Moscow State University

The Department of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics

I-line of Intel Core processors

Timofeev Kirill
Group 205

Moscow 2011

Introduction

Intel Core
Intel Core is a brand name used for various mid-range to high-end consumer and business microprocessors made by Intel.
In general, processors sold as Core are more powerful variants of the same processors marketed as entry-level Celeron and Pentium. Similarly, identical or more capable versions of Core processors are also sold as Xeon processors for the server market.
The current lineup of Core processors includes the latest Intel Core i7, Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i3, and the older Intel Core 2 Solo, Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Core 2 Quad and Intel Core 2 Extreme lines.

Intel Core i3
The Core i3 was intended to be the new low end of the performance processor line from Intel, following the retirement of the Core 2 brand. The first Core i3 processors were launched on January 7, 2010.
The first Nehalem based Core i3 was Clarkdale-based, with an integrated GPU and two cores. The same processor is also available as Core i5 and Pentium, with slightly different configurations.
Released on January 20, 2011, the Core i3-2xxx line of desktop and mobile processors is a direct replacement of the 2010 "Clarkdale" Core i3-5xx and "Arrandale" Core i3-3xxM models, based on the new microarchitecture. While they require new sockets and chipsets, the user-visible features of the Core i3 are largely unchanged, including the lack of support for Turbo Boost and AES-NI. Unlike the Sandy Bridge based Celeron and Pentium processors, the Core i3 line does support the new Advanced Vector Extensions.

Intel Core i5
Core i5 is a brand name used by Intel for several microprocessors, the first of which were introduced in late 2009. It is positioned between the mainstream Core i3 and Core 2 and the high-end Core i7 and Xeon brands.
On September 8, 2009, Intel released the first Core i5 processor: The Core i5 750, which is a 2.66 GHz quad-core Lynnfield processor with Hyper-threading disabled. Lynnfield Core i5 processors have an 8 MB L3 cache, a DMI bus running at 2.5 GT/s and support for dual-channel DDR3-800/1066/1333 memory. The same processors with different sets of features (Hyper-Threading and other clock frequencies) enabled are sold as Core i7-8xx and Xeon 3400-series processors, which should not be confused with high-end Core i7-9xx and Xeon 3500-series processors based on Bloomfield.
The Core i5-5xx mobile processors are named Arrandale and based on the 32 nm Westmere shrink of the Nehalem microarchitecture. Arrandale processors have integrated graphics capability but only two processor cores. They were released in January 2010, together with Core i7-6xx and Core i3-3xx processors based on the same chip. The L3 cache in Core i5-5xx processors is reduced to 3 MB, while the Core i5-6xx will use the full cache and the Core i3-3xx will have no support for Turbo Boost. Clarkdale, the desktop version of Arrandale, is sold as Core i5-6xx, along with related Core i3 and Pentium brands. It has Hyper-Threading enabled and the full 4 MB L3 cache.
On January 9, 2011, Intel released new quad-core Core i5 processors based on the "Sandy Bridge" microarchitecture at CES 2011. New dual-core mobile processors and desktop processors arrived in February 2011. The desktop CPUs now all have four unhyperthreaded cores (like the i5-750), with the exception of the i5-2390T. Special ultra-low voltage (2xxxT), low-voltage (2xxxS), and unlocked versions (2xxxK) of "Sandy Bridge" i5 CPUs are also available. DMI bus running at 5 GT/s

Intel Core i7
Intel Core i7 is an Intel brand name for several families of desktop and laptop 64-bit x86-64 processors using the Nehalem, Westmere, and Sandy Bridge microarchitectures and manufactured in Costa Rica and Malaysia. The Core i7 brand is targeted at the business and high-end consumer markets for both desktop and laptop computers, and is distinguished from the Core i3 (entry-level consumer), Core i5 (mainstream consumer) and Xeon (server) brands.
In each of the first three microarchitecture generations of the brand, Core i7 has family members using two distinct system-level architectures, and therefore two distinct sockets. In each generation, the highest-performing Core i7 processors use the same socket and QPI-based architecture as the low-end Xeon processors of that generation, while lower-performing Core i7 processors use the same socket and PCIe/DMI/FDI architecture as the Core i5.
"Core i7" is a successor to the Intel Core 2 brand. The Core i7 identifier was first applied to the initial family of processors codenamed Bloomfield introduced in 2008. In 2009 the name was applied to Lynnfield and Clarksfield models. Prior to 2010, all models were quad-core processors. In 2010, the name was applied to dual-core Arrandale models, and the Gulftown Core i7-980X Extreme processor which has six hyperthreaded cores. In January 2011, Intel released a line of Sandy Bridge based chips under the Core i7 brand.

