Intel drops plans for 4GHz Pentium 4

[ayoub_ibrahim]

THERE WON'T NOW be a version of the Pentium 4 running at 4GHz, Intel has confirmed to the INQUIRER today.
According to a representative we spoke to at Intel this evening, the reason is part of its strategy shift to offering CPUs based not on frequency but on features such as additional cache, eventually dual cores, and other elements such as front side bus speeds.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19089

[UtwigMU]

Well, gains from more cache (see the EE's benchmarks) will only be minimal and only in select apps and also dual cores will only show gains when benchmarked with encoding a video in background for most consumer and office applications (and this is a consumer/office CPU). Also I read that gains by intel dualcore CPUs are not as high as with K8, which was designed with dual core in mind from scratch.

Basically netburst is at end of line and Intel will probably have to bring banias based desktop CPU if AMD presses up the heat.

This depends, how their 90nm process will scale and they probably also would like a bit of slowdown to recoup on RND.

[Fluff]

Remember intel always has Centrino. Up it's sleeve. It is now a powerful market name.

I dont think chucking cache at it is worth it in the long run.

Intel need to look at what factors in a processor need the most prcessing power then release a decent co-processor.

I mean if a system needs to perform certain operations regulary that a general purpose cpu has a tough time with you might as well build a custiom ic for that task. And sell it with the package.

maybe Nvidia will adapt it's Geforce FX series once PCI express makes its way forward. ESP GPU assisted scene rendering (not just viewport)

Build antivirus monitoring into the Hard disk controller, etc.

[Jon P. Inghram]

Hey, there's no such thing as too much cache, who wouldn't want 512 megs of L1 cache?

[Jammrock]

I guess they figured the average case could hold a HSF big enough to properly cool a 4 GHz Prescott.

[Marshmallowman]

Thats a big oops for intel.....P4 was supposed to hit 10GHz by the end of its lifetime.

I wonder what there 64bit desktop strategy will be? The p4/xeon based amd64 extensions seem to half arsed and now they are canceling P4 what do htey have in the wings to replace it.

I can't see a cut down and x86 tweaked itanium being suitable.

[Wombat]

Originally posted by Jon P. Inghram
Hey, there's no such thing as too much cache, who wouldn't want 512 megs of L1 cache?

You wouldn't. All the logic involved in decoding address space would really slow you down, even for a successful cache hit.

[Jon P. Inghram]

Ok, I'll accept a quantum cache that has the data and instuctions ready before the processor knows it needs them.

[Mehen]

What a strange decision by intel, especially with the scalabilty of the 90nm Prescotts, I've seen a 100% overclock with the 2.4ghz 90nm part (2.4@4.8!!!). I know many people bitch about Intel not innovating, but when you can get your cpu speed to double AMDs...

[Wombat]

Originally posted by |Mehen|
innovating, but when you can get your cpu speed to double AMDs...

It means nothing. CPU clock speeds cannot be compared across architectures.

[Taz]

Originally posted by |Mehen|
What a strange decision by intel, especially with the scalabilty of the 90nm Prescotts, I've seen a 100% overclock with the 2.4ghz 90nm part (2.4@4.8!!!).

Yeh and how was that cooled Intel can't exactly supply a Vapochill as the cooling system with all their new processors

[SpiralDragon]

the next year should prove far more intresting than the last...

[SpiralDragon]

here is a nother intresting read from l'inq http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19098

[isochar]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=19105

Seems that the Inq is full of "interesting" things with this news. Could someone elaborate on what they mean by this quote:

The technical problems are the real killer. The Willamette and Northwood cores had several problems, most notably that they were probably the most aggressive circuit designs ever attempted. Elements on the bleeding edge that theoretically shouldn't have worked were made to work well. Northwood was an incredible success, and allowed it to claw back marketshare.

[The PIT]

Damn I'm going to have to buy a new fan heater after all.

The heat and power consumption is concerning both AMD and Intel. Looks like the limit on speed is coming much quicker than they let on.