Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.6E

The Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.6E is a single-core desktop processor from Intel's NetBurst family, built on the Prescott core at a 90 nm process node. It operates at a 3.60 GHz base clock with two threads via Hyper-Threading, draws a 115 W TDP, and targets the Intel Socket 478 platform. Released on August 3, 2004, this end-of-life part sits at the 50th percentile of all CPUs in the database, though its average benchmark score of 0 indicates no recorded performance submissions.

How It Compares

The Pentium 4 HT 3.6E holds the 50th percentile position among all CPUs in the benchmark database, placing it exactly at the median of the recorded population. Half of all processors in the database rank below it and half rank above, which for a single-core, dual-thread part released in 2004 reflects its historical standing rather than a competitive performance tier. The average benchmark score of 0, however, indicates that no performance measurements have been recorded for this specific SKU, so the percentile placement is derived from the broader database distribution rather than from direct test results.

No direct rival entries are recorded alongside this processor. The absence of named competitors in the database means comparative deltas cannot be calculated for this part. Instead, the 50th percentile serves as the sole positional reference: it is neither an outlier at the top nor at the bottom of the database population, but a median occupant. For a desktop processor with a single physical core and two logical threads, this median placement aligns with the expectation that it addresses a narrow, lightly threaded workload segment rather than competing with multi-core parts.

The 3.60 GHz base clock is the highest frequency figure recorded for this part, and with Hyper-Threading enabled, the single core presents two threads to the operating system. In the context of the database's CPU population, the combination of a high clock rate and a single execution core produces a profile characteristic of the era around its release — a time when frequency scaling was the primary performance lever. The 50th percentile placement reflects this era's typical positioning: a mainstream desktop part, not a flagship and not an entry-level unit.

Who Should Consider It

The data describes a processor with a single physical core and two logical threads. Workloads that are single-threaded or that can be parallelized across at most two threads will see the full benefit of the 3.60 GHz base clock. Office productivity tasks, legacy applications, and light desktop usage fall into this category. For such workloads, the 1 MB L2 cache provides a reasonably sized working set, and the 16 KB L1 cache handles immediate data access.

For gaming, the single-core design means that titles written for single-threaded execution will run at the full 3.60 GHz frequency. Games that attempt to use more than two threads will not gain additional scaling beyond the two logical processors. The integrated graphics are only present on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, so a discrete graphics solution is necessary for any graphical workload unless the specific motherboard includes the chipset-integrated output.

For content creation and rendering, the limitations are more pronounced. Rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads that scale across many cores will be constrained by the single physical core. The two threads provided by Hyper-Threading offer some overlap for latency hiding, but the throughput ceiling is the execution width of one core. The 115 W TDP indicates that the processor draws significant power for its single core, and any system using this part must provide cooling capable of handling that thermal load.

The end-of-life production status means this processor is not appropriate for new builds. It is best considered for retro computing, legacy system repairs, or as a replacement part for an existing socket 478 system. The DDR1 and DDR2 memory support gives some flexibility in memory selection, but the specific motherboard dictates which memory generation is usable.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data for the Pentium 4 HT 3.6E is sparse: the average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and no individual benchmark entries are present in the database. This means that direct performance comparisons against other processors cannot be made from recorded scores. The 50th percentile placement, however, provides a relative anchor — the processor sits at the median of all CPUs in the database, which suggests that in the population of recorded parts, it is neither a performance leader nor a laggard.

Without rival scores and delta percentages, the analysis must rely on architectural characteristics. The 3.60 GHz base clock, combined with a single core and two threads, produces a peak throughput that is bounded by the execution width of the Prescott core. The 90 nm process node, with 125 million transistors on a 109 mm² die, defines the transistor budget available to the core and the 1 MB L2 cache. The 16 KB L1 cache provides a small immediate working set, while the 1 MB L2 cache offers a larger secondary tier.

The absence of a boost clock means the 3.60 GHz figure is the sustained and maximum frequency; there is no dynamic frequency headroom recorded in the data. The multiplier is locked, so frequency adjustment via multiplier changes is not available. The TDP of 115 W is the thermal design power that a cooling solution must handle; for a single-core part, this is a notable figure that reflects the NetBurst architecture's characteristics.

Since no percentage deltas can be computed against rivals, the performance analysis is qualitative: the data indicates a processor that delivers its performance through high clock frequency and thread-level parallelism limited to two threads. Workloads that are latency-sensitive and single-threaded will extract the most from the 3.60 GHz clock, while throughput-oriented workloads that scale beyond two threads will leave performance on the table.

Platform and Compatibility

The Pentium 4 HT 3.6E uses the Intel Socket 478 interface, a socket that was common for desktop processors in the era of its release. The platform supports DDR1 and DDR2 memory, giving system builders a choice between two memory generations, though the specific motherboard determines which memory type is accepted. ECC memory is not supported, so the platform targets consumer desktop use rather than error-correcting server workloads.

The integrated graphics are not part of the processor itself; rather, they are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature. This means that the visual output capability depends entirely on the motherboard's chipset and whether it includes an integrated graphics controller. For systems without such a motherboard feature, a discrete graphics card is required.

The processor is built on Intel's 90 nm process node, with 125 million transistors packed into a 109 mm² die. The NetBurst architecture and Prescott codename define the microarchitectural design. The processor is not multiplier unlocked, so overclocking via multiplier adjustment is not possible; any frequency changes would have to come from the base clock, though the data does not record a boost clock.

The production status is end-of-life, meaning Intel no longer manufactures this part. The release date of August 3, 2004 marks its introduction. For upgrade paths, the socket 478 platform is a legacy platform; users seeking to upgrade from this processor would need to change the motherboard and memory to move to a different socket, as the socket 478 interface is specific to this generation of Pentium 4 processors. The 115 W TDP is a key compatibility consideration for any motherboard and cooling solution, as the thermal design power must be within the motherboard's VRM and cooling capabilities.

FAQ

Q: How many cores and threads does the Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.6E have?

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

Q: What socket does this processor use?

A: It uses the Intel Socket 478 interface.

Q: What memory types are supported?

A: The processor supports DDR1 and DDR2 memory. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does the processor include integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available on certain motherboards as a chipset feature, not as part of the processor itself.

Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP)?

A: The TDP is 115 W.

Q: When was this processor released?

A: It was released on August 3, 2004.