Intel D-0 Stepping Core i7-920

In February Intel indicated that it’s initiating a C-0 to D-0 stepping conversion for the Intel Core i7-920 processor.


The overclocking performance of D-0 Core i7-920 is superior to that of C0/C1 stepping. New stepping Core i7-920 features a few changes including S-Spec from SLBCH to SLBEJ, and the CPU ID from 0×000106A4 to 0×000106A5, so a BIOS update is required. Besides, the Ink Swatch number has been also removed.

D0 Core i7-920 has hit retail at AKIBA at price tag of Yen 30780 which is about $306.


Source: [AKIBA]

Intel LGA 1155, 1156, 1576 sockets

Core i7's LGA 1366 socket is old so Intel is looking to introduce a few new sockets, and processors. Not like in the LGA 775 Intel is preparing to introduce two mainstream Nehalem sockets, both of which are pictured below - Socket H1 (LGA 1156) and H2 (LGA 1155). These will house the Core i5 CPU models which, compared to the Core i7s, lack QPI and the triple-channel memory controller but integrate a dual channel DDR3 memory and PCI-Express controllers.

Socket H1 (left) and Socket H2 (right)

Before Socket H1 and H2 come into play, another new socket (seen below) will make its debut. Socket Socket LS aka LGA 1567 is aimed at the server market and will be paired up with Nehalem-based Xeon processors.

Intel LGA 1155, 1156, 1576 sockets

source

Online retailers start listing Core i7 processors

According to our sources, Intels new Core i7 processors wont appear on store shelves until November 17. That deadline apparently hasnt stopped some e-tailers from putting up early listings for the CPUs and their matching motherboards, though.

PC Connection currently lists the Core i7-920 for $334.02 and the Core i7-940 for $662—both notable markups over the tray prices, which are $284 and $562, respectively, for those two chips (see our review). Meanwhile, PC Mall has listings for a Core i7-920 at $384, a Core i7-940 at $722, and a Core i7-965 at $1,250. PC Mall has none of these chips in stock right now, but PC Connections website says "Limited Quantities Available" in the stock status column.

A search for "Core i7" at PC Connection also lists no fewer than seven motherboards, all based on the Intel X58 Express chipset and priced between $261.38 and $463.98. The cheapest of the bunch looks to be the MSI X58 Platinum, while a Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 is already in stock and available for $352.87. The Asus P6T Deluxe we reviewed a few days back is up for $392.09, too, well above the $309 suggested retail price.

Intel core i7 CPU BOX

Core i7 920 runs at 2.66GHz, L2 cache 256KB per core, L3 shared cache 8MB, the integrated memory controller supports tri-channel DDR3 memory 800MHz/1066MHz, TDP 130W. Today the CPU’s price is 2450CNY, around 358USD.

Core i7 920 retail version.

Core i7 920 retail version.
Core i7 920 retail version.

Core i7 920 retail version.

source:en.expreview.com

Intel Core i7 Nehalem launching on November 17

Intel provided information about its next-generation micro-architecture (Nehalem) with the Core i7 processors at a media event on Wednesday in Athens, Greece, prior to the worldwide official release of the system on November 17.Intel Core i7 Nehalem launching on November 17

The event ran under the headline of "the fastest processor on the planet". The two major characteristics of the new i7 architecture are the triple-channel integrated memory controllers and the new interface called Quick Path Interconnect (QPI). Other highlights include the monolithic die to consolidate all four cores in a single piece of silicon, and the shared L3 cache. Further improvements include the use of the Hyper-threading as well as the Turbo Boost technologies. The Core i7 processors are also optimized to operate with Intel's X58 chipset.The Corei7 series will feature three quad-core models: The 2.66 GHz Core i7 920 will aim for the sub-$1000 class of PCs, the 2.93 GHz Core i7 940 for more expensive PCs in the $1500-$2000 range and the 3.2 GHz 965 Extreme Edition at enthusiast PCs.

