Core i5 Specifications and Prices Surface

[btarunr]

Intel's next big thing in the making, the Core i5 series processors are nearing launch, which is reportedly delayed to October. The new processors replace the Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo series of processors, while leaving the high-end market for Core i7 to play with. These processors are based on the LGA 1156 socket, and are incompatible with Core i7 motherboards. Recent reports shed light on three models in the making to start the lineup, all of which are quad-core processors based on the Lynnfield core, built on the existing 45 nm process.

The common features of these processors include: four x86 processing cores with support for HyperThreading technology, an integrated dual-channel DDR3 memory controller specified to run DDR3-1066 and DDR3-1333 modules, 8 MB of L3 cache, and support for TurboBoost technology. The three models will come with core clock speeds of 2.66 GHz, 2.80 GHz, and 2.93 GHz. The three will be priced at US $196, $284, and $562 respectively. With the TurboBoost technology enabled, the clock speeds card be stepped up to 3.2, 3.46 and 3.6 GHz respectively, on the fly. Shortly after launching these processors, Intel may introduce the industry's first 32 nm processors. With these prices, the chips clearly intrude the price-domain of Core i7, though perhaps their lower platform costs could serve as deal-makers.

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[ShadowFold]

Isn't that a little exspensive?.. I was expecting below 100$ I guess I'm sticking with AMD for my F@H rig unless they get some sub 100$ chips out.. So are these quad cores? It says they are but do they mean dual core with HT?

 

[AltecV1]

quad core with HT!and they are little prizey

 

[btarunr]

Yes, quad core with HTT. 8 threads in all.

 

[ShadowFold]

So are the duals gonna be cheaper? Why haven't we heard about those? I wanna get one

 

[alexp999]

$196 actually seems really good to me.

Cant wait, but I will want the 32nm CPus.

 

[AltecV1]

i will wait for westmere!

 

[btarunr]

So are the duals gonna be cheaper? Why haven't we heard about those? I wanna get one

Next in line. December (?). They will be 32/45 nm, meaning that the processor component will be 32 nm, while the northbridge component will be 45 nm.

 

[h3llb3nd4]

as I said in another thread...skipping i7 & i5... going straight for Westmere

 

[farlex85]

Spec wise these look virtually identical to i7. They have a tad lower QPI I believe though, and perhaps less instruction sets? Is the motherboard going to be the main distinguishing factor b/t the two?

 

[btarunr]

as I said in another thread...skipping i7 & i5... going straight for Westmere

Westmere = future Core i7/i5. Just like with 45nm Penryn, the Core 2 Duo/Quad names didn't go anywhere.

 

[silkstone]

I'm also guessing they are going to put clock controls on these chips to limit how high they can go?

Also they seem to be more or less the same price as the i'7's! same price for a lesser chip?

 

[farlex85]

I'm also guessing they are going to put clock controls on these chips to limit how high they can go?

Also they seem to be more or less the same price as the i'7's! same price for a lesser chip?

They're the same chips. i7 has those exact same specs. Intel hasn't said anything about limiting clock speeds. I'm imagining the difference will come in the motherboards, which won't be as feature rich as the x58 and probably won't clock quite as well, and of course, will be cheaper. Interesting market plan.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Spec wise these look virtually identical to i7. They have a tad lower QPI I believe though, and perhaps less instruction sets? Is the motherboard going to be the main distinguishing factor b/t the two?

And of course they only support dual channel DDR3.

 

[lemonadesoda]

You'll find it MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to clock-double an integrated northbridge and CPU. Either the Northbridge wont handle it, or it will send your PCI/PCIe slots out of whack.

 

[h3llb3nd4]

Westmere = future Core i7/i5. Just like with 45nm Penryn, the Core 2 Duo/Quad names didn't go anywhere.

oh... then I'll wait for sandy bridge

 

[farlex85]

And of course they only support dual channel DDR3.

Ah yes. That seems like either of those (QPI or dual channel) will hardly be limitations in 95% of applications. We'll have to wait for some benchies, but I don't see why these shouldn't perform just as well as i7 in most applications at the same clock speeds, barring any unseen instruction difference.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

these chips look mighty tasty, i bet the mobos will be p45/35 like vs p38/48

 

[3870x2]

seems disapointing, I was expecting 2 duals and 2 quads, at $70-$90/$150-$160, $160-$180/$220-$240 respectively. Whats with the onboard graphics they have there? Being able to utilize such resources just as quick as the CPU, I think it will revolutionize IGP for the average user, but offer nothing for the rest of us, unless we are doing a mini-ATX htpc system with a non-igp mobo

 

[Roph]

I still think it's stupid that they run on seperate sockets. If I buy an i5 now and later feel like stepping up to an i7, I'd need a new motherboard and more RAM if I want to make the performance gains worth it.

I guess we can only hope ASRock does more insane stuff and perhaps releases a dual socket or universal socket board

 

[Tatty_Two]

Here is some slightly older info with some tests that may shed a little more light...........

http://www.techpowerup.com/78383/Preliminary_Tests_on_Intel_Core_i5_Conducted.html

 

[v12dock]

A different socket than the core i7 seems like a bad idea imo

 

[gumpty]

I still think it's stupid that they run on seperate sockets.

Agreed.

But it looks like intel is setting themselves up with two distinct product lines (well actually 3 - with the atom processors). In time there is likely to be a greater range of processors in both i5 & i7. i5 will be the 'general', non-gamer platform - while i7 will be the premium, or enthusiast range.

But it sucks to have to choose if you have a mindset of i7 but only a budget for i5 at the time of purchase. With 775 there was no worries there.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

anyone remember the debut price of a q6600?

 

[HolyCow02]

wow those prices are ridiculous. Why even think of them when you can get a 3.2GHz PII (955) for around $280? What a joke