The Nehalem architecture is first time introduced in a processors by Intel named core i7. Core i7 is a 64 bit Quad Core Processor.
Its four cores enable multitasking with enhanced speed and decreases the chances of hanging the computer applications. That is why Core i7 is today’s one of the fastest processor. The code name of Nehalem’s 45 nm process is ‘Penryn’ which is fast enough for the corporate consumers.
Features of Nehalem Based Processor
This micro architecture is having an ‘on-die Memory Controller’. Nehalem also represents unprecedented processor performance and dynamic scalability. The die size of Nehalem is 263 mm2. This architecture is designed to acquire the advantage of Metal Gate Silicon Technology.
The Intel Nehalem has a parallel processing enabled by ‘Intel Quick Path Technology’ providing an integrated memory controller and high speed interconnect per independent processing core.
Being aware that four cores can consume maximum amount of energy, ‘Nehalem Processor Design’ has managed to save power, so it can be used in mobile technologies as well as in highly scalable, ultra high performance servers.
This is where the Nehalem comes in picture despite of being large size & more complex die, it is internally split into parts that in theory can be mixed and matched like simple building blocks.
Understanding Nehalem architecture
‘Not just power saving but also making efficient use of power drawn by CPU’ is the prime aim of Nehalem Processor.
Nehalem is capable of executing two or more threads at time that is called as ‘Hyper Threading’ (HT Technology). This HT Technology brings high-performance applications into mainstream computing, with 1-16+ thread is optimized for a next generation ‘Multi-Core’ processor architecture. ‘Multi-Level Shared Cache’ improves performance and efficiency by reducing the frequently used data. These chips are not compatible on ordinary motherboards. In Nehalem micro architecture the DDR3 RAM speed is up to 1600 MHz, while it has Triple Memory Channel.
The diversity for introducing these chips is for speed. As these are costlier than other chips, but they have sophisticated power saving modes as they can replace zero mode. These are one of the fastest processors in market till today known as Core i7
It’s not like older micro architectures were not sufficient, but Nehalem Processor have taken the processor technologies to a new level which is not only faster but also energy efficient.