Sandy Bridge

Intel demonstrated a Sandy Bridge processor with A1 stepping at 2 GHz during the Intel Developer Forum in September 2009.{{cite news |author= Anand Lal Shimpi |author-link= Anand Lal Shimpi |title=IDF 2009 – Intel Shows off 22nm & 32nm, Sandy Bridge Demoed |work=AnandTech |date= September 22, 2009 |url= http://www.anandtech.com/show/2842/ |access-date= November 11, 2011 }}

Upgraded features from Nehalem include:

• Intel Turbo Boost 2.0{{Cite web |url=http://www.hotchips.org/wp-content/uploads/hc_archives/hc23/HC23.19.9-Desktop-CPUs/HC23.19.921.SandyBridge_Power_10-Rotem-Intel.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-11-30 |archive-date=2019-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101143859/http://www.hotchips.org/wp-content/uploads/hc_archives/hc23/HC23.19.9-Desktop-CPUs/HC23.19.921.SandyBridge_Power_10-Rotem-Intel.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833-3.html|title=The System Agent And Turbo Boost 2.0|author=Chris Angelini|work=Tom's Hardware|date=3 January 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/turbo-boost/turbo-boost-technology.html|title=Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0|work=Intel}}
• 32 KB data + 32 KB instruction L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache per core{{cite web|last=Lal Shimpi|first=Anand|title=The Bulldozer Review: AMD FX-8150 Tested|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4955/the-bulldozer-review-amd-fx8150-tested/6|work=Anandtech|date=October 12, 2011}}
• Shared L3 cache which includes the processor graphics (LGA 1155)
• 64-byte cache line size
• New μOP cache, up to 1536-entry
• Improved 3 integer ALU, 2 vector ALU and 2 AGU per core{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/sandy-bridge/6/|title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture |website=RealWorldTech.com }}{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/sandy-bridge/10/|title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture |website=RealWorldTech.com }}
• Two load/store operations per CPU cycle for each memory channel
• Decoded micro-operation cache,{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/sandy-bridge/4/|title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture|website=RealWorldTech.com }} and enlarged, optimized branch predictor
• Sandy Bridge retains the four branch predictors found in Nehalem: the branch target buffer (BTB), indirect branch target array, loop detector and renamed return stack buffer (RSB). Sandy Bridge has a single BTB that holds twice as many branch targets as the L1 and L2 BTBs in Nehalem.{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/sandy-bridge/3/|title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture|website=RealWorldTech.com }}
• Improved performance for transcendental mathematics, AES encryption (AES instruction set), and SHA-1 hashing
• 256-bit/cycle ring bus interconnect between cores, graphics, cache and System Agent Domain
• Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) 256-bit instruction set with wider vectors, new extensible syntax and rich functionality{{cite web|url=http://www.realworldtech.com/sandy-bridge/6/|title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture|website=RealWorldTech.com }}
• Up to 8 physical cores, or 16 logical cores through hyper-threading (From 6 core/12 thread)
• Integration of the GMCH (integrated graphics and memory controller) and processor into a single die inside the processor package. In contrast, Sandy Bridge's predecessor, Clarkdale, has two separate dies (one for GMCH, one for processor) within the processor package. This tighter integration reduces memory latency even more.
• A 14- to 19-stage instruction pipeline, depending on the micro-operation cache hit or miss{{cite web

| url = http://www.anandtech.com/show/6355/intels-haswell-architecture/6

| title = Intel's Haswell Architecture Analyzed

| date = 2012-10-05 | access-date = 2013-10-20

| last = Lal Shimpi | first = Anand

| publisher = AnandTech

}}

• Increased ROB to 168 entries (From 128){{Cite web|title=Sandy Bridge (client) - Microarchitectures - Intel - WikiChip|url=https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/intel/microarchitectures/sandy_bridge_(client)|access-date=2021-02-09|website=en.wikichip.org|language=en}}
• Larger Scheduler buffer (54-entry, up from 26-entry)

:

: All translation lookaside buffers (TLBs) are 4-way associative.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

• Intel Quick Sync Video, hardware support for video encoding and decoding
• Integrated graphics is now integrated on the same die

• Integrated PCIe Controller

All Sandy Bridge processors with one, two, or four cores report the same CPUID model 0206A7h{{cite web|url=http://www.intel.com/support/processors/corei5/sb/CS-032059.htm?wapkw=%20specification%20update |title=Support for the Intel Core i5 Desktop Processor |publisher=Intel |website=Intel.com |date=2012-02-22 |access-date=2014-01-21}} and are closely related. The stepping number cannot be seen from the CPUID but only from the PCI configuration space. The later Sandy Bridge-E processors with up to eight cores and no graphics are using CPUIDs 0206D6h and 0206D7h.{{Cite web |url=http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/specification-update/core-i7-lga-2011-specification-update.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-12-21 |archive-date=2012-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304141641/http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/specification-update/core-i7-lga-2011-specification-update.pdf |url-status=dead }} Ivy Bridge CPUs all have CPUID 0306A9h to date, and are built in four different configurations differing in the number of cores, L3 cache and GPU execution units:

