Intel Core i7 chip reviews arrive--yes, it's fast
Updatd on November 3 at 9:00 a.m. with additional information about Dell Core i7 systems.
Intel's Core i7 processor will first appear in fast gaming desktop PCs, as reviews arrive confirming its speed advantage over the Core 2 architecture.
The first comprehensive reviews hit Monday leaving little doubt that Intel's Nehalem chip architecture will greatly surpass anything Intel offers now.
Reviews cover the Core i7-965 Extreme Edition used with Intel's "SmackOver" motherboard, aka the DX58SO Extreme.
Core i7 processors expected to launch later this month include 2.66GHz (Core i7-920) and 3.20GHz (Core i7-965) versions. Prices will range roughly between $285 and just under $1,000.
Dell said Monday it is expecting to launch four desktops that include the new Core i7 Intel processor technology. These desktops will range in price depending on the accompanying technology, starting at $949. Timing will be tied to Intel's official launch of Core i7.
Other PC makers expected to bring out boxes include Gateway and Hewlett-Packard.
What is Nehalem/Core i7 exactly? The architecture will scale from two to eight processor cores, have faster chip-to-chip communication (Intel calls this technology QuickPath), do a better job of adjusting performance levels to suit power needs, and have a higher level of integration (more logic will be built directly onto the processor die).
Other salient features include more scalable memory (each processor will have its own dedicated memory), the ability to do more stuff simultaneously (up to 16 threads with simultaneous multi-threading), and new instructions to increase efficiency (called SSE4.2 instructions).
And who's going to buy i7 systems initially? Here's what CNET Reviews editor Rich Brown says: "We don't expect mainstream users will adopt Core i7...at first, at least until the motherboard prices come down."
Brown continues: "In the short term, it will benefit gamers and digital media types. The initial systems will be gaming oriented." (See these ExtremeTech gaming benchmarks.)
"We ran our own tests and found the flagship $999 Core i7-965 Extreme chip is the new fastest game in town," CNET Reviews said.
The i7 identifier will apply to the first crop of high-end desktop processors. Other identifiers will come later that will complement the i7. There will be a separate black logo for the highest-end offering called the Extreme Edition. Model numbers will differentiate each chip.
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Follow Brooke on Twitter @mbrookec. 
Good luck upgrading that iMac.
As long your OS of choice is Windows or Linux and similar (not really supported well enough for most users). Actually, the only PC that CAN run any OS of your choice is a Mac (unless you're into the PIA of exotic open source mods). I'll take a computer running OS X over your "well designed" PC any day. Did you say Dell and well designed in the same sentence? I guess that rats nest of wires and knuckle busting interior could be considered well designed by those that are into that kind of thing.
Nehalem has been on the roadmap for Macs for quite sometime now.
I mean, really, do try to keep up with current (*cough* *cough* YEARS old news) technology, won't you?
I've built all my own PC's too. They were (at the time), always cutting-edge and cost was no option. Once they were built, I never "upgraded" the components since doing the math, I could build an entirely new PC and keep the old one. This was a cycle that just never stopped. I finally stopped it when I decided to join the mainstream and bought an Apple. I've never looked back. When the time comes to "upgrade", just like the on my custom PC's, I'll just buy whatever pre-built Apple using the most latest technology at that time.
This can be said with any vendor like Dell, HP, Voodoo, Alienware. I enjoyed building my own PC's but after 10 years of doing that, it just got old really fast. Component failure out of the way, Everyone I know that built their machines or purchased one of mine, have just purchased new PC's instead of upgrading their old ones.
Reading Comprehension... it's a wonderful thing. States above were referring to iMacs, not Macs... if you pay close attention, you will actually be able to focus on the i in front of the Mac which makes it a whole different beast than a regular Mac.
Good luck plugging this LGA1366 chip into your LGA751 motherboard.
Macs don't have user replaceable motherboards, therefore will not be able to upgrade to the i7.
- by JamesRatcliff November 3, 2008 3:26 PM PST
- this won't go into the Mac Pro's - it's a desktop chip so read that as "single cpu."
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(16 Comments)Mac Pro's have dual cpu's and need the corresponding Xeon range accordingly.
iMac may have it before too long.