Nehalem (microarchitecture)

Nehalem
General information
Launched	November 2008
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate	1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz
Cache
L1 cache	64KB per core
L2 cache	256KB per core
L3 cache	4MB to 12MB shared
Architecture and classification
Instructions	MMX
Extensions	x86-64, Intel 64; SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2; VT-x, VT-d;
Physical specifications
Transistors	731M 45 nm (C0, D0); 774M 45 nm (B0, B1); 2,300M 45 nm (D0);
Cores	2-6 (2-12); 6 (12) (Extreme); 4-8 (4-16) (Xeon);
Sockets	LGA 1156; LGA 1366; LGA 1567; µPGA 988;
Products, models, variants
Models	Celeron Series; Pentium Series; Core i3 Series; Core i5 Series; Core i7 Series; Core i7 Extreme Series; Xeon Series;
History
Predecessors	Core (tock); Penryn (tick)
Successors	Westmere (tick); Sandy Bridge (tock)

Nehalem (pronounced /nəˈheɪləm/^[1]) is the codename for an Intel processor microarchitecture, successor to the Core microarchitecture.^[2] Nehalem processors use the 45 nm process. A preview system with two Nehalem processors was shown at Intel Developer Forum in 2007. The first processor released with the Nehalem architecture was the desktop Core i7,^[3] which was released in November 2008.

Nehalem, a recycled codename, refers to a completely different architecture from Netburst, although Nehalem still has some things in common with NetBurst. Nehalem-based microprocessors utilize higher clock speeds and are more energy-efficient than Penryn microprocessors. Hyper-threading is reintroduced along with a reduction in L2, which has been incorporated as L3 Cache which is usable by all cores. Nehalem was replaced with the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, released in January 2011.

Technology

Hyper-threading reintroduced.
4–12 MB L3 cache
Second-level branch predictor and translation lookaside buffer
Native (all processor cores on a single die) quad- and octa-core processors
Intel QuickPath Interconnect in high-end models replacing the legacy front side bus
64 KB L1 cache/core (32 KB L1 Data + 32 KB L1 Instruction) and 256 KB L2 cache/core.
Integration of PCI Express and DMI into the processor in mid-range models, replacing the northbridge
Integrated memory controller supporting two or three memory channels of DDR3 SDRAM or four FB-DIMM2 channels
2nd generation Intel Virtualization Technology which introduced Extended Page Table support, virtual processor identifiers (VPIDs), and non-maskable interrupt-window exiting ^[4]

Performance and power improvements

It has been reported that Nehalem has a focus on performance, thus the increased core size.^[5] Compared to Penryn, Nehalem has:

10-25% more single-threaded performance / 20-100% more multithreaded performance at the same power level
30% lower power usage for the same performance
Nehalem provides a 15–20% clock-for-clock increase in performance per core(average)

Overclocking is possible with Bloomfield processors and the X58 chipset. Lynnfield processors use a PCH removing the need for a northbridge chipset.^[6]

Nehalem processors incorporate SSE 4.2 SIMD instructions, adding 7 new instructions to the SSE 4.1 set in the Core 2 series. The Nehalem architecture reduces atomic operation latency by 50% in an attempt to eliminate atomic overhead .^[7]

Variants Overview

Processing Cores (interface)	Process	Die Size	CPUID	Model	Stepping	Mobile	Desktop, UP Server	DP Server	MP Server
Eight-Core (Quad-Channel)	45 nm	684 mm²	206E6	46	D0				Beckton (80604)
Quad-Core (Triple-Channel)	45 nm	263 mm²	106A4 106A5	26	C0 D0		Bloomfield (80601)	Gainestown (80602)
Quad-Core (Dual-Channel, PCIe)	45 nm	296 mm²	106E4 106E5	30	B0 B1	Clarksfield (80607)	Lynnfield (80605)	Jasper Forest (80612)
Dual-Core (Dual-Channel, PCIe, Graphics Core)	45 nm					Auburndale (canceled)	Havendale (canceled)

