Intel Sandy Bridge. Microarchitecture

According to Intel’s statement, Sandy Bridge processors are revolutionary implementing a number of innovations. The main aim of Sandy Bridge is to get higher performance levels while decreasing the amount of power drawn at the same time, which is done by a complex approach to solve the problems — a combination of used advanced manufacturing technologies and noticeable changes in processor microarchitecture.

Production engineering

Sandy Bridge processors are produced using the latest enhanced 32nm process technology with high-k metal gate transistors of the 2nd generation.These technologies allow to get higher transistors switching rates and lower leakage currents which is the bane of Micro-electronics. However, the changes in manufacturing process include not only the above mentioned innovations. Sandy Bridge features a new step in system-on-a-chip (SoC) integration of processors targeted at use in mobile, desktop and server solutions.

SoC — a technology to integrate all main components of a computer system into a single integrated circuit. Such an arrangement significantly reduces the power consumption of all devices and increases its (devices) reliability.

In Sandy Bridge, Intel’s engineers managed to include the most important parts of a computer system, except for South Bridge logic, which is not so important in terms of architecture performance. So now, processor cores, North Bridge logic including PCIe controller and the Graphics core are located on a single substrate.