Intel Core i7 Review Thread

[Caveman787]

Overclocking is going to be higly limited from what I read because of not frying everything through high memory voltages and high cpu voltages.

They got to 1.4 fairly fast and 1.4 was the limit for previous 45nm cpu's

Also if you want good bandwidth you have to push memory up alot to 1600 so you can ahve a good "fsb".

The low multiplier likely low top voltages on the cpu's to me is very likely cripple overclocking specially on the i7 920. The poor man's version that people would get for overclocking.

Almost all of those review's has different overclocks at different voltages some topping out fast on the 965EE, others not even giving temps or any proof of stability.

Oh, forgot to mention everyone looking to overclock better have a good power supply, in 1 of the reviews they showed increases of 50 watts drawn at idle and 150 watts more at full load when overclocked. That is a huge amount of power draw when added to the base figure of 100-130 watts. I doubt they can likely draw much less than that, even if they did it's more then any non deafening air cooling could handle.
In games, it seem's that they differ alot aswell, some say they're good gain's others say there's none. I'm included to believe that they gains will only be with giant expensive setup's like 2 or 3 way SLI gtx280.

Anyone care to comment or discuss?
(Please don't go crazy on me for not being omg it's god's cpu)

[jaredpace]

I agree 3-way GTX280 will show an increase on x58. Any setup running WIC & Lost planet gets a little boost. I'm waiting to see 3-way gtx280 game benchies on 790i/Core2 vs. X58/Corei7.

Clock for clock in stuff like cod4, TF2, HL2, and crysis there is hardly any difference between two chips, especially with single card setups.

[Ghigo]

http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//i...1&limitstart=0

benched vs skulltrail and dual xeons

[Sumanji]

Have any of these reviews toyed with the MSI X58 Eclipse?

Cheers,

Suman

[Trunks]

Me waits for a x58 m-atx mobo :p

[Metroid]

Well in terms of price the Q9450 = I7 920, X48 = X58 + 50. You pay some extra $100 to get 10% more performance and also let's not forget the price gouging around. Now look at my case, going E6600 to Q9450 gives me = 10% and going Q9450 to I7 920 gives me another 10% which will at the end mean 30%.

So I7 920 is the best option I have right now for an upgrade. Who disagrees?

[Clairvoyant129]

I see that "some people" are eating up the news that Core i7 performs only a little better than Core 2 at games (even though there are huge increases in multi-GPU scenarios).

Suddenly game benchmarks are all that matters.

Well, I know what I'm upgrading to next month, and it definitely isn't an AMD platform.

[Toysoldier]

I see that "some people" are eating up the news that Core i7 performs only a little better than Core 2 at games (even though there are huge increases in multi-GPU scenarios).

Suddenly game benchmarks are all that matters.

Well, I know what I'm upgrading to next month, and it definitely isn't an AMD platform.

+1

[gOJDO]

Well in terms of price the Q9450 = I7 920, X48 = X58 + 50. You pay some extra $100 to get 10% more performance and also let's not forget the price gouging around.

X58 + i7 920 + 6GB DDR3 is more than twice expensive than P35 + Q6700 + 6GB DDR2; almost twice expensive than P45 + Q9450 + 6GB DDR2.

Now look at my case, going E6600 to Q9450 gives me = 10% and going Q9450 to I7 920 gives me another 10% which will at the end mean 30%.

So I7 920 is the best option I have right now for an upgrade. Who disagrees?

You will have to sell your old stuff and you'll have to pay more than the 10% you for the upgrade you are talking about. Another question is do you really need faster PC?

What about OC-ing?


I'll wait while DDR3 is more expensive than DDR2.

[Metroid]

X58 + i7 920 + 6GB DDR3 is more than twice expensive than P35 + Q6700 + 6GB DDR2; almost twice expensive than P45 + Q9450 + 6GB DDR2.

I do consider P45 better than X48. It is only the motherboard that has a dual or triple pay here, CPU on pair, DDR3 buy some cheap dual channel modules for $100 for the time being.

You will have to sell your old stuff and you'll have to pay more than the 10% you for the upgrade you are talking about. Another question is do you really need faster PC?

What about OC-ing?


I'll wait while DDR3 is more expensive than DDR2.

