Intel 3.0GHz 800FSB CPU Review - PAGE 1

Today we're looking at the new Pentium 4 3.0GHz "C" CPU, with an 800Mhz Quad Pumped System Bus supported by the i875 (Canterwood) and i865 (Springdale) chipsets. This time around, Intel is again showing their R&D superiority and their desire to push the limits of performance by creating a whole new performance platform. This platform features not only the 200MHz core clock speed and 800MHz system bus, but also Dual Channel DDR400, Intel's Performance Acceleratrion Technology (PAT), Serial ATA (SATA), and Gigabit Ethernet.

We feel the most symbolic change is the new 200MHz core P4 chip and of course the accompanying Dual Channel DDR400 support. This higher bus increases the total bus bandwidth to 6.4GB/s, and of course Dual DDR400 provides a theoretical 6.4GB/s memory bandwidth. In recent history Intel has been falling behind in the FSB department and losing ground due to their unwavering support of RAMBUS DRAM, the latter of which was steeped in controversy and carried the stigma of high prices and low availability. But in the past year Intel has quickly made gains by switching to DDR memory and then introducing Dual Channel memory support to their chipsets. This latest platform with 800Mhz sytem bus and DDR400 represents a MAJOR technological leap for Intel, whose strategy prior to this encompassed a 133MHz CPU core with 533MHz Quad Pumped bus and DDR266 Dual Channel support in the Granite Bay chipset. Now, a mere 6 months since the introduction of the 3.06 HyperThreading enabled P4, Intel has leapfrogged over AMD's 166MHz Thoroughbred B and Barton platforms.

While AMD is set to soon release their own 200Mhz core chip in the form of the next generation Barton chip, and while many hardcore users are currently already running at near 200Mhz core speeds, but in the meantime Intel has shed it's mundane image and has acquired a whole new position in the mainstream spotlight.

Canterwood and Springdale Overview

The new 800Mhz system bus processor and the Canterwood and Springdale chipsets together represent the very latest in technology. Together, the new platform offers:

As you can see, Intel has introduced into its lineup all of the latest features. You might want to note that PAT technology is particularly intriguing as it allegedly maximizes performance by optimizing the CPU and memory interaction when the memory and processor core speeds are paired. The idea is that through PAT, Dual Channel DDR400, and the 800MHz system core Intel will significantly boost performance per clock speed compared to the older 533MHz architecture. We like to think of Intel's current strategies as stacking: the company is progressively introducing new performance features to build on the lead of the previous technology releases. Obviously with both AMD and Intel reaching the limits of clock speeds attainable using the 13nm fab process, both companies' interests are now best served with improving performance without the need to increase clock speed. Intel is very successful in this venture with today's release, as you will see later.