Intel Core i7 now available

It appears that in order to pre-empt AMD's first "Shanghai" Opteron processors in 45 nanometre technology that was released last week, Intel already permitted reviews of the three Core i7 965 Extreme Edition, Core i7 940 and Core i7 920 processors as well as the X58 chip set after the 3rd of November. However, it was only today that the first representatives of the new "Nehalem" generation of processors developed under the code name Bloomfield really got started. Intel has now published several megabytes of data sheets, specification updates (error lists) and developers' guidelines on its web site. The documents not only describe the processors themselves, but also the chip set and the dedicated mainboard with LGA1366 socket called DX58SO.

The new products, as well as further mainboards by Asus, Gigabyte and MSI, are already available from many mail order services. CPU prices have fallen to the expected level: The Core i7 965 Extreme Edition is available from about 990 €, which is about 30 percent less than its predecessor, the Core 2 Extreme QX9770. A Core i7 940 can be purchased from about 560 €, and the "cheapest" Core i7 920 from about 285 €. As with many other processors, euro prices for individual processors including VAT are, therefore, approximately on the level that Intel's price list gives for OEM batch orders of 1000 units in US dollars and without taxes – in this case 999, 562 and 284 US dollars respectively. Until now, many retailers have charged considerably more for pre-ordered items – a phenomenon that can often be observed before new processors are released.

Dell XPS 730x The mainboards with X58 chipset still cost considerably more than 200 € the higher cost of the DDR3 SDRAM DIMMs also contributes to making Core i7 computers considerably more expensive than typical Core 2 systems. Core i7 systems are expected to become available from many PC vendors; Dell already offers the XPS 730x, which is also available water cooled (H2C), but costs at least $4849 in this version. The Studio XPS with Core i7 is less expensive. Dell strangely only includes two memory modules in this computer's standard configuration – although three are required to charm the maximum data transfer rate out of its integrated memory controller. Acer's web page already contains information about the Predator G7710 gaming system and about the Aspire M7720. Minor US vendor Falcon Northwest offers a Mach V, while the UK vendor Armari intends to release its workstation version today. Some of the Core i7 systems are likely to be bundled with graphics cards (AMD CrossFireX, Nvidia SLI).

Information about the Turbo Boost feature can be found in the Specification Update; all three Core i7 configurations are reportedly factory set to increase their clock speeds by a maximum of 133 MHz (once the feature is enabled in the BIOS setup) if one, two or three of their physical cores aren't operating at maximum load and while they have neither reached their Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 130 Watts nor their maximum operating temperature; if only one core is under load, they can in the same conditions increase the speed by doubling the amount, that is 266 MHz, and increase the core voltage. These Turbo Boost levels can be chosen freely in the Core i7 965 Extreme Edition, and the TDP limit can also be adjusted – if the mainboard offers a BIOS setup capable of it; in "normal" processors, the TDP limit is set at a fixed value, which some observers interpret as a mechanism for limiting overclocking. An integrated power control unit (PCU) makes sure that Core i7 processors operate within their TDP limit, maximum operating temperatures and maximum thermal design current.

Intel doesn't seem to have any plans for cheaper Core i7 varieties in the near future, and the price of the LGA1366 boards is also expected to remain high. Cheaper Nehalem varieties for cheaper desktop PC mainboards with LGA1160 (or LGA1156) sockets are only expected for release in the third quarter of 2009; some of them will have integrated graphics cores (Lynnfield/Havendale). However, the Taiwanese Digitimes reports that Intel plans to supply the current LGA775 processors possibly up until the year 2011 – quoting anonymous employees of mainboard manufacturers as usual. The clock speeds still seem to offer some room: While the fastest Core 2 Duo (E8600) has so far reached 3.33 GHz at 65 Watts of TDP, Intel already ships a LGA771 Xeon dual core offering 3.4 GHz, FSB1600 and 80 Watts (X5272) – and even a 3.4 GHz quad core, although this one requires 150 Watts and is very expensive (X5492).

(djwm)