Intel Centrino Mobile Technology

Seminar Report ’03 Intel Centrino Mobile Technology

Dept. of CSE MESCE, Kuttippuram 1

1. INTRODUCTION

Intel is expanding its history of innovations with new

notebook PC capabilities designed specifically for the mobile

world. This technology allows users to work, play and connect

without wires and choose from a whole new world of thin and

light notebook PCs that are designed to enable extended

battery life.

This new innovative technology delivers breakthrough

mobile performance and low power enhancements to enable

extended battery life in notebook PCs, combined with

integrated wireless LAN capability and standards based

security support.

With Intel®Centrino mobile technology, three

components work together to deliver a breakthrough in

freedom and capability-to work , learn and play on the go,

these components include;

Intel®Pentium® M Processor

Intel® 855 chipset family

Intel®PRO/Wireless network connection

The Intel Pentium M processor is offered at speeds of

1.30 GHz, 1.40 GHz, 1.50 GHz, 1.60 GHz and 1.70 GHz. In the

Highest Frequency Mode(HFM), the notebook PCs can achieve



high performance on the most complex business and Internet

applications. The lowest frequency mode (LFM) speed on all

processor is 600 MHz which reduces power consumption and

enables extended battery life. The on demand performance

switches between HFM,LFM and intermediate Enhanced Intel

SpeedStep technology operating points based on user needs,

optimizing application performance and batterylife.

When an Intel Pentium M processor is used in

conjunction with the Intel® 855 chipset, the resulting platform

provides reliable , balanced performance for today’s

mainstream notebook PCs, with head room to remain

productive as new applications emerge. The Intel® 855 chipset

family offers support for DDR memory technology and offers a

system bus frequency of 400 MHz.

The integrated Wi-Fi Certified Intel PRO/wireless 2100

network connection has been validated to work with all of the

Intel Centrino Mobile Technology components and is

interoperable with 802.11b Wi-Fi certified access points. It

supports industry standards- based wireless LAN security such

as 802.1x, WEP and WPA. Intel PRO/ wireless 2100 network

connection also supports WLAN security enhancements for

CISCO compatible extensions on certain models. Subject to PC

manufactures availability and validation this enables

interoperability with CISCO Aironet wireless LAN

infrastructure. For comprehensive security support The Intel



PRO/ 2100 network connection has been verified with leading

VPN suppliers like CISCO, Microsoft, Intel and CheckPoint.

Notebook PC performance does not depend on the

microprocessor alone. Hardware and software system

components such as the Operating Systems, the Graphics and

the IO subsystems, application software, and memory may

significantly affect performance results. For this reason this

report illustrates Intel Centrino Mobile Technology and its

performance on a consistent PC configuration.



2. THE INTEL PENTIUM M PROCESSOR

The Intel Pentium M Processor is designed with a mobile

optimized architecture that delivers advanced performance at

very low power.

The highlights of the Intel Pentium M Processor:

Available at 1.3 GHz, 1.4 GHz, 1.4 GHz, 1.6 GHz, 1.7

GHz.

Supported by the Intel 855 chipset family.

Featuring a high performance, low power mobile

optimized micro architecture.

On-die, primary 32KB instruction cache and 32KB write-

back data cache.

On-die, 1MB level-2 cache with Advanced Transfer

Cache Architecture.

Advanced power management including enhanced Intel

speed step technology support with multiple operating

points.

Fully compatible with existing Intel architecture based

software.

Streaming SIMD Extension 2.

Intel MMX media enhancement technology.

Available in Micro FCPGA and micro FCBGA packages.



Based upon Intel’s advanced 0.13maufacturing

process.

3. INTEL PENTIUM M PROCESSOR PRODUCT

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

The Intel Pentium M Processor micro-architecture is

optimized for high performance and low power. It includes a

number of features including Enhanced Intel SpeedStep

technology support, a high performance power optimized

400MHZ system bus, 32KB level1 instruction and data cache,

1MB level 2 advanced transfer cache , streaming SIMD

Extension 2 support and advanced thermal monitoring

capabilities. These features and resulting benefits are

described in more detail below:

High performance and low power core

The Intel Pentium processor features a high performance

core architecture that uses techniques like Micro–op fusion

and Advanced Stack Management to maximize performance.

