Core i5 Cranks up to 3.6 GHz?
Hkpc.net is reporting that Intel has optimized the processor's Turbo Mode, cranking up the clock speed to 3.6 GHz
Set for a launch in Q3 2009, Intel's 45nm Core i5 (Lynnfield) processor will come in three flavors: 2.66 GHz, 2.8 GHz, and 2.93 GHz. All three versions will feature four cores (4 threads for the 2.66 GHz version, 8 threads for the other two), 8 MB of L3 cache, a TDP of 95 watts, and will fit snug into the LGA-1156 socket. Additionally, all three versions feature 731 million transistors, an integrated DD3 memory controller, an integrated PCI-Express graphics controller, and support for Turbo Boost. As of today, Intel plans to price the 2.66 GHz version around $196 USD; the 2.96 GHz Core i5 will cost around $562 USD.
However, according to a report over on the Chinese website HKEPC, Intel optimized the Nehalem core as well as its Turbo Mode technology, thus giving the Core i5 a significant 5-step boost while staying within the 95 watt TDP. When set in turbo, Intel's 2.66 GHz version will speed up to 3.2 GHz, whereas the 2.8 GHz version will boost to 3.46 GHz and the 2.93 GHz to 3.6 GHz. The site also said that the two current Core i7 processors--specifically the 2.66 GHz and 2.93 GHz versions originally released in November 2008--will climb two steps as well while remaining within the 130 watt TDP.
HKEPC also confirmed that the Clarksfield quad-core processor for mobile devices will feature Hyper-Threading technology and a TDP of 35 watts; it was speculated that the processor would require a TDP of 45 or 55 watts. Additionally, the processor will come in three flavors--1.6 GHz, 1.73 GHz, and 2.0 GHz--and will also be available in Q3 2009. However, unlike the core i5, the three Clarksfield processors will be a bit more costly, ranging from $364 USD to $1054 USD.
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this is good no?
So I now have to ask the question, what's the benefit of i7 over i5?
I know the i7 and X58 is the enthusiast platform, but chip-to-chip, if i5 is this good, what's i7's leverage?
Wots the deal with the different Socket type to Core i7?
@PT88:
I do know i5 will only support Dual-Channel memory, so presumably you don't need as many pins (hence different socket) as the Triple-Channel i7s
I imagine that the Core i7 would have a faster memory controller speed (like the exrreme edition has over the normal Core i7). Plus there will be some kind of bandwidth limitations purely due to the lack of pins. The different socket type is definitely the wrong road to go down in my opinion. Obviously Intel are trying to keep i7 as an enthusiast product with its own line of boards, but it is just a pain in the arse for people swapping cpus at a later date.
I believe, as it is for a wider consumer base, sticking with the same board would have been incongruent with their plan. The production process of the i7 boards is considerably higher than the new i5 boards, thus the total price of upgrading to an i5 over an i7 system is considerably lower. If they stuck with the same board etc. they would just be slightly smaller, cleaner i7s which nobody in their right mind would buy.
It's the whole prospective pc as a package, rather than the cpu, which I think they hope will bring people to buy the i5.
this just reminds me far to much of socket 754 vs 939 back in the good old days of Athlon64's ... when a consumer buying a 754 board simply ended up with useless components a year before somebody who spent 20% more on something equal in performance
I think the new socket is a positive for the CPU, if your in a similar position to myself + are aiming to pick up both a new laptop + a new desktop it's hard to justify £1k+ for a core i7. Introduce a CPU -£80 than the i7-920 which will be using a proportionately cheaper motherboard and your looking at substantial savings for similar performance in 80% of applications.
A cheaper line of CPU's could also tempt the non-enthusiats up to Quad-core PC's which only helps strengthen Intel's position going forwards - more quad-core lovers means more future consumers.