Tech World

Intel Corporation has launched its most advanced desktop processor ever called the Intel Core i7 processor. Intel Core i7 is a family of three Intel Desktop x86-64 processors, the first processors released using the Intel Nehalem microarchitecture and the successor to the Intel Core 2 family. All three models are quad-core processors.It was officially launched on November 17, 2008.

Intel Turbo Boost Technology automatically adjusts the clock speed of one or more of the four individual processing cores for single- and multi-threaded applications to boost performance. The Core i7 processor more than doubles the memory bandwidth of previous Intel “Extreme” platforms, speeding the transfer of computer bits and bites in and out of the processor with Intel Quickpath Technology. Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology allows multiple computing threads to run simultaneously, effectively enabling it to do two things at once, so the Core i7 quad-core processor delivers 8-threaded performance.

Each Core i7 processor has an 8 MB level 3 cache and three channels of DDR3 1066 memory to deliver the best memory performance of any desktop platform. Intel’s top performance processor, the Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition, also removes overspeed protection, allowing further increase in the chip’s speed.


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A 2.93 GHz Core i7 940 system has been used to run a 3DMark Vantage benchmark and gave a CPU score of 17,966.[15] The 2.66 GHz Core i7 920 scores 16,294. An earlier generation Core processor, the very expensive 3.20 Ghz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770, scores 13,182. Another one, the 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad Q9450, scores 11,131.

Over-clocking will be possible with the 900 series and a motherboard equipped with the X58 chipset. In early October 2008, reports surfaced that it will not be possible to use "performance" DDR3 DIMMs that require voltages higher than 1.65v, because the integrated memory controller within the Core i7 will be damaged.[18] Some tests, however, have demonstrated that the voltage limit does not apply, like on a MSI board, and manufacturers can choose to bond CPU voltage to memory or not. By the end of that month, performance memory vendors had announced 1.65v DDR3 memory kits with clock rates up to 2GHz.

he Intel Core i7 is also a very good match for extreme gaming platforms, especially heavy Multi-GPU environements that require a tremendous amount of CPU power, so the Core i7 965 Extreme Edition can provide incredible gains over Intel's previous fastest CPU: the Core 2 Extreme QX9770.Now play Crysis like never before.

Intel Core i7- 920 starts at $284, Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition will cost $999. But the prices are expected to come down in next 4 to 5 months.
And OEM`s may start shipping systems with core i7 extreme by the end of 2009.