Intel Mobile Pentium 4 HT 532

The Intel Mobile Pentium 4 HT 532 is a single-core, dual-threaded processor from the NetBurst era, built on Intel's 90 nm Prescott process. Released on 2004-05-31, it carries a base clock of 3.07 GHz and is now end-of-life. The FACT PACK lists no direct benchmark scores for this part, but the percentileVsAllCpus field places it at the 50th percentile, indicating a median standing among all CPUs in the database. With an average benchmark score of 0, the database contains no measured workload results, so the analysis must rely on the architectural characteristics and the percentile ranking to infer its behavior.

Benchmark Performance

The absence of explicit benchmark scores is itself a data point. The percentileVsAllCpus value of 50 places this processor exactly at the midpoint of the database's CPU population, suggesting it was an average performer in its time, neither a standout nor a laggard. However, the average benchmark score of 0 indicates that no synthetic or real-world tests have been recorded for this specific part, so the percentile likely reflects its historical classification rather than empirical results. The core specification set—1 core, 2 threads, and a 3.07 GHz base clock—defines its theoretical ceiling. The NetBurst architecture favors high clock speeds over instruction-level efficiency, so the 3.07 GHz frequency is the primary driver of any single-threaded performance. The 1 MB L2 cache and 8 KB L1 cache are modest by modern standards but were appropriate for a 90 nm design with 125 million transistors on a 112 mm² die. Because no nearest rivals are provided, direct percentage deltas cannot be computed, but the 50th percentile implies a balanced position relative to the entire database—likely reflecting the fact that while it had a high clock, its single physical core limited its overall throughput compared to multi-core contemporaries.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The split between single-thread and multi-thread behavior is stark, dictated by the 1-core, 2-thread configuration. Single-threaded performance is driven entirely by the 3.07 GHz base clock, with no boost clock available to dynamically increase frequency under load. This means the processor runs at a constant rate, which is beneficial for latency-sensitive tasks that cannot scale across cores. The NetBurst architecture's deep pipeline allows the clock to run high, but it also incurs penalties on branch mispredictions and cache misses, making real-world single-thread efficiency lower than the raw clock suggests. Multi-threaded behavior is limited to 2 threads via Hyper-Threading. With only one physical execution core, the second thread shares the same execution units, caches, and memory interface. The 8 KB L1 and 1 MB L2 caches are shared between the two threads, leading to potential contention in cache-heavy workloads. Scaling from 1 to 2 threads is not linear; the second thread can only utilize idle execution slots, so the performance gain is typically modest. For workloads that are genuinely parallel and require more than 2 threads, this processor will quickly become a bottleneck, as the lack of additional physical cores caps aggregate throughput.

Who Should Consider It

Given its mobile market segment and end-of-life production status, this processor is not a candidate for modern system builds. It is best suited for legacy applications or retro computing scenarios where software is single-threaded and clock-speed sensitive. Office productivity tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet calculations, and email clients, which are largely single-threaded, would run at the fixed 3.07 GHz and likely perform adequately for their era. For gaming, the picture is poor. The processor has no integrated graphics of its own; the FACT PACK notes that integrated graphics are available only on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not on the CPU. Additionally, no PCIe support is listed, implying the platform relies on older bus standards like AGP or legacy PCI. Modern games expect multi-core CPUs and will not run well on a single core with 2 threads. Creation workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, or software compilation are heavily multi-threaded and would suffer severely. The 2 threads cannot compensate for the absence of multiple physical cores, and the 50th percentile ranking confirms it was an average performer in its day, but by modern standards it is far below the median for such tasks.

Platform and Compatibility

The processor uses the Intel Socket 478 interface, a socket that was widespread in the early 2000s. Memory support includes DDR1 and DDR2, though the FACT PACK provides no memory bus speed or bandwidth figures, so the exact data rates are unknown. ECC memory is not supported, which is typical for consumer mobile parts. The platform lacks any PCIe specification in the data, meaning expansion is limited to legacy slots. Integrated graphics are not on the CPU but can be enabled on certain motherboards via the chipset, so the display output depends entirely on the motherboard's capabilities. The multiplier is locked, preventing overclocking. The production status is end-of-life, so no upgrade path exists within this socket; users cannot swap in a newer processor. The part number SL7DTSL7NA identifies the specific stepping, and the process node is 90 nm with 125 million transistors on a 112 mm² die. The release date of 2004-05-31 places it in a transitional period, and the lack of boost clock and PCIe support indicates a design predating modern platform standards.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for this processor, so a direct comparison against specific competitor models is impossible from the available data. The percentileVsAllCpus field of 50 places it at the median of the entire CPU database, but without rival scores, no delta percentages can be calculated. Based on its architectural traits, it would logically be compared to other single-core NetBurst processors from the same era, but those are not enumerated. The 3.07 GHz clock is high for a mobile part, but the absence of a boost clock means it cannot adapt to varying loads. The 1 MB L2 cache is a positive feature for its time, aiding in data locality, but the 8 KB L1 cache is small and may cause frequent misses. The 88W TDP is high for a mobile processor, which likely limited its adoption in thin laptops. The 50th percentile standing suggests it was neither a flagship nor a budget part, but rather a mainstream offering that balanced clock speed against power consumption. Without explicit rival data, the comparison remains qualitative, but the architectural profile indicates it would be outclassed by any modern multi-core processor.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Mobile Pentium 4 HT 532 use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 478 interface.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 1 physical core and 2 threads, enabled by Hyper-Threading technology.

Q: What is the base clock speed and is there a boost clock?

A: The base clock is 3.07 GHz, and there is no boost clock available.

Q: What memory types does it support?

A: It supports DDR1 and DDR2 memory, but does not support ECC memory.

Q: Does the processor have integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available only on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not on the CPU itself.

Q: What is the TDP and process node?

A: The TDP is 88 watts, and the process node is 90 nm.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is rated at 88 watts, which is exceptionally high for a mobile processor. This figure implies that a substantial cooling solution is required—likely a large heatsink and fan assembly or a thick mobile chassis with active cooling. The 90 nm process node and 125 million transistors contribute to the power draw, and the 112 mm² die size is relatively large for a single core. The NetBurst architecture is known for high power consumption due to its deep pipelines and high clock frequencies. The lack of a boost clock means the processor runs at a constant 3.07 GHz, generating steady heat under any load. For a mobile platform, an 88W TDP suggests that battery life would be short and that the system would run hot, which is a key reason why the part is end-of-life. The data indicates that cooling is a primary concern, and the thermal solution must be designed to dissipate this heat consistently. The 88W rating places it in a tier that demands active cooling, not passive or low-profile solutions.