Core i7 930 - Quick Air + LN2 tests

[SF3D]

Hi all!

I got chance to test upcoming Intel Core i7 930 ES CPU.

Specs are these, like you already know:
*2.80GHz (21x 133)
*2.93GHz Turbo (22x133)
*8MB L3
*4 Cores / 8 threads
*130W TDP
*Price should be same as 920 now.

So there is nothing new in this chip, except the turbo ratio. We overclockers know well, that even multipliers have been problem in core i7 architechture, so this multiplier 22 does not sound too promising.
Basic use and mild overclocking will be easier with one extra multi, but for extreme overclocking the multiplier 21 is still the only usable.

Here is the setup info:

Intel Core i7 930 (week 45)
EVGA Classified
G.Skill Perfect storm
ATI Radeon 5870
Thermaltake TP 1200W
Noctua NF-P14 cooler + 12cm silent fans
SF3D OC LN2 pot
Windows Vista 32-bit

The results on aircooling were promising.

Setup:


Vantage CPU test at 4.40GHz


Wprime at 4.5GHz


3DM05 at 4.55GHz


Superpi at 4.67GHz




Then I decided to spend rest of my LN2 with this chip. I had maybe 5 liters, so there was not that much time to fine tune the setup.
BCLK was the biggest problem and it felt like the chip could have done a lot better if I could have taken the BLCK higher.
I guess retail chips will be a bit better on these like usual.

Setup:


Thermal readings (left: Base of the pot / right: CPU HS):


Sensor placement in HS:


Vantage CPU test at 5GHz


3DM06 CPU test at 5GHz


3DMark05 full test at 5.03GHz


Wprime 32M 5.05GHz


Absolute max in BCLK was 241

That was it. This chip is not bad on air, but on LN2 you need to squeeze bclk very high like many overclockers have done with their 920 CPU's.
I thik we will see some nice retail action when these have been released.

Now I will focus on some other new CPU's.

[eva2000]

Nice week 45 of course is a good week for i7 cpus

some of the screenshots aren't loading completely though ?

[radi4fun]

awesome. very nice results on air. time to hit Microcenter once they start carrying week 45-49 cpu's.

[KizilejdeR]

Great results on air.Congrats
If only it were 32nm

[Damian^]

4.6Ghz on air...nice!

[SF3D]

I did some new 3D runs on air.

3DMark05 CPU @ 4.575GHz:


3DMark06 CPU @ 4.420GHz:


3DMark Vantage CPU @ 4.420GHz

[Kean]

Do you know he we can expect launch date of 930?

[sholvaco]

^
February 28th.

[RPGWiZaRD]

CPU score looks a bit low for 06 @ 4.42GHz. I'm able to hit 7600 at 4.0GHz HT:on with my P55 setup but I suppose that's due to Vista.

A bit late for these CPUs I think, had been much better if they launched em like mid January.

[SF3D]

CPU score looks a bit low for 06 @ 4.42GHz. I'm able to hit 7600 at 4.0GHz HT:on with my P55 setup but I suppose that's due to Vista.

A bit late for these CPUs I think, had been much better if they launched em like mid January.

I agree. This would have been nice to see when socket 1156 CPU's were launched. I think this is targeted to compete with their own i7 860 CPU.

If you run win XP and Nvidia graphics, you will always have better CPU score. I am not saying that these are good / efficient scores, but still

[RPGWiZaRD]

Yea I'm sure with Win XP & nvidia gfx card you'd get around 8200~8300. But what's nice to see it scales nicely with voltages like it would be a very good D0 920 batch, these 930 should be excellent cpus for those looking into reaching a 4.2GHz HT:on 24/7 clock on air.

[angoholic]

nice work, thanks for sharing

[SmokeyTheBandit]

Nice cpu will definately find its way in my system
BTW your 5870 is running @ pci-ex 8x so the scores will get a bit better when fixed

[SF3D]

Nice cpu will definately find its way in my system
BTW your 5870 is running @ pci-ex 8x so the scores will get a bit better when fixed

Yes. 5870 is installed in to second PCI-E slot, cause first 16X one is damaged.

Doesn't seem to do that much harm though

[Dahaka]

To much diference to be a ES between 920 D0 retail?.

[[XC] gomeler]

Very interesting, was hoping for a higher turbo multiplier, 21x norm, 23x turbo would be a nice upgrade. Regarding your temp probe, you need to jam it up against the IHS, you are creating an artificially high delta with all that TIM in between the IHS and the probe. I wedge my probe in that little divot where the wafer code is and make sure it has slight pressure to insure great contact.

[SF3D]

Yeah. Multiplier 23 with turbo would have been a lot better, but then 950 would got destroyed.

That probe is very tightly in HS believe me That white paste wouldn't have to be there necessarily.
Tempereature from the base of the pot is useless in most of the cases. It will give you the rough idea where temperature is, but reaction time is a lot slower than from HS directly.

[[200]]

Interesting 3DM06 score compared to my W3520

P.S. - I hope this doesn't annoy anyone.

[Afrokalle]

The big difference in 3D06 CPU Score is cause you're using XP and SF3D is benching with Vista...

[[200]]

Interesting 3DM06 score compared to my W3520

P.S. - I hope this doesn't annoy anyone.

edit, got ya.

[damstr]

Sorry to bump such an old thread but I'm trying to find out if my 930 is going to be a good overclocked. 3951A690 is what is reads on the CPU. Tried googling it but keep coming up with stuff that is unrelated.

[Hampti]

Nice kind of cheap cpu. thanks for sharing the results.