Ivy Bridge (microarchitecture)

Ivy Bridge is the codename for Intel's 22 nm microarchitecture used in the third generation of the Intel Core processors (Core i7, i5, i3). Ivy Bridge is a die shrink to 22 nm process based on FinFET ("3D") Tri-Gate transistors, from the former generation's 32 nm Sandy Bridge microarchitecture—also known as tick–tock model. The name is also applied more broadly to the Xeon and Core i7 Extreme Ivy Bridge-E series of processors released in 2013.

Ivy Bridge
Intel's internal Ivy Bridge logo[1]
General information
LaunchedApril 29, 2012; 11 years ago (April 29, 2012)
DiscontinuedJune 5, 2015; 8 years ago (June 5, 2015)
Marketed byIntel
Designed byIntel
Common manufacturer(s)
CPUID code0306A9h
Product code80633 (extreme desktop)
80634 (server LGA1356)
80635 (server E5 LGA2011)
80636 (server E7 LGA2011)
80637 (desktop)
80638 (mobile)
Performance
Max. CPU clock rate1.4 to 4.1 GHz
DMI speeds4 GT/s
Cache
L1 cache64 KB per core (32 KB instructions + 32 KB data)
L2 cache256 KB per core
L3 cache2 to 37.5 MB shared
Architecture and classification
Technology nodeIntel 22 nm
Instruction setx86-16, IA-32, x86-64
Extensions
Physical specifications
Transistors
  • 634 million to 2.104 billion
Cores
  • 2–4 (Mainstream)
    2–15 (Xeon)
GPU(s)HD Graphics 2500
650 to 1150 MHz
HD Graphics 4000
350 to 1300 MHz
HD Graphics P4000
650 to 1250 MHz
Socket(s)
Products, models, variants
Model(s)
  • Ivy Bridge-DT
  • Ivy Bridge-M
  • Ivy Bridge-EN (Entry)
  • Ivy Bridge-EP (Efficient Performance)
  • Ivy Bridge-EX (Expandable)
  • Gladden (embedded)
Brand name(s)
History
Predecessor(s)Sandy Bridge (Tock)
Successor(s)Haswell (Tock/Architecture)
Support status
Unsupported
An uncovered Intel Core i5-3210M (BGA) inside of a laptop, an Ivy Bridge CPU

Ivy Bridge processors are backward compatible with the Sandy Bridge platform, but such systems might require a firmware update (vendor specific).[2] In 2011, Intel released the 7-series Panther Point chipsets with integrated USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 to complement Ivy Bridge.[3]

Volume production of Ivy Bridge chips began in the third quarter of 2011.[4] Quad-core and dual-core-mobile models launched on April 29, 2012 and May 31, 2012 respectively.[5] Core i3 desktop processors, as well as the first 22 nm Pentium, were announced and available the first week of September 2012.[6]

Ivy Bridge is the final Intel platform on which versions of Windows prior to Windows 7 are officially supported by Microsoft. It is also the earliest Intel microarchitecture to officially support Windows 10 64-bit (NT 10.0).[7]

Overview

The Ivy Bridge CPU microarchitecture is a shrink from Sandy Bridge and remains largely unchanged. Like its predecessor, Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge was also primarily developed by Intel's Israel branch, located in Haifa, Israel.[8] Notable improvements include:[9][10]

Ivy Bridge features and performance

The mobile and desktop Ivy Bridge chips also include some minor yet notable changes over Sandy Bridge:

CPU

Translation lookaside buffer sizes[19][20]
CachePage Size
NameLevel4 KB2 MB1 GB
DTLB1st64324
ITLB1st1288 / logical corenone
STLB2nd512nonenone

GPU

IO

Benchmark comparisons

Compared to its predecessor, Sandy Bridge:

  • 3% to 6% increase in CPU performance when compared clock for clock[26][27]
  • 25% to 68% increase in integrated GPU performance[28]

