Intel Pentium 4-M 1.90

The Intel Pentium 4-M 1.90 is a single-core mobile processor built on the NetBurst architecture with a Northwood codename. It operates at a base clock of 1900.00 MHz, contains 55 million transistors on a 131 mm² die using Intel’s 130 nm process, and is rated for a 32 W TDP. The data shows it occupies the 50th percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 0, indicating no standardized performance measurements are available for direct comparison.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals list is empty, meaning no direct competitor scores or deltaPct values are provided. In the absence of rival data, the processor’s position must be inferred from its architectural traits and market segment. As a mobile Pentium 4-M, it targets thin-and-light laptops from 2002, where its single core and 512 KB L2 cache were typical for the era. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it sits exactly at the midpoint of all recorded CPUs, but without benchmark scores, this percentile reflects category placement rather than measured speed. No rival can be cited because the database does not supply any comparative entries.

Platform and Compatibility

The processor uses Intel Socket 478, a socket designed for desktop Pentium 4 systems but adapted here for mobile use. It supports DDR1 and DDR2 memory types, though the memory bus width and bandwidth are not specified in the data. ECC memory is not supported. PCIe support is absent from the record, implying the platform relies on older AGP or integrated graphics. The integrated graphics feature is listed as "On certain motherboards (Chipset feature)," meaning graphics output depends on the chipset rather than the CPU die. The architecture is NetBurst with a Northwood codename, and the generation is explicitly "Pentium 4-M (Northwood)." The process node is 130 nm, produced by Intel’s own foundry. Upgrade path considerations: Socket 478 was shared with desktop Pentium 4 parts, but mobile variants like this one often had soldered or proprietary modules, limiting user-replaceability. The production status is end-of-life, so no ongoing platform support is implied. The multiplier is locked, preventing overclocking via multiplier adjustment.

Who Should Consider It

Given the single core, single thread, and 1900.00 MHz base clock, this processor is suited for basic office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet work, and light web browsing from the early 2000s. Benchmark scores are absent, so quantitative workload recommendations are impossible; however, the 512 KB L2 cache and 32 W TDP indicate a low-power design for battery-constrained laptops. For gaming, the lack of integrated graphics on the CPU (relying on chipset features) and single-core execution would severely limit modern titles, but for contemporary 2002-era games, it could handle 2D or early 3D titles at low settings. For content creation, such as video encoding or 3D rendering, the single thread and 8 KB L1 cache would be a bottleneck, as those workloads scale with core counts. The 50th percentile ranking across all CPUs suggests it is neither a standout performer nor a bottom-tier part, but this is relative to a database that includes modern multicore processors. The mobile segment implies thermal and power constraints prioritized over raw performance.

FAQ

Q: What is the base clock speed of this processor?

A: The base clock is 1900.00 MHz, with no boost clock listed.

Q: How many cores and threads does it have?

A: It has 1 core and 1 thread.

Q: What memory types does it support?

A: It supports DDR1 and DDR2 memory, but ECC memory is not supported.

Q: Is the multiplier unlocked?

A: No, the multiplier is locked.

Q: What is the TDP and what cooling tier does that imply?

A: The TDP is 32 W, which is low for a desktop Pentium 4 but typical for a mobile part; this implies a passive or small active cooling solution, such as a small heatsink with a low-speed fan, sufficient for a laptop chassis.

Q: Does it 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 production status?

A: It is end-of-life, meaning it is no longer manufactured.

Power and Thermals

The TDP is rated at 32 W, which is modest for a NetBurst processor—desktop Pentium 4 parts often ran much hotter, but this mobile variant is tuned for efficiency. The 130 nm process and 55 million transistors contribute to this lower power envelope. A 32 W TDP implies a cooling solution comparable to a small laptop fan or a thin heat pipe assembly, not a large tower cooler. The mobile market segment reinforces this: the chip was designed to fit into compact notebooks where thermal dissipation is limited. The absence of a boost clock means the processor runs at a constant 1900.00 MHz under load, avoiding power spikes from dynamic frequency scaling. For a system builder, this TDP class suggests that a standard low-profile cooler for Socket 478 would suffice, though the mobile form factor typically used a proprietary heatsink. The data does not list a launch MSRP, so no pricing information is available.

Single-Thread vs Multi-Thread Behavior

With 1 core and 1 thread, the processor is inherently single-threaded—there is no multi-thread behavior to analyze. All workloads execute sequentially. The 1900.00 MHz clock is the sole driver of performance, and the 512 KB L2 cache helps reduce latency for frequently accessed data. In real-world terms, this means the CPU excels at tasks that are inherently serial, such as legacy office applications or single-threaded scripting. Multi-threaded workloads, like modern video encoding or parallel compilation, would see no benefit from additional cores because none exist. The 8 KB L1 cache is small by modern standards, but it was adequate for the instruction sets of 2002. The single-thread performance is best compared to other Northwood Pentium 4 parts, but without rival scores, the only reference is the 50th percentile ranking. That percentile is derived from all CPUs, many of which have multiple cores, so a single-core chip at the median indicates that its single-thread speed is not exceptional but not deficient for its era.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data shows an average score of 0, and the nearestRivals list is empty. This means no quantitative performance measurements are recorded, and no direct comparisons to other CPUs can be made using deltaPct values. The 50th percentile ranking is the only performance-related statistic, but it is a relative position across the entire database, not a score. Without rival scores, it is impossible to state specific percentage deltas (e.g., "30% ahead of X"). The absence of benchmarks could indicate that this mobile processor was never tested under the database’s standardized workloads, or that its niche market segment did not warrant inclusion. The architectural facts—single core, 1900.00 MHz, 512 KB L2, 32 W TDP—suggest a performance level typical of early 2000s mobile Pentium 4 chips. For comparison, a desktop Pentium 4 at the same clock would likely outperform it due to higher sustained power, but that is speculation outside the data. The percentile rank of 50 means it is neither in the top nor bottom half of recorded CPUs, but given that the database includes many multicore, high-clock modern parts, this ranking likely reflects the chip’s low core count rather than its clock speed. The production status is end-of-life, and the release date is 2002-06-23, placing it in a historical context where performance expectations were far lower than today.