Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Reference guide

Product Brief
Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor
Embedded Computing
Intel®Core™2 Quad Processor Q9400
for Embedded Computing
Product Overview
Ideal for graphics and multimedia processing, this is the first quad-
core processor within the Intel® Core™2 processor product line with
embedded lifecycle support. Based on Intel® Core™ microarchi-
tecture, the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor Q9400Δfeatures four
complete execution cores within a single processor, delivering
exceptional performance and responsiveness in multi-threaded
and multi-tasking environments. As a result, more instructions
can be carried out per clock cycle, shorter and wider pipelines
execute commands more quickly, and improved bus lanes move
data throughout the system faster.
Built on Intel’s hafnium-based 45nm Hi-k metal gate silicon
technology, the processor delivers greater performance with
less energy, doubling the transistor density, increasing cache
size by up to 50 percent, and improving efficiency and speed
relative to previous-generation 65nm processors.
The processor is validated with four different chipsets, providing
a choice of flexible, quad-core-capable platforms for a wide range
of embedded applications:
•Intel® G45 Express chipset: Includes the next-generation
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD (Intel® GMA
X4500HD), with built-in support for full 1080p high definition
video playback, including Blu-ray* content. This powerful video
engine delivers smooth HD playback without the need for
add-in video cards or decoders. Intel® Clear Video Technology,
a combination of video processing hardware and software
technologies, provides crystal-clear images without the imper-
fections and artifacts typically associated with video content.
It allows embedded computing applications to connect to a
wide range of digital display interfaces, including High-Definition
Multimedia Interface* (HDMI*) and DisplayPort.* HDMI supports
all HD formats including 720p, 1080i, and 1080p. The chipset
consists of the Intel® 82G45 Graphics and Memory Controller
Hub (GMCH) and Intel® I/O Controller Hub (ICH) 10.
•Intel® Q45 Express chipset: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator
(GMA) 4500 provides robust graphics and media capabilities for
applications such as gaming and retail (i.e., kiosks and digital
signage), while Intel® Trusted Execution Technology1(Intel®
TXT) provides security functionality for embedded segments
such as digital security surveillance. Intel® Active Management
Technology2(Intel® AMT) version 5.0 provides improved man-
ageability for applications such as point-of-service terminals
or digital signs in a networked retail environment. Chipset
consists of the Intel® 82Q45 GMCH and Intel® ICH10 DO.
•Intel® Q35 Express chipset: InteI® GMA 3100, Intel TXT and
Intel AMT version 3.0 support embedded applications needing
graphics, manageability, data protection and security such as
point-of-service terminals and interactive PCs, industrial control
and automation, gaming, print imaging and network security
appliances. Chipset consists of the Intel® 82Q35 GMCH and the
Intel® ICH9 DO.
•Intel® 3210 chipset: Server-class chipset includes Error
Correcting Code memory for embedded applications needing
high reliability, such as robotics on a factory floor, multi-function
printers and network security applications. It provides robust
I/O performance and memory speed for fast system respon-
siveness needed in mid-range network security appliances,
print imaging, storage and I/O-intensive industrial applications.
Chipset consists of the Intel® 3210 MCH and the Intel® ICH9R.

Intel in Embedded and Communications: intel.com/go/embedded
 ∆Intel processor numbers are not a measure of performance. Processor numbers differentiate features within each processor family, not across different processor families. See http://www.intel.com/products/processor_number for details.
1 No computer system can provide absolute security under all conditions. Intel®Trusted Execution Technology (Intel®TXT) requires a computer system with Intel®Virtualization Technology, an Intel TXT-enabled processor, chipset, BIOS,
Authenticated Code Modules and an Intel TXT-compatible measured launched environment (MLE). The MLE could consist of a virtual machine monitor, an OS or an application. In addition, Intel TXT requires the system to contain a TPM v1.2,
asdenedbytheTrustedComputingGroupandspecicsoftwareforsomeuses.Formoreinformation,seehttp://www.intel.com/technology/security.
2 Intel®Active Management Technology requires the computer system to have an Intel®AMT-enabled chipset, network hardware and software, as well as connection with a power source and a corporate network connection. Setup requires
congurationbythepurchaserandmayrequirescriptingwiththemanagementconsoleorfurtherintegrationintoexistingsecurityframeworkstoenablecertainfunctionality.Itmayalsorequiremodicationsorimplementationofnewbusiness
processes.Formoreinformation,seewww.intel.com/technology/platform-technology/intel-amt/.