First yes it is overclocked to 3.4 and I do need this machine for the simple reason it has 8 threads which will increase the productivity other than that we come at the end of this with something like this.

CPU: Q9450 $325
Mobo: MSI Platinum $219

CPU: I7 920 $320
Mobo: $400 MSI Eclipse
Memory: $105 crucial 7.7.7.20 1.65

So only the motherboard got a + price. What do you think about it? Is that worth?

By the way 775 can not be used to upgrade future processors, with this motherboard premium price I can go with 32nm Westmere if I feel like. So it is not that much for such a system when compared to the previous generation.

[Caveman787]

If your upgrading to i7 you need the low voltage memory the stuff you linked has 1.8 noted.

Also 4gb is better for gaming, so that wouldn't be as good.

Furthermore, you don't know of possible issues with the new tech yet because it hasn't been tested much.

Besides the q9450 has been taking off the market I'm pretty sure so you'd have to get the q9550.

Personally to me the q6600 is still king because it's a lot cheaper, with a cheaper motherboard, cheap ddr2 all overclocked you can be just as fast as the core i7 for a lot of tasks much cheaper.

[Metroid]

If your upgrading to i7 you need the low voltage memory the stuff you linked has 1.8 noted.

Also 4gb is better for gaming, so that wouldn't be as good.

Furthermore, you don't know of possible issues with the new tech yet because it hasn't been tested much.

Besides the q9450 has been taking off the market I'm pretty sure so you'd have to get the q9550.

Personally to me the q6600 is still king because it's a lot cheaper, with a cheaper motherboard, cheap ddr2 all overclocked you can be just as fast as the core i7 for a lot of tasks much cheaper.

First yes it is rated at 1.8 at CL6 which if you increase the latency to CL 7 and lower the voltages to 1.65 it is pretty much possible and tested by many.

Second I do know how much memory I need and I can say no more than 3 GB is needed as I check time to time my memory usage and how much memory programs need to work at 100%, other than that the 4GB need is a pure marketing gimmick as long you administrate your memory usage well nothing will ever need more than 3Gb to date, unless you run the bloated vista as I would never touch it. It is simple monitor all the processes and you are good to go.

Nehalem got its validation so pretty much, the problems would be minor if that comes to happen.

2GB DDR3 is more than enough for me. Any other suggestions?

[dinos22]

i think Anandtech sums it up best in their conclusion

Expecting a sequel to be a reincarnation of the original is just setting yourself up for disappointment. A good sequel will be able to stand on its own, independent of whatever may have come before it. Nehalem is Intel's Dark Knight, it lacks the reinvention that made Conroe so incredible, but it continues what was started in 2006.

they really did a good review on Nehalem

hey Gary how many of these did you guys kill j/k

[Metroid]

i think Anandtech sums it up best in their conclusion



they really did a good review on Nehalem

hey Gary how many of these did you guys kill j/k

It was an interesting review and what got my attention was just one important thing [as the performance increased as the power got hungrier] on a side note they said 32nm Westmere will cure most of these problems.

[gOJDO]

DDR3 buy some cheap dual channel modules for $100 for the time being.

There is no cheap DDR3. Also, if I pay $800 for the CPU + mobo, I'm not going to save $100 on a "cheap" RAM. Most likely I'll get 6 or more gigabytes of RAM.

First yes it is overclocked to 3.4 and I do need this machine for the simple reason it has 8 threads which will increase the productivity

Tell me the apps which you are using and that have benefit and can utilize 8 threads.

Mobo: MSI Platinum $219

That motherboard is overpriced, although it offers 40$ MIB. You can find decent mainboards with huge OC-ing ability for only $100. For example the Asus P5Q/P5Q-E, the Gigabyte EP45-DS3L, etc. Or if you prefer MSI, you can get the P45 Neo-F for $94

Memory: $105 crucial 7.7.7.20 1.65

Sorry, but that RAM is rated 1.8v. Also 2x1GB DDR3-1333 is ridiculous to put on a X58.
You can get 8GB of DDR2-800 for less money. (GSKILL 2GB DDR2-800 CL5 1.8v module = $22.99

So only the motherboard got a + price. What do you think about it? Is that worth?

I disagree. You can get Q6600 for $190.

