Tukwila (processor)
Encyclopedia
Tukwila is the code-name for the generation of Intel's Itanium
processor family following Itanium 2 and Montecito
. It was released on 8 February 2010 as the Itanium 9300 Series. While its features have not been publicly disclosed in detail, it utilizes both multiple processor cores (multi-core
) and SMT
techniques. The engineers said to be working on this project are from the Alpha
project, specifically those who worked on the Alpha 21464
(EV8), which was focused on SMT.
Named for the city of Tukwila, Washington
, Tukwila was previously code-named Tanglewood. However the name coincides with the Tanglewood music festival
, and Intel renamed the project in late 2003.
The processor has two to four cores per die and up to 24 MB L3 of on-die cache.
They are the first batch of processors to contain more than 2 billion transistors on a single die., which is added up from :
Die size is 21.5×32.5 mm or 698.75 mm²
and Itanium processors, by introducing a new interconnect called Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QuickPath, previously known as Common System Interface or CSI). This ultimate endeavor would help reduce product development costs for both Intel and its partners, by allowing for greater reuse of components and manufacturing processes. Tukwila is reported to have four "full" QuickPath links and two "half" links.
Whitefield, the first Xeon processor to feature QuickPath, suffered significant project delays and was cancelled. Currently, the first Xeon MP processor to feature QuickPath is Beckton.
The released Itanium 9300-series processors are using a separate socket, LGA 1248
, which is incompatible with Xeon processors and motherboards.
More recently an Intel representative stated that Intel would maintain a two year development cycle for Itanium, implying Poulson would be released in Q1 2012.
Itanium
Itanium is a family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture . Intel markets the processors for enterprise servers and high-performance computing systems...
processor family following Itanium 2 and Montecito
Montecito (processor)
Montecito is the code-name of a major release of Intel's Itanium 2 Processor Family , which implements the Intel Itanium architecture on a dual-core processor. It was officially launched by Intel on July 18, 2006 as the "Dual-Core Intel Itanium 2 processor"...
. It was released on 8 February 2010 as the Itanium 9300 Series. While its features have not been publicly disclosed in detail, it utilizes both multiple processor cores (multi-core
Multi-core (computing)
A multi-core processor is a single computing component with two or more independent actual processors , which are the units that read and execute program instructions...
) and SMT
Simultaneous multithreading
Simultaneous multithreading, often abbreviated as SMT, is a technique for improving the overall efficiency of superscalar CPUs with hardware multithreading...
techniques. The engineers said to be working on this project are from the Alpha
DEC Alpha
Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors...
project, specifically those who worked on the Alpha 21464
Alpha 21464
The Alpha 21464 is an unfinished microprocessor that implements the Alpha instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation and later by Compaq after it acquired Digital. The microprocessor was also known as EV8 or Araña, the latter being its code-name...
(EV8), which was focused on SMT.
Named for the city of Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila, Washington
Tukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Tukwila was previously code-named Tanglewood. However the name coincides with the Tanglewood music festival
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, and Intel renamed the project in late 2003.
The processor has two to four cores per die and up to 24 MB L3 of on-die cache.
They are the first batch of processors to contain more than 2 billion transistors on a single die., which is added up from :
- core logicDigital circuitDigital electronics represent signals by discrete bands of analog levels, rather than by a continuous range. All levels within a band represent the same signal state...
— 430 million. - System interface — 157 million
- L3 cache — 1,420 million
- I/OInput/outputIn computing, input/output, or I/O, refers to the communication between an information processing system , and the outside world, possibly a human, or another information processing system. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system, and outputs are the signals or data sent from it...
logic — 39 million - Chip total — 2.046 billion
Die size is 21.5×32.5 mm or 698.75 mm²
Xeon compatibility
It has been publicly disclosed that Tukwila and its associated chipset would bring socket compatibility between Intel's XeonXeon
The Xeon is a brand of multiprocessing- or multi-socket-capable x86 microprocessors from Intel Corporation targeted at the non-consumer server, workstation and embedded system markets.-Overview:...
and Itanium processors, by introducing a new interconnect called Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QuickPath, previously known as Common System Interface or CSI). This ultimate endeavor would help reduce product development costs for both Intel and its partners, by allowing for greater reuse of components and manufacturing processes. Tukwila is reported to have four "full" QuickPath links and two "half" links.
Whitefield, the first Xeon processor to feature QuickPath, suffered significant project delays and was cancelled. Currently, the first Xeon MP processor to feature QuickPath is Beckton.
The released Itanium 9300-series processors are using a separate socket, LGA 1248
LGA 1248
LGA 1248 is an Intel CPU Socket for Itanium 9300-series processors. It replaces PAC611 used by Itanium 9100-series processors and adds Intel QuickPath Interconnect functionalities.-See also:* List of Intel microprocessors...
, which is incompatible with Xeon processors and motherboards.
Comparison table
| Model | Cores | Threads | Core Clock (GHz Hertz The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications.... ) |
Core Clock with Intel Turbo Boost (GHz Hertz The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications.... ) |
L3 Cache Cache In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere... (MiB Mebibyte The mebibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The binary prefix mebi means 220, therefore 1 mebibyte is . The unit symbol for the mebibyte is MiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2000 and has been accepted for use by all major... ) |
QPI speed (GT/s) | TDP (watts) | February 2010 Price | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9310 | 2 | 4 | 1.6 | N/A | 10 | 4.8 | 130 | $946 | Low power consumption |
| 9320 | 4 | 8 | 1.33 | 1.46 | 16 | 4.8 | 155 | $1,614 | Value |
| 9330 | 4 | 8 | 1.46 | 1.6 | 20 | 4.8 | 155 | $2,059 | Performance per watt |
| 9340 | 4 | 8 | 1.6 | 1.73 | 20 | 4.8 | 185 | $2,059 | Price performance |
| 9350 | 4 | 8 | 1.73 | 1.86 | 24 | 4.8 | 185 | $3,838 | Performance |
Successor
The successor is code-named Poulson. It was initially slated for a Q4 2009 release and said to have over four cores, most likely eight.More recently an Intel representative stated that Intel would maintain a two year development cycle for Itanium, implying Poulson would be released in Q1 2012.