Nehalem

Lynnfield processors feature integrated PCIe 1 x16 or 2 x8.
¹ 6500 series scalable up to 2 sockets, 7500 series scalable up to 4/8 sockets.^[8]

Server / Desktop Processors

Codename	Market	Cores / Threads	Socket	Processor Branding & Model		CPU Clock rate	Turbo	TDP	Interfaces		L3 cache	Release Date	Price for 1k Unit
Codename	Market	Cores / Threads	Socket	Processor Branding & Model		CPU Clock rate	Turbo	TDP	Chipset	Memory	L3 cache	Release Date	Price for 1k Unit
Beckton¹	MP Server / DP Server	8 (16)	LGA 1567	Xeon ^[9]	X7560	2.26 GHz	Yes	130 W	4× QPI 6.4 GT/s	DDR3-800 / 1066 (Up to 4x with SMB-Ready Motherboard)	24 MB	2010-03-30^[10]	$3692
					X7550	2.0 GHz					18 MB		$2837
					X6550	2.0 GHz					18 MB		$2461
					L7555	1.86 GHz		95 W	4× QPI 5.86 GT/s		24 MB		$3157
		6 (12)			E7540	2.0 GHz		105 W	4× QPI 6.4 GT/s		18 MB		$1980
					E6540	2.0 GHz			4× QPI 6.4 GT/s		12 MB		$1712
					E7530	1.86 GHz			4× QPI 5.86 GT/s		12 MB		$1391
					L7545	1.86 GHz					18 MB		$2087
		6 (6)			X7542	2.66 GHz		130 W					$1980
		4 (8)			E7520	1.86 GHz	No	105 W	4× QPI 4.8 GT/s				$856
		4 (8)			E6510	1.73 GHz	No	105 W	4× QPI 4.8 GT/s		12 MB		$744
Gainestown	DP Server^[11]	4 (8)	LGA 1366	Xeon^[12]	W5590	3.33 GHz	Yes	130 W	2× QPI 6.4 GT/s	3× DDR3-1333¹	8 MB	2009-08-09	$1600
					W5580	3.2 GHz		130 W				2009-03-29^[13]	$1500
					X5570	2.93 GHz		95 W					$1286
					X5560	2.8 GHz							$1072
					X5550	2.66 GHz							$858
					E5540	2.53 GHz		80 W	2× 5.86 GT/s	3× DDR3-1066¹			$744
					E5530	2.4 GHz							$530
					E5520	2.26 GHz							$373
					L5530	2.4 GHz		60 W				2009-08-09	$744
					L5520	2.26 GHz						2009-03-30	$530
					L5518	2.13 GHz						2009-03-30	$
		4 (4)			E5507	2.26 GHz	No	80 W	2× 4.8 GT/s	3× DDR3-800¹	4 MB	2010-03-16	$266
					E5506	2.13 GHz		80 W				2009-03-29	$266
					L5506	2.13 GHz		60 W					$423
					E5504	2.0 GHz		80 W					$224
		2 (4)			L5508	2.0 GHz	Yes	38 W	2× 5.86 GT/s	3× DDR3-1066	8 MB		$
		2 (2)			E5503	2.0 GHz	No	80 W	2× 4.8 GT/s	3× DDR3-800	4 MB	2010-03-16	$224
		2 (2)			E5502	1.86 GHz	No	80 W	2× 4.8 GT/s	3× DDR3-800	4 MB	2009-03-29	$188
Bloomfield	UP Server^[14]	4 (8)		Xeon^[15]	W3580	3.33 GHz	Yes	130 W	1× QPI 6.4 GT/s	3× DDR3-1333	8 MB	2009-08-09	$999
					W3570	3.2 GHz			1× QPI 6.4 GT/s	3× DDR3-1333		2009-03-29^[15]	$999
					W3565	3.2 GHz			1× QPI 4.8 GT/s	3× DDR3-1066		2009-11-01	$562
					W3550	3.06 GHz						2009-08-09
					W3540	2.93 GHz						2009-03-29^[15]
					W3530	2.8 GHz						2010-03-16	$294
					W3520	2.66 GHz						2009-03-29^[15]	$284
		2(2)			W3505	2.53 GHz	No				4 MB		$
		2(2)			W3503	2.4 GHz	No				4 MB		$
Lynnfield		4 (8)	LGA 1156		X3480	3.06 GHz	Yes	95 W	DMI	2× DDR3-1333	8 MB	2010-05-30	$612
					X3470	2.93 GHz						2009-09-08	$589
					X3460	2.8 GHz							$316
					X3450	2.66 GHz							$241
					X3440	2.53 GHz							$215
					L3426	1.86 GHz		45 W					$284
		4 (4)			X3430	2.4 GHz		95 W					$189
Bloomfield	Enthusiast Desktop^[16]	4 (8)	LGA 1366	Core i7 Extreme	975^[17]	3.33 GHz	Yes	130 W	1× QPI 6.4 GT/s	3× DDR3-1066		2009-05-31	$999
				Core i7 Extreme	965	3.2 GHz			1× QPI 6.4 GT/s			2008-11-17	$999
				Core i7	960^[18]	3.2 GHz			1× QPI 4.8 GT/s			2009-10-20	$562
					950^[17]	3.06 GHz						2009-05-31
					940	2.93 GHz						2008-11-17
					930	2.8 GHz						2010-02-28	$294
					920	2.66 GHz						2008-11-17	$284
Lynnfield	Performance Desktop		LGA 1156		880	3.06 GHz	Yes	95 W	DMI	2× DDR3-1333		2010-05-30	$583
					875K	2.93 GHz						2010-05-30	$342
					870^[19]	2.93 GHz						2009-09-08	$562
					870S	2.66 GHz		82 W				2010-07-19	$351
					860	2.8 GHz		95 W				2009-09-08	$284
					860S	2.53 GHz		82 W				2010-01-07	$337
		4 (4)		Core i5	760	2.8 GHz		95 W				2010-07-17	$209
					750^[20]	2.66 GHz		95 W				2009-09-08	$196
					750S	2.4 GHz		82 W				2010-01-07	$259

