Intel Introduces Core i7, Xeon 3400 and First Core i5 Processors

[btarunr]

Intel Corporation introduced several high-performance desktop and server processors today, bringing the next level of integration and intelligence to computers. The new Intel Core i5 processor family, two new Intel Core i7 processors and the Intel Xeon processor 3400 series bring Intel's latest Nehalem microarchitecture to mainstream desktop and entry server markets.



New Intel Core Processors for Consumers
Formerly codenamed "Lynnfield," these new chips are based on Intel's award-winning Nehalem microarchitecture and are designed for consumers who need top-notch performance for digital media, productivity, gaming and other demanding applications. These processors, along with the new Intel P55 express chipset, are available today.

All processors are lead- and halogen-free and feature Intel exclusive Turbo Boost Technology. The top-of-the-line Core i7 processors also support Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. Combined, these features give computer users absolute "intelligent" performance when necessary and optimum power-efficiency when the computer is lightly loaded.

Computers Just Got Smaller
The new chipset brings the most revolutionary design changes since the invention of the PCI bus in the early 1990s and sets the stage for Intel's forthcoming 2010 compute platform. The Intel P55 Express Chipset will be the baseline building block component for motherboards worldwide, delivering great new levels of performance and scalability for everyone from the retail buyer to the technically savvy do-it-yourselfer.

The new Core i7 and i5 processors are the first Intel processors to integrate both a 16-lane PCI Express 2 graphics port and two-channel memory controller, enabling all input/output and manageability functions to be handled by the single-chip Intel P55 Express Chipset. Previous Intel chipsets required two separate chips. A new Direct Media Interface (DMI) connects between the processor and chipset. The chipset supports 8 PCI Express 2.0 x1 Ports (2.5GT/s) for flexible device support. Dual graphics cards are supported in a "2x8" configuration. The chipset also supports 6 SATA 3 Gb/s Ports with Intel Matrix Storage Technology providing RAID levels 0/1/5/10. Up to 14 USB 2.0 Ports can be supported with the chipset's integrated USB 2.0 Rate Matching Hub, along with Intel High Definition Audio for premium digital sound. The new processors are the first to be supported by the new Land Grid Array (LGA) 1156 package and socket technology.

Better Entry Servers
Small businesses requiring 24/7 operation and educators now have more reasons than ever to buy a purpose-built server with Intel's new Xeon processors and Intel 3400 and 3420 chipsets. These new products improve small business productivity by running email, file, print and dynamic Web serving tasks more efficiently. They also improve education by enabling dependable classroom collaboration and making school administrative services more productive. Servers based on Xeon 3400 processors provide more dependability over desktop systems through differentiated features such as Error Correcting Code memory and RAID 0/1/5/10 for server operating systems. They are designed to help small businesses grow by enabling up to 64 percent2 more sale transactions and up to 56 percent faster business response time. This improvement is enabled with Intel's Nehalem microarchitecture and a 4x improvement in memory capacity (32 GB). Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology enable these servers to automatically adapt their performance to unique business needs. The processors launched today also include the Intel Xeon L3426, a low-power variant that delivers up to 188 percent improvement in energy efficiency per dollar than the previous-generation Intel Xeon X3380, and enables innovative server form factors for space and thermally constrained environments.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

And here is the newegg deal! HERE

EDIT: Do I think it sells out? Yes. Very fast. Good price, good CPU, and the AnandTech Review gave it awesome reviews.

 

[wolf]

L3426 - 1.86ghz - 4/8 - 45W TDP

that's a lot of grunt in a small power package!

 

[DanishDevil]

Looks like the Xeon X3440 would be a good competitor to the i7 920. $215 for a quad with 8 MB cache with HT. Any word on it (i7 920) being discontinued?

 

[johnnyfiive]

And here is the newegg deal! HERE

EDIT: Do I think it sells out? Yes. Very fast. Good price, good CPU, and the AnandTech Review gave it awesome reviews.

Ordered a i5 750 last night.

 

[thezorro]

core i5 has a crippled northbridge so it only has 2x8 pcie express, and if you are going to buy a new directx 11 card, this is going to be a serious bottleneck.

just my two cents.

