Introduction; Terminology; Processor Terminology - Intel I7-900 DESKTOP PROCESSOR - DATASHEET VOLUME 2 Datasheet

Introduction

1
Introduction
The Intel
i7-900 desktop processor series are intended for high performance high-end desktop,
Uni-processor (UP) server, and workstation systems. The processor implements key
new technologies:
• Integrated Memory Controller
• Point-to-point link interface based on Intel
Reference to this interface may sometimes be abbreviated with Intel QPI
throughout this document.
Note: In this document the Intel
and Intel
This datasheet provides register descriptions for some of the registers located on the
processor.
The processor is optimized for performance with the power efficiencies of a low-power
microarchitecture to enable smaller, quieter systems.
The Intel
i7-900 desktop processor series are multi-core processors, based on 45 nm process
technology. Processor features vary by component and include up to two Intel
QuickPath Interconnect point to point links capable of up to 6.4 GT/s, up to 8 MB of
shared cache, and an integrated memory controller. The processors support all the
existing Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2), Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3)
and Streaming SIMD Extensions 4 (SSE4). The processor supports several Advanced
Technologies: Execute Disable Bit, Intel
Technology, Intel
Technology, and Hyper-Threading Technology.
1.1

Terminology

A '#' symbol after a signal name refers to an active low signal, indicating a signal is in
the active state when driven to a low level. For example, when RESET# is low, a reset
has been requested.
1.1.1

Processor Terminology

Commonly used terms are explained here for clarification:
• DDR3 — Double Data Rate 3 synchronous dynamic random access memory
(SDRAM) is the name of the new DDR memory standard that is being developed as
the successor to DDR2 SDRAM.
• Enhanced Intel SpeedStep
Technology allows trade-offs to be made between performance and power
consumption.
• Execute Disable Bit — Execute Disable allows memory to be marked as
executable or non-executable, when combined with a supporting operating system.
If code attempts to run in non-executable memory the processor raises an error to
the operating system. This feature can prevent some classes of viruses or worms
that exploit buffer over run vulnerabilities and can thus help improve the overall
Datasheet
®
Core™ i7-900 desktop processor Extreme Edition series and Intel
®
Core™ i7-900 desktop processor Extreme Edition series
®
Core™ i7-900 desktop processor series will be referred to as "the processor."
®
Core™ i7-900 desktop processor Extreme Edition series and Intel
®
Virtualization Technology (Intel
®
QuickPath Interconnect (Intel
®
64 Technology, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep
®
VT), Intel
®
Technology — Enhanced Intel SpeedStep
®
Core™
®
QPI).
®
Core™
®
®
Turbo Boost
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