Sandy Bridge

Sandy Bridge (SNB) is a 2011 CPU microarchitecture designed by Intel, manufactured using the company's 32 nm process; as the tock in Intel's Tick–tock model, it succeeds both Nehalem and Westmere. Sandy Bridge-based processors are marketed as the second generation Core, in addition to various models of the Xeon, Pentium and Celeron lineups. Intel demonstrated an A1 stepping Sandy Bridge processor in 2009 during Intel Developer Forum (IDF), and released first products based on the architecture in January 2011.

Sandy Bridge-based processors use soldered contact between the die and integrated heat spreader (IHS). Its 22 nm successor, Ivy Bridge, uses only thermal interface material (TIM) instead. However, the Sandy Bridge family was produced up until September 27, 2013 for desktop and mobile units, November 24, 2013 for workstation, high-end desktop and server units, and the end of 2015 for embedded devices.

Technology Upgraded features from Nehalem include:

CPU Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 32 KB data + 32 KB instruction L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache per core 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 Two load/store operations per CPU cycle for each memory channel Decoded micro-operation cache, 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. 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 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 Increased ROB to 168 entries (From 128) Larger Scheduler buffer (54-entry, up from 26-entry)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |+ |- ! colspan=2 | Cache ! colspan=3 | Page Size |- ! Name || Level || 4 KB || 2 MB || 1 GB |- | DTLB || 1st || 64 || 32 || 4 |- | ITLB || 1st || 128 || 8 / logical core || none |- | STLB || 2nd || 512 || none || none

All translation lookaside buffers (TLBs) are 4-way associative.

GPU Intel Quick Sync Video, hardware support for video encoding and decoding Integrated graphics is now integrated on the same die OpenGL 3.3 support (from 2.1)

I/O Integrated PCIe 2.0 x16 Controller

Models and steppings All Sandy Bridge processors with one, two, or four cores report the same CPUID model 0206A7h 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. 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:

Die codename CPUID Stepping Cores GPUEUs L3cache Socket(s) Sandy Bridge-HE-4 0206A7h D2 4 12 8 MB LGA 1155, Socket G2,BGA-1023, BGA-1224 Sandy Bridge-H-2 J1 2 4 MB LGA 1155, Socket G2,BGA-1023 Sandy Bridge-M-2 Q0 6 3 MB Sandy Bridge-EP-8 0206D6h C1 8 none 20 MB LGA 2011 0206D7h C2 Sandy Bridge-EP-4 0206D6h M0 4 10 MB 0206D7h M1

Performance 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. Around twice the integrated graphics performance compared to Clarkdale's (12 EUs comparison).

List of Sandy Bridge processors 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.