Thermal performance issues

Ivy Bridge's temperatures are reportedly 10 °C higher compared to Sandy Bridge when a CPU is overclocked, even at default voltage setting.[29] Impress PC Watch, a Japanese website, performed experiments that confirmed earlier speculations that this is because Intel used a poor quality (and perhaps lower cost) thermal interface material (thermal paste, or "TIM") between the chip and the heat spreader, instead of the fluxless solder of previous generations.[30][31][32] The mobile Ivy Bridge processors are not affected by this issue because they do not use a heat spreader between the chip and cooling system. Socket 2011 Ivy Bridge processors continue to use the solder.[33]

Enthusiast reports describe the TIM used by Intel as low-quality,[32] and not up to par for a "premium" CPU, with some speculation that this is by design to encourage sales of prior processors.[30] Further analyses caution that the processor can be damaged or void its warranty if home users attempt to remedy the matter.[30][34] The TIM has much lower thermal conductivity, causing heat to trap on the die.[29] Experiments with replacing this TIM with a higher-quality one or other heat removal methods showed a substantial temperature drop, and improvements to the increased voltages and overclocking sustainable by Ivy Bridge chips.[30][35]

Intel claims that the smaller die of Ivy Bridge and the related increase in thermal density is expected to result in higher temperatures when the CPU is overclocked; Intel also stated that this is as expected and will likely not improve in future revisions.[36]

Models and steppings

All Ivy Bridge processors with one, two, or four cores report the same CPUID model 0x000306A9, and are built in four different configurations differing in the number of cores, L3 cache and GPU execution units.

Die code nameCPUIDSteppingDie sizeDie dimensionsTransistorsCoresGPU EUsL3 cacheSockets
Ivy Bridge-M-20x000306A9P0094 mm2[37]7.656 × 12.223 mm0≈634 million[a]206[38]3 MB[39]LGA 1155,
Socket G2,
BGA-1224,
BGA-1023,
BGA-1284
Ivy Bridge-H-2L1118 mm2[37]8.141 × 14.505 mm0≈830 million[a]2164 MB
Ivy Bridge-HM-4N0133 mm2[37]7.656 × 17.349 mm≈1008 million[a]4066 MB[39]
Ivy Bridge-HE-4E1160 mm2[37]8.141 × 19.361 mm≈1400 million[40]4168 MB

Ivy Bridge–based Xeon processors

Intel Ivy Bridge–based Xeon microprocessors (also known as Ivy Bridge-E) is the follow-up to Sandy Bridge-E, using the same CPU core as the Ivy Bridge processor, but in LGA 2011, LGA 1356 and LGA 2011-1 packages for workstations and servers.

Additional high-end server processors based on the Ivy Bridge architecture, code named Ivytown, were announced September 10, 2013 at the Intel Developer Forum, after the usual one year interval between consumer and server product releases.[41][42][43]

The Ivy Bridge-EP processor line announced in September 2013 has up to 12 cores and 30 MB third level cache, with rumors of Ivy Bridge-EX up to 15 cores and an increased third level cache of up to 37.5 MB,[44][45] although an early leaked lineup of Ivy Bridge-E included processors with a maximum of 6 cores.[46]

Both Core-i7 and Xeon versions are produced: the Xeon versions marketed as Xeon E5-1400 v2 act as drop-in replacements for the existing Sandy Bridge-EN based Xeon E5, Xeon E5-2600 V2 versions act as drop-in replacements for the existing Sandy Bridge-EP based Xeon E5, while Core-i7 versions designated i7-4820K, i7-4930K and i7-4960X were released on September 10, 2013, remaining compatible with the X79 and LGA 2011 hardware.[45][47]

For the intermediate LGA 1356 socket, Intel launched the Xeon E5-2400 v2 (codenamed Ivy Bridge-EN) series in January 2014.[48] These have up to 10 cores.[49]

A new Ivy Bridge-EX line marketed as Xeon E7 v2 had no corresponding predecessor using the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture but instead followed the older Westmere-EX processors.

List of Ivy Bridge processors

Processors featuring Intel's HD 4000 graphics (or HD P4000 for Xeon) are set in bold. Other processors feature HD 2500 graphics or HD Graphics unless indicated by N/A.

