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Pentium iii roadmap

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First post, by arncht

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Hi

I always try to build a period-correct PC, and I read a lot of related articles. However, there are some gaps in my knowledge, and I feel that the Wiki and CPU World also use incorrect dates in some cases. For example, the Pentium III roadmap. It seems to me that they had a planned roadmap and an emergency roadmap related to the direct competitor Athlon. These affect the available CPUs on the market.

Like... dates from the Wiki:

Feb 1999 - Pentium III 500 Katmai
May 1999 - 550
Jun 1999 - Athlon 600 (the clock war started)
Aug 1999 - P3 600. It uses 2.05v instead of 2v. I'm not sure if it was in the roadmap origially.
Oct 1999 - P3 Coppermine 700, 733 release
Dec 1999 - P3 800
March 2000 - 850, 866 (planned), 1000/133 (emergency)
May 2000 - 933 (planned)
Jun 2000 - 1100 (emergency)
Jul 2000 - 1133 (emergency)

1000/133 - It was initially released in limited quantities, available only to major OEMs for months. Practically, you could not purchase and build your own PC with this CPU until late 2000.

1133 slot1 - This CPU does not exist. In the middle of 2000, Intel could showcase selected CPUs with special microcodes to ensure stability.

Higher-clocked FCPGA CPUs - These were not available until late 2000 because Intel aimed to promote the 820 with RDRAM, and the 815 was only available with Socket 370.

Higher-clocked CPUs with 100 MHz FSB - The BX was also competing with RDRAM. They were delayed until late 2000; the highest-clocked 100 MHz CPU was the 850 since March.

So, this is a theory based on articles, and I haven't really found any clues regarding when and how the higher-clocked 100MHz and the FCPGA versions were released. Please help me find sources to clarify the dates. I am mostly interested in the top-of-the-line CPUs, such as:

1000/100 Slot1 (November 2000?)
1100/100 FCPGA (2001?)
1133/133 FCPGA (2001?)

It would make sense to me if Intel stopped blocking the faster, SDRAM-related CPUs (Slot1 with 100MHz and FCPGA) after the release of the Pentium 4 in November 2000, and these CPUs were available around this date on the market.

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Reply 1 of 9, by sysctl

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I think cpu-world.com already has that list: https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium-III/index.html
According to them, Pentium III 1000/100 Slot1 was released Mar 8, 2000: https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium- ... 0256).html
1100/100 was never released, as far as I know. There is no release date on either cpu-world or intel site.
1133/133 was also never released to the public, there is an interesting article on anandtech: https://www.anandtech.com/show/804

It was almost exactly one year ago that Intel released the first Pentium III running at 1.13GHz. Through the diligent efforts of Dr. Thomas Pabst of Tom’s Hardware and the cooperation of AnandTech and Kyle Bennett from HardOCP, it was discovered that the 1.13GHz Pentium III processor was not suited for release.

Since then, Intel hasn’t even attempted to re-launch the 1.13GHz Pentium III. What was so difficult about hitting 1.13GHz was that the Pentium III’s architecture, combined with the 0.18-micron manufacturing process that it was produced under, was unable to run reliably at 1.13GHz.

Reply 2 of 9, by MikeSG

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The wikipedia article has some information, similar to above.

The Coppermine core was unable to reliably reach the 1.13 GHz speed without various tweaks to the processor's microcode, effective cooling, higher voltage (1.75 V vs. 1.65 V), and specifically validated platforms.[8]
...
In benchmarks that were stable, performance was shown to be sub-par, with the 1.13 GHz CPU equalling a 1.0 GHz model. Tom's Hardware attributed this performance deficit to relaxed tuning of the CPU and motherboard to improve stability.[9] Intel needed at least six months to resolve the problems using a new cD0 stepping and re-released 1.1 GHz and 1.13 GHz versions in 2001.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Coppermine

"Coppermine T" using the D0 stepping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Coppermine_T

Coppermine T CPUs (800 - 1133MHz)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... 2_(180_nm)

On Intels site the SL5QK (1133MHz) doesn't correspond to a D0 stepping, on CPU-world it does. https://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL5QK.html

Dates are next to the CPUs in the wikipedia articles.

