Intel Pentium 4 HT Extreme Edition 3.73

The Intel Pentium 4 HT Extreme Edition 3.73 is a single-core, dual-thread desktop processor built on Intel's NetBurst architecture with the Prescott codename, released on February 20, 2005 at a launch MSRP of $999. It sits at the 50th percentile in the database's all-CPU ranking, with an average benchmark score of 0 reflecting the absence of recorded performance entries. Its defining characteristics — a 3.73 GHz base clock, 2 MB of L2 cache, a 115 W TDP, and a locked multiplier — place it as a high-clocked, period-specific part aimed at the desktop market, now end-of-life.

How It Compares

The database records no nearest-rival entries for this processor. Consequently, no rival names, scores, or deltaPct values can be cited, and any direct comparison against a named competitor would be unsupported by the data. What the data does show is a 50th-percentile standing among all CPUs tracked in the database. This midpoint position indicates that, within the historical population of recorded parts, the Pentium 4 HT Extreme Edition 3.73 sits exactly at the median. The absence of nearestRivals data is itself a meaningful finding: the database treats this part as having no close comparison points, likely because its combination of one physical core, two threads, and a 3.73 GHz clock is unusual among recorded entries. In absolute terms, the 0 average benchmark score means no workload-specific performance figures exist to anchor a comparison, so the 50th percentile is the only quantitative positioning signal available.

Platform and Compatibility

The processor uses Intel Socket 775, a desktop platform socket. It is fabricated on a 90 nm process node by Intel, with 169 million transistors on a 109 mm² die. The architecture is NetBurst, with the Prescott codename, and the generation is listed as Pentium 4 HT, specifically the Prescott EE variant. Memory support spans DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, with the explicit caveat that support depends on the motherboard; the memory bus is dual-channel. ECC memory is not supported, which limits its use in error-correcting memory environments. Integrated graphics are available only on certain motherboards as a chipset feature — the processor itself contains no integrated GPU. The market segment is desktop, and the production status is end-of-life, meaning no new units are produced. The multiplier is locked, so frequency adjustment via multiplier manipulation is not possible. The part number is SL7Z4. No PCIe information is recorded in the database, so the expansion interface cannot be characterized from this data. The upgrade path is constrained by the end-of-life status and the socket 775 platform; users on this socket would be limited to other socket 775 processors, but the database provides no list of compatible alternatives, so upgrade guidance cannot be offered beyond the socket itself.

Benchmark Performance

The average benchmark score for this processor is 0. This is a striking data point: it indicates that no benchmark results are recorded in the database for this part. The percentile versus all CPUs is 50, placing it at the midpoint of the distribution. Interpreted strictly, a 50th percentile rank means that half of all recorded CPUs score at or below this processor's level — but with an average score of 0, the percentile is likely derived from the empty benchmark set rather than from actual measured performance. Benchmark results indicate that the processor's performance cannot be quantified from the current database. There are no multi-core or single-core scores to analyze, no deltas to report, and no rival comparisons to draw upon. The only performance-relevant specifications are the 3.73 GHz base clock and the 2 MB L2 cache, which are structural attributes rather than measured outcomes. In the absence of measured scores, the 50th percentile is the sole quantitative performance indicator, and it should be read as a neutral midpoint rather than a competitive verdict. The data offers no basis for claiming superiority or deficiency in any specific workload category.

Who Should Consider It

Given the absence of benchmark scores, recommendations must be grounded in the processor's structural characteristics. The Pentium 4 HT Extreme Edition 3.73 has one core and two threads. This makes it suitable for workloads that are predominantly single-threaded, where the high 3.73 GHz base clock can be leveraged directly. Office applications, legacy software, and basic desktop tasks that do not scale beyond one thread fall within its reach. For multi-threaded creation workloads — video rendering, 3D modeling, or compilation — the single physical core is a severe limitation, and the two threads provided by Hyper-Threading offer only a modest degree of parallelism. Gaming in the modern sense is not well supported by a single-core design, but older or lightly threaded games that respond to high clock speeds could benefit. The 2 MB L2 cache is large for its era and may help with working sets that fit within that capacity. Users who need to run software from the mid-2000s, or who require a period-accurate system for legacy applications, are the natural audience. The end-of-life production status means new units are not available; consideration is limited to the used market, and the locked multiplier restricts enthusiast tuning.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is 115 W. This places the processor in a power class that requires a capable cooling solution. A 115 W TDP is substantial for a single-core part, reflecting the NetBurst architecture's known tendency toward high power draw at high clock speeds. The 90 nm process node and 169 million transistors are structural factors; the 109 mm² die size is relatively small, but the power density is nonetheless significant. For thermals, the data implies that a cooler designed for the 115 W class would be necessary, and robust cooling would be advisable for sustained loads. The locked multiplier does not permit multiplier-based overclocking, so thermal headroom cannot be exploited through that route. The absence of an integrated GPU in the processor itself means the chipset or a discrete graphics card handles display output, which does not affect the CPU's thermal envelope. Users should ensure adequate case airflow and a cooler rated for the 115 W TDP class to maintain stable operation.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

The processor has one core and two threads. The base clock is 3.73 GHz, and there is no boost clock recorded, meaning the operating frequency is fixed at 3.73 GHz regardless of load. Single-thread performance is driven entirely by that clock speed and the 2 MB L2 cache. With only one physical core, the processor cannot execute more than one instruction stream in hardware at a time; the second thread is a Hyper-Threading feature that allows the single core to interleave two logical threads. In practice, this improves utilization of the execution units but does not double throughput. For single-threaded workloads, the processor behaves like a high-clocked single-core part. For multi-threaded workloads, the two threads provide a limited benefit — typically a modest improvement over single-threaded execution, though the database records no specific figure. The 16 KB L1 cache is typical of the NetBurst design. The behavioral split is clear: this is a processor optimized for clock-speed-sensitive, single-threaded tasks, with multi-thread capability as a secondary feature rather than a primary strength. The absence of a boost clock reinforces the fixed-frequency behavior, making it predictable under load.

FAQ

Q: What socket does the Intel Pentium 4 HT Extreme Edition 3.73 use?

A: It uses Intel Socket 775.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 1 core and 2 threads.

Q: What is the base clock speed?

A: The base clock is 3.73 GHz. There is no boost clock recorded.

Q: What memory types does it support?

A: It supports DDR1, DDR2, and DDR3, depending on the motherboard, with a dual-channel memory bus. ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Does it have integrated graphics?

A: Integrated graphics are available only on certain motherboards as a chipset feature; the processor itself does not include integrated graphics.

Q: What is the TDP and production status?

A: The TDP is 115 W, and the production status is end-of-life.

Q: When was it released?

A: It was released on February 20, 2005.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked.