Tuesday, July 14th 2009
Early Intel LGA-1156 Quad-Core SKUs Surface
Intel recently detailed its strategy with the Core brand, and its various brand-modifiers (namely i3, i5, i7, and i9). The move to give some LGA-1156 processors the Core i7 modifier, based on the performance level they offer, particularly sparked off several debates about if the move actually benefits the consumers as much as it does to Intel. Back then, Intel did not divulge much about a number scheme that characterizes LGA-1156 Core i7 processors from their LGA-1366 counterparts. Fresh information suggests that Intel may have one such number-scheme in place that will demystify its lineup.
The LGA-1156 socket lineup will be spearheaded by quad-core desktop chips that will start selling from September 8, tentatively. These consist of a 2.66 GHz part, a 2.80 GHz part, and another 2.93 GHz one. Sources revealed much earlier that these could be priced US $194, $284, and $562, respectively. Among these three, the 2.66 GHz part lacks HyperThreading technology in its feature-set, and hence, will be placed in the Core i5 series. To further clarify the lineup, the following model numbers have been suggested:
All three models listed above have rated TDP at 95W. Intel is also planning low-power versions of these chips. The Core i7 860S will be clocked at 2.53 GHz (while retaining the feature-set of Core i7 800 series), and a certain model clocked at 2.40 GHz. Both these chips have slightly lower TDPs at 82W. There is no official word from Intel on these details.
Sources:
TechConnect Magazine, PC Watch
The LGA-1156 socket lineup will be spearheaded by quad-core desktop chips that will start selling from September 8, tentatively. These consist of a 2.66 GHz part, a 2.80 GHz part, and another 2.93 GHz one. Sources revealed much earlier that these could be priced US $194, $284, and $562, respectively. Among these three, the 2.66 GHz part lacks HyperThreading technology in its feature-set, and hence, will be placed in the Core i5 series. To further clarify the lineup, the following model numbers have been suggested:
- Core i7 870 - 2.93 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT
- Core i7 860 - 2.80 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT
- Core i5 750 - 2.66 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT not available
All three models listed above have rated TDP at 95W. Intel is also planning low-power versions of these chips. The Core i7 860S will be clocked at 2.53 GHz (while retaining the feature-set of Core i7 800 series), and a certain model clocked at 2.40 GHz. Both these chips have slightly lower TDPs at 82W. There is no official word from Intel on these details.
42 Comments on Early Intel LGA-1156 Quad-Core SKUs Surface
why did they make 2 different socket types
AMD has the ball rolling with AM3 being AM2+ compatible that is a genius idea Intel is just stupifying things for no reason
I wonder if OC on the p55 platform will be limited because the nb is on the cpu now, due to voltages. Will vcore and nb voltage be one in the same? Even so, with the nb being cooled by cpu coolers, espically the super duper aftermarket coolers we have available to us, the nb will probably be a lot cooler than it was with previous solutions... which could lead to better overclocks.
I bet Intel is testing out which idea works better: nb on the cpu or classic nb on motherboard... that's why they have 2 desktop platforms. NB on the cpu could possibly lead to a much lower failure rate for the chipset because there is a decent cooler on it garunteed (stock cpu cooler... maybe not decent for the cpu, but great for the north bridge). There are many different versions motherboards with the same chipsetm thus different cooling solutions, ranging from a dinky cooler that looks like it belongs on a Radeon 9200 to mini roller coasters. Pic provided for clarity...
This is an MSI p35 platinum, featuring the stock chipset cooling.
And this is an MSI x58m... stock chipset cooling
If the pricing is correct, and Intel is going to compete against AMD on price/performance
$562 Core i7 870 - 2.93 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT
$284 Core i7 860 - 2.80 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT
$194 Core i5 750 - 2.66 GHz, LGA-1156, 8 MB L3 cache, HTT not available
Then I guess this is saying that the i5-750 is either PhenomII-955 class or better which doesn't seem right.
I can't imaging the i5-750 having i7-920 class performance. They are the same clock and the core architecture is basically the same, but no HTT and dual-channel vs tripple channel has to give a performance hit compared to i7-920.
Does this seem to indicate that these parts may not be a price/performance improvement over existing parts? Is this the first generation change where there is no price/performance benefit for the consumer?
When i7-920 was released in November 2008 it had MSRP of $284.00
i7-860 ($284 Autumn 2009 leaked price) looks really similar to i7-920 (Autumn 2008 initial price) in terms of price/performance (same price, nearly same spec - drop memory bandwidth, but increase clock speed)
granted this is leaked pre-release information, but if it is true....
Is this it?
Is this the end of moor's law related to "Computing performance per unit cost" which is supposed to double every 24months?
We just expect too much from them while they get rid of crippled cores under some new fancy name :rolleyes:
Also i thought it was called i7 , i for intel and 7 for 7th generation , i remember reading this around december when i7 was new , feel free to correct me , cheers
If someone has LGA1366 it makes no sense to downgrade.
The $194 i5-750 is going to be lower performance to i7-920
and the $284 i7-860 looks to have nearly identical performance to the i7-920.
If someone already has an AM2/AM3 system there is no value in switching to these platforms for price/performance (cheaper to upgrade to a better PhenomII, wait for the 6-core to hit mainstream)
A new computer buyer will do the price/performance game and right now these prices do not look better than what is currently on the market for similar price/performance.
A true performance oriented person will buy LGA1366 over LGA1156.It is many things.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law#Other_formulations_and_similar_laws
One aspect is what I mentioned
"Computing performance per unit cost"
which is supposed to double every 24 months.
We are in the end-game. A few more die shrinks left, but maybe the limits of price/performance is being hit first.you are right, I should have said "yearly update" rather than "generation change". i7 and i5 are the same generation. but in terms of the annual re-newal these LGA1156 i5/i7 prices look the same as last years i7 prices for similar performance (within 5-10%).
Edit: What! 196 for an i5? I'm not paying that much for a lynnfield. =(
www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3570
and a Quote from the article.
"The $284 Lynnfield 2.80GHz chip should be very powerful. If I'm guessing right, it'll be faster than any dual core Core 2 Duo in applications that spawn one or two CPU intensive threads, while being faster than a Core i7-920 in even heavily threaded applications."
"If I were going Intel" ... "I would definitely want a P55 over X58"
As in, the choice of P55 over X58 is the same as the choice of AMD over Intel.
(Both are stupid) :)
I wonder if we'll be able to unlock cores on i5's... :toast: