Code Name: Santa Rosa
On May 9th, 2007, just over 4 years after the initial
Centrino platform launch, the Intel Santa Rosa platform debuted as the
follow-on to their Sonoma platform. Included in the Santa Rosa platform is a
change to the second generation Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom) processor with a
Socket P interface, a new chipset (the Intel Mobile 965 Express), an increase
in front side bus, higher end chipset graphics, a new wireless link with
draft n support, and Intel's Turbo Memory (formerly known as Robson). It's
hard to believe just how far Intel has been able to push both the platform's
performance level and it's success in the marketplace.
CPU Support
The new Santa Rosa platform utilizes a Socket P interface
for it's CPU. The Socket P, like the previous Socket M has 478 pins, but they
are keyed slightly differently meaning that they are not pin-compatible. The
only processors currently supported on the Santa Rosa platform are the Core 2
Duo T7100, T7300, T7500, and T7700. All of the compatible CPUs run at an
800MHz. front side bus, and are able to down-clock on the fly in order to
save power. The new CPUs also run up to 2.4GHz, which is slightly faster than
the NAPA platform supported (more on CPU support below).
Centrino Duo Vs. Centrino Pro
There has been some confusion as of late as to what the
difference is between Intel's Centrino Duo and their Centrino Pro Technology.
While the two technologies are very similar in their specifications, the main
difference lies in hardware and software which aims the Centrino Pro squarely
at the Business market segment while leaving the Centrino Duo for the more
home and casual market.
The Intel 82566MM and 82566MC Gigabit Network connection
in combination with the Intel Active Management Technology version 2.5 (a
required component of vPro) allows IT departments to remotely access the
computer and manage it without having to make a desk side visit. Please see
our October 2006 newsletter vPro article
for more detailed information.
North Bridge
Intel's new 965 Express (Crestline) Chipsets offers
several notable enhancements over it's Calistoga predecessor. The PM965 and
GM965 chipsets are identical with the exception of the GM965 having the X3100
graphics that you will read about below. The new chipsets have been optimized
for Vista from the ground up. Supporting Intel's Core 2 Duo processor with a
667 or 800MHz. FSB. The new north bridge also supports up to 4GB of DDR2 533
or 667 MHz. SODIMM memory in single or dual channel mode. With these
upgrades, the computing power which is required to operate Vista smoothly and
efficiently is more readily available than ever.
Intel GMA X3100 (Mobile version of the GMA X3000)
With the introduction of the X3100 GPU into their latest
Mobile Chipsets, Intel is moving into territory that it hasn't been before.
The mere act of integrating higher end graphics which allow the users to play
games with hardware texture and lighting (T&L) enabled makes them a
serious contender in the gamers market. For the most part, Intel has always
had the majority share of graphics chips in the business market due to their
rock solid integrated graphics on it's desktop boards.
Integrated VGA, audio, and LAN are all very good selling
points for overloaded IT departments who would much rather build systems with
"all-in-one" boards instead of trying to piece things together at a
higher cost and with bigger headaches. In this case, the addition of
providing Windows Vista Premium support with the highest level of Windows
Aero experience and fully supporting Microsoft DirectX 10 will help them
smoothly transition over to the home and gamer market where they haven't been
used as much in the past as discreet VGA vendors have.
Comparison vs. previous mobile chipset (GMA 950)
Intel Clear Video Technology
Intel's Clear Video Technology comes at a time when the
digital media age is really starting to come home for many people. With the
number of people who are now adding Media Center machines to their home
theater set-ups, having high end video is of key importance now more than
ever. With Intel's Clear Video Technology you can experience enhanced
high-definition playback on your system without having to add in expensive
video cards or decoders. Utilizing dedicated hardware inside of the chipset,
Intel can provide sharper image quality and precise color control to your
digital display. Ranging from your laptop screen all the way up to big screen
1080p TV's, Intel's new technology allows you to enjoy crisp smooth images
whether you're on the go, or sitting at home.