Reply 3 of 9, by dionb

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Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story:

- frequently there were 'paper releases' of CPUs only available to a few reviewers. Mass availability came months later sometimes many months.
- on release, all these CPUs were eye-wateringly expensive and only sold in small quantities to bleeding-edge people. Most of the sales happened later when prices had dropped to more reasonable levels.

So a lot of P3 Coppermine sales would have happened after release of Tualatin and Willamette when they were still overpriced, so say a P3-1000 would be a perfectly valid period-correct CPU for 2001. That also means that you'd find that same P3-1000 paired with say a GeForce2 GTS or even GeForce3 in new systems. Such a combination would also be period-correct.

Reply 4 of 9, by arncht

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sysctl wrote on 2024-04-14, 07:02:
I think cpu-world.com already has that list: https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium-III/index.html According to them, Pentium II […]
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I think cpu-world.com already has that list: https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium-III/index.html
According to them, Pentium III 1000/100 Slot1 was released Mar 8, 2000: https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium- ... 0256).html
1100/100 was never released, as far as I know. There is no release date on either cpu-world or intel site.
1133/133 was also never released to the public, there is an interesting article on anandtech: https://www.anandtech.com/show/804

It was almost exactly one year ago that Intel released the first Pentium III running at 1.13GHz. Through the diligent efforts of Dr. Thomas Pabst of Tom’s Hardware and the cooperation of AnandTech and Kyle Bennett from HardOCP, it was discovered that the 1.13GHz Pentium III processor was not suited for release.

Since then, Intel hasn’t even attempted to re-launch the 1.13GHz Pentium III. What was so difficult about hitting 1.13GHz was that the Pentium III’s architecture, combined with the 0.18-micron manufacturing process that it was produced under, was unable to run reliably at 1.13GHz.

later (in 2001?) the 1133/1100 also released on cumine base. the question when exactly? i found cpus just with 01 markings.

Last edited by arncht on 2024-04-14, 17:56. Edited 2 times in total.

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Reply 5 of 9, by arncht

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MikeSG wrote on 2024-04-14, 09:17:
The wikipedia article has some information, similar to above. […]
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The wikipedia article has some information, similar to above.

The Coppermine core was unable to reliably reach the 1.13 GHz speed without various tweaks to the processor's microcode, effective cooling, higher voltage (1.75 V vs. 1.65 V), and specifically validated platforms.[8]
...
In benchmarks that were stable, performance was shown to be sub-par, with the 1.13 GHz CPU equalling a 1.0 GHz model. Tom's Hardware attributed this performance deficit to relaxed tuning of the CPU and motherboard to improve stability.[9] Intel needed at least six months to resolve the problems using a new cD0 stepping and re-released 1.1 GHz and 1.13 GHz versions in 2001.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Coppermine

"Coppermine T" using the D0 stepping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III#Coppermine_T

Coppermine T CPUs (800 - 1133MHz)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_I ... 2_(180_nm)

On Intels site the SL5QK (1133MHz) doesn't correspond to a D0 stepping, on CPU-world it does. https://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SL5QK.html

Dates are next to the CPUs in the wikipedia articles.

i know about these dates, and some are not ok.

eg in march of 2000 the 1000/100 was nowhere:
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium- ... 0256).html

and the fcpga version is also does not exist:
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium- ... 0256).html
https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Pentium- ... 0256).html

the only ghz cpu, what released in march (it was much more a paper lunch), was the 1000/133 slot1 cpu. at the time the 800/100 was the highest clocked 100mhz version, the 850mhz released weeks later.

march
https://www.anandtech.com/show/510

Intel jumped straight from the Pentium III 800EB to the new 1GHz parts leaving a huge gap in clock speed, something that is completely irregular for Intel.

