Nehalem (microarchitecture)

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Nehalem
Logo for Core i7 Bloomfield processors
General information
LaunchedNovember 11, 2008; 15 years ago (November 11, 2008)
Marketed byIntel
Designed byIntel
Common manufacturer(s)
  • Intel
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate1.06 GHz to 3.33 GHz
QPI speeds4.80 GT/s to 6.40 GT/s
DMI speeds2 GT/s
Cache
L1 cache64 KB per core (32 KB data + 32 KB instructions)
L2 cache256 KB per core
L3 cache2 MB to 24 MB shared
Architecture and classification
Technology node45 nm
MicroarchitectureNehalem
Instruction setx86-16, IA-32, x86-64
InstructionsMMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4, SSE4.1, SSE4.2
Extensions
Physical specifications
Transistors
Cores
  • 1-6 (1-8 Xeon)
Socket(s)
Products, models, variants
Core name(s)
Product code name(s)
  • NHM
Model(s)
  • Core i5-7xx
  • Core i7-8xx
  • Core i7-9xx Extreme
  • Xeon 3000/5000/7000
  • Mobile Core i7-7xxQM
  • Mobile Core i7-8xxQM
  • Mobile Core i7-9xxXM Extreme
History
Predecessor(s)Core (tock)
Penryn (tick)
Successor(s)Westmere (tick)
Sandy Bridge (tock)
Support status
Unsupported

Nehalem /nəˈhləm/[1] is the codename for Intel's 45 nm microarchitecture released in November 2008.[2] It was used in the first generation of the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and succeeds the older Core microarchitecture used on Core 2 processors.[3] The term "Nehalem" comes from the Nehalem River.[4][5]

Nehalem is built on the 45 nm process, is able to run at higher clock speeds without sacrificing efficiency, and is more energy-efficient than Penryn microprocessors. Hyper-threading is reintroduced, along with a reduction in L2 cache size, as well as an enlarged L3 cache that is shared among all cores. Nehalem is an architecture that differs radically from NetBurst, while retaining some of the latter's minor features.

Nehalem later received a die-shrink to 32 nm with Westmere, and was fully succeeded by "second-generation" Sandy Bridge in January 2011.

Technology[edit]

Microarchitecture of a processor core in the quad-core implementation
Translation lookaside buffer sizes[12]
Cache Page Size
Name Level 4 KB 2 MB
DTLB 1st 64 32
ITLB 1st 128 7 / logical core
STLB 2nd 512 none

Performance and power improvements[edit]

It has been reported that Nehalem has a focus on performance, thus the increased core size.[13] Compared to Penryn, Nehalem has:

  • 10–25% better single-threaded performance / 20–100% better multithreaded performance at the same power level
  • 30% lower power consumption for the same performance
  • On average, Nehalem provides a 15–20% clock-for-clock increase in performance per core.

Overclocking is possible with Bloomfield processors and the X58 chipset. Lynnfield processors use a PCH removing the need for a northbridge.[14]

Nehalem processors incorporate SSE4.2 SIMD instructions, adding seven 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 overhead on atomic operations such as the LOCK CMPXCHG compare-and-swap instruction.[15]

Variants[edit]

Processing Cores (interface) Process Die Size million transistors CPUID Model Stepping Mobile Desktop, UP Server DP Server MP Server
Eight-Core (Quad-Channel) 45 nm 684 mm² 2.300[16] 206E6 46 D0 Beckton (80604)
Quad-Core (Triple-Channel) 263 mm² 731 106A4
106A5
26 C0/C1
D0
Bloomfield (80601) Gainestown (80602)
Quad-Core (Dual-Channel, PCIe) 296 mm² 774 106E4
106E5
30 B0
B1
Clarksfield (80607) Lynnfield (80605) Jasper Forest (80612)
Dual-Core (Dual-Channel, PCIe, Graphics Core) ? Auburndale (80608) (canceled) Havendale (80606) (canceled)


  • Lynnfield processors feature 16 PCIe lanes, which can be used in 1x16 or 2x8 configuration.
  • 1 6500 series scalable up to 2 sockets, 7500 series scalable up to 4/8 sockets.[17]

Server, workstation, and desktop processors[edit]

Codename Market Cores
(threads)
Socket Processor
Branding & Model
CPU
Clock rate
Turbo TDP Interfaces L3
cache
Release Date Price for
1k Unit
Chipset Memory
Beckton1 MP Server /
DP Server
8 (16) LGA
1567
Xeon

7000[18]

X7560 2.26 GHz Yes 130 W QPI 6.4 GT/s DDR3-800 /
1066
(Up to 4x with
SMB-Ready
motherboard)
24 MB 2010-03-30[19] $3692
X7550 2.0 GHz 18 MB $2837
X6550 $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 12 MB $1712
E7530 1.86 GHz 4× QPI 5.86 GT/s $1391
L7545 95 W 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
E6510 1.73 GHz 12 MB $744
Gainestown DP Server[20] 4 (8) LGA
1366
Xeon

5000[21]

W5590 3.33 GHz Yes 130 W 2× QPI 6.4 GT/s DDR3-13331 8 MB 2009-08-09 $1600
W5580 3.2 GHz 2009-03-29[22] $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 $
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 2009-03-29
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
E5502 1.86 GHz 2009-03-29 $188
Jasper