Intel states the Gainestown processors have six memory channels. Gainestown processors have dual QPI links and have a separate set of memory registers for each link in effect, a multiplexed six-channel system.^[21]^[22]

Mobile Processors

Codename	Market	Cores / Threads	Socket	Processor Branding & Model		Core Clock rate	Turbo	TDP	L3 cache	Interface	Release Date	Price for 1k Unit
Clarksfield	Extreme / Performance Mobile	4 (8)	µPGA 988	Core i7 Extreme	940XM	2.13 GHz	Yes	55 W	8 MB	* DMI * 2x DDR3-1333 * PCIe 1 x16 / 2 x8	2010-06-21	$1096
				Core i7 Extreme	920XM	2.0 GHz		55 W			2009-09-23	$1054
				Core i7	840QM	1.86 GHz		45 W			2010-06-21	$568
					820QM	1.73 GHz					2009-09-23	$546
					740QM	1.73 GHz			6 MB		2010-06-21	$378
					720QM	1.6 GHz			6 MB		2009-09-23	$364

Roadmap

The successor to Nehalem and Westmere is Sandy Bridge.

File:IntelProcessorRoadmap-3-fix.svg

References

^ I Am Nehalem
^ Intel Details Upcoming New Processor Generations, Intel Corporation, 2007-03-28
^ Gruener, Wolfgang (2008-08-10), Nehalem = i7: Intel unveils new Core processor brand, TG Daily
^ QInside Nehalem: Intel's Future Processor and System
^ "Intel's dual teamed approached to micro-architecture development", PC Watch (in Japanese), 2008-01-29
^ Botezatu, Bogdan (2008-04-22), Intel: No Overclocking for Mainstream Nehalems, Softpedia
^ NO EXECUTE!
^ High-End x86: The Nehalem EX Xeon 7500 and Dell R810
^ AMD launches 12-core Opteron server chips, Intel counters with the 8-core Xeon 7500, engadedget.com, 2010-03-31, retrieved 2010-03-31
^ Nebojsa Novakovic (2009-02-12), Intel's next bunch of fun CPUs moves to 2010, CNN International, retrieved 2009-03-01
^ Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Product brief, (Document Number: 321579-001US) (PDF), Intel, 2009-04-01, retrieved 2010-08-27
^ Core i7 to make leap to Xeon in early 2009, Legacy.macnn.com, retrieved 2008-11-24
^ Fuad Abazovic (2009-01-28), Nehalem based Xeon comes Mar 29th, Fudzilla.com, retrieved 2009-01-28
^ Intel Xeon Processor 3500 Series, Intel, 2009-04-01, retrieved 2009-04-10
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Teglet, Traian (2008-11-13), Intel to Add New Nehalem Xeon Processor, softpedia, retrieved 2008-11-13 Cite error: The named reference "Intel to Add New Nehalem Xeon Processor" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Datasheet, Volume 2, (Document Number: 320835-002)" (PDF). Intel. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
^ ^a ^b Worrel, Jon (2009-02-09), Core i7 950 and 975 to replace 940 and 965, Fudzilla, retrieved 2009-02-10
^ Intel to launch new Core i7 960 and Celerons
^ Intel Core i5-750, AnandTech, 2009-06-17