At this point in time, you can get both 133MHz FSB and 100MHz FSB Pentium III CPUs in speeds up to 750MHz in FC-PGA Socket-370 versions. The major reason for moving to FC-PGA Socket-370 is that it is cheaper for Intel to produce a socketed chip than it is for them to produce essentially the same chip but on a SECC2 card where most of the PCB space is wasted.

july
https://www.anandtech.com/show/594

The 1.13GHz part is another big sign from Intel that we’re not going to be seeing any more 100MHz FSB Pentium IIIs, leaving the fastest 100MHz FSB Pentium III at 850MHz.

My little retro computer world
Overdoze of the demoscene

Reply 6 of 9, by arncht

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dionb wrote on 2024-04-14, 12:26:
Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story: […]
Show full quote

Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story:

- frequently there were 'paper releases' of CPUs only available to a few reviewers. Mass availability came months later sometimes many months.
- on release, all these CPUs were eye-wateringly expensive and only sold in small quantities to bleeding-edge people. Most of the sales happened later when prices had dropped to more reasonable levels.

So a lot of P3 Coppermine sales would have happened after release of Tualatin and Willamette when they were still overpriced, so say a P3-1000 would be a perfectly valid period-correct CPU for 2001. That also means that you'd find that same P3-1000 paired with say a GeForce2 GTS or even GeForce3 in new systems. Such a combination would also be period-correct.

ok, let me do more precise... i am interesting, approximately when it was available in the shops. if i would have been a rich guy at those times, what i could build, if i want a top computer.

My little retro computer world
Overdoze of the demoscene

Reply 8 of 9, by VivienM

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arncht wrote on 2024-04-14, 15:46:
dionb wrote on 2024-04-14, 12:26:
Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story: […]
Show full quote

Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story:

- frequently there were 'paper releases' of CPUs only available to a few reviewers. Mass availability came months later sometimes many months.
- on release, all these CPUs were eye-wateringly expensive and only sold in small quantities to bleeding-edge people. Most of the sales happened later when prices had dropped to more reasonable levels.

So a lot of P3 Coppermine sales would have happened after release of Tualatin and Willamette when they were still overpriced, so say a P3-1000 would be a perfectly valid period-correct CPU for 2001. That also means that you'd find that same P3-1000 paired with say a GeForce2 GTS or even GeForce3 in new systems. Such a combination would also be period-correct.

ok, let me do more precise... i am interesting, approximately when it was available in the shops. if i would have been a rich guy at those times, what i could build, if i want a top computer.

Also depends on the definition of "shops". Some of the higher-clocked PIIIs went primarily to large OEMs (Dell, etc.) at launch...

Reply 9 of 9, by arncht

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VivienM wrote on 2024-05-05, 15:19:
arncht wrote on 2024-04-14, 15:46:
dionb wrote on 2024-04-14, 12:26:
Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story: […]
Show full quote

Consider that release date doesn't tell the whole story:

- frequently there were 'paper releases' of CPUs only available to a few reviewers. Mass availability came months later sometimes many months.
- on release, all these CPUs were eye-wateringly expensive and only sold in small quantities to bleeding-edge people. Most of the sales happened later when prices had dropped to more reasonable levels.

So a lot of P3 Coppermine sales would have happened after release of Tualatin and Willamette when they were still overpriced, so say a P3-1000 would be a perfectly valid period-correct CPU for 2001. That also means that you'd find that same P3-1000 paired with say a GeForce2 GTS or even GeForce3 in new systems. Such a combination would also be period-correct.

ok, let me do more precise... i am interesting, approximately when it was available in the shops. if i would have been a rich guy at those times, what i could build, if i want a top computer.

Also depends on the definition of "shops". Some of the higher-clocked PIIIs went primarily to large OEMs (Dell, etc.) at launch...

it is about the pc building, i am not interested in the branded pcs. months does not really matter, but eg the cd0 stepping coppermines are almost a years newer (~tualatin release) than the prime age of the coppermine, they are far from the best cpu title.

My little retro computer world
Overdoze of the demoscene