Microarchitectures
Nehalem
Nehalem is the codename for an Intel processor microarchitecture, successor to the Core microarchitecture. The first processor released with the Nehalem architecture was the desktop Core i7, which was released in November 2008. It was followed by several Xeon processors and by the i3 and i5.Mobile Nehalem-based processors were introduced in September 2009. The first computer to use Nehalem-based Xeon processors was the Apple Mac Pro workstation announced on March 3, 2009. Nehalem-based Xeon EX processors for larger servers were originally expected in Q4 2009, However, they were released in April 2010.
Initial Nehalem processors use the same 45 nm manufacturing methods as Penryn. A working system with two Nehalem processors was shown at Intel Developer Forum Fall 2007.
Technology
    * Two, four, six cores
    * 45 nm manufacturing process at initial release (with 32 nm variants following)
    * Integrated memory controller supporting two or three memory channels of DDR3 SDRAM or four FB-DIMM2 channels
    * Integrated graphics processor (IGP) located off-die, but in the same CPU package for Westmere.
    * A new point-to-point processor interconnect, the Intel QuickPath Interconnect, in high-end models, replacing the legacy front side bus
    * Integration of PCI Express and Direct Media Interface into the processor in mid-range models, replacing the northbridge
    * Hyper-threading has been reintroduced.
    * Native (monolithic, i.e. all processor cores on a single die) quad- and octal-core processors
    * 64 KB L1 cache/core (32 KB L1 Data + 32 KB L1 Instruction) and 256 KB L2 cache/core.
    * 4–12 MB L3 cache shared by all cores
    * 33% more in-flight micro-operations than Conroe
    * Second-level branch predictor and second-level translation lookaside buffer

 Performance and power improvements
It has been reported that Nehalem has a focus on performance, which accounts for the increased core size. Compared to Penryn, Nehalem has:
    * 1.1× to 1.25× the single-threaded performance or 1.2× to 2× the multithreaded performance at the same power level
    * 30% lower power usage for the same performance
    * According to a preview from AnandTech "expect a 20–30% overall advantage over Penryn with a 10% increase in power usage."
    * Per Core, clock-for-clock, Nehalem provides a 15–20% increase in performance compared to Penryn.
PC Watch found that a Nehalem "Gainestown" processor has 1.6× the integer performance and 2.4× the floating-point performance of a 3.0 GHz Xeon X5365 "Clovertown" quad-core processor.A 2.93 GHz Nehalem "Bloomfield" system has been used to run a 3DMark Vantage benchmark and gave a CPU score of 17,966. The 2.66 GHz variant scores 16,294. A 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 scores 4,300.AnandTech tested the Intel QuickPath Interconnect ("QPI", 4.8 GT/s version) and found the copy bandwidth using triple-channel 1066 MHz DDR3 was 12.0 GB/s. A 3.0 GHz Core 2 Quad system using dual-channel 1066 MHz DDR3 achieved 6.9 GB/s.
The Nehalem processors are the first to incorporate the SSE 4.2 SIMD instructions, adding 7 new instructions to the SSE 4.1 set available in the Core 2 series.The Nehalem architecture also significantly reduces atomic operation latency; cutting it to 50% in an attempt to eliminate atomic overhead .

