Text preview for : Intel Pentium Processor.PDF part of Intel Pentium Processor Intel Intel Pentium Processor.PDF
Back to : Intel Pentium Processor.P | Home
Intel Pentium Processor
Author: Saraju P. Mohanty
Dated: 17th April 2000
Disclaimer: I do not claim any originality for this work. This is basically a review of
different works/materials/papers related to computer architecture, specifically Intel
Pentium Architecture. This work has been done for partial fulfillment of course work.
2
Abstract
Human requirements are unlimited. Human beings want to achieve those unlimited
requirements in a limited time. As a consequence, they want to do all works as fast as
possible with highest degree of reliability. This in turn requires some sort of automation
(i.e. work with less human intervention). Computer is the major thing needed for this
automation process. The computer had played a major role for revolution of civilization.
We find the use of computers in all aspects of our day-to-day life. Various significant
applications of computer being ATM, Laptop, Palmtop, World Wide Web, e-mail, e-
commerce, and so on. The real entity that does all the work in the computer is the
microprocessor. The computers have undergone generations after generations with the
growth various electronic devices and software as well. There are various different
computers and microprocessor developed by different manufacturers. Intel is one of the
leading manufacturers. This work gives overall study of various microprocessors
developed by Intel. More detailed study of Pentium processor is done. Various hardware
and software aspects of the Pentium processor are studied in detail.
Key Word
Abacus, ENIAC, vacuum tubes, transistors, MHz/GHz, clone, embedded processors,
coprocessor, Superscalar, CISC, RISC, cache, MMX, 2nd-level (L2) cache, SISD, SIMD,
processor serial ID (chip ID), VLIW, EPIC, superscalar factor, pipeline depth, micro-ops,
branch prediction, instruction set
1. Introduction
The computing history starts well back from 3000 BC with the invention of abacus in
Babylonia and consequently with the use of algorithms to solve numerical problems in
1800 BC. With the rapid development of civilization and consequent increase in the
demand for faster and correct calculations human beings have tried to develop various
computing machines that can meet their requirements. The different forms computing
machines developed are slide rules, mechanical calculators, analytical machines and so
on. In 1890, electromechanical calculator was used in US census. In 1940 Complex
Numerical Calculator (the first Digital Computer) was demonstrated in Bell Labs. The
first general purpose computer called "Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer"
(ENIAC) was made in 1946 and (unfortunately) used extensively in World War II. With
the invention of vacuum tubes in 1951 there was few rapid development in computer
designs. The modern computer age really started with invention of transistors in 1959 in
the Bell Lab. After that the computers have undergone rapid changes in speed, size and
other features what even might have never been imagined by the great pioneers of the
computers. The computers size has changed from the dimensions of square feet as big as
a bedroom to the size of palm. The present age is of the age of microcomputers leaving
behind the mainframes and the minicomputers, etc.
3
The five components of a computer are :