Intel Core i7-980X

Intel's fastest chip is scarce so far

Intel's new six-core Core i7-980X processor is shipping, but supply is tight even for a chip priced at around $1,000.

The advent of the 980X is big news in Japan's gadget hot spots like Akihabara, where its scarcity hasn't stopped vendors from hawking big rigs packed with the latest hardware.

Ascii, one Japan's leading publishers of gadget news, is trumpeting the arrival of the 980X while warning the build-your-own crowd that availability of the standalone boxed processor is unclear. "It is regrettable that boxed retail processor sales are not happening yet...and it is completely unclear when build-your-own consumers will be able to get a hold of the chip," Ascii wrote.

Dospara, a leading retailer in Tokyo's Akihabara district, said, when contacted by phone, that it had a few 980X systems in store--but "only a few"--and the near-future availability was uncertain.

Intel would not comment.

But this sort of delay may be typical for a spanking new processor. Kelt Reeves, CEO of high-end box supplier Falcon Northwest, said he is able to get the 980X by buying individual boxed retail processors and putting them into systems. Typically, Intel chips are bought in large quantities, such as 1,000 units, that come in trays. "We'll take what we can get," he said.

A representative at Velocity Micro--a reseller of high-end boxes--said that… Read more

IBM, Dell, HP adopt Intel 6-core chip for IT, games

Intel officially introduced its 6-core processor on Tuesday and both server and game box suppliers are deploying the chip, boasting more speed for gamers and better cost-efficiency for IT departments.

As previously reported, the Core i7- 980X desktop processor, aka the Xeon 5600 for servers, is based on Intel's newest 32-nanometer process technology. Generally, the smaller the manufacturing process, the better the performance. To date, most Intel processors have used "fatter" 45-nanometer technology. More processing cores--six versus the prior generation's four--can also hike performance.

"We've already shipped hundreds of thousands of these (processors). We build up the supply chain (beforehand)," said Boyd Davis, general manager for Server Platforms Group Marketing at Intel. Prices for the 6-core processors range from $999 for the Core i7 980 to $1,663 for the Xeon 5680.

For server customers, the message from Intel is more bang for the buck. "Eighty percent of the (server) installed base is up for a refresh. And the installed base is a lot of old, inefficient, single-core servers," said Davis.

"Take 15 old single-core servers and replace them with a single server based on the Xeon 5600. You get roughly the same performance level and a 95 percent reduction in energy costs. As well as getting a payback in as little as five months," he said.

Intel has also added security. AES-NI, or Advanced Encryption Standard New Instruction, is a technology for improving security by increasing encryption performance. On older chips, encryption processing could bog down a system, AES is more efficient at handling these workloads, according to Davis.

Dell is one of the first major vendors… Read more

Intel debuts six-core gaming chip

Intel has officially introduced its six-core monster for high-end gaming boxes--its first desktop chip packing that many processing cores.

As previously reported, the Core i7- 980X Extreme Edition processor was introduced at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on Wednesday.

The chip is based on Intel's newest 32-nanometer process technology. Generally, the smaller the manufacturing process, the better the performance. Most Intel processors still use "fatter" 45-nanometer technology.

Like other Core i series processors, it features Hyper-Threading, which can double the number of tasks--or threads--a processor can execute. The technology, which is not offered on prior-generation … Read more

Intel to debut 6-core gaming chip

Intel is expected to introduce a 6-core processor designed to crunch through the most 3D-intensive games in the coming weeks.

The first glimpses of the chip running 3D-intensive games such as Napoleon: Total War could happen at the 2010 Game Developer's Conference next week, according to industry sources. The official roll-out of Intel's 6-core "Westmere" processors, however, is expected later this month.

The Core i7-980X is distinguished primarily by being Intel's first 6-core "Extreme Edition" processor based on the chipmaker's cutting-edge 32-nanometer process technology. Generally, the smaller the manufacturing process, the more … Read more