The prices (1K pieces) of these CPUs are $999 for the Extreme Edition, $562 for the 940 and $284 for the 920.The X58 Express chipset covers both the northbridge/southbridge operations. The X58 IOH supports up to 36 PCIe 2.0 lanes. Depending on the processor model, QPI may run at either 6.4 GT/sec (Core i7-965) or 6.4 GT/sec (Core i7-940, i7-920) to communicate with the X58 Express chipset in each direction. This is twice the bandwidth of Intel's currently available X48 chipset, plus the full-duplex transport instead of the half-duplex. AMD's HyperTransport 3.0 still has an advantage herewith up to 41.6GB/s of bi-directional bandwidth.However, the X58 Express does not support the legacy PS/2 IDE, serial or parallel ports.

Turbo mode

Under the "TurboMode", the utilization of the number of active cores is used to adjust the frequency. For example, if only two cores are active, then there will be much more headroom within the thermal and power envelope and the CPU will be clocked higher. So the "turbo" frequencies of each core depend on the number of cores active. We could say that this is mainly a power saving feature.

Turbo Mode boasts single threaded applications as well as the performance of multi-threaded applications, according to Intel. Below is a graph that Intel showed with the Core i7 Extreme CPU to process in single-core and quad-core configurations, with Turbo Mode enabled. The graph shows the percent performance increase with Turbo Mode enable.
Technorati Tags: core i7, intel i7, chipset, core i7, gadgets, hardware, Intel, Nehalem Chipset, processor

Intel cuts desktop CPU pricesIntel cuts desktop CPU prices

Preparing for i7

Intel has made the first in what may be a round cuts to the prices of its incumbent desktop range in anticipation of the arrival of Core i7 next month.

Its entry level 45nm quad core CPU - the Q8200 - has seen its price cut by 14 percent from $224 to $193. The Q6600, which was priced at $193, has had a tenner knocked off it to make room. Here's a table showing these and all the other price reductions, which we published by Intel last Sunday. Note it also includes a new Core 2 Duo CPU - the E7400:

Model	Previous price	New price	Change
Q8200	$224	$193	-14%
Q6600	$193	$183	-5%
E7400 (2.8GHz)	-	$133
E7300	$133	$113	-15%
E2220	$84	$74	-12%
E2200	$74	$64	-14%
X3220	$198	$188	-5%
X3210	$198	$188	-5%

Intel’s Core i7 is great for games

As part of our thorough testing of Intel's new Core i7 architecture, we've been able to check out just what the top-end Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition can do for games. Clocked at 3.2GHz in the factory, this £1,000 quad core part means serious performance. And if there's one thing Intel's Extreme Edition chips do well, it's playing games - especially when you crank it up courtesy of the unlocked multiplier.

While compiling our review we put Core i7, alongside the outgoing Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition and AMD's top Phenom chip, through possibly the toughest set of tests we've yet conducted. We also gave specific features such HyperThreading a good seeing to and clocked the twangers off the poor thing in our overclocking tests. Finally, just for good measure, we pitted Core i7 against the monstrous Skulltrail, Intel's exotic dual-CPU platform. You can download all the results as a PDF from our benchmarkathon page.

The key message is that Core i7 has stunning multi-threaded performance, but it's not a massive leap forward for single-thread grunt. In key multi-threaded metrics such as video encoding and professional rendering, Core i7 utterly decimates the opposition. Single-threaded performance remains extremely important and Core i7 is strong here too, if not quite as dominant. However, it is more power-hungry than its predecessor. As for how AMD's Phenom compares, it's an absolute massacre. Intel's finest is now often twice as quick as the best AMD can deliver.

As for individual game benchmarks, the difference between the Core i7-965 Extreme Edition and AMD's top-end Phenom 9950 Black Edition is marked, though the contrast between the Core i7 Extreme Edition and its predecessor, the Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition, isn't anywhere near as marked. Here are the figures:

Crysis Warhead
Core i7-965 Extreme Edition: 57fps
Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition: 49fps
Phenom 9950 Black Edition: 25fps

Call of Duty 4
Core i7-965 Extreme Edition: 118fps
Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition: 108fps
Phenom 9950 Black Edition: 69fps

Lost Planet
Core i7-965 Extreme Edition: 165fps
Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition: 105fps
Phenom 9950 Black Edition: 75fps

Half-Life 2
Core i7-965 Extreme Edition: 236fps
Core 2 QX9770 Extreme Edition: 216fps
Phenom 9950 Black Edition: 138fps

And it's not all about performance. Installing games faster also cuts time - though not as much as you'd think due to the bottleneck of the DVD drive. Installing the popular strategy game Company of Heroes: Opposing Front is a 13-minute chore on our average-Joe machine. By contrast, the finest PC technology available to man only cuts that down to the tune of around 30 seconds.