• The average performance increase, according to IXBT Labs and Semi Accurate as well as many other benchmarking sites, at clock to clock is 11.3% compared to the Nehalem generation, which includes Bloomfield, Clarkdale, and Lynnfield processors.{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/1|title=The Sandy Bridge Review: Intel Core i7-2600K, i5-2500K and Core i3-2100 Tested|author=Anand Lal Shimpi|work=anandtech.com|access-date=27 May 2015}}
• Around twice the integrated graphics performance compared to Clarkdale's (12 EUs comparison).

¹Processors featuring Intel's HD 3000 graphics are set in bold. Other processors feature HD 2000 graphics, HD graphics (Pentium and Celeron models) or no graphics core (Graphics Clock rate indicated by N/A).

• This list may not contain all the Sandy Bridge processors released by Intel. A more complete listing can be found on Intel's website.

{{cite web | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Sandy-Bridge-E-Series-Patsburg-Direct-Media-Interface-Core-i7-9-series,12179.html | title = Intel's Sandy Bridge E-Series in Q4 2011 | date = 2011-02-11 | access-date = 2011-02-13

| publisher = Tom's Hardware}}

{{cite web | url = http://www.anandtech.com/show/4291/additional-details-on-sandy-bridgee-processors-x79-and-lga2011 | title = Additional Details on Sandy Bridge-E Processors, X79, and LGA2011 | date = 2011-04-26 | access-date = 2011-04-30

| publisher = Anandtech}}

{{cite web |title= Products (Formerly Sandy Bridge) |publisher= Intel |work= Official product web site |url= https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/29900|access-date= November 11, 2011 }}

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Suffixes to denote:

• K – Unlocked (adjustable CPU ratio up to 57 bins)
• P – Versions clocked slightly higher than similar models, but with onboard-graphics deactivated
• S – Performance-optimized lifestyle (low power with 65W TDP)
• T – Power-optimized lifestyle (ultra low power with 35-45W TDP)
• X – Extreme performance and unlocked (adjustable CPU ratio with no ratio limit)
• C – Embedded/Communications - BGA packaging

NOTE: [https://ark.intel.com/products/70845 3970X], [https://ark.intel.com/products/63696 3960X], [https://ark.intel.com/products/63697 3930K], and [https://ark.intel.com/products/63698 3820] are actually of Sandy Bridge-E edition.

{{Main|Intel Sandy Bridge-based Xeon microprocessors}}All 1600/2600/4600-series models:

• support 40 PCI Express 3.0 lanes
• support DMI 2.0
• support LGA 2011 as a socket with varying scalabilities

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• L – Low power
• W – Optimized for workstations

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• Core i5-2515E and Core i7-2715QE processors have support for ECC memory and PCI express port bifurcation.
• All mobile processors, except Celeron and Pentium, use the HD 3000 (12 EUs) iGPU.

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Suffixes to denote:

• M – Mobile processors
• UM – Ultra low power mobile (dual-core)
• LM – Low power mobile (dual-core)
• M – Dual-core mobile
• QM – Quad-core mobile
• XM – Quad-core extreme mobile (unlocked clock multiplier)
• E – Embedded mobile processors
• QE – Quad-core
• LE – Low power
• UE – Ultra low power

On 31 January 2011, Intel issued a recall on all 67-series motherboards due to a flaw in the Cougar Point Chipset.{{cite web|url=http://www.sakhtafzarmag.com/news/digital-news-hardware/225-sandy-bridge.html|title=Sandy Bridge، راه حل‌ها، بازار ایران|author=محمد رضا پناهی|date=8 February 2011|work=سخت افزار: مشاوره و بررسی گجت های دیجیتال|access-date=27 May 2015}} A hardware problem exists, in which the chipset's SATA II ports may fail over time, causing failure of connection to SATA devices, though data is not at risk.{{cite web|website=Tom's Hardware|title=Intel Identifies Cougar Point Chipset Error, Halts Shipments|date=31 January 2011 |url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/cougar-point-sandy-bridge-sata-error,12108.html}} Intel claims that this problem will affect only 5% of users over 3 years; however, heavier I/O workloads can exacerbate the problem. This hardware bug cannot be fixed by BIOS update.

