Intel Pentium III Processor Overview
Intel Pentium III Processor

  • Overview
  • Product Features
  • SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data)
  • Intel Processor Serial Number.
  • Voltage Requirements.
  • Core Speeds.
  • Operating Systems.
  • Release
    • Overview

    The Intel Pentium III Processor (Code Name 'Katmai'), available at 600, 550, 500 and 450MHz, will be Intel's highest performance processor, most advanced and most powerful processor for the desktop.

    The Intel Pentium III Processor builds on the foundation of the Intel Pentium II Processor, featuring the P6 microarchitecture, 100-MHz system bus and MMX technology.
    The Pentium III Processor also features a major expansion of the Intel microarchitecture called streaming SIMD extensions. These 70 new instructions allow a wide range of applications to run faster and look better by speeding cache throughput and enhancing "human interface" technologies such as 3-D graphics, imaging, speech, video and audio.

    The Pentium III Processor can use both buses simultaneously, thus getting more than two times the data in and out of the Pentium III Processor than a single bus architecture processor like the Pentium processor.
    The 100-MHz system bus provides increased bandwidth for today's newer, demanding technologies, such as the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP). The Dual Independent Bus architecture enables the L2 cache of the Pentium III Processor at 500 MHz to run at 250 MHz,
    more than three and a half times asfast as the L2 cache on Pentium Processor-based systems.
    Finally, the pipelined system bus enables multiple simultaneous transactions (instead of singular sequential transactions), accelerating the flow of information within the system and boosting overall performance.

    All Pentium III processors use the Error Checking and Correction (ECC) protocol on the L2 cache bus. ECC protocol is a more comprehensive method of ensuring data integrity. ECC protocol can detect both single-bit and double-bit errors, and can correct single-bit errors automatically.
    Parity memory can only detect odd number bit errors, and relies on software to correct them. ECC provides advanced error detection and correction, ensures a high level of data integrity, and offers Pentium III processor-based systems reliable operation for mission critical applications.

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    Product Features

    • Frequencies of 600MHz, 550Mhz, 500MHz and 450MHz.
    • Integrated PBSRAM L2 cache (512K)
    • Level 2 cache bus operating at same speed as processor core provides new level of peak bandwidth to the processor.
    • ECC (Error Correcting Code) on the secondary (L2) cache bus.
    • 32Kb cache L1, same as the Pentium II.
    • Shipped in the New SEC-2 Cartridge. (Single Edge Contact Cartridge II)
    • 100MHz system bus (FSB).
    • 70 new instructions, including Streaming SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) Extensions for enhanced application performance.
    • Next-generation interfaces, such as speech and 3D, that make PC applications easier to use.
    • SIMD exists of 8 new 128 bit CPU registers, enabling 4 floating point variables at the same time.
    • Memory streaming architecture.
    • Concurrent SIMD-FP architecture.
    • Slot 1 Compatible.
      Note: Not Compatible with all Slot 1 Chipsets, Compatible with the Intel 440BX Chipset.
    • New Media instructions.
      • real-time MPEG2 encode/decode.
      • 3D graphics.
      • AC3 audio, speech.
      • Complex imaging effects.
      • Realistic physics.
      • Single processor configurations for desktop and dual-processor configurations for workstations and servers.

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    SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data)

    Memory streaming and data prefetch instructions allow applications to hide memory latency by obtaining data from memory before the processor starts operating on it and reduce cache pollution by designating data for frequent use or for one-time only use.
    Applications can keep information that is used only once, from taking space in the processor cache. Data prefetch instructions allow software to give hints to the processor core about which data operands will be used in future code.
    By gathering data before it is requested by the Processors execution unit, the Processor bus unit can request future data from memory while the Processor core continues executing on code using data that is already in the level one L1 or/and L2 Cache.
    Additional Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions complement MMX technology by providing quick datamovement and additional mathematical operations. New floating point SIMD instructions operate on new packed-floating point registers allowing substantial performance improvement for math intensive applications like imaging, desktop publishing, speech recognition, MPEG2* encode and decode, and more.
    Since these SIMD instructions operate on new registers, applications can use both MMX technology instructions and the streaming SIMD extensions concurrently. New instructions for data conversion help applications move information from integer values to floating point values and back again. Applications can use floating point SIMD instructions and integer SIMD instructions together to gain the advantages that both have to offer.

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    Intel Processor Serial Number

    The Pentium III Processor is designed with the Internet in mind. One of its new features designed to enhance your Internet experience is the Processor Serial Number.
    An electronic number added to every Pentium III processor.

    Consumers can benefit from increased security on the web.

    • For example.
      The Processor Serial Number, when used with user name and password, can be used by websites to strengthen security when conducting e-commerce or setting up members-only chat rooms.
    • For business users.
      The Processor serial number can be used by Information Technology departments for many uses such as information management or to help manage corporate PC assets.
    The Pentium III Processor owner will be able to make choices about how to use the Processor Serial Number. The Processor Serial Number does not and cannot transmit or "broadcast" information over the Internet.
    In general, a user will need to explicitly allow the reading of Processor Serial Number by a website. In order to read the Processor Serial Number, a website will need to run a program on the user's system. The default security setting of popular web browsers alerts a user before permitting a program to be executed.
    In keeping with "safe web surfing," users should exercise caution before allowing any program to be executed from an unfamiliar website. Users concerned about a particular website's use of their Processor Serial Number may refuse to download and/or run the program.

    For Pentium III Processor owners who want to be able to turn off the Processor Serial Number, Intel is making available a software program that will automatically turn the feature off and allow owners to turn it back on only if they so choose. This software will be made widely available free of charge on our website and other locations when the chip becomes available publicly.

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    Voltage Requirements

    Voltage Requirements for Pentium III Processors

    Processor Frequency Nominal Voltage Voltage Tolerance
    450 MHz 2.0 Volts 1.93 Volts to 2.07 Volts
    500 MHz 2.0 Volts 1.93 Volts to 2.07 Volts
    550 MHz 2.0 Volts 1.93 Volts to 2.07 Volts
    600 MHz 2.0 Volts 1.93 Volts to 2.07 Volts

    Pentium III Processors are specified to operate at the voltage provided in the table here above showed. It's important that your motherboard explicity supports the specific processor
    (By Stepping and Speed).

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    Core Speeds

    Core Speeds for Pentium III Processor

    Core Speeds (MHz) Core Multiplier FSB Speed L2 Cache Speed
    450 MHz 4.5 100 MHz 225.0
    500 MHz 5.0 100 MHz 250.0
    550 MHz 5.5 100 MHz 275.0
    600 MHz 6.0 100 MHz 300.0

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    Operating Systems

    Current operating systems, like Windows 98 and NT need a patch to work with KNI.

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    Release

    Release Date, 28 Feb 1999 for the 450MHz and 500MHz
    Release Date of the 550MHz 17 May 1999.
    Release Date of the 600MHz 2 August 1999
    Release for 533MHz at 133MHz FSB later this year.

    Third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
    Last Updated: 06-08-1999

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    VOLTA
    By J.A.P. Brito - 09/1999