X-bit labs

Intel Prescott Has Issues with 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus?

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 10/29/2003 | 12:15 PM ]

After Intel nearly made the postponement of the Pentium 4 processor with SSE3 technology official, various versions of the CPU delay have been published. A Japanese web-site reports that there are problems with the Quad Pumped Bus and Prescott core. The issue only exists when the PSB is set at 800MHz and is not likely to affect Prescott Celeron processors with 533MHz QPB.

Apparently, in addition to high power consumption, too high core-clocks, lofty heat dissipation and rumoured lower-than-expected yields of the Prescott processors, Intel presumably ran into problems with PSB power supply. According to the report from over here, GTLREF (GTL reference voltage) in Prescott processor caused some errors when working with i865- and i875-series of chipsets at 800MHz Quad Pumped Bus. In an attempt to correct the error, Intel had to redesign the core of Socket 478 Prescott processor intended for 800MHz QPB.

As a result of all changes Intel has made more than five steppings of Prescott chip, quite a lot for a desktop microprocessor. Nevertheless, since some of the chips were manufactured using older steppings, such as B0 or B1, Intel will presumably sell those chips under Celeron for 533MHz QPB.

It is interesting to note that there are said to be absolutely no problems with Prescott and Grantsdale core-logic combination, therefore, Intel should not have any issues with Socket T processors and supporting platforms at launch in late Q2 2003.

The whole piece of information was not confirmed by Intel’s specialists.