Goldmont

Goldmont. Goldmont is a low-power x86-64 microprocessor microarchitecture designed by Intel and introduced in 2016. It served as the foundation for Intel Atom and Intel Celeron processors targeting the entry-level desktop, mobile device, and embedded system markets. The design emphasized energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness, succeeding the Airmont microarchitecture and being manufactured on a 14 nm process.

Overview

The Goldmont microarchitecture was unveiled as part of Intel's strategy to compete in the growing market for efficient systems on a chip (SoCs) for value segments. Key product lines utilizing this core included the Apollo Lake platform for notebooks and desktops and the Denverton platform for network-attached storage and communications server applications. It was developed by Intel's teams in Haifa and Oregon, integrating features like hardware acceleration for video codecs such as VP9 and HEVC. The design also incorporated enhanced security instructions and improved branch prediction over its predecessor.

Architecture

The Goldmont core employed a 14 nm tri-gate CMOS process and featured a decoupled 16-stage instruction pipeline. It implemented an out-of-order execution engine with a 3-wide decode and a 5-wide retire width, a significant upgrade from earlier Intel Atom designs. The memory subsystem included a 64 KB L1 cache per core and a shared L2 cache of up to 4 MB, connected via a revised ring bus interconnect. Integrated graphics were provided by an Intel HD Graphics GPU based on the Gen9 architecture, supporting DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.5. The system agent managed interfaces like DDR3L/LPDDR3/LPDDR4 memory controllers and PCI Express 2.0 lanes.

Variants

Primary variants of the Goldmont microarchitecture were defined by their target platforms. The Apollo Lake SoC, marketed under the Intel Celeron and Intel Pentium Silver brands, featured two or four cores and was used in devices like the Microsoft Surface 3 and various Chromebooks. The Denverton SoC, aimed at data center and networking, scaled up to 16 cores and was utilized in products from companies like Supermicro and QNAP Systems. Other implementations included the Intel Atom x5-E8000 series for embedded systems and the Intel Celeron J3355 for entry-level desktop computers. All variants shared the fundamental Goldmont core design but differed in core count, TDP, and integrated I/O.

Performance

Performance of Goldmont-based processors was characterized by competitive IPC gains over the preceding Airmont generation, particularly in integer arithmetic and floating-point workloads. In benchmarks such as SPECint and Geekbench, chips like the Intel Celeron N3350 showed marked improvements in web browser responsiveness and media playback efficiency. The integrated Intel HD Graphics offered capable performance for 1080p video decoding and light 3D gaming, supporting technologies like Quick Sync Video. However, its performance remained distinct from and below that of contemporaneous Intel Core microarchitectures like Kaby Lake, positioning it firmly in the value segment.

Applications

Goldmont processors found widespread use in cost-sensitive and power-constrained devices across multiple sectors. In the consumer market, they powered a generation of affordable Windows 10 laptops, 2-in-1 PCs, and Chromebooks from manufacturers including Acer, ASUS, and Lenovo. The embedded system and Internet of Things markets adopted these chips for digital signage, point-of-sale systems, and industrial automation controllers. The Denverton variant was extensively deployed in network-attached storage appliances from Synology and QNAP Systems, as well as in software-defined networking and security appliances from vendors like Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks.

Successor

Goldmont was succeeded in 2017 by the Goldmont Plus microarchitecture, which debuted in the Gemini Lake platform. Goldmont Plus introduced architectural refinements such as a larger L2 cache, support for DDR4 memory, and a more capable Intel UHD Graphics GPU. This was followed by subsequent low-power architectures including Tremont and Gracemont, the latter forming the E-core clusters in Intel's Alder Lake and Raptor Lake hybrid processors for the client market. The evolution from Goldmont played a crucial role in Intel's development of highly efficient cores for modern big.LITTLE-style designs.