Pentium Extreme Edition CPU family is a family of dual-core
microprocessors offering top performance for computer enthusiasts.
The Extreme Edition processors either included some features that
were not available on other dual-core (Pentium D) CPUs, or ran at
higher frequencies than other processors. Usually these features or
enhancements let the Extreme Edition processors run faster than
standard Pentium D CPUs. The top performance of these microprocessors
came with the premium prices. For example, the first Pentium Extreme
Edition 840 CPU was priced at $999, or almost twice as high as
Pentium D 840 CPU which was running at the same frequency.
The first processor from this family, Pentium Extreme Edition 840,
was introduced on April 18, 2005 and it was the first dual-core
processor based on NetBurst micro-architecture. The 840 CPU included
Hyper-Threading technology - this feature was not available in 0.09
micron Pentium D processors that were released just in a month after
the 840. Hyper-threading technology was the main reason why in some
applications the Pentium Extreme Edition 840 was 15% - 20% faster
than Pentium D 840. At the same time in many other applications,
especially single-threaded applications, performance of both 840
processors was the same.
Next two processors from this family, Pentium Extreme Edition 955
and 965 CPUs, also included Hyper-Threading technology. In addition
to that, both processors had faster Front-Side Bus frequency - 1066
MHz compared to 800 MHz FSB of Pentium D CPUs, and the 965 CPU was
running at higher frequency than any other Pentium D microprocessor.
For comparison of different Pentium Extreme Edition microprocessors
please see Pentium
Extreme Edition CPU chart.
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