So, here is the math:

any SB750 mainboard = $120
Phenom X4 9950 = $165
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q6600 = $190
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q9550 = $319
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $511

MSI Eclipse = $400
i7 920 = $320(which is discussable since it doesn't exist on market)
6GB DDR3-1333 = $250
------------------------------------
total = $970

Sorry, but i7 is not a feasible investment at this point of time.

[Hornet331]

I disagree. You can get Q6600 for $190.

So, here is the math:

any SB750 mainboard = $120
Phenom X4 9950 = $165
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q6600 = $190
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q9550 = $319
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $511

MSI Eclipse = $400
i7 920 = $320(which is discussable since it doesn't exist on market)
6GB DDR3-1333 = $250
------------------------------------
total = $970

Sorry, but i7 is not a feasible investment at this point of time.

lol quite fair to use a top highend board for Nehalem and el cheapo boards for all the others, also you can get 6gb ddr3 for 140$

Let me correct your nehalem rig:

MSI Platinum 295$
i7 920 320$
6GB DDR3-1066 140$
-------------------------------
755$ 20% Vat incl.

Now wait till the stuff actually gets available, and im sure you could come close to 700$.

[savantu]

...

I disagree. You can get Q6600 for $190.

So, here is the math:

any SB750 mainboard = $120
Phenom X4 9950 = $165
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377


MSI Eclipse = $400
i7 920 = $320(which is discussable since it doesn't exist on market)
6GB DDR3-1333 = $250
------------------------------------
total = $970

Sorry, but i7 is not a feasible investment at this point of time.

Isn't the comparison a bit misleading ?

Why not use a Asus Crosshair II Formula for the AMD system ? We're talking about high end enthusiast stuff.Nehalem isn't targeted at the value segment.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131292

And you can put it in this way : no matter how much you spend on the AMD system , it won't reach the performance of the Nehalem configuration.

[Metroid]

There is no cheap DDR3. Also, if I pay $800 for the CPU + mobo, I'm not going to save $100 on a "cheap" RAM. Most likely I'll get 6 or more gigabytes of RAM.

For what you want no, 6 Gb will not be cheap and I intend to buy when the prices drop.

Tell me the apps which you are using and that have benefit and can utilize 8 threads.

I use 3D rendering programs to work which that is an undefinable multi-threading program.

When not working I could use 1 to 4 cores to game 4 cores folding when I'm gaming and more things like group cores to each program and how would best suite it, winamp, P2P programs, server, videos, decode, encoder, I could use all at once 30 Firefox windows and so on and believe I could use up to 20 cores right now if I had a processor like that.

That motherboard is overpriced, although it offers 40$ MIB. You can find decent mainboards with huge OC-ing ability for only $100. For example the Asus P5Q/P5Q-E, the Gigabyte EP45-DS3L, etc. Or if you prefer MSI, you can get the P45 Neo-F for $94

It is a platinum version so no, is not overpriced as I agree the platinum version does not offer much of a benefit compared to the $94 in a short term however I would not buy it for a long term, so reliability is my first step so yes the platinum version would suite me the best.

Sorry, but that RAM is rated 1.8v. Also 2x1GB DDR3-1333 is ridiculous to put on a X58.
You can get 8GB of DDR2-800 for less money. (GSKILL 2GB DDR2-800 CL5 1.8v module = $22.99

Is not ridiculous as 2Gb is good enough for a starting system until DDR3 prices drop and as you already said 6GB will be expensive and I agree so no I will not pay an extra for something I will not use.

I have to say again, again and again this memory is rated at 1.8 CL6 which if you lower the voltage to 1.65 you can get 1333 CL7 cheap enough and again, again and again this was tested by many.

I disagree. You can get Q6600 for $190.

So, here is the math:

any SB750 mainboard = $120
Phenom X4 9950 = $165
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q6600 = $190
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q9550 = $319
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $511

MSI Eclipse = $400
i7 920 = $320(which is discussable since it doesn't exist on market)
6GB DDR3-1333 = $250
------------------------------------
total = $970

Yes I can get a cheaper quadcore which will not serve me well as my job is 3D rendering and for that matter I7 is my best choice and also contains + 4 logical cores which could be used by this program or something else I would like to and I7 will give me an insane 3D rendering as you can see this graph below.

Sorry, but i7 is not a feasible investment at this point of time.

