User Manual

Intel

Xeon

Processor 5600 Series Datasheet Volume 1 17

Electrical Specifications

2 Electrical Specifications

2.1 Processor Signaling

The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series include 1366 lands, which utilize various signaling

technologies. Signals are grouped by electrical characteristics and buffer type into

various signal groups. These include Intel QuickPath Interconnect, DDR3 (Reference

Clock, Command, Control, and Data), Platform Environmental Control Interface (PECI),

Processor Sideband, System Reference Clock, Test Access Port (TAP), and Power/Other

signals. Refer to Table 2-5 for details.

2.1.1 Intel

QuickPath Interconnect

The Intel Xeon processor 5600 series provide two Intel

QuickPath Interconnect ports

for high speed serial transfer between other enabled components. Each port consists of

two uni-directional links (for transmit and receive). A differential signaling scheme is

utilized, which consists of opposite-polarity (D_P, D_N) signal pairs.

On-die termination (ODT) is included on the processor silicon and terminated to V

Intel chipsets also provide ODT, thus eliminating the need to terminate on the system

board. Figure 2-1 illustrates the active ODT.

2.1.2 DDR3 Signal Groups

The memory interface utilizes DDR3 technology, which consists of numerous signal

groups. These include: Reference Clocks, Command Signals, Control Signals, and Data

Signals. Each group consists of numerous signals, which may utilize various signaling

technologies. Please refer to Table 2-5 for further details.

2.1.3 Platform Environmental Control Interface (PECI)

PECI is an Intel proprietary interface that provides a communication channel between

Intel processors and chipset components to external thermal monitoring devices. The

processor contains a Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) that reports a relative die

temperature as an offset from Thermal Control Circuit (TCC) activation temperature.

Temperature sensors located throughout the die are implemented as analog-to-digital

converters calibrated at the factory. PECI provides an interface for external devices to

read processor temperature, perform processor manageability functions, and manage

processor interface tuning and diagnostics. Please refer to Section 7.3 for processor

specific implementation details for PECI.

Figure 2-1. Active ODT for a Differential Link Example

Signal