Socket M Merom may not support Santa Rosa

[Das Capitolin]

Next-generation Merom notebook processor is going to be releasing in the last week of Aug 2006 (may be 24/8). With the same Intel Core architecture, Merom shares the exactly name with Conroe, called Core 2 Duo. There is no longer a difference on the naming between Desktop and Mobile processor. Smaller Form Factor is the future trend, which mean Desktop and Mobile will no longer be separated. The change in naming would help Intel to push the MoDT(Mobile on Desktop) market, where Santa Rosa platform is one of the plan. There are 3 naming branch among Merom according to its power consumption, Normal “T”(TDP 25-49W), Low Voltage “L”(TDP 15-24W) and Ultra Low Voltage “U”(TDP >14W).

Merom is also separated into two series, 7000 and 5000 series. They are mainly different in the size of L2 Cache. Most of the 7000 series has 4MB L2 Shared Cache, while the 5000 family just has got 2M. Ultra Low Voltage Merom is an exception, where it has only 2M L2 Cache version and will also be named in 7000 series. Merom would exist with Mobile Intel 945 Express and Socket M when it comes. As Yonah is already with VRM11, the existing Centrino Napa platform would support Merom by upgrading the BIOS as well.

In the next Santa Rosa platform, which is a replacement of “Napa Refresh”, Crestline northbridge is introduced together with ICH8M. At that time, Merom will fully support 800MHz FSB but Socket M has been made supported. The replacement to Socket M would be Socket P, also in 478 pin but not compatible with Socket M processor. Without technical improvement, such change is just a marketing decision to make Yonah to fall out of use in Santa Rosa platform. Manufacturers are complained about the change that would make money loss by increased pressure on storage. They are now urging Intel to cancel the decision, making Socket M be available in Santa Rosa platform.

Socket P Merom includes Core 2 Duo T7700(2.4GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB), T7500(2.2GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB), T7300(2.0GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB), T7000(1.8GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB), T5500P(1.66GHz/4MB L2/667MHz FSB)P, L7500(1.6GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB) and L7300(1.4GHz/4MB L2/800MHz FSB). They are going to be releasing together with Santa Rosa platform, according to NB Roadmap 2007.

Cited: http://www.hkepc.com/bbs/news.php?tid=623694&starttime=0&endtime=0

Conversely, AMD is cutting back their CPU cache's while Intel grows theirs. I wonder what the end-result will be for each chip maker? :confused:

[Kougar]

I wonder if that means I can plug my 478 pin Northwood into it now, finally... :mrgreen:

Seriously though, this is just not a good time for AMD. They're scaling back the cache so they can at least try to match or beat Intel's prices in some areas, while at the same time letting them use the saved wafer space to build more low-cache chips.

Intel's strategy is that Conroe needs it's full 4mb of cache to show it's true potential. The 2mb cache Conroe processors are taking some decently sized performance hits... Massive L2 caching is nothing new to them though, and since they produce smaller 65nm dies they can afford to expend a little extra space on building larger cache buffers, with the limited silicon wafer real estate.

I guess keeping pin compatibility in the mobile segment isn't really critcal in their eyes, and I can sorta see that. Not very many people upgrade their own CPUs, only a small fraction of those people would want or try to upgrade their laptop's CPU anyway. At some of the prices mobile CPUs run for, it'd be better to just get a more efficient/newer laptop anyway almost...

[Das Capitolin]

I guess keeping pin compatibility in the mobile segment isn't really critcal in their eyes, and I can sorta see that. Not very many people upgrade their own CPUs, only a small fraction of those people would want or try to upgrade their laptop's CPU anyway. At some of the prices mobile CPUs run for, it'd be better to just get a more efficient/newer laptop anyway almost...

True; but only if you look at things for an OEM sales perspective. If you are part of the largely growing whitebook segment, then the compatability could mean a lot to the bottom line. Whitebook builders are looking for more dynamic component integration, and this could have been helpful in that fight.

[Kougar]

True; but only if you look at things for an OEM sales perspective. If you are part of the largely growing whitebook segment, then the compatability could mean a lot to the bottom line. Whitebook builders are looking for more dynamic component integration, and this could have been helpful in that fight.

You have a very excellent point there, that I hadn't considered.

It did seem a little odd to me that Intel has taken the same 478/479 socket and converted over repeatedly again and again... First mobile P4s, then Pentium Ms, then Core Duos, and now Core 2 Duo and then I think next mobile processor... I know enough to know that my current 478pin laptop won't work with a Core Duo processor, but only because of the 915P chipset. That would have been a nice (And cheap) upgrade from a single-core Pentium M.

[mousiness]

wait a minute, AMD has been LOWERING their cache sizes? theyre crazy that will never work cache sizes are the most important thing in a processor, unless AMD makes a huge breakthrough in architecture technology this lowering of cache size will never ever work

[werty316]

wait a minute, AMD has been LOWERING their cache sizes? theyre crazy that will never work cache sizes are the most important thing in a processor, unless AMD makes a huge breakthrough in architecture technology this lowering of cache size will never ever work

This has been covered in another thread. Basically they ditched the 2x1MB cache chips in favor for the 2x512KB chips.