Desktop processors

List of announced desktop processors, as follows:

Processor
branding
and model
Cores
(threads)
CPU clock rateGraphics clock rateL3
cache
TDPRelease
date
Release
price
(USD)
Motherboard
NormalTurboNormalTurboSocketInterfaceMemory
Core i7
Extreme
4960X6 (12)3.6 GHz4.0 GHz15 MB130 W2013-09-10$999[50]LGA
2011
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0[a]
Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
Core i74930K3.4 GHz3.9 GHz12 MB$583[50]
4820K4 (8)3.7 GHz10 MB$323[50]
3770K3.5 GHz650 MHz1150 MHz8 MB77 W2012-04-23$332LGA
1155
Up to dual
channel
DDR3-1600[51]
37703.4 GHz$294
3770S3.1 GHz65 W
3770T2.5 GHz3.7 GHz45 W
Core i53570K4 (4)3.4 GHz3.8 GHz6 MB77 W$225
35702012-05-31[52]$205
3570S3.1 GHz65 W
3570T2.3 GHz3.3 GHz45 W
35503.3 GHz3.7 GHz77 W2012-04-23
3550S3.0 GHz65 W
3475S2.9 GHz3.6 GHz1050 MHz2012-05-31[52]$201
34703.2 GHz77 W$184
3470S2.9 GHz65 W
3470T2 (4)3 MB35 W
34504 (4)3.1 GHz3.5 GHz6 MB77 W2012-04-23
3450S2.8 GHz65 W
3350P3.1 GHz3.3 GHz69 W2012-09-03$177
3340650 MHz1050 MHz77 W2013-09-01$182
3340S2.8 GHz65 W
3335S2.7 GHz3.2 GHz2012-09-03$194
3330S$177
33303.0 GHz77 W$182
Core i332502 (4)3.5 GHz3 MB55 W2013-06-09$138DMI 2.0
PCIe 2.0
32453.4 GHz$134
32402012-09-03$138
32253.3 GHz$134
3220$117
32103.2 GHz2013-01-20
3250T3.0 GHz35 W2013-06-09$138
3240T2.9 GHz2012-09-03
3220T2.8 GHz$117
PentiumG21402 (2)3.3 GHz55 W2013-06-09$86
G21303.2 GHz2013-01-20
G21203.1 GHz2012-09-03
G2120T2.7 GHz35 W2013-06-09$75
G2100T2.6 GHz2012-09-03
G20303.0 GHz55 W2013-06-09$64Dual channel DDR3-1333
G20202.9 GHz2013-01-20
G20102.8 GHz
G2030T2.6 GHz35 W2013-06-09
G2020T2.5 GHz2013-01-20
CeleronG16302 (2)2.8 GHz2 MB55 W2013-09-01$52
G16202.7 GHz2013-01-20
G16102.6 GHz$42
G1620T2.4 GHz35 W2013-09-01
G1610T2.3 GHz2013-01-20
  1. Requires a compatible motherboard with 7 series chipsets.

Suffixes to denote:

  • K – Unlocked (adjustable CPU multiplier up to 63 times)
  • S – Performance-optimized lifestyle (low power with 65 W TDP)
  • T – Power-optimized lifestyle (ultra-low power consumption with 35–45 W TDP)
  • P – No on-die video chipset
  • X – Extreme performance (adjustable CPU ratio with no ratio limit)

