Intel Mobile Pentium 4 2.40

The Intel Mobile Pentium 4 2.40 is a single-core mobile processor built on the NetBurst architecture with the Northwood codename. It operates at a fixed 2.40 GHz base clock with no boost clock, supporting two threads on a single core. Fabricated on Intel's 130 nm process, the die contains 55 million transistors across 131 mm². Released on 2003-06-10, this end-of-life part targets Socket 478 platforms with DDR1 or DDR2 memory. The data pack provides no benchmark scores and no rival comparisons, so this analysis relies on the architectural and platform facts available.

Platform and Compatibility

The processor uses Intel Socket 478, a socket that defines the physical and electrical interface to the motherboard. Memory support covers DDR1 and DDR2, with ECC memory not supported. The data pack does not specify a memory bus width or bandwidth, so the effective memory throughput is determined by the motherboard's chipset rather than by the processor itself. PCIe information is absent; the data pack does not list a PCIe generation or lane count, indicating that expansion connectivity is a chipset-level feature. Integrated graphics are likewise not part of the processor; the pack notes that graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature. The production status is end-of-life, meaning no ongoing supply or platform updates. The multiplier is locked, so the 2.40 GHz base clock cannot be raised through multiplier adjustment. The part number is SL723.

Because the processor is end-of-life, any upgrade path depends entirely on the motherboard's support for other Socket 478 processors; the data pack does not list any such alternatives. The absence of a boost clock means the processor runs at a single frequency point, simplifying power delivery design but limiting performance scaling. The socket itself is a fixed mechanical standard, so the motherboard dictates which memory type—DDR1 or DDR2—can be used, as well as whether the chipset-integrated graphics are present. The lack of ECC support further narrows the platform to non-error-checked memory configurations, which is typical for consumer-oriented mobile systems of that era. The 2003-06-10 release date places the part in a specific market window, but the data pack offers no information about competing sockets or chipsets.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 60 W, a figure that defines the thermal design power for the cooling solution. For a mobile processor, 60 W is a substantial heat load, implying that a laptop chassis must provide active cooling with a fan and a heat sink rated for sustained dissipation. The 130 nm process node and 131 mm² die size give a sense of the physical scale; 55 million transistors are spread across that area. The lack of a boost clock means the processor does not have a transient higher-power state; it operates continuously at 2.40 GHz, so the thermal envelope is constant. The 60 W TDP is the only thermal number in the data pack; no idle power, maximum temperature, or cooling tier is specified. In practical terms, a system integrator would pair this part with a cooling solution capable of moving 60 W continuously. The integrated graphics, when present via the chipset, would add their own thermal load outside the processor's TDP. The data does not indicate whether the 60 W figure applies to the CPU alone or to the CPU plus chipset, but the standard interpretation is CPU-only. The locked multiplier also means no overclocking headroom exists, so the thermal design does not need to accommodate user-adjusted frequencies. The constant clock rate simplifies thermal management: the cooling solution sees a steady load rather than bursty spikes.

Benchmark Performance

The data pack lists an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile rank of 50 among all CPUs. A percentile of 50 places this processor at the midpoint of the distribution, but the zero average score indicates that no actual benchmark measurements are recorded. With no nearest rivals provided, there are no deltaPct values to compute. Consequently, any statement about comparative performance must be grounded in the processor's own specifications. The base clock is 2.40 GHz, and there is no boost clock. The cache hierarchy is 8 KB of L1 and 512 KB of L2. The processor has one core and two threads. These figures suggest a workload profile where single-thread execution speed is the primary determinant of performance. The NetBurst architecture is the named architecture in the data pack; no pipeline depth or execution width is given, so no numeric claim is made here.

The absence of measured scores means that the 50th percentile should be read as a placeholder rather than a validated result. In the absence of rival deltas, the only comparative statement the data supports is that the processor sits at the median of the all-CPU distribution, but with a zero score that median is not trustworthy. The 512 KB L2 cache is the larger of the two cache levels, and it serves both threads. The 8 KB L1 cache is the smaller level, and it is the first tier of data and instruction storage. Without benchmark data, the practical performance must be inferred from the clock rate and cache configuration. A fixed 2.40 GHz clock means that all workloads, whether single-threaded or multi-threaded, execute at the same frequency. The two threads on one core allow some instruction-level overlap, but the single core limits the total throughput. No measured scores exist to confirm or refute these structural expectations.

Who Should Consider It

Given the single core and two threads, this processor is best suited to workloads that are single-threaded or lightly threaded. Office applications that run one primary process, such as word processing or spreadsheet tasks, align with the 2.40 GHz fixed clock. Legacy software from the same era as the 2003-06-10 release date would match the instruction set and memory support. The DDR1 and DDR2 memory support means the platform can use either memory generation, depending on the motherboard. The lack of ECC excludes memory-error-sensitive tasks like financial modeling or scientific computing that require parity checking. Creation workloads, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, typically scale with multiple cores; this processor offers only one core and two threads, so those workloads would see limited throughput. Gaming from the era would depend on single-thread performance; the 8 KB L1 and 512 KB L2 caches are the available cache resources. The mobile market segment indicates the processor was designed for laptops, so a desktop system would need a Socket 478 motherboard with the appropriate chipset. The end-of-life production status means buyers should not expect new units; the part is a legacy component. The locked multiplier removes overclocking as a consideration. The integrated graphics, available only on certain motherboards via the chipset, mean a discrete graphics solution is required unless the motherboard provides that feature.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The processor presents one physical core and two logical threads. In single-thread workloads, the full execution resources of the core are available to that thread. In two-thread workloads, both threads share the same core, the same 8 KB L1 cache, and the same 512 KB L2 cache. The base clock of 2.40 GHz is the only frequency; there is no boost clock, so the processor cannot transiently raise its frequency for a single thread. This means single-thread and multi-thread workloads operate at the same clock speed. The NetBurst architecture is the underlying design; the data pack does not specify how the two threads are scheduled or whether they share execution ports. The practical implication is that multi-thread scaling is capped at two threads. Any workload with more than two threads will experience time-slicing by the operating system. Because the L2 cache is a single 512 KB block, contention between the two threads for cache capacity is possible. The 8 KB L1 cache is small, and both threads would compete for it. For workloads that are purely single-threaded, the 2.40 GHz clock and the 512 KB L2 are the relevant resources. For workloads that can use exactly two threads, the two logical threads provide some overlap, but the single core limits the total throughput. The data pack does not include a measured single-thread or multi-thread score, so these are structural observations based on the core and thread counts.

FAQ

Q: What socket does this processor use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 478.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: DDR1 and DDR2 memory are supported; ECC memory is not supported.

Q: What is the TDP of the Intel Mobile Pentium 4 2.40?

A: The TDP is 60 W.

Q: Does the processor have integrated graphics?

A: No; integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature.

Q: What is the process node and die size?

A: The process node is 130 nm, and the die size is 131 mm² with 55 million transistors.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked, and there is no boost clock.