Desktop platform

+Sandy Bridge-DT and Sandy Bridge-E Processorbranding and model Cores(threads) CPU clock rate Graphics clock rate L3Cache TDP Releasedate (Y-M-D) Price(USD) Motherboard Normal Turbo Normal Turbo Socket Interface Memory Core i7Extreme3970X[a]6 (12)3.5 GHz4.0 GHzrowspan=4 colspan=2 15 MB150 W2012-11-12$999LGA2011DMI 2.040× PCIe 8 GT/s p. 8: "The processor features up to 40 lanes of PCI Express links capable of up to 8.0 GT/s, and 4 lanes of DMI2/PCI Express 2.0 interface with a peak transfer rate of 5.0 GT/s. "p. 10: "Support for PCI Express 2.0 (5.0 GT/s), PCI Express (2.5 GT/s), and capable of up to PCI Express 8.0 GT/s. Up to 40 lanes of PCI Express interconnect for general purpose PCI Express devices capable of up to 8.0 GT/s speeds that are configurable for up to 10 independent ports."Up to quadchannelDDR3-16003960X[a]3.3 GHz3.9 GHz130 W2011-11-14Core i73930K[a]3.2 GHz3.8 GHz12 MB$5833820[a]4 (8)3.6 GHz10 MB2012-02-13$2942700K3.5 GHz3.9 GHz850 MHz1350 MHz8 MB95 W2011-10-24$332 LGA1155 DMI 2.016× PCIe 2.0 Up to dualchannelDDR3-1333 2600K 3.4 GHz 3.8 GHz 2011-01-09 $317 2600 $294 2600S 2.8 GHz 65 W $306Core i52550K4 (4)3.4 GHzcolspan=2 6 MB95 W2012-01-30$2252500K3.3 GHz3.7 GHz850 MHz1100 MHz2011-01-09$2162500$2052500S2.7 GHz65 W$2162500T2.3 GHz3.3 GHz650 MHz1250 MHz45 W2450P3.2 GHz3.5 GHzcolspan=2 95 W2012-01-30$19524003.1 GHz3.4 GHz850 MHz1100 MHz2011-01-09$184 2405S2.5 GHz3.3 GHz65 W 2011-05-22 $205 2400S 2011-01-09 $195 2380P 3.1 GHz 3.4 GHzcolspan=2 95 W 2012-01-30$177 2320 3.0 GHz 3.3 GHz850 MHz1100 MHz 2011-09-04 2310 2.9 GHz 3.2 GHz 2011-05-22 2300 2.8 GHz 3.1 GHz 2011-01-09 2390T2 (4) 2.7 GHz 3.5 GHz650 MHz3 MB35 W 2011-02-20 $195Core i3 2120T 2.6 GHzrowspan=35 2011-09-04$127 2100T 2.5 GHz 2011-02-20 2115C 2.0 GHzcolspan=2 25 W 2012-05 $241 BGA1284 2130 3.4 GHz850 MHz1100 MHz65 W2011-09-04 $138LGA1155 21253.3 GHz $134 2120 2011-02-20 $138 21053.1 GHz 2011-05-22 $134 2102 Q2 2011 $127 2100 2011-02-20 $117Pentium G8702 (2) 2012-06-03$86 G860 3.0 GHz 2011-09-04 G860T 2.6 GHz 650 MHz 35 W 2012-06-03 $75 G850 2.9 GHz850 MHz65 W2011-05-24 $86 G840 2.8 GHz $75 G645 2.9 GHz 2012-09-03$64Up to dualchannelDDR3-1066 G640 2.8 GHz 2012-06-03 G6322.7 GHz Q3 2011 G630 2011-09-04 $75 G6222.6 GHz Q2 2011 G620 2011-05-24$64 G645T 2.5 GHz650 MHz35 W 2012-09-03 G640T 2.4 GHz 2012-06-03 G630T 2.3 GHz 2011-09-04$70 G620T 2.2 GHz 2011-05-24Celeron G555 2.7 GHz850 MHz1000 MHz2 MB65 W 2012-09-02$52 G550 2.6 GHz 2012-06-03 G540 2.5 GHz2011-09-04 G530 2.4 GHz$42 G550T 2.2 GHz650 MHz35 W 2012-09-02 G540T 2.1 GHz 2012-06-03 G530T2.0 GHz 2011-09-04 $47 G4701 (2)1.5 MB 2013-06-09$37 Up to dualchannelDDR3-1333 G465 1.9 GHz 2012-09-02Up to dualchannelDDR3-1066 G460 1.8 GHz 2011-12-11 G440 1 (1) 1.6 GHz 1 MB 2011-09-04 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 a Note: Released as third-generation Sandy Bridge-E high-end desktop processors.

Server platform 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

+Sandy Bridge-EP Xeon E5-1600/2600/4600ModelCores(threads)L3CacheCPU clock rateInterfacesSupportedmemoryTDPReleasedatePrice(USD)BaseTurboScalabilityQPI Xeon E5

4S46508 (16)20 MB2.7 GHz3.3 GHz4 sockets (4S)2× 8.0 GT/s4× DDR3-1600130 WMay 14, 2012$36164650L2.6 GHz3.1 GHz115 W46402.4 GHz2.8 GHz95 W$2725462016 MB2.2 GHz2.6 GHz2× 7.2 GT/s4× DDR3-1333$161146176 (6)15 MB2.9 GHz3.4 GHz4× DDR3-1600130 W46106 (12)2.4 GHz2.9 GHz4× DDR3-133395 W$1219460712 MB2.2 GHzN/A2× 6.0 GT/s4× DDR3-1066$88546034 (8)10 MB2.0 GHz$551Xeon E5

