Intel i7 launch imminent ?

[Paul Shields]

After doing some cursory research for building a new pc (mainly to be used for video and photo editing) I'd narrowed it down to an Intel quad-core - probably another Q660 that I currently use for HD video watching. What I hadn't realised was that Intel are due to officially launch their new quad core chips next month - some online retailers are already taking orders.

The specs look very impressive - real quad core (i.e. all processors on the same die). AMD did it with their Phenom range, but I think they've proved to be not such a groundbreaking thing after all. The i7's will have on-chip memory controllers too. No doubt the prices will be higher to start with, but if you're looking to build a new high performance box soonish it's something to think about. The more I read about this chipset the more it impresses me that this is a big leap by Intel.

Example benchmarks:

3DMark Vantage benchmark

2.93 GHz Core i7 940 17,966.
2.66 GHz Core i7 920 16,294.
2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 4,300.


It's a shame AMD can't quite keep up, but who knows what's around the corner.

Some links:

Technology@Intel Getting to the Core -- Intel's new flagship client brand
Intel Core i7 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Killjoy]

Sorry Paul, but AMD may have had a couple of little shots ahead of Intel at one time or another, but overall, they really can't compete with us.
Go with the Intel chip. You can't go wrong. Even if you do wait for the newer processor.

Yup, those shots in my Smugmug page are actually in one of Intel's development FAB's.
That's D2 in Santa Clara, CA. We are directly responsible for some of the greatest innovations in microprocessors from around 1992 until 2005.
After that, our FAB turned our focus to Flash Memory and chipsets. And we kick butt in those too.

[Paul Shields]

No, I agree - Intel are still well ahead. I'm just coming at this from a consumer point of view. Competition is good . Are you involved in the i7 fabrication? I've seen some images of the new chip and it's considerably larger than the current Core series. I hear that 8 cores are also on their way very soon... You just can't have enough CPU horsepower for what we do .

[Killjoy]

No, I don't have anything to do with the new microprocessors. Not anymore.
But I'm sure that I will be playing with the companion chipsets.

And I agree. You can't have too much processing power.

[Killjoy]

It seems that an Intel employee was double dipping, and was also working for AMD at the same time.
He got busted stealing Intel secrets.
You can read about it Here

[Paul Shields]

Whoops... I guess if there's one place industrial espionage would be profitable it would be there.

I notice that AMD's CEO and chief chip designer seem quite blase about it.

[JDArt]

Sounds great, Paul, and makes sense for new system builds. In my case, though, I'm looking at quad core chips that I can use to upgrade my current dual core setup(s). The current generation of chips have gotten reasonable in price. I would be looking at those running at least at 3.0 GHz per core.

[Killjoy]

Hmm. Unfortunately, this is the best shot of Intel people I could find.

Yeah, that's me in the far back. The tallest one, next to the fool making the gang signs.

[Paul Shields]

That's a great shot killjoy .

[Killjoy]

Thanks Paul.