each level, main frequency range, pipeline architecture, and supported instruction set (the two key factors that determine the actual CPU performance and operating efficiency), power consumption, and the amount of heat generated , encapsulation methods (such as S. E. P, PGA, FC-PGA, FC-PGA2, etc.), interface types (such as Socket 370, Socket A, Socket 478, Socket T, Slot 1, Socket 940, etc.), front end Bus frequency (FSB) and so on. Therefore, the core type determines the operating performance of the CPU to some extent.

In general, the new core types tend to have better performance than older core types (for example, the same-frequency Northwood core Pentium 4 1.8A GHz will have higher performance than the Willamette core Pentium 4 1.8GHz), but it is not Absolutely, this situation generally occurs when the new core type is just introduced. Due to incomplete technology or new architecture and manufacturing process is not mature, it may lead to new core type performance but not as good as the old core type performance. . For example, the Pentium 4 in the early Willamette Core Socket 423 interface was not as effective as the Pentium III and Celeron in the Socket 370 interface of the Tualatin core. The actual performance of the low-end Prescott core Pentium 4 is not the same as the frequency of the Northwood core Pentium 4, etc. With the advancement of technology and continuous improvement and improvement of the new core by the CPU manufacturers, the performance of the new core mid-to-late products will inevitably exceed the old core products.

The development direction of the CPU core is lower voltage, lower power consumption, more advanced manufacturing process, more integrated transistors, and smaller core area (which will reduce the CPU's production costs and ultimately reduce the CPU's sales price. ), More advanced pipeline architecture and more instruction set, higher front-side bus frequency, more integrated functions (such as integrated memory controller, etc.) and dual-core and multi-core (that is, 1 CPU has 2 internal One or more cores) and so on. The progress of the CPU core For the average consumer, the most significant is to be able to buy more powerful CPU at a lower price.

In the long history of CPU accompanied by a variety of complex CPU core types, the following is an introduction to the mainstream core types of Intel CPU and AMD CPU. Introduction to mainstream core types (only for desktop CPUs, excluding notebook CPUs and server/workstation CPUs, and does not include older core types).