1997 Interview with Carl Larson,Product Manager of Intel's Pentium II processor. Q> ************************************************* Q> Today we will be discussing about Intel's next Q> generation processors, the Pentium II which Q> is touted as one of the fastest chips existing in Q> the market today! Q> ************************************************* Q> Question: Intel has pledged a lot of money on advertising on Pentium II, could you briefly tell us how exactly is the P II superior to the rest of its competitors? Carl Larson: Sure. The big thing about the Pentium II processor is that is has excellent performance on all three vectors of computing -- integer performance, floating point performance, and multi-media performance. It is out first processor that combines the features of the Pentium Pro processor and the MMX technology from the Pentium processors. Count-Munchula: Is the Pentium II the same as the Pentium MMX? Carl Larson: No. The Pentium II processor is our next generation processor after the Pentium family. It has the full 32-bit performance of the Pentium Pro processors plus the MMX technology. The Pentium II also has a superior floating point processor than the Pentium, and has a processor bus architecture that is superior to the Pentium generation. Bunnyboy: What is the big advantage over the current P-lineup to the average user? Carl Larson: Bottom line is performance. In particular, the MMX technology of the Pentium II provides an added boost to multimedia performance, like video and audio Count-Munchula: Is there a noticeable difference between the Pentium II processor and the Pentium MMX performance wise. Carl Larson: Absolutely. For instance, the Pentium II processor at 233 MHz is over 30% faster than the Pentium MMx processor at 233 MHz. And since the Pentium II is also available at 266 and 300 MHz, you get even more performance there. Icer: Is there plans to bring the P-II to Alpha chip speeds? or is that the hope of the MERCED cpu? Carl Larson: Exactly. Merced will be our first 64 bit microprocessor and will provide very high-end performance for servers and workstations. MarsSaxman: As a language designer, I have a hard time seeing how the MMX instruction set fits into existing language systems & compiler architectures. Must one simply program in assembly language to take advantage of these features or is there a way to add optimisations onto existing compilers to use them? Carl Larson: Before the MMX intro, Intel worked with a number of compiler vendors to insure their compilers took full advantage of the MMx instruction set. I don't know specific compiler names, but you should be able to find one that supports MMX technology. Bunnyboy> How does the P-II 233 compare to the AMD K6-233 MMX in performance?--be specific, please. Carl Larson: I don't know the exact figures for the AMD processors. The best thing to do is go to our web site, where we have an exstensive amount of performance information. There you can download a Pentium II performance brief, and look a bunch of performance charts for various benchmarks. The URL is www.intel.com/procs/perf/pentiumii/index. I think :-) MrMac> It was said before that the P2 is said to be the fastest chip in existence. How does it compare to the 604e and 750 PPC processors? The 750 has been said to be the fastest processor by far, twice the speed of a 604e of the same clock speed, and a 604 is supposed be as fast as a P2. What are your opinions on this? And how fast is the P2 going to be able to go? I know 604's are available now at upto 350 Carl Larson: The Pentium II processor is currently available as high as 300 MHz. By the middle of next year, we expect to release versions of the Pentium II processor up to 400 MHz. As for specific benchmark numbers, I again think the best thing to do is head to our website. The data on our chips is there! Icer> What exactly is the MERCED cpu, (i know its the next generation Intel processor and its to be better than the P-II but that's all i know) and how fast will it's theoretical limit be? Carl Larson: Merced is our next generationg CPU. It will be our first 64 bit CPU. The Pentium II is a 32 bit CPU. Q> ah... thats sounds great! carl! Carl Larson: We haven't annouced yet what speeds we'll get Merced to run at, but it'll be much faster than 500 MHz WeaZeL> I've heard that there is a 500mhz processor made by the company intel just bought, is it true? If it is, how is it shaped and how do you cool it down? Carl Larson: I think what you are refering to is that Intel recently annouced a deal with Digital. We are purchasing a Digital fab and the rights to build Alpha chips. Digital will still design the Alpha chips. I dont' know how the Alpha are cooled. But on the Pentium II, a heatsink is used to dissappate the heat, and is about a 2" x 2" X 5" hunk of metal. There are also Fan heatsinks that have a little cooling fan built in, because the metal heatsinks are getting so big. D9C9> will intel ever produce a chip as good as the power PC or will it always lag behind? And can intel market for apple? Carl Larson: No. The one think I can think of with Apple. Is that we sell some of our CPUs to them for the combo Mac & Windows systems they used to build (and may still do) Scotty> Is this P II chip the kind of chip that I can unplug the pentium chip and plug in the P II chip in its place or do I have to purchase another computer system to have this technology? Carl Larson: There is an Intel OverDrive processor available for Pentium systems that provides and upgrade to Pentium Pro family technology. The Pentium II has a very different socket and bus architecture that makes it impossible to plug a Pentium II into a Pentium system Icer: How does Intel expect to compete with Alpha chips if Digital is already working on a 1200MHz chip (i think) and the P-II's are due for 400MHz next year? Carl Larson: Intel develops processors for all segments of the computer industry, particularly the mainstream computer market. All told, some 70 million plus parts a year. The Alpha chip is targeted more specifically to servers and workstations. One of the reasons they have higher performance is because of their specific target market and the fewer number of processor they need to make. With the Pentium II, and especially with Merced later in the decade, Intel CPUs will begin to approach, and surpass, the performance of proprietary chips like the Alpha. MarsSaxman: It is my impression that the x86 processor architecture still contains several compatibility