The Processors (continued...)

The Pentium II and III
The Pentium II (and the Pentium III) use the same RISC core as the Pentium Pro, but the translation logic is greatly improved (and improving with each version) for a much better performance with the different types of available software. Its guessed that the Pentium II and III will be the last of Intel's chips that provide translation for the old style technology.

Intel increased the amount of primary cache to 32K and the internal secondary cache to 512K. MMX (multimedia extensions) logic was incorporated into the Pentium II and III. System bus speeds increased, and were pushed up to 100MHz.

These new Pentiums are packaged differently from the previous CPUs. The processor and 32K primary cache (with its 64-bit dedicated front side bus) are in a single chip that is socketed on a small circuit board which contains the secondary cache chips. It still has a 64-bit backside bus, but because of this new arrangement, the secondary cache operates at half the speed of the processor's core. It's still considered an internal secondary cache.

This module has a metal shell that acts as a thermal plate, and is then encased in a cassette-like housing with a long, single edge connector (SEC). It fits into a long channel-type slot (not unlike a bus slot) called a slot 1 connector. The Pentium II is secured in the slot with latches on either end.

As the technology allows the circuits and transistors etched into the silicon to become smaller and closer together, more and more can be placed on a single substrate. System bus speeds have reached 100 and 133 MHz. Cooling methods are improving. Instruction sets are added while others are discarded. Speeds are constantly increasing (Intel and AMD broke the 1GHz barrier early in 2000!).

It'll be interesting to see what Intel has planned for their 7th generation processors.

The Pentium II Celeron
Just a quick note on the Celeron. Intel developed the Celeron as a cheaper alternative to the Pentium II which was the "top of the line" chip in 1998. Among other cost saving methods, they stripped the Pentium II of its internal secondary cache and limited its front side bus to 66MHz. The processor was a flop. The CPU ran at 266, and then 300MHz, but Intel had already seen their mistake and added 128K of internal secondary cache to the chip. The 300MHz model of the improved processor was called the Celeron A (must be a Canadian chip). All Celerons faster than 300MHz have the 128K internal secondary cache. System bus speeds for all Celerons are still limited to 66MHz.

Later, as a further cost saving feature, Intel's Celeron was packaged in a PPGA (Plastic Pin Grid Array) chip and once again took on the appearance of the older style CPUs. However, as an entry level or basic use processor, the Celeron tends to be a very good chip (as does AMD's new offerings). Most people probably wouldn't notice a difference with most applications. You don't need a Ferrari for a leisurely drive in the country.