There are three Core i7s available at launch. The entry level chip is the 2.66GHz Core i7-920, yours for £200, or perhaps a touch less. Next up is the 2.93GHz 940 processor, likely to sell for £400. Last is the 965 Extreme Edition. It costs a cool £1,000, runs at 3.2GHz and adds a few overclocking-friendly features such as an unlocked multiplier. All three chips have 8MB of L3 cache and support up to 24GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 memory.

2.93 GHz Intel Core i7 tested

Intel Core i7 tested


You may have to wait one more month in order to be able to buy a Core i7 processor but when it comes to knowing the performance of Intel's upcoming 45nm parts, the wait if over. From PCOnline we now have a rather in-detail article focused on the performance of Intel's Core i7 940. Coming at 2.93 GHz, the i7 940 will be the highest clocked non-Extreme Nehalem CPU available upon launch day and it will feature things like 8MB of shared L3 cache and a triple-channel DDR3 memory controller.

Going against a Core 2 Extreme QX9770 both at both 3.2 GHz and 2.93 GHz, the Core i7 940 proves faster than its predecessor in Super PI, CINEBENCH R10, WinRAR, 3DMark Vantage and World in Conflict but not in Call of Duty 4, Half-Life 2: Episode Two of Company of Heroes.



To see the Core i7 940's

Summary: In multi-threaded test, simultaneous multi-threaded SMT Open Core i7's performance has improved significantly in software testing, only TMPGEnc and SMT have compatibility problems, decreased performance, I believe that through subsequent version will resolve this

2.93 GHz Intel Core i7 tested

Intel Core i7 Extreme 965 unboxing

Although we still don't know when the official announcement will take place, Intel is expected to unveil its next generation Core i7 processors, based on the Nehalem architecture. As with most other highly anticipated hardware products, details have already surfaced on the Internet, which literally means that, by the time the Santa Clara, California-based leading chip maker decides to officially unveil the product, most users will already have a general idea of what to expect from it.

Photos of the company's upcoming Core i7 Extreme processor have popped up on the Internet, clearly showing everything you are to look for from a straight out-of-the-box offering. While the packaging isn't that which will be seen in stores at insane ($1000+) prices, everything else is there, including the new boxed cooler and, of course, the star quad-core CPU. The Core i7 Extreme 965 features four cores and eight threads, 8MB of L3 cache, a triple-channel DDR3 integrated memory controller and a passion for one little chip known as the X58.This also includes the new and improved cooler, specifically designed to ease temperatures for Intel's next-to-be flagship processor.

The Core i7 920 and Core i7 940. These will come with core speeds of 2.66GHz and 2.9GHz, respectively, and will provide a total of 8MB of L3 cache. As far as pricing is concerned, they will be available for approximately $284 and $562.

Intel Core i7 Extreme 965 unboxing

The cooler is certainly quite an impressive looking beast with its mixture of copper and aluminum fins, not to mention the sheer size of the thing.

Intel Core i7 Extreme 965

Touching on the 965s specs once again, it features four cores running at 3.2GHz, 8MB of L3 cache and triple channel DDR3 integrated memory controller. You can see below the size of the new LGA1366 processor (left) against existing LGA775 (middle) and Socket 478 processors (right).

A size comparison with the Core i7 965 (Socket LGA1366) on the left, an LGA775 processor in the middle and a Socket 478 CPU to the right

Pictures courtesy of Mobile01.com.

Intel to unlock memory OC for non-Extreme Core i7 CPUs

With the release of the first Nahelam processors closing in, Intel has decided to enhance the overclocking capabilities of the two upcoming non-Extreme model. As revealed by the guys at Expreview Intel's Core i7-940 and 920, which are clocked at 2.93 GHz and 2.66 GHz respectively will have their integrated memory controllers "unlocked" which means the user will be able to change the memory multiplier and thus the memory frequency beyond the stock 800/1066 MHz.

Previously, only the 3.2 GHz Core i7-965 Extreme Edition had the memory multiplier unlocked so this is good news for overclockers who'll get to stress the heck out of the lower-clocked Core i7 CPUs. A good last minute choice from Intel.