Server processors

Processor
branding and model
Cores
(threads)
CPU clock rateGraphics clock rateL3
cache
TDPRelease
date
Price
(USD)
Motherboard
NormalTurboNormalTurboSocketInterfaceMemory
Xeon E78893v26 (12)3.4 GHz3.7 GHz37.5 MB155 W2014-02-18$6841LGA
2011-1
QPI
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0
Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
8891v210 (20)3.2 GHz
8895v215 (30)2.8 GHz3.6 GHzOEM
(Oracle)[53]
8890v23.4 GHz$6841
4890v2$6619
2890v2$6451
8880Lv22.2 GHz2.8 GHz105 W$5729
8880v22.5 GHz3.1 GHz130 W
4880v2$5506
2880v2$5339
8870v22.3 GHz2.9 GHz30 MB$4616
4870v2$4394
2870v2$4227
8857v212 (12)3.0 GHz3.6 GHz$3838
4860v212 (24)2.6 GHz3.2 GHz
8850v22.3 GHz2.8 GHz24 MB105 W$3059
4850v2$2837
2850v2$2558
4830v210 (20)2.2 GHz2.7 GHz20 MB$2059
4820v28 (16)2.0 GHz2.5 GHz16 MB$1446
4809v26 (12)1.9 GHz12 MB$1223Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1333
Xeon E54657Lv212 (24)2.4 GHz3.2 GHz30 MB115 W2014-03-03$4394LGA
2011
QPI
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0
Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
4650v210 (20)25 MB95 W$3616
4640v22.2 GHz2.7 GHz20 MB$2725
4624Lv21.9 GHz2.5 GHz25 MB70 W$2405
4627v28 (8)3.3 GHz3.6 GHz16 MB130 W$2108
4620v28 (16)2.6 GHz3.0 GHz20 MB95 W$1611Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
4610v22.3 GHz2.7 GHz16 MB$1219
4607v26 (12)2.6 GHz15 MB$885Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1333
4603v24 (8)2.2 GHz10 MB$551
2697v212 (24)2.7 GHz3.5 GHz30 MB130 W2013-09-10$2614Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
2696v22.5 GHz3.3 GHz120 WOEM
2695v22.4 GHz3.2 GHz115 W$2336
2692v22.2 GHz3.0 GHzJune 2013OEM
(Tianhe-2)
2651v21.8 GHz2.2 GHz105 W2013-09-10
2690v210 (20)3.0 GHz3.6 GHz25 MB130 W$2057
2680v22.8 GHz115 W$1723
2670v22.5 GHz3.3 GHz$1552
2660v22.2 GHz3.0 GHz95 W$1389
2658v22.4 GHz$1750
2650Lv21.7 GHz2.1 GHz70 W$1219Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
2648Lv21.9 GHz2.5 GHz$1479Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
2687Wv28 (16)3.4 GHz4.0 GHz150 W$2108
2667v23.3 GHz130 W$2057
2650v22.6 GHz3.4 GHz20 MB95 W$1166
2640v22.0 GHz2.5 GHz$885Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
2628Lv21.9 GHz2.4 GHz70 W$1216
2643v26 (12)3.5 GHz3.8 GHz25 MB130 W$1552Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
2630v22.6 GHz3.1 GHz15 MB80 W$612Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
2630Lv22.4 GHz2.8 GHz60 W
2620v22.1 GHz2.6 GHz80 W$406
2618Lv22.0 GHz50 W$520Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1333
2637v24 (8)3.5 GHz3.8 GHz130 W$996Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
2609v24 (4)2.5 GHz10 MB80 W$294Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1333
2603v21.8 GHz$202
2470v210 (20)2.4 GHz3.2 GHz25 MB95 W2014-01-09$1440LGA
1356
QPI
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0
Up to triple
channel
DDR3-1600
2448Lv21.8 GHz2.4 GHz70 W$1424
2450Lv21.7 GHz2.1 GHz60 W$1219
2450v28 (16)2.5 GHz3.3 GHz20 MB95 W$1107
2440v21.9 GHz2.4 GHz$832
2428Lv21.8 GHz2.3 GHz60 W$1013
2430v26 (12)2.5 GHz3.0 GHz15 MB80 W$551
2420v22.2 GHz2.7 GHz$406
2430Lv22.4 GHz2.8 GHz60 W$612
2418Lv22.0 GHz50 W$607Up to triple
channel
DDR3-1333
2407v24 (4)2.4 GHz10 MB80 W$250
2403v21.8 GHz$192
1680v28 (16)3.0 GHz3.9 GHz25 MB130 W2013-09-10$1723LGA
2011
QPI
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0
Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1866
1660v26 (12)3.7 GHz4.0 GHz15 MB$1080
1650v23.5 GHz3.9 GHz12 MB$583
1620v24 (8)3.7 GHz10 MB$294
1607v24 (4)3.0 GHz$244Up to quad
channel
DDR3-1600
1428Lv26 (12)2.2 GHz2.7 GHz15 MB60 W2014-01-09$494LGA
1356
Up to triple
channel
DDR3-1600
1410v24 (8)2.8 GHz3.2 GHz10 MB80 WOEM
Pentium1403v22 (2)2.6 GHz6 MB
1405v21.4 GHz40 W$156
Xeon E31290v24 (8)3.7 GHz4.1 GHz8 MB87 W2012-05-14$885LGA
1155
DMI 2.0
PCIe 3.0
Up to dual
channel
DDR3-1600
1280v23.6 GHz4.0 GHz69 W$623
1275v23.5 GHz3.9 GHz650 MHz1.25 GHz77 W$350
1270v269 W$339
1265Lv22.5 GHz3.5 GHz650 MHz1.15 GHz45 W$305
1245v23.4 GHz3.8 GHz650 MHz1.25 GHz77 W$273
1240v269 W$261
1230v23.3 GHz3.7 GHz$230
1225v24 (4)3.2 GHz3.6 GHz650 MHz1.25 GHz77 W$224
1220v23.1 GHz3.5 GHz69 W$203
1220Lv22 (4)2.3 GHz3 MB17 W$189
1135Cv24 (8)3.0 GHz8 MB55 W2013-09-10OEMBGA
1284
1125Cv22.5 GHz40 W$448
1105Cv21.8 GHz25 W$320

