Intel to Transit Xeon and Celeron Processors to New Core Stepping

by Anton Shilov
04/01/2003 | 06:08 PM

We reported in late February that Intel plans to deploy new core stepping for the Pentium 4 microprocessors (see this news-story). Now we can add that the Santa Clara, California-based giant will also utilise new D-1 cores for the Celeron and Xeon microprocessors.

Low Voltage Intel Xeon processor at 1.60GHz as well as Intel Xeon processors (from 1.80 to 3.06GHz) with 512KB L2 will undergo the following changes for the C-1 to D-1 core processor stepping change:

• CPUID will change from 0F27h to 0F29h;
• D-1 step is pin compatible with C-1 step;
• D-1 step is expected to have equivalent or better ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) system noise immunity;
• Bi-directional PROCHOT# pin is enabled for D-1 step (only for LV Xeon CPUs);

First samples of Xeon processors mentioned above with D-1 cores will appear on May 24, while the first actual commercial products should emerge on the 13^th of June. No significant changes are expected in electrical and thermal specifications relative to the C-1 stepping.

Intel Celeron 2.0, 2.10, 2.20, 2.30 and 2.40GHz processors will undergo the following changes:

• C-1 to D-1 core processor stepping change;
• New s-specs for affected product line items;
• CPUID will change from 0F27h for C-1 step to 0F29h for D-1 step;
• Electrical, mechanical, and thermal specification qualification required;
• Specifications are within the designated FMB guidelines;
• Capacitor count/type will change from twelve 2 uF idc805 caps to sixteen 1 uF 603 (2 terminal) caps;
• The D-1 stepping is also Multiple VID (1.475V, 1.500V, and 1.525V) and will have one new sspec and material master number per frequency;
• Impedance pin functionality added (pin AE26). No impact to existing platforms.

First samples of Celeron processors mentioned above with D-1 cores will appear on April 21, while the first actual commercial products should emerge on the 27^th of June.