^ Intel Quietly Announces Core i5, Xtreview, 2009-06-26
^ Intel Xeon Processor 5000 SequenceTechnical Documents
^ Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Datasheet Volume 2 (PDF), Intel, March 2009, retrieved 2009-05-01

External links

Nehalem processor at Intel.com

[1] I Am Nehalem

[2] Intel Details Upcoming New Processor Generations, Intel Corporation, 2007-03-28

[3] Gruener, Wolfgang (2008-08-10), Nehalem = i7: Intel unveils new Core processor brand, TG Daily

[4] QInside Nehalem: Intel's Future Processor and System

[kaigai412-5] "Intel's dual teamed approached to micro-architecture development", PC Watch (in Japanese), 2008-01-29

[6] Botezatu, Bogdan (2008-04-22), Intel: No Overclocking for Mainstream Nehalems, Softpedia

[7] NO EXECUTE!

[8] High-End x86: The Nehalem EX Xeon 7500 and Dell R810

[9] AMD launches 12-core Opteron server chips, Intel counters with the 8-core Xeon 7500, engadedget.com, 2010-03-31, retrieved 2010-03-31

[10] Nebojsa Novakovic (2009-02-12), Intel's next bunch of fun CPUs moves to 2010, CNN International, retrieved 2009-03-01

[Intel_Xeon_Processor_5500_Series-11] Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Product brief, (Document Number: 321579-001US) (PDF), Intel, 2009-04-01, retrieved 2010-08-27

[macnn1-12] Core i7 to make leap to Xeon in early 2009, Legacy.macnn.com, retrieved 2008-11-24

[13] Fuad Abazovic (2009-01-28), Nehalem based Xeon comes Mar 29th, Fudzilla.com, retrieved 2009-01-28

[Intel_Xeon_Processor_3500_Series-14] Intel Xeon Processor 3500 Series, Intel, 2009-04-01, retrieved 2009-04-10

[Intel_to_Add_New_Nehalem_Xeon_Processor-15] Teglet, Traian (2008-11-13), Intel to Add New Nehalem Xeon Processor, softpedia, retrieved 2008-11-13 Cite error: The named reference "Intel to Add New Nehalem Xeon Processor" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[intel_core_i7_datasheet-16] "Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Datasheet, Volume 2, (Document Number: 320835-002)" (PDF). Intel. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2009-03-24.

[fundzilla_950_975-17] Worrel, Jon (2009-02-09), Core i7 950 and 975 to replace 940 and 965, Fudzilla, retrieved 2009-02-10

[18] Intel to launch new Core i7 960 and Celerons

[19] Intel Core i5-750, AnandTech, 2009-06-17

[20] Intel Quietly Announces Core i5, Xtreview, 2009-06-26

[21] Intel Xeon Processor 5000 SequenceTechnical Documents

[Intel_Xeon_Processor_5500_Series_Datasheet_Volume_2(PDF)-22] Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Datasheet Volume 2 (PDF), Intel, March 2009, retrieved 2009-05-01

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