Suffixes to denote:

  • L  – Low power
  • C  – Embedded applications
  • W  – Optimized for workstations

Mobile processors

Processor
branding and model
Cores
(threads)
Programmable TDPCPU TurboGraphics clock rateL3
cache
Release
date
Price
(USD)
SDP[54]cTDP downNominal TDPcTDP up1-coreNormalTurbo
Core i7
Extreme
3940XM4 (8)45 W / ? GHz55 W / 3.0 GHz65 W / ? GHz3.9 GHz650 MHz1350 MHz8 MB2012-09-30$1096
3920XM45 W / ? GHz55 W / 2.9 GHz65 W / ? GHz3.8 GHz1300 MHz2012-04-23
Core i73840QM45 W / 2.8 GHz2012-09-30$568
3820QM45 W / 2.7 GHz3.7 GHz1250 MHz2012-04-23
3740QM1300 MHz6 MB2012-09-30$378
3720QM45 W / 2.6 GHz3.6 GHz1250 MHz2012-04-23
3635QM45 W / 2.4 GHz3.4 GHz1200 MHz2012-09-30
3632QM35 W / 2.2 GHz3.2 GHz1150 MHz$378
3630QM45 W / 2.4 GHz3.4 GHz
3615QM45 W / 2.3 GHz3.3 GHz1200 MHz2012-04-23
3612QM35 W / 2.1 GHz3.1 GHz1100 MHz
3610QM45 W / 2.3 GHz3.3 GHz
3689Y2 (4)7 W / ? GHz10 W / ? GHz13 W / 1.5 GHz2.6 GHz350 MHz850 MHz4 MB2013-01-07$362
3687U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 2.1 GHz25 W / 3.1 GHz3.3 GHz1200 MHz2013-01-20$346
3667U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 2.0 GHz25 W / 3.0 GHz3.2 GHz1150 MHz2012-06-03
3537U14 W / ? GHz25 W / 2.9 GHz3.1 GHz1200 MHz2013-01-20
3555LE25 W / 2.5 GHz3.2 GHz550 MHz1000 MHz2012-06-03$360
3540M35 W / 3.0 GHz3.7 GHz650 MHz1300 MHz2013-01-20$346
3525M35 W / 2.9 GHz3.6 GHz1350 MHzQ3 2012
3520M1250 MHz2012-06-03$346
3517U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.9 GHz25 W / 2.8 GHz3.0 GHz350 MHz1150 MHz
3517UE14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.7 GHz25 W / 2.6 GHz2.8 GHz1000 MHz$330
Core i53610ME35 W / 2.7 GHz3.3 GHz650 MHz950 MHz3 MB$276
3439Y7 W / ? GHz10 W / ? GHz13 W / 1.5 GHz2.3 GHz350 MHz850 MHz2013-01-07$250
3437U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.9 GHz25 W / 2.4 GHz2.9 GHz650 MHz1200 MHz2013-01-20$225
3427U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.8 GHz25 W / 2.3 GHz2.8 GHz350 MHz1150 MHz2012-06-03
3380M35 W / 2.9 GHz3.6 GHz650 MHz1250 MHz2013-01-20$266
3365M35 W / 2.8 GHz3.5 GHz1350 MHzQ3 2012
3360M1200 MHz2012-06-03$266
3340M35 W / 2.7 GHz3.4 GHz1250 MHz2013-01-20$225
3339Y7 W / ? GHz10 W / ? GHz13 W / 1.5 GHz2.0 GHz350 MHz850 MHz2013-01-07$250
