The Pentium Pro

Pentium Pro

The Pentium Pro is a sixth-generation x86 microprocessor developed and manufactured by Intel introduced in November 1, 1995 . It introduced the P6 microarchitecture and was originally intended to replace the original Pentium in a full range of applications...

 from Intel is the first of their sixth-generation CPUs

Central processing unit

The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...

 targeted at the consumer and server markets. The processor was relatively unusual in that the Pentium Pro used a unique "on-package cache" arrangement; the processor and the cache were on separate dies in the same package and were connected closely by a full-speed bus. The dies had to be bonded together early in the production process, before testing was possible. This meant that a single, tiny flaw in either die made it necessary to discard the entire assembly, which was one of the reasons for the Pentium Pro's relatively low production yield and high cost.

Pentium Pro (.35 / .50 μm)

• The 150 MHz Pentium Pro processor die used a 0.50 μm BiCMOS
  BiCMOS
  BiCMOS is an evolved semiconductor technology that integrates two formerly separate semiconductor technologies - those of the analog bipolar junction transistor and the digital CMOS transistor - in a single integrated circuit device....
  
   process.
• The 166, 180, and 200 MHz Pentium Pro processor die used a 0.35 μm CMOS
  CMOS
  Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
  
   process.
• The 256 KB L2 cache die used a 0.50 μm BiCMOS process.
• The 512 and 1024 KB L2 cache die used a 0.35 μm CMOS process.
• L2 cache on all models was off-die and ran at full CPU speed.
• Only the Pentium II Overdrive supports MMX.
• The Pentium II Overdrive processor is based on the 0.25 μm Pentium II Deschutes core, with the distinction that its L2 cache runs at full CPU speed, not Deschutes' half CPU speed.

Model Number	Frequency	L1 cache	L2-Cache	Fab process CPU/Cache	Front Side Bus Front side bus A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....	Mult	Voltage	TDP Thermal Design Power The thermal design power , sometimes called thermal design point, refers to the maximum amount of power the cooling system in a computer is required to dissipate. For example, a laptop's CPU cooling system may be designed for a 20 watt TDP, which means that it can dissipate up to 20 watts of heat...	Socket CPU socket A CPU socket or CPU slot is a mechanical component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a printed circuit board . This allows the CPU to be replaced without soldering....	Release Date	Part Number(s)	sSpec Number(s)
Pentium Pro 150	150 MHz	8+8 KiB	256 KiB	.50/.50 μm	60 Mhz	2.5×	3.1v	29.2 W	Socket 8 Socket 8 The Socket 8 CPU socket was used exclusively with the Intel Pentium Pro and Pentium II Overdrive computer processors. Intel discontinued Socket 8 in favor of Slot 1 with the introduction of the Pentium II.-Technical specifications:...  PGA Pin grid array A pin grid array, often abbreviated PGA, is a type of integrated circuit packaging. In a PGA, the package is square or roughly square, and the pins are arranged in a regular array on the underside of the package...	11/1/1995	KB80521EX150 256K	SY014
Pentium Pro 166	166 MHz	8+8 KiB	512 KiB	.35/.35 μm	66 Mhz	2.5×	3.3v	35 W	Socket 8 PGA	11/1/1995	KB80521EX166 512K	SY047
Pentium Pro 180	180 MHz	8+8 KiB	256 KiB	.35/.50 μm	60 Mhz	3×	3.3v	31.7 W	Socket 8 PGA	11/1/1995	KB80521EX180 256K	SY012,SY031,SY039
Pentium Pro 200	200 MHz	8+8 KiB	256 KiB	.35/.50 μm	66 Mhz	3×	3.3v	35 W	Socket 8 PGA	11/1/1995	KB80521EX200 256K	SL22T,SY032,SL22V
Pentium Pro 200	200 MHz	8+8 KiB	512 KiB	.35/.35 μm	66 Mhz	3×	3.3v	37.9 W	Socket 8 PGA	11/1/1995	KB80521EX200 512K	SY048
Pentium Pro 200	200 MHz	8+8 KiB	1024 KiB (two 512 KiB dies)	.35/.35 μm	66 Mhz	3×	3.3v	47 W	Socket 8 PPGA	8/18/1997	GJ80521EX200 1M	SL25A
Pentium II Overdrive	333 MHz	16+16 KiB	512 KiB	.25/.25 μm	66 Mhz	5×	3.3 V		Socket 8 PGA	8/10/1998	PODP66X333	SL2K3,SL2KE,SL3EA

External links

• Comprehensive list of all Pentium Pro processor S-codes