Intel Clear Video Technology Specifications
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Intel® Core™2 Duo Mobile
Processors for "Santa Rosa" Platform:
The Intel Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processor family just got bigger with four new members joining the lineup: the T7700, T7500, T7300, and T7100. They run at clock speeds from 2.40 GHz all the way down to 1.80 GHz. The T7100 is equipped with a 2MB L2 cache and the other three T7x00 models have a 4MB L2 cache. All four of these new mobile processors use Intel's 65 nm manufacturing technology packing 291M transistors into a die size of approximately 143mm2.
The Intel Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processor family just got bigger with four new members joining the lineup: the T7700, T7500, T7300, and T7100. They run at clock speeds from 2.40 GHz all the way down to 1.80 GHz. The T7100 is equipped with a 2MB L2 cache and the other three T7x00 models have a 4MB L2 cache. All four of these new mobile processors use Intel's 65 nm manufacturing technology packing 291M transistors into a die size of approximately 143mm2.
Unlike the previous Core™ 2
Duo "Merom" processors which utilize a 667
MHz front-side bus, these new "Santa Rosa" processors sport an 800
MHz FSB. The packaging is also different in that these new Merom 800's
now fit into what is called "Socket-P" and have 478 pins. These
processors will not work in existing "Napa" notebooks nor will the
Socket-M 479-pin Merom 667's fit into the new Socket-P. These Core™ 2
Duo processors voltage draw ranges from 1.0375V to
1.3V, are rated at 35W thermal design power (TDP), and have a thermal
specification of 100°C.
Besides the upgraded 800 MHz Front-Side Bus which gives you a 20% performance boost and Socket-P packaging, there are a couple of other technology changes to the Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processor for the Santa Rosa platform => Intel® Dynamic Acceleration (IDA), Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching and Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep.
Intel® Dynamic Acceleration technology allows single-threaded applications to execute faster. When a single-threaded application is running, the CPU can turn off one of the CPU cores and overclock the active core. In this way the CPU maintains the same Thermal Profile as it would when both cores are active. While one core is inactive, Dynamic Acceleration allows one of the processor cores to temporarily operate at a higher frequency point (known as the "IDA" frequency) than the rated or "guaranteed" processor frequency (know as the Highest Frequency Mode or HFM) when the operating system requests increased performance. For example with the T7700 that has an HFM of 2.40 GHz, when a single-threaded application is running, the 2nd core will shut down and the 1st core upshifts to the "IDA" frequency of 2.60 GHz for added performance without increasing the overall thermals.
Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching technology allows the FSB to be underclocked in order to save power / battery life. Previously, Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processors operated in Low Frequency Mode (LFM) when set for reduced-power operation, but the FSB was kept at full speed. By cutting the FSB speed in half to 400 MHz the Santa Rosa notebooks should be able to save more power than ever before. Intel refers to this combination of chip and FSB underclocking as Super Low Frequency Mode, or SLFM.
The operating system can also take advantage of the new Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep state feature and request a lower operating point (Super Low Frequency Mode) that has a processor frequency of 800 MHz and takes the place of the legacy Lowest Frequency Mode or LFM as the lowest voltage and frequency point. The Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep extends power-saving capabilities by allowing the processor to further reduce core voltage once the L2 cache has been completely shut down. See chart below and look at the column titled "Speed in GHz" to see all the different operating processor frequencies supported as a result of Intel® Dynamic Acceleration (IDA), Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching and Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep technologies:
Besides the upgraded 800 MHz Front-Side Bus which gives you a 20% performance boost and Socket-P packaging, there are a couple of other technology changes to the Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processor for the Santa Rosa platform => Intel® Dynamic Acceleration (IDA), Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching and Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep.
Intel® Dynamic Acceleration technology allows single-threaded applications to execute faster. When a single-threaded application is running, the CPU can turn off one of the CPU cores and overclock the active core. In this way the CPU maintains the same Thermal Profile as it would when both cores are active. While one core is inactive, Dynamic Acceleration allows one of the processor cores to temporarily operate at a higher frequency point (known as the "IDA" frequency) than the rated or "guaranteed" processor frequency (know as the Highest Frequency Mode or HFM) when the operating system requests increased performance. For example with the T7700 that has an HFM of 2.40 GHz, when a single-threaded application is running, the 2nd core will shut down and the 1st core upshifts to the "IDA" frequency of 2.60 GHz for added performance without increasing the overall thermals.
Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching technology allows the FSB to be underclocked in order to save power / battery life. Previously, Core™ 2 Duo Mobile processors operated in Low Frequency Mode (LFM) when set for reduced-power operation, but the FSB was kept at full speed. By cutting the FSB speed in half to 400 MHz the Santa Rosa notebooks should be able to save more power than ever before. Intel refers to this combination of chip and FSB underclocking as Super Low Frequency Mode, or SLFM.
The operating system can also take advantage of the new Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep state feature and request a lower operating point (Super Low Frequency Mode) that has a processor frequency of 800 MHz and takes the place of the legacy Lowest Frequency Mode or LFM as the lowest voltage and frequency point. The Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep extends power-saving capabilities by allowing the processor to further reduce core voltage once the L2 cache has been completely shut down. See chart below and look at the column titled "Speed in GHz" to see all the different operating processor frequencies supported as a result of Intel® Dynamic Acceleration (IDA), Intel® Dynamic Front Side Bus Frequency Switching and Enhanced Intel® Deeper Sleep technologies:
ASI
SKU |
Processor
Number |
Clock
Speed |
Cache
Size L2 |
Front
Side Bus |
Speed in GHz
IDA / HFM / LFM /SLFM |
Intel®
VT |
Enhanced
Intel SpeedStep® Technology |
Intel®
64 |
sSpec#
|
60886
|
2.40 GHz
|
4MB
|
800 MHz
|
2.60, 2.40, 1.20, 0.80
|
 |
|
|
||
60885
|
2.20 GHz
|
4MB
|
800 MHz
|
2.40, 2.20, 1.20, 0.80
|
|
|
|
||
60884
|
2.00 GHz
|
4MB
|
800 MHz
|
2.20, 2.00, 1.20, 0.80
|
|
|
|
||
60883
|
1.80 GHz
|
2MB
|
800 MHz
|
2.00, 1.80, 1.20, 0.80
|
|
|
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Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Mobile Processors for "Santa Rosa" Platform - Advanced Innovations:
·
Power-Optimized
800 MHz Front Side Bus - Increased
processor system bus speed, providing increased bandwidth, vs. prior
generations, for up to 20 percent faster data transfer rate compared to 667MHz
helping meet the requirements of demanding applications.
·
Intel® Dynamic
Acceleration (IDA) - Allows one processor core to
deliver extra performance during execution of single threaded applications when
the other core is idle. This feature uses the power headroom freed up when a
core is made inactive to boost the performance of another still active core.
·
Intel® Dynamic
Front Side Bus Frequency Switching -
Decreases power needed by the Front Side Bus at minimal workloads, by reducing
CPU frequency allows a lower operating voltage.
·
Intel® Dynamic
Power Coordination - Coordinates Enhanced Intel
SpeedStep® Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions of
each independent core, allowing one core to be at maximum performance while the
second core can idle into a sleep state to help save power.
·
Intel® Dynamic
Bus Parking - Enables platform power savings
and improved battery life by allowing the chipset to power down with the
processor in low-frequency mode states.
·
Enhanced
Intel® Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing
- Extends power-saving capabilities by further reducing processor core voltage
when the L2 cache is off. Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory
during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.
·
Advanced Power
Gating - Allows parts of the CPU core to
be shut down even during periods of high performance execution to optimize
performance per watt.
·
Split Bus
Array - Many buses and arrays are split
so data required in some modes of operation can be put in a low-power state
when not needed for improved power savings.
We covered the new Intel Core™ micro-architecture
extensively in our September 2006 ASI Technical Newsletter article
and can be found online Here if you need a quick refresher on the
main features of Core™. The Core™ 2 Duo mobile
processors differ from the desktop Core™ 2 Duo's (Conroe) with regards
to following specialized mobile technologies and are tuned for power savings.
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