 

[wolf]

core i5 has a crippled northbridge so it only has 2x8 pcie express

So do most AM3 boards out there today, there aren't a whole heap based on a north-bridge that can do true 16x/16x in multi GPU setups.

 

[h3llb3nd4]

w00t! they're getting cheaper!!

 

[thezorro]

So do most AM3 boards out there today, there aren't a whole heap based on a north-bridge that can do true 16x/16x in multi GPU setups.

that's not true, you can get amd 790fx motherboards since 80 dollars.
with full 2x16 electrical pci express

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153129

 

[mdm-adph]

Meh, good chip -- overpriced motherboards as usual.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Well here is a quandary... Why has AMD's stock gone up 8% (EDIT: 12% now!) today and Intel's gone down?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=AMD&t=1d&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=

 

[btarunr]

Because bankers and analysts for the past fortnight or so have been putting AMD on buy, while Intel is keeping up with its trend, nothing unusual there.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Because bankers and analysts for the past fortnight or so have been putting AMD on buy, while Intel is keeping up with its trend, nothing unusual there.

Makes sense.

 

[james2008]

I think its high time for AMD to come and rule for a while!
James

 

[johnnyfiive]

I think AMD needs to hurry up and release something that competes with both the 1156 i7's and 1366 i7's... AMD needs to hurry up period. i5 750 is $200-215... wheres is the price/performance competitive AMD Quad?

 

[Wile E]

These prices are silly. Might as well buy 1366 and a 920 or 950 for the price of anything higher than the 750. They are cutting their own throats here.

 

[qwerty_lesh]

These prices are silly. Might as well buy 1366 and a 920 or 950 for the price of anything higher than the 750. They are cutting their own throats here.

While you can!! ><
Remember, Intel were strongly considering scrapping the 920 altogether months ago, we're lucky they decided to keep manufacturing them for another 9? months or so.

I still think the x58/1366 is the way to go, so much future proofing on bandwidth.

I wonder if Intel have a 1366 Chipset and CPU's in the works that will have an integrated northbridge thats not crippled? If so, i might aswell chuck away (sell ) my x58 and move to that if its ever made/released/etc.

 

[a_ump]

yea, doesn't make sense to me for the 860 and 870 to be prices that high, when an i7 920 is cheaper and better than both of them....but then a good P55 mobo i suppose could be found for $160, whereas a good X58 mobo is $200+. eh i was thinking about getting an i5 but after seeing the benching results they're still no better than the core2 series in gaming and actually lose in a few games. I was assuming that i5 would be kickass since intel has had teh time to refine their architecture but i guess not.

 

[pr0n Inspector]

Intel know that some people, for whatever reason, are willing to pay for the 870.

 

[wolf]

that's not true, you can get amd 790fx motherboards since 80 dollars.
with full 2x16 electrical pci express

you picked ONE chip-set, the same argument can be made for both companies dude.

BTW, AMD's current chipset lineup;

790FX
790X
790GX
785G
780G/780V
780E
RX780H
770
760G
740G
740

Now how many of those are 16x/16x when two GPU's are used? or even posses two more more slots....

 

[btarunr]

How many LGA-1156 platforms currently support x16, x16?

Zero

How many AM3 chipsets support the same?

Two. AMD 790FX and nForce 980a SLI

 

[wolf]

How many LGA-1156 platforms currently support x16, x16?

Zero

How many AM3 chipsets support the same?

Two. AMD 790FX and nForce 980a SLI

Ok, take two GTX260's put them on a 980a SLi with THE best PII chip you can get, compare that to the same two cards @ 8x/8x with the core i7 860.

I know what my money is on.

 

[btarunr]

Ok, take two GTX260's put them on a 980a SLi with THE best PII chip you can get, compare that to the same two cards @ 8x/8x with the core i7 860.

I know what my money is on.

The best PII of course

That's because PII 965 trades blows with Core i7 920 at gaming.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

The I5-750 is about £160 in the uk.

 

[mdm-adph]

The best PII of course

That's because PII 965 trades blows with Core i7 920 at gaming.

I love how some people seem to skip over the gaming benchmarks in CPU reviews, and thus miss the point that there's very little difference at all in the high-end with chips today. It's all video card dependent.