AMD has just released code that will allow for open-source 3D acceleration on their ATI R600 and R700 graphics cards, including all of their newest Radeon HD 4xxx products. This code consists of a demo program that feeds the commands to the hardware, updates to their RadeonHD driver, and a Direct Rendering Manager update. With this code comes working 2D EXA acceleration support for these newer ATI graphics processors as well as basic X-Video support. AMD will be releasing sanitized documentation for these new ATI GPUs in the coming weeks. Phoronix has an article detailing what's all encompassed by today's code drop as well as the activities that led to this open-source code coming about for release."
Latest News On Computers Processors
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Intel, Acer Launch Cheap Quad-Core Notebook Chip
Intel launched the Q9000, a quad-core mobile chip that partner Acer included in a new notebook the company launched on Monday.
Intel also added four new mobile dual-core chips to its portfolio, via updates to its official price list: the Core 2 Duo T9800, P9600, T9550, and P8700.
What's notable about the Q9000 is its price: $348 in 1,000-unit lots. Intel's other mobile quad-core chips all cost $851, with its top-of-the-line QX9300 chip priced at $1,038. In part, that has allowed Acer to market its new Aspire 8930G-7665 notebook at a suggested price of $1,799.99.
The 8930G-7665 allegedly contains the Q9000, although the specs Acer originally listed for the device actually correspond to the QX9300: 2.53 GHz, 12 Mbytes of level 2 cache, and a 1.066-GHz front-side bus. The Q9000 runs at 2.0-GHz, uses a shared 6 Mbyte level-2 cache, and includes a 1.066 GHz front-side bus.
An Acer representative said Monday that the original specifications were a mistake, and that the 8930G-7665 includes the Q9000, with the specifications as listed above.
Otherwise, Acer's new notebook includes an 18.4-inch WUXGA Acer CrystalBrite screen (at 1920 x 1080 resolution), 4 Gbytes of DDR3 memory, a GeForce 9700M GT/512 Mbytes graphics card, a 500-GByte hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, a 6-in-1 card reader, a Webcam, Dolby HomeTheater-class sound, and Windows Vista Premium 64-bit. The new notebook is available now.
Intel also introduced the mobile Core 2 Duo T9800 (2.93 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $530), the P9600 (2.66 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $348), the T9550 (2.66 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $316) and the P8700 (2.53-GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $241). The "T" and "P" series differ in the thermal design power used; the "T" series processors are rated at 35 watts, while the "P" series is rated at 25 watts.
Intel also added four new mobile dual-core chips to its portfolio, via updates to its official price list: the Core 2 Duo T9800, P9600, T9550, and P8700.
What's notable about the Q9000 is its price: $348 in 1,000-unit lots. Intel's other mobile quad-core chips all cost $851, with its top-of-the-line QX9300 chip priced at $1,038. In part, that has allowed Acer to market its new Aspire 8930G-7665 notebook at a suggested price of $1,799.99.
The 8930G-7665 allegedly contains the Q9000, although the specs Acer originally listed for the device actually correspond to the QX9300: 2.53 GHz, 12 Mbytes of level 2 cache, and a 1.066-GHz front-side bus. The Q9000 runs at 2.0-GHz, uses a shared 6 Mbyte level-2 cache, and includes a 1.066 GHz front-side bus.
An Acer representative said Monday that the original specifications were a mistake, and that the 8930G-7665 includes the Q9000, with the specifications as listed above.
Otherwise, Acer's new notebook includes an 18.4-inch WUXGA Acer CrystalBrite screen (at 1920 x 1080 resolution), 4 Gbytes of DDR3 memory, a GeForce 9700M GT/512 Mbytes graphics card, a 500-GByte hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, a 6-in-1 card reader, a Webcam, Dolby HomeTheater-class sound, and Windows Vista Premium 64-bit. The new notebook is available now.
Intel also introduced the mobile Core 2 Duo T9800 (2.93 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $530), the P9600 (2.66 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $348), the T9550 (2.66 GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $316) and the P8700 (2.53-GHz, 6 Mbytes L2 cache, $241). The "T" and "P" series differ in the thermal design power used; the "T" series processors are rated at 35 watts, while the "P" series is rated at 25 watts.
Quad-core MacBook Pro on the way
Intel sneaked out a new low-cost quad-core mobile processor on Monday, prompting some observers to wonder if Apple will finally release a quad-core laptop.
The lack of fanfare surrounding the 2.53GHz Core 2 Quad Mobile Processor Q9000's introduction--it was merely added to Intel's CPU price list--is certainly interesting. It's a slow news week between Christmas and New Year's, so why not play it up?, is how the logic goes.