3 FortheIntel®Core™2 Quad processor, shared L2 cache refers to 6 MB of L2 cache per core pair.
4 Intel®Virtualization Technology requires a computer system with an enabled Intel®processor,BIOS,virtualmachinemonitor(VMM)and,forsomeuses,certainplatformsoftwareenabledforit.Functionality,performanceorother
benetswillvarydependingonhardwareandsoftwarecongurationsandmayrequireaBIOSupdate.Softwareapplicationsmaynotbecompatiblewithalloperatingsystems.Pleasecheckwithyourapplicationvendor.
5 64-bit computing on Intel architecture requires a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers and applications enabled for Intel®64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including 32-bit operation)
withoutanIntel64architecture-enabledBIOS.Performancewillvarydependingonyourhardwareandsoftwarecongurations.Consultwithyoursystemvendorformoreinformation.
6 Enabling Execute Disable Bit functionality requires a PC with a processor with Execute Disable Bit capability and a supporting operating system. Check with your PC manufacturer on whether your system delivers Execute Disable Bit functionality.
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Features Benefits
Quad-Core processor •Fourcompleteexecutioncoresinasingleprocessorwith6MBofL2cacheand1333MHzfrontsidebus(FSB).
•Fourdedicated,physicalthreadshelpoperatingsystemsandapplicationsdeliveradditionalperformance,soendusers
can experience better multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and work loads.
Intel® Wide Dynamic Execution •Improvesexecutionspeedandefficiency,deliveringmoreinstructionsperclockcycle.
•Eachoffourexecutioncorescancompleteuptofourfullinstructionssimultaneously.
Intel® Smart Memory Access •Improvesefficiencywhenloadingandstoringdatainmainmemory.
•Optimizesuseofdatabandwidthfromthememorysubsystemtoaccelerateout-of-orderexecution.
•Apredictionmechanismreducesthetimein-flightinstructionshavetowaitfordata.
•Pre-fetchalgorithmsmovedatafromsystemmemoryintofastL2cacheinadvanceofexecution.Thiskeepsthepipeline
full, improving instruction throughput and performance.
Intel® Advanced Smart Cache3•SharedL2cacheacrosseachpairofcorescanbedynamicallyallocatedtoeachprocessorcorewithinthepair,basedon
workload, significantly reducing latency to frequently used data and improving performance.
Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost •AcceleratesexecutionofSSEinstructionstosignificantlyimproveperformanceonabroadrangeofapplications,
including video, audio, image processing, multi-media, encryption, financial, engineering, and scientific.
•128-bitSSEinstructionsarenowissuedatathroughputrateofoneperclockcycle,effectivelydoublingthespeedof
execution on a per-clock basis over previous-generation processors.
•SuperShuffleEngineimprovesexistingSSEinstructionswhileenablingsignificantgainsonthelatestSSE4instructionset.
Intel® Virtualization Technology4•Allowsonehardwareplatformtofunctionasmultiple“virtual”platforms.Improvesmanageability,limitingdowntimeand
maintaining worker productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.
Intel® 64 Architecture5•Allowsprocessortoaccesslargeramountsofmemory.
•Withappropriate64-bithardwareandsoftware,platformsallowtheuseofextendedvirtualandphysicalmemory.
Execute Disable Bit6•Providesextendedvirusdefensewhendeployedwithasupportedoperatingsystem.
•Memorycanbemarkedasexecutableornon-executable,allowingtheprocessortoraiseanerrortotheoperatingsystem
if malicious code attempts to run in non-executable memory.
•Helpspreventcodefrominfectingthesystem.
Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) •Efficientprocessorandplatformthermalcontrolimprovessystemacoustics.
•DTScontinuouslymeasurestemperatureateachprocessingcore,enablingsystemfanstospinonlyasfastasneededto
cool the system, resulting in significantly lower noise emissions.
Embedded lifecycle support •Protectssysteminvestmentbyenablingextendedproductavailabilityforembeddedcustomers.
Ecosystem support •Alongwithastrongecosystemofhardwareandsoftwarevendors,includingmembersoftheIntel®Embeddedand
Communications Alliance (intel.com/go/eca), Intel helps cost-effectively meet development challenges and speed
time-to-market.
Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9400Δfor Embedded Computing
Processor Name Product Number Core Speed FSB Speed L2 Cache3TDP VID Tcase (Max) Package
Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9400ΔAT80580PJ0676M 2.66 GHz 1333 MHz 6 MB 95W 0.85 – 1.3625V 71.4º C LGA775