Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition 6-core Processor Starts Selling

[btarunr]

Intel's newest flagship desktop processor, the Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition, started selling. In Singapore, the chip is being sold at S$ 1,425 (US $1,167), including local taxes. Based on the 32 nm "Sandy Bridge-E" silicon, and built in the LGA2011 package, the i7-3970X is a six-core processor clocked at 3.50 GHz, with maximum Turbo Boost frequency of 4.00 GHz. The six-core chip is bolstered by HyperThreading, enabling 12 logical CPUs, 256 KB L2 cache per core, 15 MB shared L3 cache, and a quad-channel DDR3 integrated memory controller, supporting up to 128 GB of memory. Surprisingly, the chip's 200 MHz speed bump over the Core i7-3960X affected its TDP, which is rated at 150W, up from 130W of the i7-3960X.



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[RejZoR]

Not an 8 core. Boooooring...

 

[btarunr]

Not an 8 core. Boooooring...

Buy an FX-8350 then. It should interest you.

 

[de.das.dude]

Not an 8 core. Boooooring...

i was about to say that XD

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Buy an FX-8350 then. It should interest you.

We want technology that actually delivers performance.:shadedshu


Intel hurry up and give us Ivy Bridge - E already!

 

[btarunr]

We want technology that actually delivers performance.:shadedshu

3970X already is the fastest processor money can buy.

 

[LTUGamer]

It is better to take twice cheaper Core i7-3930K...

 

[Wile E]

3970X already is the fastest processor money can buy.

I still want more.

I'm not changing out my system until Intel gives me 8 cores with HT or better.

 

[ChaoticG8R]

3970X already is the fastest processor money can buy.

I think everyone here was hoping they had actually binned some chips where they didn't have to turn off two cores like the current LGA2011 chips require.

 

[btarunr]

8-cores on Sandy Bridge-E silicon was never impossible for client CPUs, but at the kind of clock speeds Core i7 buyers look for, those chips would have to cut down clock speed to maintain acceptable TDP, and that would reduce per-core performance. The fastest Xeon E5-series chip based on this silicon, with 8-cores maintains 130W with 2.70 GHz core clock.

 

[BazookaJoe]

Yeah, there are still MANY MANY applications & environments where "per-core" performance is way more important than collective total output.

And even then, if we are talking total throughput of a fully multi-threaded function, most top Intel quad cores CAN outperform an AMD 6 core, or Intel 6 core CAN outperform an AMD 8 core depending on what you are doing.

AMD may be good at "bang for your buck" but "bang for your buck" still translates to "relatively lesser bang, but don't worry, it is also cheaper" and when you don't just need bang, and instead need "BOOM MOTHAFUNKA!" Intel is the hands down champion.

I wish I had the budget for one of these.

 

[repman244]

8-cores on Sandy Bridge-E silicon was never impossible for client CPUs, but at the kind of clock speeds Core i7 buyers look for, those chips would have to cut down clock speed to maintain acceptable TDP, and that would reduce per-core performance. The fastest Xeon E5-series chip based on this silicon, with 8-cores maintains 130W with 2.70 GHz core clock.

I doubt anyone would be looking at single thread performance for an 8 core SB chip. It would be used for crunching/rendering or any other heavy multithread scenario.
You can buy the 8 core Xeon but you cannot overclock it, and I've seen a lot of people who would like to have an unlocked 8 core SB (especially over at XS).

EDIT: seeing that this new EE CPU is rated at 150W of TDP I see no reason for not having an 8 core CPU (E5-2690 or clock it higher).

 

[KissSh0t]

You could build a pretty good gaming system for the price of this CPU....

 

[D4S4]

why would the tdp be an issue? i doubt anyone but enthusiasts would buy these and enthusiasts most likely have a wc loop waiting for one.

 

[radrok]

why would the tdp be an issue? i doubt anyone but enthusiasts would buy these and enthusiasts most likely have a wc loop waiting for one.

This, I have a 1080 rad plus a couple of 420 in my loop, TDP would not be an issue at all, I could care less if the CPU draws 220W or more.

 

[Morgoth]

im still waiting for prices to drop on 6 core LGA1366 Xeons

 

[scazbala86]

Tell me again how AMD not competing in the high end won't affect Intel's pricing? What happened to the $1k~ extreme edition pricing. :shadedshu

 

[Octavean]

Buy an FX-8350 then. It should interest you.

Well I definitely want a new Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition CPU and I don’t find the FX-8350 the least bit interesting. I’ll be fine with my Core i7-3930K for a while though. I doubt that even Ivy Bridge-E would motivate an upgrade. However, when Ivy Bridge-E is released I look forward to reading about it here at TPU,…!!!

 

[newtekie1]

8-cores on Sandy Bridge-E silicon was never impossible for client CPUs, but at the kind of clock speeds Core i7 buyers look for, those chips would have to cut down clock speed to maintain acceptable TDP, and that would reduce per-core performance. The fastest Xeon E5-series chip based on this silicon, with 8-cores maintains 130W with 2.70 GHz core clock.

Excellent point. In the consumer market 6 faster cores are better than 8 slower cores.

 

[Vlada011]

That is power. I cross this year on Intel, before that more than 8 years with AMD. I have some Intels in past and AMD before that but last many years only AMD. 85% i used AMD.
I like OC with Intel more than with AMD and I will stay with Intel in next years.
This 3930k, 3960x and 3970x is for me real Intel Extreme and for me only for that worth cross on 2011 from some other platform.
AMD non stop you look around you, almost look is it enough or on Intel work better and how much better and than I decide to leave that.
And it's to much for me when you need to OC 8cores on 5.0GHz and 300-400W consumption for same CINEBENCH results like i7 IB everything in heat go. Especially when you know single tread is Intel almost double faster and that's same usual things every day. Only that power consumption for 2 years difference between 8350 and 3770k you have for 3930k or you save fastest single Classified NVIDIA if choose Intel one beginning for two years.It's not because PSU power and heat... I never care for that and this moment but when you put on paper so much power consumption for one year period numbers are not so little, it's scary...

This Intel Black Extreme is ...
Because people compare AMD Vishera in some applications where people usually buy Extreme if work that kind of jobs and again Intel is much better than.
i5 and i7 is usual gaming CPUs, i7 you can use little for some jobs but real working CPU is i7 if you earn money with that every day.

 

[nickbaldwin86]

snore.... 32nm SB-E .... just a OCd 3930k? 2011 has done nothing to impress me and even more so when I don't see the point in dropping $1100+ on something that does what a $400 cpu can.

 

[trickson]

Too rich for my blood. Nice chip just way too much money! I can buy a car for that!

 

[Lionheart]

Is it silly that the only thing I found interesting is the black box packaging?

 

[drdeathx]

snore.... 32nm SB-E .... just a OCd 3930k? 2011 has done nothing to impress me and even more so when I don't see the point in dropping $1100+ on something that does what a $400 cpu can.

No its not. Ever hear of L3 cache?

 

[camoxiong]

Damn for US $1,167 I can build a new system already