MUMBAI: Systems integrators are facing a 'hot' new issue with the new generation of Intel's Prescott CPUs. "It is too hot to handle," according to some SIs who have burnt their motherboards while using the Prescott version of Intel Pentium-4 2.8 Ghz HyperThreading supported CPU.

But says Intel director-South, Asia Amar Babu, "We have not seen any major issues with the platform. There are clear guidelines available in terms of the right chassis/fan and heat sink that should be used in conjunction with the processor. We have validated many vendor options on these specifications."

Like the older generation Intel P4 processors, the design of the new P4 Prescott processor is based on Intel's NetBurst micro-architecture. Alterations in this core architecture have led to gains in overall system performance through the increase in clock frequency and cache size.

In the Prescott core, both the L1 and L2 cache sizes have doubled. The L1 data cache is now 16KB, while the L2 unified (data and instruction) cache size is now 1MB to offer improved processing efficiency.

Experts say that a higher cache memory and smaller die size is the cause for high heat generation. "That's true. Prescott is hot. Its thermal design power is up to 115W compared to Northwood's 84W," said an official statement from AsusTek, Singapore. According to the statement, all Asus Prescott-ready motherboards can meet Prescott's power requirement. Additionally, a PC case with good ventilation, and a good quality CPU fan cooler with multi-direction heatsink is also required, because the power components like MOSFET and capacitors around the CPU sockets also need the air-flow to be cooled down.

Meanwhile, SIs have alleged that heating is not a major problem when Prescott CPUs are used with Intel's original motherboards. Babu denied this and added, "There are no issues with Intel motherboards versus our vendor motherboards".

Product manager-motherboards of Digi Giga Systems, Rajan Sharma said that burning of motherboards due to heat generated by CPU is a rare thing that can happen only if proper care is not taken in choosing the right component and assembling it in the right manner.

According to him, Prescott CPUs are designed to work with Prescott-supported boards only. "If a Prescott CPU is used on a non-Prescott board, serious damage could happen to the motherboard," he added.

Though very few instances of motherboard burning cases have been reported, experts say that such a thing is happening due to lack of education in handling the Prescott CPUs. Few years ago 'heating' was a big issue with AMD processors. But then, AMD managed to educate customers to use AMD approved processor cooling fan and finally started bundling the fans in box packs to solve the problem. This time it is Intel's turn to educate the SI on handling the heating issue. While Intel's support website provides tons of SI material to handle the CPU heating issue, it is yet to reach the small-time assembler who has to depend on the reseller or the distributor for any known issue.

According to Intel's website, there are specific requirements, which SIs have to take in to consideration while designing computers with the Prescott CPUs. Many SIs have not updated this knowledge base.
Chetan Shah of Xpress Computers said that a badly engineered machine would have heating problem with Prescott CPUs. "A Prescott-supported motherboard on a full ATX cabinet with proper cooling solutions will help," he said. According to him, small-time SIs try to save money by using inferior casing which is low on air-circulation and omits the required cooling arrangements like chassis fans, thereby causing very high temperature inside the cabinet.

Intel's technical manager Rajesh Gupta lists few key guidelines and recommendations by Intel for integrators to assemble a robust Prescott processor-based system: the right chassis, the right board and the right cooling.

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