You forgot something important and it was. "Sorry, but for me i7 is not a feasible investment at this point of time."

[Epsilon84]

I disagree. You can get Q6600 for $190.

So, here is the math:

any SB750 mainboard = $120
Phenom X4 9950 = $165
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q6600 = $190
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $377

MSI P45 Neo-F = $95
Q9550 = $319
8GB DDR2-800 = $92
------------------------------------
total = $511

MSI Eclipse = $400
i7 920 = $320(which is discussable since it doesn't exist on market)
6GB DDR3-1333 = $250
------------------------------------
total = $970

Flawed comparison, if you are going to compare mobo prices at least use ones with a similar feature set, not a top end mobo against a budget mobo. A high end 790FX mobo costs over $200 and good X48 mobos are $250+, and neither offer the flexibility of combined CF/SLI support, if you talk high end SLI mobos you're looking at $300+ anyway.

Also, comparing a Q6600/9950BE to an i920 is silly, as they are in totally different price brackets and performance classes. The i920 performs as well or better than the previous flagship QX9770 in most MT apps and yet you find it fit to compare it to low end quads?

Geez, why not just say people shouldn't get an E8500 because we have $50 X2s and Celerons?

[Glow9]

Well in terms of price the Q9450 = I7 920, X48 = X58 + 50. You pay some extra $100 to get 10% more performance and also let's not forget the price gouging around. Now look at my case, going E6600 to Q9450 gives me = 10% and going Q9450 to I7 920 gives me another 10% which will at the end mean 30%.

So I7 920 is the best option I have right now for an upgrade. Who disagrees?

Personally only thing that I like about all this new tech is X58 being able to xfire or SLI what you want. DDR3 blaaah, i7 meh too pricey. Just sucks they cant do like a X50 or something that runs 775 and DDR2 but allows you the xfire/sli chip stuff. I'd buy one.

[Helmore]

Personally only thing that I like about all this new tech is X58 being able to xfire or SLI what you want. DDR3 blaaah, i7 meh too pricey. Just sucks they cant do like a X50 or something that runs 775 and DDR2 but allows you the xfire/sli chip stuff. I'd buy one.

You will have to ask NVIDIA really really really nicely if you want to see that happening. There is nothing in the X48 that makes it impossible to implement SLI on it, NVIDIA just wont allow it. BTW, not all X58 boards are SLI certified, I'll just quote The TechReport:

Like previous Intel chipsets, the X58 Express has full support for AMD's CrossFire multi-GPU scheme, including three- and four-way configs. SLI will also be supported—a first for Intel platforms (not including uber-expensive Skulltrail systems). However, actual SLI certification will be done at the motherboard level rather than being tied to the chipset. Certified motherboards will have a special key embedded in their BIOS that Nvidia's graphics drivers will check prior to enabling SLI. To date, Asus, DFI, ECS, EVGA, Foxconn, Gigabyte, and MSI have licensed SLI for their X58 boards. Intel is conspicuously missing from that list, though. When asked whether its X58 board would support SLI, Intel said it and Nvidia had "not found mutually acceptable business terms for certification."

http://techreport.com/articles.x/15816

[DilTech]

Looks like I can chill with my friend the Q6600 for awhile. Not too unexpected, as these chips are made 100% around multi-threaded code. Ah well, it'll be nice to keep this system around for awhile!

[[XC] hipno650]

all i can say i just wow lots of people are getting caught up in the gaming benchmarks. "oh man Corei7 is the suckzors cuz it loses by 2FPS at normal gaming setting with a single GPU". personally i though Corei7 was going to worse at gaming than it is but look a the Mulit-GPU benches all on beta drivers and whatnot. we have never seen performance this high on Tri SLI. and not to mention the non-gaming benches they are just ridiculous for example it beats out a 3.2ghz skulltrail system most of the time.... what more do you have to say? simply impressive!

[Kashii]

Instead of going for a Q9550 to replace my 3700+ (lmao) it seems that the i7 920 is a much better choice. Just hope the boards are going to drop a bit :|

[Aberration]

Dont expect DDR3 prices to come down much. The price of DDR2 is hurting the memory manufacturers. DDR3 is actually at a good price, not far from what DDR2 was when DDR3 came out.