Pentium 4 2GHz. Socket 478 Review!


Pentium 4 2GHz. Socket 478 Review! - Page 1

 

Intel's Pentium 4 2GHz. Socket 478 Processor
Breaking through the 2GHz. ceiling with ease

By, Dave Altavilla
August 27, 2001


Alright, I'll admit it...  I was a William Shatner fan.  That is to say, when old Bill played the all powerful James T. Kirk, I couldn't help but admire his swagger and command of the situation.  Unfortunately, times change and old Bill finds himself stooping to the level of lame Priceline.com commercials.  He's merely a shell of the man he use to be.  Ahh, but I can still hear the words echoing in my head, "we must have more power Scotty!"  Yes sir, ol' Bill sure did know how to command attention, back in the day.

Well, much like the James T. Kirk of old, Intel has a way of commanding attention.  There is no denying it.  However,  Scotty would think twice about his typical "I caaaan't give it anymooore Captain" response, if he had 2GHz. of power under the hood.

This is a taste of the type of performance you'll find when flying Intel's latest Starship, the Pentium 4 2GHz. processor.  Set your phasers to stun folks, this should be an eventful voyage.

Specifications of the Pentium 4 2GHz. Processor
Same Die Geometry - New Package

  • Available at speeds ranging from 1.4GHz. to 2 GHz.
  • Featuring the new Intel NetBurst micro-architecture
  • Supported by the Intel® 850 chipset
  • Fully compatible with existing Intel Architecture-based software
  • Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions 2
  • Intel® MMX? media enhancement technology
  • Memory cacheability up to 4 GB of addressable memory space and system memory scalability up to 64 GB of physical memory
  • Support for uni-processor designs
  • Based upon Intel?s 0.18 micron manufacturing process
  • 1.7 to 1.75 operating voltage range

The only real difference for this iteration of the Pentium 4, other than clock speed, is the package.  Intel's Micro PGA (mPGA) device, has 478 pins versus their legacy 423 pin package.  This provides more power and ground pins, which will help provide a more robust power plane to the device and minimize noise with better grounding. As such, stable 2+GHz. speeds will be obtained.
This new package of course requires, new cooling form factors.  However, just because we have a smaller Pentium 4, doesn't mean that heat sinks will be any smaller.  As you can see in the shot on the right, stock cooling from Intel is mammoth and so are third party solutions from Thermaltake.
Regardless, this new P4 is much more compact size and it's package seems far better suited for dissipating heat.  This allows for lower core temps, as you will see in the pages to follow. 

One note is that Intel plans to offer a 2GHz. Socket 423 version but that is the end of the line for the 423 pin out.  Higher forthcoming clock speeds will all be in this new 478 pin device.

One note is that Intel plans to offer a 2GHz. Socket 423 version but that is the end of the line for the 423 pin out.  Higher forthcoming clock speeds will all be in this new 478 pin device.

Let's plug this petite little number in and take it for a spin.

New Motherboards and The Setup

 

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