Westmere
Westmere (formerly Nehalem-C) is the name given to the 32 nm die shrink of Nehalem. The first Westmere-based processors were launched on January 7, 2010 and branded as members of the Core i3, Core i5, and dual-core mobile Core i7 families.
Westmere's features and improvements from Nehalem have been reported as follows:
•	Native six-core processors.
•	A new set of instructions that gives over 3x the encryption and decryption rate of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) processes compared to before.
1.	Delivers seven new instructions (AES instruction set or AES-NI) that will be used by the AES algorithm. Also an instruction called PCLMULQDQ (see CLMUL instruction set) that will perform carry-less multiplication for use in cryptography. These instructions will allow the processor to perform hardware-accelerated encryption, not only resulting in faster execution but also protecting against software targeted attacks.
2.	AES-NI may be included in the integrated graphics of Westmere.
•	Integrated graphics, built into the processor.
•	Improved virtualization latency.
•	New virtualization capability: "VMX Unrestricted mode support," which allows 16-bit guests to run (real mode and big real mode).
•	Support for "Huge Pages" of 1GB in size.

Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge is the codename for a processor microarchitecture developed by Intel. It is the second generation of the Nehalem/Core i series. Targeting the 32 nm process, development began in 2005 at Intel's Israel Development Center in Haifa. The codename for this architecture was renamed from "Gesher" (which means "bridge" in Hebrew).
Processors based on this architecture were announced on January 3, 2011, and first released on January 9, 2011. An initial preview of a Sandy Bridge processor, with A1 stepping at 2 GHz, was shown at the Intel Developer Forum in 2009.
The yet-to-be released 22 nm die shrink of Sandy Bridge has the codename Ivy Bridge.

Microarchitecture
•	32 kB data + 32 kB instruction L1 cache (3 clocks) and 256 kB L2 cache (8 clocks) per core.
•	Shared L3 cache includes the Processor graphics. (LGA 1155)
•	64-byte cache line width.
•	Two load/store operations per cycle for each memory channel.
•	Decoded micro-op cache and enlarged, optimized branch predictor.
•	Improved performance for transcendental mathematics, AES encryption, and SHA-1 hashing.
•	256 bit/cycle ring bus interconnect between Cores, Graphics, Cache and System Agent Domain.
•	Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) instruction set, featuring a 256-bit instruction set with wider vectors, new extensible syntax, and rich functionality.

Performance
Sandy Bridge
Sandy Bridge processors are up to 17% faster clock-for-clock compared to Nehalem processors. Its integrated graphics provides around twice the performance of Westmere's, which is 12EUs.

Ivy Bridge
Ivy Bridge, the codename for the 22 nm die shrink of Sandy Bridge, will be built using Intel's tri-gate transistor technology, which introduces three dimensional gates (vertical gates), instead of the industry standard two dimensional or planar gates. Intel explains, "The additional control enables as much transistor current flowing as possible when the transistor is in the 'on' state (for performance), and as close to zero as possible when it is in the 'off' state (to minimize power), and enables the transistor to switch very quickly between the two states (again, for performance)." Intel has stated that all future products will be based upon this 3D design.
Ivy Bridge will support PCI Express 3.0 and the Graphics Processor will have support for DirectX 11 and OpenCL 1.1. Ivy Bridge processors will be backward compatible with the Sandy Bridge platform.
Intel is targeting a 30 percent graphics performance and 20 percent CPU performance boost compared to Sandy Bridge.

Successor
The successor to the Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge architectures will be the Haswell microarchitecture.

Haswell
Haswell is the codename for a processor microarchitecture to be developed by Intel as the successor to Sandy Bridge. Haswell uses the 22 nm process (the tock after Ivy Bridge) and will implement fused multiply-add (FMA3) instructions. Like Nehalem, Haswell is to be developed by Intel's Oregon team. CPUs based on the Haswell microarchitecture are expected to be released as soon as early 2013. There are currently no details regarding this microarchitecture's development.

Architecture
•	22 nm process.
Haswell is expected to have the following features:
•	Up to 8 cores available.
•	An entirely new cache design.
•	3D tri-gate transistors.
•	New advanced power saving mechanisms.
•	Possible on-package vector coprocessor.
•	Fused multiply-add (FMA3) instructions.64kB data + 64kB instruction L1 cache per core, 4-way associativity.
•	1MB L2 cache per core, 4-way associativity.
•	Up to 16MB L3 cache shared by all cores, 8-way associativity.

