PROCESSORS:

Type of Processor Packaging:

1. Pin Grid Array processor packaging (PGA): These are rectangular processors with hundreds of tiny metal pins on the bottom. Most PGA are plugged directly into motherboards using Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) sockets. 2. Singly Edge Contact Cartridge processor packaging (SECC) / Single Edge Processor Packaging (SEPP): It is cartridge processor (similar to game cartridge). It is mounted on its own integrated circuit board or slot on the motherboard. The cartridge is plugged on to the motherboard in a similar fashion as the expansion card. SECC processor cartridge has a protective plastic cover, while SEPP has no protective plastic cover. SEPP packaging is more associated with Intels Celeron processors. SECC in now more common.

Processor Cache:
There are three types of processor Cache: 1. L1 cache: This is called internal cache. It is the fastest of the three and in integrated into the processors (since 486 processors). The cache size in small (16 KB 32 KB or even triple these size). L1 cache is primarily used for caching instruction etc. 2. L2 cache: This cache used to be external, but in modern times this is also integrated into the processor packaging. In modern times, these cache can exceed 512 KB, and is used to store frequently accessed data and commands. 3. L3 cache: This cache is the newest type of cache and is used in the Intel Itanium processors. It is situated between the processor and the system memory and is used as a holding place for frequently accessed data from the main memory. As L2 cache in now seen integrated into the processor packaging, thus L3 is taking place of L2 cache as the external cache in the PC architecture.

Types of Processors:
There are three main manufacturers of computer processors: i) Intel Corporation (holds most of the market) ii)Advanced Micro Devices AMD (Increasingly popular) iii)VIA Technologies Cyrix (less popular and very little market) 1. Intel Processors: Intel has been producing processors since 1971. It produces processors designed mostly aiming at specific purposes. It produces the low priced Celeron series(aimed at home-use, and small business use), and also the high priced Pentium/Itanium series (aimed at big business and server systems). I) Celeron processors: Celeron processors come in different speeds. These speeds can be from 766Mhz processor 66Mhz bus speed, while the 800Mhz to 1.4 Ghz version processors support bus speed of 400Mhz. Celeron processors come in two types: 1. Celeron (SEPP), like Pentium II &, 2. Celeron PGA, which uses Socket 370. Today Celeron Processors come with L1 cache of 16-31 KB and L2 cache of up to 512 KB. II) Pentium processors: The Pentium processors had been available in the following speeds ranging from 60-66 MHz to 133-233 MHz. Then came Pentium Pro of range 150-200Mhz with integrated L2 cache for the first time. MMX: Multimedia Extensions were added in Intel Pentium processors to improve audio and video processing. The series of Intel Pentium and Celeron Processors are given below:

Processor

Form Factor

Voltage

Speeds

L1 Cache(KB)

L2 Cache(KB)

Socket/Slot

Pentium Pentium Pro Pentium II Pentium II Xeon Pentium III Pentium III Xeon Celeron Pentium 4

273 or 296 PGA 387 PGA 242-pin SEC

3.3-5V 3.1-33V 3.3V 3.3V

60-233MHz 150-200MHz 233-333MHz 450+MHz

16 16 32 32 32

256-512 256-1000 512 512-2048 256-512

Socket 4,5,7 Socket 8 Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 1 or, 370 PGA

242 pin SECC or, 370-pin PGA

1.3-2.05V 450 MHz- 1.3 GHz

SEPP or 370 PGA 1.3-2.05V 478-pin or, 423-pin PGA

Up to 2.2 GHz

16-32

0-512

Socket 370 or, Slot 1 PGA 478 or, PGA 423 Slot M

1.7 V

1.7-2.8 GHz

256-512

Itanium

Slot M

1.7V

733-800 MHz

32

96