Micro-op fusion combines micro-ops derived from the same

macro-op. Advanced Stack Management reduces the number of

micro-ops in the stack related operations by tracking relative

stack pointer changes locally. Reduction in the number of

micro-ops results in more efficient scheduling and better

performance at lower power. The Intel Pentium M Processor



core can operate at very low voltages and use advanced

techniques to minimize clock and signal switching resulting in

very low power dissipation in the active state. The processor

features dynamic power management states that consists of

Stop Grant, Sleep, Deep Sleep, and Deeper Sleep Alert states

that allow the processor to quickly enter and exit from these

states to provide fast responsiveness and significant power

savings.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology

The Intel Pentium M processor features Enhanced Intel

SpeedStep® technology. Unlike previous implementations of

Intel SpeedStep technology, this technology enables the

processor to switch between multiple frequency and voltage

points instead of two. This will enable superior performance

with optimal power savings. Switching between states is

software controlled unlike previous implementations where the

GHI# pin is used to toggle between two states. The following

are the key features of Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology:

Multiple voltage/frequency operating points provide

optimal performance at the lowest power.

Voltage/Frequency selection is software controlled by

writing to processor MSR’s (Model Specific Registers)

thus eliminating chipset dependency.



The processor controls voltage ramp rates internally to

ensure glitch free transitions.

Low transition latency and large number of transitions

possible per second.

No bus master arbiter disable required prior to transition

and no processor cache flush necessary.

Improved Intel Thermal Monitor mode.

400 MHz System Bus with low power features

The Intel Pentium M processor supports Intel’s highest

performance mobile system bus by delivering 3.2 GB of data

per second into and out of the processor .this is accomplished

through a physical signaling scheme of quad pumping the data

transfers over a 100-MHz clocked system bus and a buffering

scheme allowing for sustained 400-MHz data transfer .the

system bus features the following low power enhancement:

Low voltage swing

Intelligent disabling of data, address and control signal

buffers

Dynamic on-die termination disabling

32KB Level 1 Instruction and Data Caches



Both instruction and data Caches on the Intel Pentium

processor are 32KB in size. Large L1 caches provide fast access

to critical instructions and data, resulting in very high

performance.

1MB Level 2 Advanced Transfer Cache

The Level 2 Advanced Transfer Cache (ATC) is 1MB in

size and delivers an extremely high data throughput channel

between the level 2 Cache and the processor core. The

Advanced Transfer Cache transfers data on each core clock.

Features of the ATC include:

Non-blocking, full speed, on-die Level 2 Cache

8-way set associativity

data clocked into and out of the cache every clock cycle

Advanced Branch Prediction and Data Prefetching

The Intel Pentium M processor features an advanced

branch prediction architecture that combines three types of

predictors –Global, Bi-Modal and Loop Detector. The processor

automatically selects the most optimal algorithm to use,

significantly reducing the number of mis-predicted branches.

The processor also features an advanced data prefetcher that

can track up to 8 upstream and 4 downstream operations

simultaneously. Data is perfected from main memory to the L2



cache in advance, resulting in higher performance by reducing

the need to access system memory.



Streaming SIMD Extensions 2(SSE2)

The Intel Pentium M processor supports the complete

SSE2 instruction set. These instructions include 128-bit SIMD

integer arithmetic and 128-bit SIMD double-precision floating-

point operations. These instructions reduce the overall number

of instructions required to execute a particular program task

and as a result can contribute to an overall performance

increase.

Features used for test and performance/thermal

monitoring

Built in Self test (BIST) provides single stuck at fault

coverage of the micro code and large logic arrays, as well as

the testing of the instruction cache, data cache, translation

look aside buffers(TLBs) and ROMs.

IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port and boundary scan

mechanism enables testing of the Intel Pentium M

Processor and system connections through a standard

interface.

Internal performance counters can be used for performance

monitoring and event counting.



Includes an on–die thermal diode and Intel thermal monitor

feature for thermal management purpose. The Intel

Pentium M processor features a new thermal monitor mode

which uses Enhanced Intel Speed Step technology instead

of clock control. This technique achieves efficient thermal

management with minimal performance impact.

The Intel Pentium M processor has a maximum junction

temperature (TJ) specification of 100 degree Celsius.



4. INTEL 855PM CHIPSET PRODUCT FEATURE

HIGHLIGHTS

As the next step in the evolution of Intel Hub

architecture for note book PCs using Intel Centrino mobile

technology, the Intel 855 PM Chipset was designed in tandem

with the Intel Pentium M processor.

The Intel 855 PM memory controller hub delivers

support for either PC 1600 and PC 2100 DDR memory

technology and a 400 MHz system bus , providing the latest

graphics support through 1.5 v ADP4X technology. Together

these features deliver the highest total bandwidth capabilities

to the PC platform. The enhanced 82801 DBM I/O Controller

Hub 4 (ICH4-M) delivers twice the I/O bandwidth over

traditional bridge architecture and provides dedicated data

path to fully optimize the additional bandwidth. The ICH4-M

makes a direct connection from the graphics and memory for

faster access to peripherals and provides the features and

bandwidth required for a high performance note book PC.