Broadwell
In keeping with Intel's tick-tock principle, the 14 nm shrink of Haswell is due out approximately one year after the introduction of the microarchitecture and will be codenamed Broadwell.

Successor
The successor to the Haswell and Ivy Broadwell architectures will be the Skylake microarchitecture. This microarchitecture has not been confirmed by Intel to be in development.

Processor cores
The initial Core i7 processors released were codenamed Bloomfield, branded as Core i7-9xx along with their Xeon 3500-series counterparts. As of 2009, they are Intel's high-end Desktop processors, sharing the Socket 1366 platform with the single and dual-processor server processors.

Bloomfield
Bloomfield is the code name for Intel high-end desktop processors sold as Core i7-9xx and single-processor servers sold as Xeon 35xx., in almost identical configurations, replacing the earlier Yorkfield processors. The Bloomfield core is closely related to the dual-processor Gainestown, which has the same CPUID value of 0106Ax (family 6, model 26) and which uses the same socket. Bloomfield uses a different socket than the later Lynnfield and Clarksfield processors based on the same 45 nm Nehalem microarchitecture, even though some of these share the same Intel Core i7 brand.
Features
Bloomfield has many new features that represent significant changes from Yorkfield:
•	The new LGA 1366 socket is incompatible with earlier processors.
•	On-die memory controller: the memory is directly connected to the processor. It is called the uncore part and runs at a different clock (uncore clock) than the execution cores.
1.	Three channel memory: each channel can support up to two DDR3 DIMMs. Motherboards for Bloomfield generally have three, four (2, 1, 1), or six DIMM slots.
2.	Support for DDR3 memory only.
•	The front side bus has been replaced by the Intel QuickPath Interconnect interface. Motherboards must use a chipset that supports QuickPath Interconnect.
•	The following caches:
1.	32 kB L1 instruction and 32 kB L1 data cache per core
2.	256 kB L2 cache (combined instruction and data) per core
3.	8 MB L3 (combined instruction and data) "inclusive", shared by all cores
•	Single-die device: all four cores, the memory controller, and all cache are on a single die, instead of a Multi-chip module of two dual-core dies as in Yorkfield
•	"Turbo Boost" technology allows all active cores to intelligently clock themselves up in steps of 133 MHz over the design clock rate as long as the CPU's predetermined thermal and electrical requirements are still met.
•	Re-implemented Hyper-threading. Hyperthreading was introduced in the older NetBurst microarchitecture, but omitted from the subsequent Core, which was a descendant of the Pentium III family. With hyperthreading enabled, each of the four physical cores can process up to two threads simultaneously, so the processor appears to the OS as eight logical CPUs.
•	Only one QuickPath interface: not intended for multi-processor motherboards.
•	45 nm process technology.
•	731 million transistors.
•	263 mm2 die size.
•	Sophisticated power management can place an unused core in a zero-power mode.
•	Support for SSE4.2 & SSE4.1 instruction sets.

Performance
•	The Inquirer managed to get a 965 engineering sample to a core clock rate of up to 4 GHz with fan cooling and Turbo Boost.
•	IT OC Taiwan overclocked an engineering sample of the 965, to 4.20 GHz with a QPI rate of 200 MHz and a multiplier value of 21.0. A vCore setting of 1.72 V was used, which is far higher than the stock voltage of 1.25V and could have led to damaging the CPU or motherboard.
•	A Core i7 940 system running at stock clock rates has obtained a 3DMark Vantage benchmark CPU score of 17,966. A Core i7 920 system scored 16,294 running at stock clock rates. An Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, a very expensive member of the previous generation of Intel processors (costing over four times the price of the 920 at its launch), scored 13,182 also running at stock clock rates.
•	AnandTech tested the Intel QuickPath Interconnect (4.8 GT/s version) and found the copy bandwidth using triple-channel 1,066 MHz DDR3 was 12.0 GB/s. A 3.0 GHz Core 2 Quad system using dual-channel 1066 MHz DDR3 achieved 6.9 GB/s.
•	Maximum PC has discovered that Intel has unlocked the QPI clock and memory multipliers on retail 920s and 940s. This is allegedly due to consumer feedback.
•	The Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition was considered the world's fastest desktop processor (until the i7-980x) by a review from Hot Hardware. It runs at a clock rate of 3.33 GHz with Turbo Boost clock rates running the processor up 3.46 GHz with all four cores put at work and 3.6 GHz with a single core at work. The processor was overclocked to 4.1 GHz while keeping a 50 °C (122 °F) core temperature with the stock cooling unit.