APCMag.com says it's possible Apple's been waiting for the processor to arrive from Intel, and it just happens to coincide with Macworld next week.
That could also explain why Apple redesigned and upgraded its 13.3-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro, but said little about the 17-inch MacBook Pro's eventual makeover.
So far Acer, which immediately announced a new laptop using Intel's newest processor, is the only PC maker that has confirmed it is using it.
The lack of fanfare surrounding the 2.53GHz Core 2 Quad Mobile Processor Q9000's introduction--it was merely added to Intel's CPU price list--is certainly interesting. It's a slow news week between Christmas and New Year's, so why not play it up?, is how the logic goes.
APCMag.com says it's possible Apple's been waiting for the processor to arrive from Intel, and it just happens to coincide with Macworld next week.
That could also explain why Apple redesigned and upgraded its 13.3-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro, but said little about the 17-inch MacBook Pro's eventual makeover.
So far Acer, which immediately announced a new laptop using Intel's newest processor, is the only PC maker that has confirmed it is using it.
Intel® Core™ Micro architecture
Intel® Core™ micro architecture is the foundation for new Intel® architecture-based desktop, mobile, and mainstream server multi-core processors. This state-of-the-art, multi-core optimized micro architecture delivers a number of new and innovative features that have set new standards for energy-efficient performance.
Generating efficiency improvements across platforms
With its high performance and energy efficiency, Intel Core micro architecture is the basis for many new solutions and form factors.
In the home, these include high performing, ultra-quiet, sleek and energy-efficient computer designs and more sophisticated, user-friendly entertainment systems.
For IT, you can get reduced footprints, lower power and thermal burdens in server data centers, increased responsiveness, productivity and energy efficiency across client and server platforms.
For mobile users, Intel Core micro architecture means greater computer performance and battery life enabling a variety of small form factors that enable world-class computing "on the go."
Generating efficiency improvements across platforms
With its high performance and energy efficiency, Intel Core micro architecture is the basis for many new solutions and form factors.
In the home, these include high performing, ultra-quiet, sleek and energy-efficient computer designs and more sophisticated, user-friendly entertainment systems.
For IT, you can get reduced footprints, lower power and thermal burdens in server data centers, increased responsiveness, productivity and energy efficiency across client and server platforms.
For mobile users, Intel Core micro architecture means greater computer performance and battery life enabling a variety of small form factors that enable world-class computing "on the go."
AMD Multi-Core Technology for Notebook PCs
AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra and AMD Turion™ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processors
AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra dual-core mobile processors deliver the ultimate performance for mobile lifestyles, with most advanced features designed for people on-the-go.
AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra and AMD Turion™ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processors offer superior technologies for improved graphics performance, fast wireless, and long battery life. When paired with ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD Premium Graphics, you get the ultimate in mobile performance for advanced 3D gaming and HD entertainment*
AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra dual-core mobile processors deliver the ultimate performance for mobile lifestyles, with most advanced features designed for people on-the-go.
AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra and AMD Turion™ X2 Dual-Core Mobile Processors offer superior technologies for improved graphics performance, fast wireless, and long battery life. When paired with ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD Premium Graphics, you get the ultimate in mobile performance for advanced 3D gaming and HD entertainment*
Intel GPU/CPU combo in 2009
Really integrated graphics may be coming in 2009
Penryn is almost here; Nehalem is due next year.
But Intel may be planning to follow them up with new chips integrating a GPU with the CPU in 2009 - at least according to the Reg.
Bloomfield will apparently feature a 1366 pin socket (ouch) and feature "QuickPath" - Intel's answer to AMD's "HyperTransport" along with up to three channels of DDR3 memory. The new core apparently will have 8MB of L2 and use QuickPath to connect to a "Tylersburg" northbridge that will provide PCIe 2.0 lanes.
Strangely enough, less than six months later there will apparently be a "Lynnfield" going to a 1160 pin socket with four cores and hyperthreading, 8MB of L2, dual DDR3 channels, using PCIe as a chip to chip bus. Frankly, this sounds weird to me. Why on earth would Intel go to a 1366 pin chip, to go to a 1160 pin chip less than six months later?
The only way that this would make sense is if one of the chips was destined for the low end integrated market.
Let's peek into our crystal ball... to reduce costs, you have to simplify designs. What if Lynnfield integerated the GPU? With PCIe integrated onto the chip, it is not farfetched to consider that Intel may also consider integrating a couple of SATA channels and some USB2.0 channels... then you could have a nice little quad core "SOC" (System on a Chip) allowing very low part count integrated low end designs.