layers for emulation of previous chips in the x86 series. Are there plans to streamline the instruction set at any point or will we have a Z80 inside every Pentium forever? (or am I just wrong about this?) Carl Larson: No, you are essentially correct. The 386 had something like 300,000 transistors. The Pentium II processor has something like over 4 million. The amount of space on our die that we need to maintain compatibility with previous generations is getting increasingly smaller. As for "streamlining" our instruction set. Merced will be the first major break in our instruction set since the 386. However, it will still maintain compatibility with all previous generations of Intel CPUs! WeaZeL: I'm not sure if this has been asked or not, but what exactly does the MMX technology do and are there going to be games out that require it? Should I get it, or just skip to the Pentium II? Carl Larson: MMx technology is a new set of instructions that streamline certain math operations. These particular operations tend to speed up multimedia opertaion in particular. There are software games out there that require MMX now. So to run these you could either get a Pentium MMx system, or a Pentium II system. Voyager: Isn't it true that Intel Chips based on CISC are close to the end of their expandibility, and does it bother you that they are limited to mostly Wintel and x86 platforms? Carl Larson: Not at all. In order to increase the performance of our parts, we've adopted many of the design techiques of the RISC guys. So much so, that there are not many differences between classical RISC and CISC parts. As for being limited to x86 platforms, with volume over 70 million units a year, we're having fun selling all that we're building now! Vesper> There was some controversy over the fact that the Pentium range was flawed and had problems with integers over (i think from memory) 80 digits long, will this be addressed in the Merced chips or will this flaw persist??? Carl Larson: The floating point problem on the Pentium family was fixed back in Q1 of 1995. The issue has been fixed! AMD: does intel really expect to keep the hold over the market while introducing a proprietary design like the Pentium II? (proprietary in the sence that they will not be licensing the design to other companies) Carl Larson: No, I haven't killed my wife lately :-) BrightAngel: whats the least expensive motherboard & CPU that intel is currently produceing in the P2 Class! Carl Larson: The least expensive Pentium II CPU is the Pentium II 233 MHz processor. I don't have my price list handy, but you should be able to get Pentium II 233 MHz based systems for around $2000 Icer: What kind of performance can we expect out of the Merced CPU when running 32-bit and 16-bit apps? Will it be like the Alpha and drop down below a certain performance level or will it maintain its high speed capabilities? so it will drop in performance? Carl Larson: Good question. Even though Intel will be building the 64 bit Merced. We will continue to build faster 32 bit processors, future generations of Pentium IIs. Merced will run 32 bit and 16 bit code very well, but the pure 32 bit processor we will have will run 32 and 16 bit code faster. AlphaC: I'm looking at buying my own computer in about the next 9 months or so...what kind of motherboard should I look for that will give the the most room to grow with the new Intel Chips that come out? Carl Larson: I'm not up to speed on specific motherboards, so I couldn't really recommend anything. Sorry! Vesper: You said before that you will have P2s running at 500MHz soon. The AIM consortium have already announced a 1GHz prototype...will you have anything to compete??? Carl Larson: Although I'm not familiar with AIM, I would imagine that Merced would be our processor to compete with something that fast. Vesper> But you said before that the Merced is for servers?? not PCs Carl Larson: Yes, Merced will be initially targeted for servers and workstations. It'll take a few years after the intro of Merced to make it's way into PC space. Yes, the Pentium II has the MMX instructions built in. Icer: Will the Merced CPU run on P-II motherboards or will i have to get yet another completely new system? Carl Larson: Merced will require a new system, as an entirely new system architecture is being designed for the part Bunnyboy: What specifically are the advantages that the Pro adds to the II that the P doesn't have? In other words, what does the II offer that the plain MMX chip doesn't? Carl Larson: Ultimately, increased performance. At the technical level, the biggest different is the cache architecture. The Pentium II has two system busses, compared to one for the Pentium. This allows us to run the Level 2 cache at 1/2 or the same speed as the processor. So on the 266 MHz Pentium II, the L2 cache runs at 133 MHz, compare to the Petnium family, where the L2 cache runs the highest at 66 MHz. That got a little techy, hope that was OK :-) Zinn: Are they adding the newer ones. I heard that Intel has come out with better MMX instructions to leave the competition behind that will only require a software update. Are they? How about Intel? Carl Larson: AMD and Cyrix did recently announced their development of addtional MMx technology type instructions. You can bet that Intel's engineers are hard at work on our future improvements to MMx technology! AlphaC: It has been claimed by you rivial CPU makers that their chips offer the same speed and better preformace at a lower cost..is that true and how are they making them so cheap? they must be cutting some corners Carl Larson: Actually, that's not true.The Intel Pentium II processor at 300 MHz is the fastest processor for x86, Widows machines. As for the cost of the CPUs, if you take a look at system prices, you'll find that Intel based. systems are available at all price points, including the latest PCs priced below $1000 Heyday: Simple question.. Could Intel survive without MicroSoft? Carl Larson: Simple answer . . Could Microsoft survive without Intel? :-) Icer: If i upgrade from a 200MHz MMX w/ 64MB's SD-RAM (what i have now) to a 266MHz P-II what will my performance increase be like? 25%? 50? And how much can i expect this upgrade to cost? Carl Larson: The performance difference from the MMx family to the Pentium II family is around 30%. With the faster CPU at 266 MHz, that would add another 30% improvement, so you'd see over a 60-70% improvement in performance, and probably even faster on floating point 3D stuff