Forest

4 (8) EC5549 2.53 GHz Yes 85 W 1× 5.86 GT/s 3× DDR3-1333 8 MB 2010-02-11 $530
LC5528 2.13 GHz 60 W 1× 4.8 GT/s 3× DDR3-1066 $519
LC5518 1.73 GHz 48 W
4 (4) EC5509 2 GHz No 85 W $265
2 (4) EC5539 2.27 GHz 65 W 1× 5.86 GT/s 3× DDR3-1333 4 MB $387
Bloomfield UP Server[23] 4 (8) Xeon

3000[24]

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 2009-03-29[24]
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[24]
W3530 2.8 GHz 2010-03-16 $294
W3520 2.66 GHz 2009-03-29[24] $284
2 (2) W3505 2.53 GHz No 4 MB $
W3503 2.4 GHz $
Jasper

Forest

4 (4) EC3539 2.13 GHz 65 W DMI 8 MB 2010-02-11 $302
2 (4) LC3528 1.73 GHz Yes 35 W 3× DDR3-800 4 MB
1 (1) LC3518 No 23 W 2 MB $192
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[25]
4 (8) LGA
1366
Core i7
Extreme
975X[26] 3.33 GHz Yes 130 W 1× QPI 6.4 GT/s 3× DDR3-1066 2009-05-31 $999
965X 3.2 GHz 2008-11-17
Core i7 960[27] 3.2 GHz 1× QPI 4.8 GT/s 2009-10-20 $562
950[26] 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 $342
870[28] 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[29] 2.66 GHz 95 W 2009-09-08 $196
750S 2.4 GHz 82 W 2010-01-07 $259
Jasper

Forest

Embedded
Desktop
1 (2) LGA
1366
Celeron P1053 1.33 GHz No 30 W 3× DDR3-800 2 MB 2010-12-02 $160
  • 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.[30][31]

Mobile processors[edit]

Codename Market Cores /
Threads
Socket Processor
Branding & Model
Core
Clock rate
Turbo TDP L3
cache
Interface Release Date Price for
1k Unit
Clarksfield Extreme

mobile

4 (8) Socket G1

rPGA 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
920XM 2.0 GHz 2009-09-23 $1054
Quad-core

mobile Performande mobile

Core i7 840QM 1.86 GHz 45 W 2010-06-21 $568
820QM 1.73 GHz 2009-09-23 $546
740QM 6 MB 2010-06-21 $378
720QM 1.6 GHz 2009-09-23 $364

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ I Am Nehalem
  2. ^ Gruener, Wolfgang (August 10, 2008), Nehalem = i7: Intel unveils new Core processor brand, TG Daily, archived from the original on August 14, 2009, retrieved August 11, 2008
  3. ^ Intel Details Upcoming New Processor Generations, Intel Corporation, March 28, 2007
  4. ^ Ian, King (October 20, 2008), Intel's new faster chip right on AMD's heels, The Seattle Times
  5. ^ Jones, George (February 9, 2008), IAMD vs Intel: The future of desktop CPUs, PC Advisor UK
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Kanter, David. "Inside Nehalem: Intel's Future Processor and System".
  8. ^ Kanter, David. "Inside Nehalem: Intel's Future Processor and System".
  9. ^ Kanter, David. "Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture".
  10. ^ "Inside Nehalem: Intel's Future Processor and System". Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  11. ^ "Feature - Intel Core i7 - Nehalem Architecture Dive". bit-tech. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  12. ^ "Intel Developer Zone". Intel.
  13. ^ "Intel's dual teamed approached to micro-architecture development", PC Watch (in Japanese), January 29, 2008
  14. ^ Botezatu, Bogdan (April 22, 2008), Intel: No Overclocking for Mainstream Nehalems, Softpedia
  15. ^ NO EXECUTE!
  16. ^ "Nehalem - Microarchitectures - Intel - WikiChip". en.wikichip.org. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  17. ^ Johan De Gelas. "AnandTech - High-End x86: The Nehalem EX Xeon 7500 and Dell R810". Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  18. ^ AMD launches 12-core Opteron server chips, Intel counters with the 8-core Xeon 7500, engadedget.com, March 31, 2010, retrieved March 31, 2010
  19. ^ Nebojsa Novakovic (February 12, 2009), Intel's next bunch of fun CPUs moves to 2010, CNN International, archived from the original on March 4, 2009, retrieved March 1, 2009{{citation}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Product brief, (Document Number: 321579-001US) (PDF), Intel, April 1, 2009, retrieved August 27, 2010
  21. ^ Core i7 to make leap to Xeon in early 2009, Legacy.macnn.com, archived from the original on December 7, 2008, retrieved November 24, 2008
  22. ^ Fuad Abazovic (January 28, 2009), Nehalem based Xeon comes Mar 29th, Fudzilla.com, retrieved January 28, 2009[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Intel Xeon Processor 3500 Series, Intel, April 1, 2009, retrieved April 10, 2009
  24. ^ a b c d Teglet, Traian (November 13, 2008), Intel to Add New Nehalem Xeon Processor, softpedia, retrieved November 13, 2008
  25. ^ "Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Datasheet, Volume 2, (Document Number: 320835-002)" (PDF). Intel. November 1, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  26. ^ a b Worrel, Jon (February 9, 2009), Core i7 950 and 975 to replace 940 and 965, Fudzilla, retrieved February 10, 2009[permanent dead link]
  27. ^ Intel to launch new Core i7 960 and Celerons
  28. ^ Intel Core i5-750, AnandTech, June 17, 2009
  29. ^ Intel Quietly Announces Core i5, Xtreview, June 26, 2009
  30. ^ Intel Xeon Processor 5000 SequenceTechnical Documents
  31. ^ Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series Datasheet Volume 2 (PDF), Intel, March 2009, retrieved May 1, 2009

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]