Intel stopped production of flawed B2 stepping chipsets and began producing B3 stepping chipsets with the silicon fix. Shipping of these new chipsets started on 14 February 2011 and Intel estimated full recovery volume in April 2011.{{cite press release|title=Intel Identifies Chipset Design Error, Implementing Solution |date=January 31, 2011 |publisher= Intel Corporation|url=http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2011/01/31/intel-identifies-chipset-design-error-implementing-solution}} Motherboard manufacturers (such as ASUS and Gigabyte Technology) and computer manufacturers (such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard) stopped selling products that involved the flawed chipset and offered support for affected customers. Options ranged from swapping for B3 motherboards to product refunds.{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12354263 | work=BBC News | title=Intel chip bug affects HP, Dell, Samsung and Lenovo | date=2011-02-03}}{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-intel-hp-idUKTRE7118OL20110202 | work=Reuters | title=HP to offer refund for PCs with flawed Intel chip | date=2011-02-02}}

Sandy Bridge processor sales were temporarily on hold, as one cannot use the CPU without a motherboard. However, processor release dates were not affected.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/218919/intel_to_ship_dualcore_sandy_bridge_chips_on_feb_20.html|title=Intel to Ship Dual-core Sandy Bridge Chips on Feb. 20|date=7 February 2011|work=PCWorld|access-date=27 May 2015}} After two weeks, Intel continued shipping some chipsets, but manufacturers had to agree to a set of terms that will prevent customers from encountering the bug.{{cite web|url=http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/general/1282684/intel-to-continue-shipping-flawed-sandy-bridge-chipsets|title=Intel to continue shipping flawed Sandy Bridge chipsets|work=Expert Reviews|access-date=27 May 2015}}

With Sandy Bridge, Intel has tied the speed of every bus (USB, SATA, PCI, PCIe, CPU cores, Uncore, memory etc.) to a single internal clock generator issuing the basic {{nowrap|100 MHz}} Base Clock (BClk).{{citation |title=Intel to limit Sandy Bridge Overclocking |publisher=Bit-Tech |date=July 22, 2010 |url= http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2010/07/22/intel-to-limit-sandy-bridge-overclocking/1}} With CPUs being multiplier locked, the only way to overclock is to increase the BClk, which can be raised by only 5–7% without other hardware components failing. As a work around, Intel made available K/X-series processors, which feature unlocked multipliers; with a multiplier cap of 57 for Sandy Bridge.{{cite news |author= Anand Lal Shimpi |title=Intel's Sandy Bridge Architecture Exposed |page=8 |work=AnandTech |date= September 14, 2010|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/3922/intels-sandy-bridge-architecture-exposed/ |access-date= November 11, 2011 }} For the Sandy Bridge-E platform, there is alternative method known as the BClk ratio overclock.{{cite web|url=http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=874&Itemid=63&limit=1&limitstart=14 |title=Intel Core i7-3820 Extreme Edition CPU | Intel, Core i7-3820, CPU, Extreme Edition, Desktop, Processor, BX80619i73820, Benchmarks, Performance, Tests, Hank Tolman, Intel Core i7-3820 CPU Extreme Edition Desktop Processor BX80619i73820 Benchmark Performance Tests by Hank Tolman |publisher=Benchmarkreviews.com |date=2012-03-05 |access-date=2014-01-21}}

During IDF (Intel Developer Forum) 2010, Intel demonstrated an unknown Sandy Bridge CPU running stably overclocked at 4.9 GHz on air cooling.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKGnaTrxS_k |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104154742/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=hKGnaTrxS_k |archive-date=2011-01-04 |url-status=dead|title=YouTube|work=youtube.com|access-date=27 May 2015}}{{cite news |title=IDF Intel 2010: Intel Overclocks Sandy Bridge CPU to 4.9 GHz, outpaces 12-core AMD Opteron |publisher=ZDNet |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/computers/idf-intel-2010-intel-overclocks-sandy-bridge-cpu-to-49ghz-outpaces-12-core-amd-opteron/3863 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921044844/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/computers/idf-intel-2010-intel-overclocks-sandy-bridge-cpu-to-49ghz-outpaces-12-core-amd-opteron/3863 |archive-date=2010-09-21 }}

Non-K edition CPUs can overclock up to four bins from its turbo multiplier. {{Crossreference|See {{Section link|LGA 1155|Sandy Bridge family of chipsets}} for chipset support.}}

{{main|Intel vPro|Intel Active Management Technology}}

Sandy and Ivy Bridge processors with vPro capability have security features that can remotely disable a PC or erase information from hard drives. This can be useful in the case of a lost or stolen PC. The commands can be received through 3G signals, Ethernet, or Internet connections. AES encryption acceleration will be available, which can be useful for video conferencing and VoIP applications.{{cite news |last=Hachman |first=Mark |title=Intel's 'Sandy Bridge' Chip to Include vPro Business Features |publisher=PC Magazine |date=2010-09-14 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369110,00.asp}}{{cite web |title=Intel vPro Technology |publisher=Intel |url=http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/vpro/vpro-technology-general.html}}

