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Review: Intel Core i7 - everything that Core 2 should have been - performance numbers

by Tarinder Sandhu on 3 November 2008, 09:31 4.0

Tags: Core i7, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), PC

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qapz5

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Thoughts - Core 2 with performance cherries on top

Think of Intel's quad-core Core i7 processor as a refined Core 2 that's also the beneficiary of Hyperthreading and you're pretty much there. The front-end and execution units are largely the same, except for a few additions to increase efficiency - most notably HyperThreading.

What's really new is the direct-to-memory interface, a high-speed QuickPath link to the chipset, some funky auto-overclocking via Turbo Boost and a new form-factor to accommodate the extra routing pins required for the CPU.

So, in instances where workloads are light the gains, other than from Turbo Boost, are negligible when compared to Core 2. However, add some proper threading in and Core i7 leaves Core 2 in the dust - just take another look at our CINEBENCH, POV-ray, and WinRAR benchmarks for confirmation.

Core i7 is an architecture that works best when really pushed hard, really hard. This is where HyperThreading and, to some extent, the luscious memory bandwidth come into play, posting single-CPU numbers that we haven't seen before and making a Core 2 Extreme QX9770 look aged in comparison.

We can expect workstation and server users to benefit the most from the new architecture because their data worksets will bring out the best in the Xeon iteration of Nehalem. Home users' performance gains will be less apparent, but Core i7's still better than Core 2 in every way.

Knowing this and appreciating that the Core i7 920 will be priced at around £250 when launched later on this month, it makes practically all Core 2 CPUs priced above this level and destined for new PCs kind of redundant, we feel. Why buy expensive, old technology when something newer and cheaper does the trick?

Where does this leave AMD with respect to the home environment? Core i7 doesn't compete against the Phenom X4 line solely because they're so damn cheap. AMD's not likely to win the performance crown back after seeing Core i7 numbers and its pricing will continue to be set by whatever Intel charges for the Core i7 920.

Bottom line: Core i7 is Core 2 with performance cherries on top. On a clock-for-clock basis it can be some 75 per cent faster than the already-potent Core 2 (Penryn) CPU, and it will look increasingly better as more applications are released to take advantage of its eight-threading ability.

If you're a power user who wants to buy a new PC soon, look no further than Core i7. Intel had this market sewn up some time ago but has just double-stitched it with the newest processor in its arsenal. AMD's upcoming Deneb quad-core processor will have to be stupidly good to beat out Core i7.

HEXUS Rating

HEXUS scores products out of a possible 10. A score for an average-rated product, therefore, is a meaningful ‘5’, and not ‘9/10’, which is common practice for a great many other publications. 

We consider any product score above '5' as a safe buy. The higher the score, the higher the recommendation from HEXUS to buy. Simple, straightforward buying advice.

7/10

Intel Core i7 processor

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At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any Intel representatives choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.






HEXUS Forums :: 86 Comments

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Unsurprisingly then, you need to have multithreaded apps/games to see any real difference. Turboboost (i bet its not voice activated like Kitts though :p) feature looks interesting! Suggested price tag is too high though they need to drop the 930 below 200 for it to make sense to me. If there is no plans for the to do such a thing soon after the release i think il probs just get a decent C2Q and 4870, il have far more benefit from that.
Where's the famous Hexus bang for buck rating? There must be something you can calculate to give you a value even if it is just a few scores mashed together…
w00t. Finally out!
Its not one of the best hexus reviews. many errors on the net today across a variety of articles. Such as sites imitating the 940 with the 965EE. I notice Driverheaven.net got it right by not allowing over 1066mhz ram with the 940 which is how the end user will experience it (965EE is unlocked so allows higher than 1066mhz ram settings, 940 retail wont). Also notice that more sites like guru3d and hexus are using flash graphs which is something ive noticed Driverheaven using for years. When did Hexus stop leading the way?

The Hardocp review is very poor, looks like they couldnt be bothered.
Yup, we are.

Things are being added to the review as I write this. I've been up all night writing this after Intel pulled the launch forward by two weeks.

We have articles focussing on overclocking and individual X58 motherboards to come.