Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Sandy Bridge Architecture
Intel introduced the second generation of Core i-series processors, those based on the
Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, in January 2011 (see
Table 3.20
)
. The Sandy Bridge mi-
croarchitectureincludes,asitspredecessordid,anintegratedmemorycontrollerandNorth
Bridge functions.
Table 3.20 Core i Series Family Processors Using Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture
However, Sandy Bridge has many new features, including an in-core graphics processor
onsome models (see
Chapter 12
fordetails), thenewAVX256-bitSSEextensions, anew
Level0instructioncacheforholdingupto1500decodedmicro-ops,moreaccuratebranch
prediction unit, the use of physical registers to store operands, improved power manage-
ment, Turbo Boost 2.0 for more scaled responses to adjustments in core usage, processor
temperature, current, power consumption, and operating system states, and a dedicated
video decoding/transcoding/encoding unit known as the multi-format codec (MFX). All
Sandy Bridge processors use a 32nm manufacturing process.
AMD K6 Processors
HowdidAMDbegintodesignandproduceP6-typeprocessorsinitsownfacilities(fabs)?
It's an interesting story that began with a company called NexGen and its Pentium rival,
the Nx586. After using NexGen technology for its first P6-class processors, AMD later
designed and fabricated the Athlon and Duron processors, which were true sixth-genera-
tion designs using their own proprietary connections to the system.
NexGen Nx586
NexGen was founded by Thampy Thomas, who hired some of the people formerly in-
volved with the 486 and Pentium processors at Intel. At NexGen, developers created the
Nx586, a processor that was functionally the same as the Pentium but not pin compatible.
As such, it was always supplied with a motherboard; in fact, it was usually soldered in.
NexGen did not manufacture the chips or the motherboards they came in; for that it hired
IBM Microelectronics. Later NexGen was bought by AMD, right before it was ready to
introduce the Nx686—a greatly improved design by Greg Favor and a true competitor for
the Pentium. AMD took the Nx686 design and combined it with a Pentium electrical in-