Drawbacks
The Core i7 Bloomfield does not support error-correcting memory.Some motherboards with an LGA 1366 socket support both Core i7 and the Xeon 35xx and 55xx series processors, and advertise support for ECC memory. However ECC functionality is only available if a Xeon is installed, not if a Core i7 is installed..

Lynnfield
Lynnfield is the code name for a quad-core processor from Intel released in September 2009. It is sold in varying configurations as Core i5-7xx, Core i7-8xx or Xeon X34xx. Lynnfield uses the Nehalem microarchitecture and replaces the earlier Penryn based Yorkfield processor, using the same 45 nm  process technology, but a new memory and bus interface. The product code for Lynnfield is 80605, its CPUID value identifies it as family 6, model 30 (0106Ex).
Lynnfield is related to the earlier Bloomfield and Gainestown microprocessors, which are used in server and high-end desktop systems. The main difference between the two is Lynnfield's use of the LGA 1156 processor socket as opposed to the LGA 1366 used in the others. LGA 1156 processors include Direct Media Interface and PCI Express links, which Intel has previously connected to the processor with a dedicated northbridge chip, called the memory controller hub or I/O hub.
The mobile version of Lynnfield is Clarksfield.

Clarksfield
Clarksfield is the code name for an Intel processor, initially sold as mobile Intel Core i7. It is closely related to the desktop Lynnfield processor, both use quad-core dies based on the 45 nm Nehalem microarchitecture and have integrated PCI Express and DMI links.
The predecessor of Clarksfield, Penryn-QC was a multi-chip module with two dual-core Penryn dies based on Penryn microarchitecture, a shrink of Core microarchitecture. The name of the direct successor of Clarksfield has not been announced. Arrandale is a later mobile processor but opens a new line of mid-range dual-core processors with integrated graphics.
At the time of its release at the Intel Developer Forum on September 23, 2009, Clarksfield processors were significantly faster than any other laptop processor, including the Core 2 Extreme QX9300. The initial laptop manufacturers shipping products based on Clarksfield processors include MSI, Dell/Alienware, Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Asustek.

Brand names
As of September 2009, all Clarksfield processors are marketed as Core i7, in three product lines differing in thermal design power and the amount of third-level cache that is enabled. See the respective lists for details about each model.

Arrandale
Arrandale is the code name for a mobile Intel processor, sold as mobile Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 as well as Celeron and Pentium. It is closely related to the desktop Clarkdale processor; both use dual-core dies based on the 32 nm Westmere shrink of the Nehalem microarchitecture and have integrated Graphics as well as PCI Express and DMI links.
Arrandale is the successor of the 45 nm Core microarchitecture based Penryn processor that is used in the many mobile Intel Core 2, Celeron and Pentium Dual-Core processors. While Penryn typically used both a north bridge and a south bridge, Arrandale already contains the major north bridge components, which are the memory controller, PCI Express for external graphics, integrated graphics and the DMI connector, making it possible to build more compact systems without a separate northbridge or discrete graphics as Lynnfield. The Arrandale processor package contains two dies, the actual 32 nm processor with the I/O connections and the 45 nm graphics controller with the memory interface.
Arrandale was released on 7 January 2010, during CES 2010.