In addition to advanced application support , the Intel

855 chipset was designed with the following features to

enhance the end-user experience:



400MHz system bus delivers a high bandwidth connection

between the Intel Pentium M processor and the platform

The DDR channel memory delivers up to 2.1 GB per second

of memory bandwidth to the processor. High memory

bandwidth, coupled with an efficient protocol, deliver a

balanced platform support and provide the memory

bandwidth necessary to extract the highest performance

from the Intel Pentium M processor.

AGP4X interface allows graphics controllers to access main

memory over 1 GB/s, twice that of previous AGP platform

Support for high speed USB 2.0 with backward

compatibility with USB 1.1

AC97 2.2 interface with support for a third codec to provide

20 bit resolution. The latest AC97 audio delivers six

channels of audio for enhanced sound quality and full

surround sound capability for live broadcast and other

digital dashboard programming.

LAN Connect Interface (LCI) provides flexible network

solutions such as home phone line, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet,

and 10/100Mbps Ethernet with LAN manageability.

Dual Ultra ATA-100 controllers support the fastest IDE

interface for transfer to storage devices.

Support for ACPI-defined power states C1-C4, S1, S3-S5.

Support for enhanced Intel Speed Step Technology.

Support for ―deeper sleep‖ power state.

Allows wake up from sleep states S1-S4.



The 855PM Chipset is designed for low power and great

performance supporting architectural features for power

reduction techniques including:

Chipset MCH core voltage reduced to 1.2V for reduced

power consumption

Management of DDR SO-DIMM (platform) power by using

aggressive use of CKE Power-Down when memory interface

is idle and enhancement of per-bank page-closing policy for

the memory interface.

Management of Intel 855PM MCH DDR I/O power with

aggressive tri-stating of control signals when not needed

and partial drive of command signals when possible and

including during idle cycles reducing toggle rates of control

line.

Support for DDR Read Throttling via External Thermal

Sensor to prevent memory overheating, disabling of I/O

buffers and DDLs when possible, turning off Hub interface

and Host PLLs also add to increased power savings for the

855PM chipset.

Some of the features added to the Intel 855PM Chipset

design to boost MCH performance include:

Significant timing improvements to allow a robust DDR266

channel with a combination of significant logic changes and

I/O changes.

Shorter memory refresh sequence with shorter memory

controller queues provides additional bandwidth.

Reduction in page miss occurrences due to significant

improvements in page closing algorithms



5. INTEL PRO /WIRELESS 2100 NETWORK

CONNECTION

To access the Internet wirelessly, a laptop uses radio

signals to communicate with a wireless LAN via base band

circuitry, a media access controller, and a radio. (Centrino does

this with three chips.) A wireless LAN operates with one of two

IEEE standard protocols finalized in 1997 and differing in data

rate and signal frequency. The two standards are the 802.11a

and 802.11b, the latter often called Wi-Fi. The 802.11a

operates at 5 GHz and can transmit data at up to 54 Mb/s.

The 802.11b operates at 2.4 GHz and transmits data at 11

Mb/s. The two protocols are not compatible: a laptop equipped

with 802.11b circuitry alone cannot access the Internet at a

hotspot running 802.11a. A newer protocol, IEEE 802.11g, is

being finalized and should be out this summer. It has the same

data rate as 802.11a but operates on the same frequency as

802.11b and is compatible with it.

According to Shane Rau, senior research analyst at

International Data Corp. (Framingham, Mass.), Centrino’s

success, at least initially, will not be due to its wireless

component. First, it uses separate chips for the 802.11b base

band and media access controller functions, whereas many

companies combine them on the same chip, and so are able to

provide a more compact two-chip set that includes the radio.

Second, although dual-band a+b chips are being sold by



Intersil Corp. (Irvine, Calif.), Atheros Communications Inc.

(Sunnyvale, Calif.), and others, Intel’s chips contain only the

radio for 802.11b and not the one for 802.11a. So a Centrino-

based machine can access the Internet only at 802.11b

hotspots. ―The consensus is that to be competitive, you at least

need a dual-band solution,‖ says Rau.

Another source of dismay may well be that only one of

the three chips, the media access controller, was designed and

built by Intel. IDC’s Ken Furer told IEEE Spectrum that Intel’s

original plan was to develop its own 802.11a+b chipset as a

part of Centrino. ―However, it was apparent Intel was still

having some problems with the 802.11a RF component, so

they launched Centrino in a tiered approach.‖ The current

version uses an 802.11b base band chip that incorporates a

good deal of intellectual property from Symbol Technologies

Inc. (Holtsville, N.Y.) and is manufactured by Texas

Instruments Inc. (Dallas). Intel is buying 802.11b radio chips

from Royal Philips Electronics NV (Amsterdam, the

Netherlands).

