The major feature of the Katmai core was SSE instruction set - 70 new SIMD instructions. These instructions were originally called KNI, or Katmai New Instructions. The SSE instructions could significantly improve performance of multimedia and graphics applications, but only if the applications were recompiled to take advantage of new instructions.
Another new "feature" of Pentium III processor was Processor Serial Number, or PSN. The PSN was unique for each Pentium III CPU, and it could be used to uniquely identify the computer. Due to privacy concerns this feature was by default disabled on many motherboards.
All CPUs with Katmai core were released during short period of time. First Pentium IIIs, running at speeds 450 and 500 MHz, were introduced in February of 1999. Just in 7 months, in September 1999, Intel released the latest and the fastest Katmai 600 MHz CPU with 133 MHz FSB.
To compare different versions of Pentium III CPUs please see Intel desktop Pentium III CPU chart.
Related Links
Architecture
Identification
Pinouts
Support chips
Pentium III family
At a glance
Introduction:
1999
Technology:
0.25 micron
Frequency (MHz):
450 - 600
L2 cache size (KB):
512
Intel Pentium III 400 - DC1EC501A400 KATMAI
400 MHz
512 KB L2 cache
Single Edge Contact cartridge (slot 1)
This early engineering sample of Pentium III processor is interesting for a few different reasons:
It was manufactured about 8 months before the launch of Pentium III family.
The processor is clocked at 400 MHz, and production version of Pentium 3 400 MHz was never officially released.
The processor has unusual part number. It's also curious that the "Katmai" core name is printed on the CPU next to the part number.
Intel Pentium III 400 - 80525PZ400512
400 MHz (133 MHz bus)
512 KB L2 cache
Single Edge Contact cartridge 2 (slot 1)
Produced later than the DC1EC501A400 CPU this engineering sample has very significant feature - 133 MHz front side. Increasing front side bus speed from 100 MHz to 133 MHz allowed to increase processor performance by 5% - 10% on average.
It's worth to note that this processor was manufactured almost 11 months before the release of first Katmai processors with 133 MHz bus speed
Socket 939
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| All CPU sockets |
Socket 939 is a PGA socket designed for desktop K8 microprocessors. The socket is primarily used with Athlon 64, Athlon 64 X2 and Athlon FX microprocessors. AMD also manufactured uni-processor single and dual-core Opteron processors for the socket 939, although these processors were just re-branded Athlon 64/64 X2 CPUs with larger level 2 cache. In addition to that small number (compared to the total number of processors for this socket) of socket 939 Sempron processors was produced for this socket.
The socket can be used with processors with internal frequencies from 1.8 GHz to 3 GHz, or with rated frequencies 3000+ - 4800+. All processors working in this socket have one HyperTransport link, dual-channel DDR memory controller, and support DDR-200 - DDR-400 unbuffered memory DIMMs.
Supported processors
Sempron / Sempron 64 (1.8 GHz - 2 GHz, or 3000+ - 3500+)
Athlon 64 (1.8 GHz - 2.4 GHz, or 3000+ - 4000+)
Athlon 64 X2 (2 GHz - 2.4 GHz, or 3800+ - 4800+)
Athlon 64 FX (FX-53 - FX-60)
Opteron (1.8 GHz - 3 GHz, or model 144 - model 156)
Dual-Core Opteron (1.8 GHz - 2.6 GHz, or model 165 - model 185)
There are no Intel or VIA processors compatible with this socket.
NOTE: Not all processors may be supported by all motherboards. Please see "Upgrading socket 939 motherboards" section below on how to determine what microprocessors can be supported by your motherboard.
Socket 7 (Socket7)
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| All sockets |
Socket 7 was introduced by Intel for it's Pentium 133 - 200 MHz processors and for Pentium MMX processor family. The major feature of the new socket was support for dual plane voltage - the socket could supply different voltages to processor core and I/O logic. At the same time, the socket 7 was backward compatible with socket 5, and it was possible to run older (single voltage) processors in socket 7 motherboards. For their next generation of processors Intel chose different socket type - slot 1, and completely abandoned socket 7. Luckily, Intel competitors continued to support socket 7 architecture, and they even enhanced it by creating a "Super socket 7" specification by adding support for 100 MHz bus frequency, backside L2 cache and frontside L3 cache.
Socket 7 has 321 pin holes arranged as 37 x 37 pin matrix. The socket has the same size as the Socket 5, but the socket 5 has only 320 pin holes. The extra pin on socket 7 processors is not electrically connected and it's main purpose is to prevent socket 7 processors to be inserted into socket 5 motherboards.
Supported processors
AMD K5 (75 MHz - 200 MHz)
AMD K6 (166 MHz - 300 MHz)
AMD K6-2 (200 MHz - 570 MHz, often requires 100 MHz bus support)
AMD K6-III (333 MHz - 550 MHz, often requires 100 MHz bus support)
Cyrix 6x86, 6x86L and 6x86MX (90 MHz - 266 MHz)
Cyrix MII (233 MHz - 433 MHz)
IBM 6x86, 6x86L and 6x86MX (90 MHz - 300 MHz)
IDT Winchip C6 (180 MHz - 240 MHz)
IDT Winchip 2 (200 MHz - 240 MHz)
Intel Pentium (non-MMX) (75 MHz - 200 MHz)
Intel Pentium MMX (166 MHz - 233 MHz)
Rise Technology MP6 (150 MHz - 366 MHz)
ST 6x86 (90 MHz - 166 MHz)
Compatible package types
296-pin staggered Plastic Pin Grid Array (PPGA)
296-pin staggered Ceramic Pin Grid Array (CPGA or SPGA)
296-pin Flip-Chip staggered Ceramic Pin Grid Array
321-pin ceramic Ping Grid Array (CPGA)
Upgrading socket 7 motherboards
Although many socket7 microprocessors will fit into your motherboard, not all of them may be supported by the board. To determine the fastest processor for your motherboard you'll need to:
- Determine manufacturer and model of your motherboard,
- Search on manufacturer's website for the motherboard model.
For upgrade information for ABIT, ASrock, ASUS, DFI, ECS, Gigabyte Technology, Jetway, MSI, PC Chips and Shuttle motherboards please check CPU-Upgrade motherboard database.