Brand names
Arrandale processors are sold under the Celeron, Pentium, Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 brand names, with only the Core i7 models using the full L3 cache and all features. Processors ending in E instead of M are embedded versions with support for PCIe bifurcation and ECC memory, while the regular mobile versions only support a single PCIe port and non-ECC memory. The Celeron versions of Arrandale have the smallest L3 cache of just 2 MB.

Clarkdale
Clarkdale is the code name for an Intel processor, initially sold as desktop Intel Core i5 and Core i3 and Pentium. It is closely related to the mobile Arrandale processor; both use dual-core dies based on the 32 nm Westmere version of the Nehalem microarchitecture and have integrated Graphics as well as PCI Express and DMI links.
Clarkdale is the successor of the 45 nm Core microarchitecture-based Wolfdale processor that is used in the many desktop Intel Core 2, Celeron and Pentium Dual-Core processors. While Wolfdale typically used both a north bridge and a south bridge, Clarkdale already contains the major north bridge components, which are the memory controller, PCI Express for external graphics, integrated graphics and the DMI connector, making it possible to build more compact systems without a separate northbridge or discrete graphics as Lynnfield. The Clarkdale processor package contains two dies: the actual 32 nm processor with the I/O connections and the 45 nm graphics controller with the memory interface. The CPUID for Clarkdale is family 6, model 37 (2065x).

Brand names
Clarkdale processors are sold under the Intel Core, Pentium and Celeron brand names, with varying feature sets. The Core i5 versions generally have all features enabled, with only the Core i5-661 model lacking Intel VT-d and TXT like the Core i3, which also does not support Turbo Boost and the AES new instructions. In addition, the Pentium and Celeron versions do not have SMT, and they can only use a reduced amount of third-level cache.

The Xeon L340x line has a lower clock frequency and thermal design power, and supports unbuffered ECC memory in addition to the features of the Core i5-6xx, but has support for the integrated graphics disabled.

Gulftown
Gulftown or Westmere-EP is the codename of a six-core hyperthreaded Intel processor able to run up to 12 threads in parallel. It is based on Westmere microarchitecture, the 32 nm shrink of Nehalem. Originally rumored to be called the Intel Core i9, it is sold as an Intel Core i7. The first release was the Core i7 980X in the first quarter of 2010, while its server versions are the Xeon 3600- and 5600-series. The i7-970 has recently been released, with a 24x locked multiplier.
First figures indicate that at equivalent clock rates, depending on the software, it has up to 50% higher performance than the identically clocked quad core Bloomfield Core i7 975. However, consumer software that utilizes 6 real and 6 virtual cores is still quite rare, and not every multithreaded program is able to take advantage of this many cores. Despite having 50% more transistors, the CPU strongly benefits from the 32-nm process, drawing the same or even less power (depending on the operating system) than its Bloomfield predecessors with merely four cores. The thermal design power (TDP) of all planned models is stated to be 130 watts.
Gulftown is the first six-core dual-socket processor from Intel, following the quad-core Bloomfield and Gainestown (a.k.a. Nehalem-EP) processors using the same LGA 1366 package, while the earlier Dunnington six-core processor is a Socket 604 based multi-socket processor. The CPUID extended model number is 44 (2Ch) and two product codes are used, 80613 for the UP desktop/server models and 80614 for the Xeon 5600-series DP server models. In some models, only four of the six cores are enabled.

Conclusion

Now i-line of Intel Core processors is one of the most popular types of processors, being used in possibly all types of computers. The development of these processors is continuing and soon may be we will see the third generation of this processors, called Haswell and Skylake, or i-line will 'dead' and companies will develop other processors' types, which are more convenient for market.

References

1.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core
2.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i3
3.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i5
4.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_i7
5.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomfield_%28microprocessor%29
6.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynnfield_%28microprocessor%29
7.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarksfield_%28microprocessor%29
8.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrandale_%28microprocessor%29
9.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulftown_%28microprocessor%29
10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehalem_%28microarchitecture%29
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Bridge
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haswell_%28microarchitecture%29
13. http://www.intel.com/products/processor/corei7/index.htm
14. http://www.intel.com/products/processor/corei7EE/index.htm