Newest Processors
Are Hot as Blazes
Anthony S. Diecidue, O.D.
A year ago I described processors with speeds of 300-400 MHz as
“blazing.” Now they’re found on just about every entry-level computer.
Today, we discuss speeds of 700-800 MHz—even 1 GHz—as “blazing.” But the
more things change, the more they stay the same.
One thing that has remained constant is that there are still three players
in the processor game: Intel, AMD and Cyrix. But, they all have some surprises.
Intel
Intel Corporation (www.intel.com), considered
the leader in PC-processor technology, logs in with two major processors
for the new millennium: the Pentium-III and the less expensive Celeron.
You’ll find Pentium-III processors on newer, higher-end computers, and
they produce a large bang for their buck. With 70 new instructions to enhance
speed and performance, the Pentium-III is available in speeds between 450
and a blazing (pardon the overuse of this adjective) 800 MHz.
This processor optimizes the web. Higher polygon counts, increased frame
rates, advanced lighting effects, real time MPEG-2 video encoding all mean
a better, more realistic Internet experience. The new, optimized processor
enables advanced software to provide these features. Three-D games will
also be able to perform more complex tasks with the Pentium-III at the
start.
Speech recognition is one area that has benefited from this new technology.
The Pentium-III can provide better accuracy and considerably faster response
times than previous processors.
Pentium-III processors use Dynamic Execution micro-architecture (DEM)
for a unique combination of prediction, data flow analysis and speculative
execution. That allows for higher performance than previous Pentium processors.
And, Intel has enhanced it for Internet applications such as streaming
audio and video by using Internet Streaming SIMD Extensions for enhanced
floating-point and 3-D application performance. The Pentium-III series
supports system bus speeds of 66-133 MHz.
For our purposes, the Pentium-III processor is simply better, faster
and, by some accounts, the standard by which all the others are measured.
If you’re looking for a fast, high-end computer, this processor is for
you. You’ll pay a premium for the name, but you’ll get a good, solid processor
in return.
In contrast to Pentium-III’s price tag, Intel’s Celeron processors come
at a much lower cost, yet still deliver the goods. Intel devised the Celeron
series to appeal to the “value-conscious” consumer. Available in speeds
up to 500 MHz, Celeron processors boast some of the same features as the
Pentium-III, such as Dynamic Execution, super pipelining and MMX.
One glaring difference between the two: the on-board cache. The Pentium-III
has a 256K cache vs. Celeron’s 128K cache. From a strictly statistical
point of view, the 256K cache outperforms the 128K cache by a significant
margin. Fortunately, we as O.D.s usually don’t require that type of performance
for our daily tasks. To us, the difference is almost imperceptible. If
you want a quality, name-brand processor but want to save a few bucks,
the Celeron processor might be for you. You will find entry-level computers
in the 400-500 MHz range that sport Celeron processors.
AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (www.amd.com)
jumped into the limelight last year when it introduced the AMD Athlon Processor.
Last November, it boosted its speed to 750 MHz to compete with Intel’s
Pentium-III series.
Compared to older Pentium II and Celeron processors, the new series
of Athlon and Pentium-III processors are built around an advanced 0.18-micron
technology. This shrinks the size of the processor die, allowing for faster
processor speeds and lower power consumption.
This new processor sports 24 new instructions designed to improve integer
math calculations, data movement for Internet streaming and DSP communications.
Also, AMD incorporated its Enhanced 3D-Now! technology for better 3-D graphics
and speed.
Other features include a 128K L1 cache and a 512K L2 cache vs. Pentium-III’s
32K and 256K caches. AMD claims the Athlon is the first processor to have
a 200 MHz system bus speed support for faster performance. Its 3D-Now!
technology provides twice the peak floating point computation rate and
three times the floating point instruction rate of Pentium-III processors.
For you, this means crisper and faster graphics on the Internet and gaming.
In numerous industry benchmarks, it has consistently outperformed similarly
configured systems running the Intel Pentium-III processor. AMD puts the
Athlon at almost 34% faster than a comparable Pentium-III.
Most industry experts agree that AMD has come up with a winner in the
Athlon processor. You’ll find Athlon processors in moderately priced computers
such as IBM Aptiva, CyberMax, Compaq Presario, NEC, Acer, Inteva and TigerDirect
that compete for high-end users.
Cyrix MII
Cyrix MII processors, made by VIA Technologies Inc., have been available
since last year and boast speeds of up to 433 MHz—a slowpoke by today’s
standards, but still respectable. The MII has MMX technology, and VIA has
slated this technology to compete with the Celeron series of processors.
To stay in the race, VIA is previewing Joshua, its next generation of
processors poised to compete with the Athlon and Pentium-III. There are
few specifications available to the public, but VIA plans to use 0.18-micron
technology to squeeze more instructions onto the chip and position it for
entry-level computers. It will have a 256K L2 cache and support up to 133
MHz system bus speeds.
Cyrix had produced at least two other processor series: the 6x86MX and
the MediaGX. Unfortunately, there is no reference to either of these in
the current company literature.
The description of Cyrix on VIA’s web page bears an uncanny resemblance
to AMD’s Athlon with references to 3D-Now! and Seventh Generation aging.
(Sorry, this web page is no longer available.) VIA had planned to introduce
this new entry into the processor competition in the first quarter of this
year, but we haven’t yet heard about it.
Use caution when buying a Cyrix system. VIA just bought Cyrix last year,
and it seems to be putting less emphasis than it needs to keep its processors
competitive. If they don’t change strategies soon, I doubt they will be
a major contender for much longer. This means you may end up buying “yesterday’s”
technology from a company that may not support it tomorrow.
Then There Were Two
In recent weeks, Intel and AMD both recently introduced 1GHz processors.
Now, Intel’s Pentium-III and AMD’s Athlon are the fastest commercial processors
on the market. With only a limited release until mid-year, expect to pay
a premium price on any computer system built with either of these speed
demons. Intel plans on rolling its contender out in mass quantities by
the third quarter of the year. Look for either of these on higher-end computers
such as Dell, IBM and Gateway.
Last year, there were three major contenders in the processor competition.
Today, that seems to have been trimmed to just two. If you need a fast
processor with name recognition, go for the Pentium-III series, but be
prepared to pay the price. For home systems and offices with less demand
on their systems, Celeron processors are as good a bargain. And, don’t
overlook the power of the AMD Athlon; it’s faster than the Pentium-III
and less expensive.
Dr. Diecidue practices in Pennsylvania and is president of Mountain Computer
Systems. He has no financial interest in Intel, Cyrix or AMD. Send questions
to him at: eyedoctor@writeme.com.
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