The Pentium J2900 is an ideal processor solution for compact and energy-efficient computer systems. And both for stationary and for mobile. It is about its parameters and capabilities that will be discussed.
Chip positioning
The Intel Pentium J2900 targets the entry-level computing segment. Moreover, it boasts a high degree of energy efficiency and low cost. Also, due to its relatively small size and low heat dissipation, this chip can be successfully used in ultra-compact personal computers. In general, where there are no special requirements for the level of PC performance, and without fail you need an energy-efficient solution that can fit in a compact case, in combination with low cost, you can successfully use this semiconductor solution.
Socket for this processor product
This silicon crystal is designed for installation in a socket marked FCBGA1170. Only now, unlike the usual collapsible processor sockets, in this case the chip is soldered directly to the system board. This allows manufacturers of computer equipment to reduce the cost of its production and reduce the cost of finished products. But the repair or modernization of such equipment can no longer be performed. In this case, it is easier to buy a new laptop or system unit.
Silicon Crystal Manufacturing Process Technologies
The Pentium J2900 processor is manufactured according to the standards of one of the most advanced technological processes today - 22 nm. It is its use in this case that allows the processor to boast a high degree of energy efficiency against the background of similar products from third-party manufacturers. In addition to this, it should be noted that the code name for the semiconductor technology is TriGate. Due to the three-dimensional arrangement, the sizes of transistors are significantly reduced in this case, and a similar engineering solution reduces the overall dimensions of the silicon substrate.
Cache
The subsystem of fast volatile memory in Pentium J2900 is rather modestly organized. A review of the technical specifications of this product indicates that there are only 2 cache levels. On the one hand, the absence of the 3rd level of fast memory significantly reduces the speed of the computing system. But at the same time, the size of the silicon crystal is reduced and the heat emission of the chip is reduced. The total cache size of the first level in this case is 224 kb, and the second - 2 MB.
Types of RAM. Number of channels
Pentium J2900 is equipped with an integrated dual-channel memory controller, which is aimed at working in combination with DDR3 standard modules. Therefore, as part of such a PC, it is better to use 2 RAM slots at once and due to this receive, albeit a small, but still an increase in speed. Again, the usual, full-format RAM strips cannot be seen in the composition of such a PC. The compact dimensions of motherboards impose restrictions, and in this case, you can only find slots of the form LPDDR3. That is, shortened RAM strips are used, which are aimed at using as part of laptops. The maximum size of RAM that this chip can address is 8 GB.
Thermal pack
In addition to the four processing units, the semiconductor chip also has an integrated memory controller, 2-level cache memory and an integrated graphics accelerator. If a similar package were on a high-performance processor, then its thermal package would be in the range from 75 to 100 watts. In the same case, the manufacturer set the value of this parameter to 10 watts. Therefore, you can even limit yourself to even a passive cooling system. The maximum temperature for the J2900 is 105 0 . In reality, this chip operates in the range from 35 to 65 0 , depending on the level of complexity of the task currently being performed.
Frequency potential
The reference clock frequency in the Intel Pentium J2900 is 2.4 GHz. In this mode, this CPU model operates in the case of solving undemanding tasks or when a semiconductor crystal overheats. In all other cases, the chip switches to Burst mode, and its frequency automatically rises to 2.6 GHz.
Architectural features of the processor solution
The number of compatible x86-x64 computing modules in this case is four. The HyperTrading technology, which was implemented in the previous generation of energy-efficient chips from Intel, is absent in this case. Therefore, the number of software information processing flows is equal to the number of computing cores of the chip - four.
CPU integrated graphics accelerator
Pentium J2900 is equipped with an integrated graphics accelerator. Its name is HD Graphics. With a similar name, you can find a video card in more productive CPUs. Only in this case we are talking about a truncated version of it. Accordingly, the performance level is lower. Its clock frequencies are 688-896 MHz, and the number of supported displays is 2.
Comparison with analogues
Now in the Intel camp, the direct competitors of the J2900 are the N3XXX CPUs of the same name, which at almost equal cost provide higher performance. Therefore, the cost of decisions based on the hero of this review has decreased significantly. From AMD, the competitors of this chip are A6 processors from the Kabini family. With a comparable level of performance and cost, the latter have a much better graphic part. As a result, it is preferable to buy a PC, which is based on a competing solution from AMD, for example, A6-5200. But if the energy efficiency of the computing system comes to the fore, then chips from Intel, especially the J2900, already look preferable.
Price, expert opinion and user reviews
At $ 94, it is estimated by the manufacturer Pentium J2900. Owner reviews indicate that you can purchase fully assembled on the basis of such a chip for 250-300 y. e. The only drawback of such a computing system is its low speed. Otherwise, it has a number of advantages: high energy efficiency, affordable cost, passive cooling system (this also implies a minimum noise level during operation), miniature dimensions. All this in total leads to the fact that such system units are not so rare.
Summary
The entry-level, balanced, energy-efficient solution is the Pentium J2900. Now its purchase has become even more profitable in the light of the appearance of an updated line of central processors for this market segment represented by the Pentium G3XXX. Therefore, the cost of the J2900 has decreased even more, and this CPU has become more affordable.