2S2687W8 (16)20 MB3.1 GHz3.8 GHz2 sockets (2S)2× 8.0 GT/s4× DDR3-1600150 WMarch 6, 2012$188526902.9 GHz3.8 GHz135 W$205726802.7 GHz3.5 GHz130 W$172326892.6 GHz3.6 GHz115 WOEM26703.3 GHz$155226652.4 GHz3.1 GHz$144026602.2 GHz3.0 GHz95 W$132926582.1 GHz2.4 GHz$118626502.0 GHz2.8 GHz$11072650L1.8 GHz2.3 GHz70 W2648L2.1 GHz$118626676 (12)15MB2.9 GHz3.5 GHz130 W$155226402.5 GHz3.0 GHz2× 7.2 GT/s4× DDR3-133395 W$88426302.3 GHz2.8 GHz$61226202.0 GHz2.5 GHz$4062630L60 W$6622628L1.8 GHzN/AJuly 22, 2013OEM26434 (8)10MB3.3 GHz3.5 GHz2× 8.0 GT/s4× DDR3-1600130 WMarch 6, 2012$88426372 (4)5MB3.0 GHz80 W2618L4 (8)10MB1.8 GHzN/A2× 6.4 GT/s4× DDR3-133350 WJuly 22, 2013OEM26094 (4)2.4 GHz4× DDR3-106680 WMarch 6, 2012$24626031.8 GHz$202Xeon E5

1S16606 (12)15MB3.3 GHz3.9 GHz1 socket (1S)N/A4× DDR3-1600130 WMarch 6, 2012$1080165012MB3.2 GHz3.8 GHz$58316204 (8)10MB3.6 GHz$29416074 (4)3.0 GHzN/A4× DDR3-1066$24416032.8 GHz$198Suffixes to denote: L – Low power W – Optimized for workstations

+Sandy Bridge-EN Xeon E5-1400/2400SocketModelCores(threads)L3CacheCPU clock rateInterfaceSupportedmemoryTDPReleasedatePrice(USD)BaseTurbo LGA 1356 Dual

SocketXeon E524708 (16)20MB2.3 GHz3.1 GHz1× QPI DMI 2.0

24× PCI-E 3.03× DDR3-160095 WMay 14, 2012$144024502.1 GHz2.9 GHz$11062450L1.8 GHz2.3 GHz70 W2448L2.1 GHz$11512449L1.4 GHz1.8 GHz50 WOEM24406 (12)15MB2.4 GHz2.9 GHz3× DDR3-133395 W$83424302.2 GHz2.7 GHz$55124201.9 GHz2.4 GHz$3882430L2.0 GHz2.5 GHz60 W$6622428L1.8 GHz2.0 GHz$6282418L4 (8)10MB2.0 GHz2.1 GHz50 W$38724074 (4)2.2 GHzN/A3× DDR3-106680 W$25024031.8 GHz$192LGA 13561428L6 (12)15MB1.8 GHz3× DDR3-133360 W$39514104 (8)10MB2.8 GHz3.2 GHz80 WN/APentium14072 (2)5MB2.8 GHzN/A3× DDR3-106614032.6 GHz14051.2 GHz1.8 GHz40 W2012-08$143

+Sandy Bridge-DT Xeon E3-1200SocketModelCores(threads)CPU clock rateL3 cacheIntegratedgraphicsInterfaceSupportedmemoryTDPReleasedatePrice(USD)BaseTurbo LGA 1155Xeon E312904 (8)3.6 GHz4.0 GHz8MBN/ADMI 2.0 20× PCIe 2.0 2× DDR3-133395 WMay 29, 2011$88512803.5 GHz3.9 GHzApril 3, 2011$61212703.4 GHz3.8 GHz80 W$32812403.3 GHz3.7 GHz$25012303.2 GHz3.6 GHz$21512204 (4)3.1 GHz3.4 GHz$1891220L2 (4)2.2 GHz3.4 GHz3MB20 W$18912754 (8)3.4 GHz3.8 GHz8MBHD Graphics P300095 W$33912453.3 GHz3.7 GHz$26212353.2 GHz3.6 GHz$24012254 (4)3.1 GHz3.4 GHz6MB$1941265L4 (8)2.4 GHz3.3 GHz8MB45 WOEM1260L2.4 GHz3.3 GHzHD Graphics 2000$294

Mobile platform 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.

TargetsegmentProcessorbranding and