According to Intel spokesperson Howard High, the

company had built 802.11a radio ICs before the Centrino

launch, but decided it needed more time to ensure the chip

lived up to Intel’s reliability and quality standards. The RF

circuitry for 802.11a should be ready by midyear. The 802.11a

base band circuitry is already part of the media access

controller chip.



Highlights of the Intel PRO/ wireless 2100 network connection

include:

Single band support ,providing the ability to connect to

802.11b networks

Industry standards and extended wireless security

support(WEP,802.1X and Cisco LEAP)

Available Intel PROSet software with advanced profile

management support, allows multiple setup profiles to

connect to different WLAN networks

Available Intel PROSet software with automatic WLAN

switching support enables automatic switching between

wired and wireless LAN connections

Available Intel PROSet software supports

Cisco*,Checkpoint*,Microsoft* and Intel VPN connections

Intel Wireless Coexistence system support enables

reduced interfernce between PRO /Wireless and

Bluetooth* devices

Per-packet antenna section enables optimized WLAN

performance

Intel Intelligent Scanning Technology, reduces power by

controlling the frequency of scanning for access points

Power Save Protocol(PSP) is a user selectable feature with

five different power states, which allows the user to make

their own power versus performance choice when in

battery mode.



6. PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

Mobile Experience- Mobile Mark *2002

Mobile Mark *2002 is used to evaluate notebook PC user

experience by measuring both performance and battery life at

the same time on the same workload. Mobile Mark *2002 is a

tool that measures notebook PC performance on popular

business- oriented applications in Microsoft* Windows*

operating environment. The productivity usage model provides

computations representing today’s business users using

popular Office productivity and content creation applications.

This usage model reports a performance score and a battery

life score.

The productivity workload of Mobile Mark *2002

consists of emerging usage model and popular productivity

applications including;

Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1

Macromedia Flash 5.0

McAfee Virus Scan 5.13

Microsoft Excel 2002

Microsoft Outlook 2002

Microsoft PowerPoint 2002

Netscape Communicator 6.0

WinZip 8.0



7. CONCLUSION

Although the wireless package is less than ideal,

Centrino shines at improving battery life and performance.

Power consumption is less than 60 percent that of the mobile

version of Intel’s Pentium IV, while performance is better by 15

percent, as measured by the notebook PC benchmark Mobile

Mark 2002.

These pluses are largely due to Centrino’s centerpiece,

the Pentium M processor, which was designed to save power by

weighing the benefits of each processor function against its

power consumption. Also, an enhanced version of Intel’s

Speed- Step technology, included in the processor, saves power

by stepping the operating voltage and frequency up or down to

match the processing demands of the application running on

the processor. Granted, previous Pentium mobile processors

have also included SpeedStep. But for the Pentium M,

designers have increased the number of steps over which

frequency and voltage can be varied, to better match processor

speeds to the needs of the application.

Power is also saved by turning off clocks and circuits

when they are not needed and running the secondary on chip

cache more slowly than the processor. All told, then, laptop

batteries can last much longer on a single charge. For example,

Robert Enochs, IBM’s product manager for the T-series



ThinkPad, told Spectrum that the company’s Centrino- based

T40 can run up to 5.5 hours on a single charge of the standard

T40 battery—almost three times the battery life of previous

models. An optional high-capacity battery gives 7.2 hours of

use, which can be extended a further 2.5 hours by plugging a

second battery into the computer’s peripheral bay. The low

power consumption can also do away with the need for fans,

allowing notebook makers to design slimmer, lighter

notebooks.



8. REFERENCES



ABSTRACT

Intel announced a new brand name for its next

generation mobile processor technology: Centrino. It was

designed to help manufactures to build notebooks that use less

power and offer extended battery life along with better wireless

networking facilities. Centrino family will also include

supporting chipsets and wireless radio modules designed to

allow new notebooks to use 802.11 wireless networking. The

Pentium–M Chip runs at speed of about 1.4 GHz. Centrino

extends its performance by adding features extended battery

life and introducing enhanced speed step technology. The

performance is also increased by using large caches. A wide

range of notebook manufactures are expected to adopt the

Centrino technology in a multitude of so called thin and light

notebook models weighing 5 pounds or less.



CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Intel Pentium M processor

3. Intel Pentium M processor Product Feature highlights

4. Intel 855PM Chipset product feature highlights

5. Intel PRO /Wireless 2100 Network Connection

6. Performance Summary

7. Conclusion

8. Reference



ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I express my sincere thanks to Prof. M.N Agnisarman

Namboothiri (Head of the Department, Computer Science and

Engineering, MESCE), Mr. Sminesh (Staff incharge) for their

kind co-operation for presenting the seminar.

I also extend my sincere thanks to all other members

of the faculty of Computer Science and Engineering

Department and my friends for their co-operation and

encouragement.

ARUN SIDHAN

Intel Centrino Mobile Technology

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