PT KONTAK PERKASA - Intel on Monday introduced its next-generation Pentium Silver and Celeron platform and processors. These processors are under the codename 'Gemini Lake' and are focused on low-power platforms for inexpensive desktops and mobile computers. PT KONTAK PERKASA - The new Gemini Like SoCs feature improved CPU cores over the previous generation, an enhanced media decoding/encoding engine, and a new display pipeline. Intel promises to offer higher performance than predecessors while consuming about 6 W or 10 W, depending on the application. The higher-end Gemini Lake SKUs will be sold under the Pentium Silver brand, whereas the entry-level models will carry the Celeron name. The Platform Gemini Lake is Intel’s third-generation low-power SoC made using the company’s 14 nm manufacturing technology. On a high level, the Gemini Lake is an evolution of the Apollo Lake launched last year, but under the hood, there is a number of differences that seem important. The relative maturity of fabrication process would be expected to allow Intel to increase transistor budget of the new chip without decreasing yields, thus enabling higher performance and a potentially an improved feature set. Intel’s Gemini Lake SoC is based on up to four Goldmont Plus x86 cores that feature a three-wide issue architecture and supports:
The GLM+ cores inside Gemini Lake SoCs are accompanied by 4 MB of L2 cache, which we believe is a last level unified cache (Intel doesn't actually confirm this), but is double from the Apollo Lake design. The enlarged cache can positively affect performance in various applications - as a rule of thumb doubling a cache cuts the miss rate by the square root of 2 (41%) at the expense of latency and power, but we don’t expect dramatic increases in performance compared to Apollo Lake across the board. The new SoCs operate at about the same frequencies as their predecessors. Intel says that the new Pentium Silver N5000/J5005 processors are 58-68% faster than the Pentium N3540/J2900 chips (Bay Trail platform featuring the Silvermont architecture, three generations old) in SYSMark 2014 SE. The improvement looks significant, especially keeping in mind rather high clocks of the Bayview SoCs, but is not completely surprising. The older Silvermont cores features a two-wide issue architecture, were equipped with smaller caches and featured a single-channel (64-bit) DDR3 memory controller - the new Gemini Lake platform is also more energy efficient than the Bay Trail platform introduced nearly four years ago because of architectural innovations and a thinner process technology. We yet have to test the new Gemini Lake-based products ourselves to find out real-world performance benefits brought by the enlarged cache, but at this time we have to report what Intel gives us.
Video and MemoryWhen it comes to graphics, the Gemini Lake uses the same iGPU as Apollo Lake but with updated features: the Gen9LP core with up to 18 EUs running at 250 – 800 MHz frequency and supporting the Direct3D Feature Level 12_1 feature set. Meanwhile, the is iGPU is outfitted with the new-generation media engine found in the Kaby Lake processors that features hardware encoding/decoding of 4K HEVC and VP9 (8-bit and 10-bit) video. It is equipped with Intel’s Gen10 display controller supporting native HDMI 2.0 output as well as the Local Adaptive Contrast Enhancement (LACE) designed to improve visibility in glare and bright light. So, while graphics performance of Gemini Lake’s iGPU is not higher when compared to the direct predecessor, the revamped media engine, LACE support and the new display pipeline allow Intel to brand it as the UHD Graphics 600-series. As for memory sub-system, the Gemini Lake SoCs have a 128-bit memory controller that supports DDR4 and LPDDR3/4 at up to 2400 MT/s, but no longer supports DDR3L, which is an outgoing standard anyway. We are not sure that all designs will use all the memory channels, but at least it is possible to outfit a Gemini Lake SoC with a memory sub-system offering up to 38.4 GB/s of bandwidth. Furthermore, DDR4 memory support will enable OEMs to build cheaper systems based on the Gemini Lake because DDR3L (as well as LPDDR3/4) are currently more expensive than commodity DRAM. Storage and ConnectivityMoving on to storage and connectivity. Gemini Lake supports two conventional SATA HDDs and SSDs, PCIe 2.0 x2/x4 SSDs, as well as eMMC 5.1 storage solutions. As for I/O interfaces, the new SoCs feature USB 3.0/2.0, USB Type-C, SPI, SDXC and other modern buses. The most import important I/O-related addition to the Gemini Lake (when compared to the Apollo Lake) is the CNVi (Connectivity Integration Architecture) MAC blocks for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and baseband modem. The addition of the CNVi is rather important because it enables Intel’s partners among OEMs to throw in a relatively inexpensive RF module that brings support for necessary wireless connectivity standards instead of buying a more expensive adapter. Since the Gemini Lake SoCs cost exactly the same amounts of money as their predecessors, the CNVi architecture enables PC makers to cut down BOM costs for at least some of their SKUs (at least, according to Intel). Unfortunately, since Intel does not disclose pricing of its CNVi RF modules and Wi-F + BT models, we do not know how significant those BOM savings might be. For Gemini Lake-based devices Intel proposes to use the Wireless-AC 9560 product that supports 802.11ac wave2 Wi-Fi with 160 MHz channels along with Bluetooth 5.0. The Wireless-AC 9560 supports up to up to 1.73 Gbps downlink with MU-MIMO, which is why Intel is advertising Gigabit Wi-Fi in connection with the Gemini Lake. Keep in mind that not all systems based on the Gemini Lake will use the Wireless-AC 9560 since PCIe Wi-Fi controllers are perfectly supported by the new SoCs and if an OEM has a boatload of previous-gen Wi-Fi chips, it is going to use it for their upcoming PCs. The Family The Gemini Lake family consists of six SKUs: two Pentium Silver models and four Celeron SoCs. The Pentium Silver chips cost $161 in 1000-unit quantities, they have higher clocks as well as all four cores enabled. The new Celerons cost $107 in commercial quantities, feature lower frequencies as well as four or two cores, depending on the model. TDP levels of Intel’s Gemini Lake SoCs remain at 10W and 6 W, respectively. Meanwhile the SDP of the mobile-class SKUs will increase to 4.8 W (from 4 W), which is important for thinner designs. Speaking of designs, it is noteworthy that the Gemini Lake SoCs use a new flip-chip packaging (FCBGA1090) and therefore are not pin-to-pin compatible with the predecessors. The new SoC form-factor will require OEMs to make new PCBs for their Gemini Lake-based systems, and because they are a bit smaller it could save space for battery. Source : anandtech.com
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February 2022
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