INTEL PENTIUM PROCESSOR

Major Attributes 

The Intel Pentium processor features a 32-bit address bus and a 64-bit data bus, operating at speeds ranging from 60 MHz to 233 MHz. It is upward software compatible with earlier Intel processors from the 8086/88 to the 486, ensuring easy upgradability. The Pentium includes advanced features typically found in mainframe computers, making it ideal for high-end desktop PCs, workstations, and file servers, particularly for tasks requiring high-speed computation, such as 3D graphics. The processor supports both traditional 4KB and larger 4MB memory pages and is well-suited for multiprocessing applications. Additionally, it maintains data integrity in multi-processor environments and can run advanced operating systems like UNIX. 

Advanced Design Features of PENTIUM 

1. Dual Pipelining architecture: It has two execution units with dual pipelined architecture, able to execute two instructions simultaneously per clock cycle and achieve a high level of performance. 
2. On-chip cache memory for instruction and data: The mismatch between CPU and main memory speeds is addressed by using high-speed cache memory. Cache stores frequently accessed programs and data, allowing the CPU to retrieve them quickly, enhancing system performance. Pentium processors feature 2x8KB on-chip cache memory, one for code and one for data, reducing the need to access slower main memory during loop execution, thus significantly improving processing efficiency.
3. Branch prediction: Here most likely set of instructions to be executed is predetermined. Using branch prediction, it makes an intelligent guess of the next conditional instruction, it prevents the instruction cache from running dry during conditional instruction.
4. High-performance floating-point unit: This µp has an on-chip floating point unit that incorporates highly sophisticated 7- stage pipelining and hardwired codes
5. Performance monitoring Processor design enables the user to monitor the performance of the processor.
6. 64-bit data bus Pentium has a wide 64-bit data bus which results in high speed data transfer.