{{main|Intel Insider}}

Sandy and Ivy Bridge processors contain a DRM technology that some video streaming web sites rely on to restrict use of their content. Such web sites offer 1080p streaming to users with such CPUs and downgrade the quality for other users.{{cite web |title=Intel Insider|publisher=Intel |url=http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2011/01/intel_insider_-_what_is_it_no/}}

With the introduction of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, Intel also introduced the Intel Data Plane Development Kit (Intel DPDK) to help developers of communications applications take advantage of the platform in packet processing applications, and network processors.Rick Merritt, [http://www.electronics-eetimes.com/en/intel-targets-data-plane-with-comms-soc.html?cmp_id=7&news_id=222911297 Intel targets data plane with comms Soc], EE Times, February 2012

Intel demonstrated the Haswell architecture in September 2011, released in 2013 as the successor to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge.{{cite news |title= Haswell chip completes Ultrabook 'revolution' |work=The Circuits Blog |first=Brooke |last=Crothers |publisher= CNET.com |date= September 14, 2011 |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-20106098-64/haswell-chip-completes-ultrabook-revolution/ |access-date= November 11, 2011 }}

In 2015, Microsoft released a microcode update for selected Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPUs for Windows 7 and up that addresses stability issues. However, the update negatively impacts Pentium G3258 and Core i3-4010U CPU models.{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/3064209/june-2015-intel-cpu-microcode-update-for-windows|title=June 2015 Intel CPU microcode update for Windows|access-date=2020-11-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/373034-june-2015-microcode-update-intel-processors-windows.html|title=Windows 7: June 2015 microcode update for Intel processors in Windows|access-date=2020-11-07}}{{cite web|url=https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1134840-windows-update-kb3064209-g3258-4010u|title=Windows update KB3064209 (G3258 & 4010U)|access-date=2020-11-07}}

{{Portal|Electronics}}

• List of Intel CPU microarchitectures
• List of Macintosh models grouped by CPU type

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url= http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Intel-Core-i72600K-and-i52500K-Processors-Debut/ |title= Intel Core i7-2600K and i5-2500K Processors Debut |author= Marco Chiappetta |publisher= HotHardware.com |date= January 2, 2011 |access-date= January 2, 2011}}
• {{cite web|url= http://www.realworldtech.com/page.cfm?ArticleID=RWT091810191937&p=1 |title= Intel's Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture |author= David Kanter |publisher= realworldtech.com |date= September 25, 2010 |access-date= December 16, 2010}}
• {{cite web|url= http://realworldtech.com/page.cfm?ArticleID=RWT080811195102 |title= Intel's Sandy Bridge Graphics Architecture |author= David Kanter |publisher= realworldtech.com |date= August 8, 2011 |access-date= November 4, 2011}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Inside-the-Intel-Sandy-Bridge-Microarchitecture/1161/1 |title= Inside the Intel Sandy Bridge Microarchitecture |author= Gabriel Torres |publisher= hardwaresecrets.com |date= December 30, 2010 |access-date= January 16, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110928085139/http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Inside-the-Intel-Sandy-Bridge-Microarchitecture/1161/1 |archive-date= September 28, 2011 }}
• {{cite web|url= http://www.missingremote.com/review/intel-sandy-bridge-core-i5-2500k-and-dh67bl-motherboard

|title= Intel Sandy Bridge: Core i5-2500K and DH67BL Motherboard |author= Andrew Van Til |publisher= www.missingremote.com |date= January 3, 2011 |access-date= January 3, 2011}}

• {{cite web|url= http://www.hotchips.org/wp-content/uploads/hc_archives/hc23/HC23.19.9-Desktop-CPUs/HC23.19.911-Sandy-Bridge-Lempel-Intel-Rev%207.pdf |title= 2nd Generation Intel Core Processor Family: Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 |author= Oded Lempel |publisher= www.hotchips.org |date= July 28, 2013 |access-date= January 21, 2014 }}

{{commons category}}

• Official Intel homepages for:
• [https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/29900/Sandy-Bridge Sandy Bridge]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121025075158/https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/47514/Sandy-Bridge-E Sandy Bridge-E]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131014110935/https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/33169/Sandy-Bridge-EN Sandy Bridge-EN]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140123052138/https://ark.intel.com/products/codename/33170/sandy-bridge-ep Sandy Bridge-EP]
• [http://software.intel.com/avx/ Intel's AVX page] (Fetched Oct 9, 2012)

{{Intel processors|bridge}}

{{IntelProcessorRoadmap}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandy Bridge}}

Category:Intel x86 microprocessors

Category:Computer-related introductions in 2011

Category:Intel microarchitectures

Category:X86 microarchitectures