Intel core i7 CPU – Climbing the higher end

Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 11:01
Technology
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Intel is going to heat the tracks again with its powerful i7 core CPU. The previous releases of Intel processors like the Core 2 Duo and Quad Core had already made it to the top of the charts where heavy-duty performance is an issue. This core i7 has just getting climbed up wrecking havoc in the Intel benchmarks. The new lined up one is codenamed ‘Nehalem’.

Rising up the performance bar even higher, as its reviews, Intel i7 is based on a totally different architecture and not compatible with comparatively old socket 775 motherboards. The new socket is called as LGA1366, which refers to the number of pin connections to the CPU. These CPUs are supported by Intel’s X58 chipset that again is amazing in its compatibility with both Crossfire and SLI ready dual graphics technology. On the contrary the i7 has a memory controller similar to that of AMD supporting Three Channel memory just as the previous dual channel but with three RAM slot sticks and loaded up for up to DDR3 1600MHz, a substantial increase in the throughput.

The introduction of “Quick Path Interconnection” mechanism finally left in pace the FSB concept that was earlier used abundantly. Though it is unlike the HyperTranport AMD used to upgrade its 64bit CPU. Another massive punch that gives i7 an edge is the Hyper Threading Technology reinitiated long after the Dual Core CPU where its was not used at all. It indicates that all the four cores of i7 have virtual cores. All the available models of i7 naming the 920(2.66GHz), 940(2.93 GHz), 965Xtreme (3.2GHz) have these technology advantage.

As far performance is considered the i7 launches a new platform of speed and flexibility. Confirming all speculations the i7 scored a great 132 mark when ran over a World Bench 6.0 suite with all real world applications like Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk 3ds MAX, Microsoft Office 2007 etc, where the last fastest core 2 CPU had a score of 130. Also the core i7965 Extreme has gone all up to 145, a very considerable leap. One can gain extra benefits from the virtual cores while running taxing tasks like 3D rendering, having a performance boost up to 20 percent. Questions can come out whether the 50,000 INR price tag for the 965 Extreme is impressive enough or not. It has to be said that the cost – benefit ratio just is not enjoyed by most users. It is obvious that the price will fall as the time shifts.