3337U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.8 GHz2.7 GHz350 MHz1100 MHz2013-01-20$225
3320M35 W / 2.6 GHz3.3 GHz650 MHz1200 MHz2012-06-03
3317U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.7 GHz2.6 GHz350 MHz1050 MHz
3230M35 W / 2.6 GHz3.2 GHz650 MHz1100 MHz2013-01-20
3210M35 W / 2.5 GHz3.1 GHz2012-06-03
Core i33229Y7 W / ? GHz10 W / ? GHz13 W / 1.4 GHz350 MHz850 MHz2013-01-07$250
3227U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.9 GHz1100 MHz2013-01-20$225
3217U14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.8 GHz1050 MHz2012-06-24
3217UE14 W / ? GHz17 W / 1.6 GHz900 MHzJuly 2013$261
3130M35 W / 2.6 GHz650 MHz1100 MHz2013-01-20$225
3120M35 W / 2.5 GHz2012-09-30
3120ME35 W / 2.4 GHz900 MHzJuly 2013
3110M1000 MHz2012-06-24
3115C25 W / 2.5 GHz4 MB2013-09-10$241
PentiumB925C15 W / 2.0 GHzOEM
A10182 (2)35 W / 2.1 GHz650 MHz1000 MHz1 MBJune 2013$86 (India)
2030M35 W / 2.5 GHz1100 MHz2 MB2013-01-20$134
2020M35 W / 2.4 GHz2012-09-30
2127U17 W / 1.9 GHz350 MHz2013-06-09
2117U17 W / 1.8 GHz1000 MHz2012-09-30
2129Y7 W10 W / 1.1 GHz850 MHz2013-01-07$150
Celeron1019Y7 W10 W / 1.0 GHz800 MHzApril 2013$153
1020E35 W / 2.2 GHz650 MHz1000 MHz2013-01-20$86
1020M35 W / 2.1 GHz
1005M35 W / 1.9 GHz2013-06-09
1000M35 W / 1.8 GHz2013-01-20
1037U17 W / 1.8 GHz350 MHz
1017U17 W / 1.6 GHz2013-06-09
1007U17 W / 1.5 GHz2013-01-20
1047UE17 W / 1.4 GHz900 MHz$134
927UE1 (1)17 W / 1.5 GHz1 MB$107

Suffixes to denote:

  • Y – Dual-core extreme ultra-low power (TDP 13 W)
  • U – Dual-core ultra-low power (TDP 17 W)
  • C – Communications
  • M – Dual-core
  • QM – Quad-core
  • XM – Quad-core extreme performance (adjustable CPU ratio with no ratio limit)
  • ME – Dual-core embedded

Roadmap

Intel demonstrated the Haswell architecture in September 2011, which began release in 2013 as the successor to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge.[55]

Fixes

Microsoft has released a microcode update for selected Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPUs for Windows 7 and up that addresses stability issues. The update, however, negatively impacts Intel G3258 and 4010U CPU models.[56][57][58]

See also

Notes

References

External links