HP Vectra XU 6/XXX HP Vectra XU 6/xxx, Guide to Optimizing performance - Page 56

2 Technical Reference The Intel Pentium Pro Processor The Intel Pentium Pro Processor Your PC uses the latest development in x86 family processors, the Intel Pentium Pro. This processor implements a number of new features, such as superpipelining and an integrated level-two cache. It offers a performance that is almost twice that of a Pentium processor operating at the same external clock speed. Your PC is supplied with one Pentium Pro processor as standard, but also provides a socket for installation of a second Pentium Pro processor. If you are using an operating system that supports the Intel Multiprocessor Specification (MPS), you can improve your PC's processing performance by installing a second processor. Characteristics The Pentium Pro processor uses a 64-bit external data path and a 36-bit address bus. It integrates two 8 KB level-one cache memories (one for instructions, one for data) and a 256 KB level-two cache. Internally it uses three pipelines and five execution units for instruction execution. The table below summarizes the Pentium Pro's characteristics and compares them with those of the Intel Pentium processor. Data bus Address bus Level-one cache Level-two cache Superscalar design Execution units Branch prediction Speculative execution Out-of-order execution Intel Pentium Pro Intel Pentium 64-bit 64-bit 36-bit 32-bit 8 KB data, 8 KB instruction 8 KB data, 8 KB instruction 256 KB None Three-way Five Advanced dynamic Two-way Three Dynamic Yes No Yes No 50 English