Fifth generation of x86 family, Intel Pentium microprocessor
was the first x86 superscalar CPU. The processor included two
pipelined integer units which could execute up to two integer
instructions per CPU cycle. Redesigned Floating Point Unit
considerably improved performance of floating-point operations and
could execute up to 1 FP instruction per CPU cycle. Other enhancements to
Pentium core included:
To improve data transfer rates the size of data bus was increased to
64 bits.
At first Pentium processors featured separate 8 KB code and 8 KB data
caches. The size of both data and code L1 caches was doubled in
Pentium processors with MMX technology.
Intel Pentium CPU used branch prediction to improve effectiveness
of pipeline architecture. Branch prediction was enhanced in Pentium
MMX processors.
Many desktop Pentiums could work in dual-processor systems.
To reduce CPU power consumption the core voltage was reduced on all
Pentium MMX, and many mobile and embedded Pentium processors.
Intel manufactured desktop, mobile and embedded versions of Pentium
microprocessors. Distinguishing between different versions of
Pentiums is not always easy because desktop, mobile and/or embedded Pentiums
often used the same part numbers. In some cases Pentium processors
with the same part and S-spec numbers were offered as desktop and embedded, or
mobile and embedded microprocessors.
Later versions of Pentium processors - Pentium MMX - included 57 new
instructions. These instructions could be used to speed up processing
of multimedia and communication applications. Like the Pentium
processors, the Penium MMX CPUs were also produced in three different
versions - desktop, mobile and embedded processors.
Pentium 60 MHz microprocessor was the first from Pentium series, and it was the slowest one. The CPU was shipped in pin grid array package similar to 80486 - the CPU bottom side looked like a bigger version of 80486. Like older 80486 processors, the Pentium 60 required 5 Volt. High core voltage and big die size were the primary reasons of the processor running very hot even with factory supplied heatsink. Short term fix for this problem was adding an integrated heatspreader that helped to dissipate the heat (see other pictures). The heat problem was solved in the next generation of Pentium chips by switching from 0.8 micron to 0.6 micron manufacturing process, and reducing core voltage to 3.3 Volt.
Boxed version of Pentium MMX processor. These processors were sold with integrated heatsink and fan, which, coupled with Zero-Insertion Force (ZIF) sockets, made processor upgrade much easier. Markings on these CPUs were on the heatsink below the fan, under normal conditions (with fan installed) the markings are not visible. But even then it's still possible to tell the processor speed by looking in the left-lower corner of the CPU - the number in this corner is the speed of the microprocessor in megahertz.
Pentium overdrive 133 is the only overdrive processor that upgrades socket 4 Pentium processors. This overdrive CPU can replace both Pentium 60 and 66 CPUs. Depending on the bus frequency it will run either on 120 MHz or 133 MHz, so to get maximum performance out of this processor it is advisable before installation of the overdrive processor to change bus frequency of the upgraded system to 66 MHz.
Overdrive MMX processor for Pentium 75, 90, 100 and 150 CPUs
Pentium MMX and non-MMX overdrive processors look somewhat similar to boxed Pentium processors. Like the boxed processors, the overdrives have processor markings on the heatsink. Unlike the boxed processor, the overdrive CPUs have speed marked in the top right corner. The overdrives also include integrated voltage regulator, which allows the microprocessor to work in socket 5 motherboards. And finally, the overdrive processor have their clock multiplier locked. For PODPMT60X180 the clock multiplier is locked at 3x, so depending on bus speed (50 or 60 MHz) the processor will run on 150 or 180 MHz.
TT80503120 is the slowest Pentium MMX processor ever produced by Intel. This processor was only manufactured in Tape Carrier Package (TCP) and used in mobile applications. The CPUs in this package type had to be soldered, and to simplify laptop part manufacturing and replacement the microprocessors were usually mounted on separate CPU boards, There were a few different types of CPU boards for laptops, and one board type was simply a socket 7-compatible PGA adapter with soldered microprocessor (pictured).
Three desktop Pentium processors and one Mobile Pentium 133 were offered by Intel as embedded microprocessors. The only difference between these embedded CPUs and desktop/mobile Pentiums was that the embedded microprocessors had much longer life cycle support. The embedded non-MMX Pentium CPUs were discontinued in 2005.
Embedded Pentium 266 was packaged in plastic ball grid array package called HL-PBGA. This CPU was made on 0.25 micron technology, and with just 2.0V core voltage and 2.5V I/O voltage, it typically used less power than Pentium non-MXX 120 MHz, and had maximum power consumption on a par with Pentium non-MMX 75 MHz.
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