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Microprocessor Intel x86 Evolution and Main Features

Microprocessor Intel x86 evolution and main features

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77 views

Microprocessor Intel x86 Evolution and Main Features

Microprocessor Intel x86 evolution and main features

Uploaded by

ezekiel nyamu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Microprocessor | Intel x86

evolution and main features

Intel x86 architecture has evolved over the years. From a 29, 000
transistors microprocessor 8086 that was the first introduced to a quad-
core Intel core 2 which contains 820 million transistors, the organization
and technology have changed dramatically. Some of the highlights of the
evolution of x86 architecture are:

1. 8080 – It was the world’s first general-purpose microprocessor. It


was an 8-bit machine, with an 8-bit data path to memory. It was
used in the first personal computer.
2. 8086 – It was a 16-bit machine and was far more powerful than the
previous one. It had a wider data path of 16-bits and larger registers
along with an instruction cache or queue that prefetches a few
instructions before they are executed. It is the first appearance of
8086 architecture. It has a real mode and an addressable memory
of 1 MB.
3. 80286 – It has an addressable memory of 16 MB instead of just 1
MB and contains two modes-real mode and first-generation 16-bit
protected mode. It has a data transfer width of 16-bits and a
programming model of 16-bits (16-bits general purpose registers
and 16-bit addressing).
4. 80386 – It was Intel’s first 32-bit machine. Due to its 32-bit
architecture, it was able to compete against the complexity and
power of microcomputers and mainframes introduced just a few
years earlier. It was the first processor to support multitasking and
contained the 32-bit protected mode. It also implemented the
concept of paging (permitted 32-bit virtual memory address to be
translated into 32-bit physical memory address). It has an
addressable physical memory of 4 GB and a data transfer width of
32 bits.
5. 80486 – It introduced the concept of cache technology and
instruction pipelining. It contained a write protect feature and
offered a built-in math co-processor that offloaded complex math
operations from the main CPU.
6. Pentium – The use of superscalar techniques was introduced as
multiple instructions started executing in parallel. The page size
extension (PSE) feature was added as a minor enhancement in
paging.
7. Pentium Pro – It used register renaming, branch prediction, data
flow analysis, speculative execution, and more pipeline stages.
Advanced optimization techniques in microcode were also added
along with level 2 cache. It implemented the second-generation
address translation in which a 32-bit virtual address is translated
into a 36-bit physical memory address.
8. Pentium II – It was able to process video, audio, and graphics data
efficiently by incorporating Intel MMX technology (multimedia data
set).
9. Pentium III – It contains SMD (streaming extensions) instructions
(SSE) and supports 3D graphics software. It has a maximum CPU
clock rate of 1.4 GHz and contained 70 new instructions.
10. Pentium 4 – It implements third-generation address
translation that translates a 48-bit virtual memory address to a 48-
bit physical memory address. It contains other floating point
enhancements for multimedia.
11. Core – It is the first Intel microprocessor with dual-core which
is the implementation of 2 processors on a single chip. There is an
addition of Visualizing Technology.
12. Core 2 – It extends the architecture to 64 bits and core 2
Quad provides four processors on a single chip. The register set, as
well as addressing modes, are 64 bits.

Comparison of major features of X-86 Family:

Pentiu
Microprocessor 8086 80286 80386 80486
m
The data bus (bits) 16 16 32 32 64
Address bus (bits) 20 24 32 32 32
Operating Speed
5 – 10 6 – 20 16 – 33 25- 50 50 – 100
MHz
Memory Capacity 1 MB 16 MB 4 GB 4 GB 4 GB
Memory Extern Extern Extern Interna
Internal
Management al al al l
PC – PC – PC – PC –
PC Type (IBM) PC – AT
XT AT AT AT
Extern Extern Extern Interna
Main Co-Processor Internal
al al al l
Introduction 1978 1982 1985 1989 1993

Advantages:

Compatibility: One of the key advantages of the x86 architecture is its


compatibility with older processors. This allows software developed for
older processors to run on newer x86 processors without modification,
which makes it easy to upgrade systems.
Performance: The evolution of x86 microprocessors has resulted in
significant improvements in performance. Each new generation of
processors has been faster and more efficient than the previous one,
which has enabled the development of more advanced applications and
technologies.

Versatility: The x86 architecture is used in a wide range of applications,


from personal computers to servers, embedded systems, and mobile
devices. This versatility has made it one of the most widely used
processor architectures in the world.

Broad Industry Support: The x86 architecture is supported by a large


ecosystem of hardware and software vendors. This broad industry support
has helped to drive innovation and development, resulting in a range of
products that are designed to work with x86 processors.

Disadvantages:

Complex Instruction Set: The x86 architecture has a complex


instruction set, which makes it difficult to optimize code for performance.
This complexity can also make it harder to debug software and hardware
issues.

Power Consumption: The evolution of x86 microprocessors has led to a


significant increase in power consumption. This has become a major issue
in mobile devices, where battery life is critical.

Heat Dissipation: As x86 processors have become more powerful, they


have also become hotter. This has led to the development of more
sophisticated cooling systems, which can add to the cost and complexity
of systems.

Cost: The x86 architecture is licensed by Intel, which can make it more
expensive than other processor architectures that are available. This can
be a significant barrier to entry for smaller hardware and software
vendors.

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