Such an SOC really would only be suitable for low end machines as the GPU would have to share memory bandwidth with the four core / eight thread CPU portion, so even a hypothetical dual channel 2000MHz DDR3 system with close to 32GB/sec bandwidth would be hard put to exceed the performance of an 8600GT - and it would starve the processor for memory bandwidth at that.
To make matters even more confusing, the referenced roadmap also shows a mainstream "Clarksfield" part using a 989 pin rPGA socket. UGH.
Penryn is almost here; Nehalem is due next year.
But Intel may be planning to follow them up with new chips integrating a GPU with the CPU in 2009 - at least according to the Reg.
Bloomfield will apparently feature a 1366 pin socket (ouch) and feature "QuickPath" - Intel's answer to AMD's "HyperTransport" along with up to three channels of DDR3 memory. The new core apparently will have 8MB of L2 and use QuickPath to connect to a "Tylersburg" northbridge that will provide PCIe 2.0 lanes.
Strangely enough, less than six months later there will apparently be a "Lynnfield" going to a 1160 pin socket with four cores and hyperthreading, 8MB of L2, dual DDR3 channels, using PCIe as a chip to chip bus. Frankly, this sounds weird to me. Why on earth would Intel go to a 1366 pin chip, to go to a 1160 pin chip less than six months later?
The only way that this would make sense is if one of the chips was destined for the low end integrated market.
Let's peek into our crystal ball... to reduce costs, you have to simplify designs. What if Lynnfield integerated the GPU? With PCIe integrated onto the chip, it is not farfetched to consider that Intel may also consider integrating a couple of SATA channels and some USB2.0 channels... then you could have a nice little quad core "SOC" (System on a Chip) allowing very low part count integrated low end designs.
Such an SOC really would only be suitable for low end machines as the GPU would have to share memory bandwidth with the four core / eight thread CPU portion, so even a hypothetical dual channel 2000MHz DDR3 system with close to 32GB/sec bandwidth would be hard put to exceed the performance of an 8600GT - and it would starve the processor for memory bandwidth at that.
To make matters even more confusing, the referenced roadmap also shows a mainstream "Clarksfield" part using a 989 pin rPGA socket. UGH.
Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor
The Intel® Core™2 Extreme processor is the world's first quad-core desktop processor, delivering the latest in cutting-edge processor technology and unprecedented performance across a wide range of applications and benchmarks. The new Intel Core 2 Extreme processors QX9000 series are based on the industry-leading 45nm manufacturing technology, providing another giant leap forward on the road to multi-core and parallel computing.This processor is designed for PC enthusiasts and gamers. Today's multimedia applications, such as 3D modeling, video/ audio editing and rendering, as well as the latest in realistic and immersive games, focus on threaded computing for performance and demonstrate amazing scalability with quad-core processors.
For the added technical flexibility experienced enthusiasts want, the processor bus ratio locks (overspeed protection) have been removed in the Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core processor. This delivers the ability to tune the system, taking it beyond the specification limits.1Multitasking monster
The Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core processor is a multitasking monster, so users can do more in less time. Significant improvements in system responsiveness are possible because certain tasks can be off-loaded to specific cores. Users can now take on several tasks at once, such as rendering a video, playing a game, or working on basic productivity software, because additional processor resources are free to handle other tasks.Intel® Express Chipset based platforms support the Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core processor. This combination of processor and chipset offers an array of exciting capabilities including dual graphics, and delivers an impressive level of performance for demanding users.
· Product brief (PDF 673.29KB)
· New thermal solution information
· Desktop videos and animations
Processor Number2
Cache
Clock Speed
Front Side Bus
Process
Intel® Express Chipset Support
QX9770
12 MB L2
3.2 GHz
1600 MHz
45 nm
X48
QX9650
12 MB L2
3.0 GHz
1333 MHz
45 nm
X48, X38, P35
QX6850
8 MB L23
3 GHz
1333 MHz
65 nm
P35
QX6800
8 MB L23
2.93 GHz
1066 MHz
65 nm
975X/P965/P35
QX6700
8 MB L23
2.66 GHz
1066 MHz
65 nm
975X/P965/P35
Features and Benefits of the Intel® Core™2 Extreme Quad-Core Processor
Features
Benefits
Quad-core processing
Provides four independent execution cores in a single processor package. Four dedicated processing threads help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance, so end users can experience better multitasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and workloads.
Chipset support3
Intel® Express Chipsets offer an array of exciting capabilities including dual graphics and deliver an impressive level of performance for demanding users. Other third-party chipsets may support Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processors; contact your board manufacturer for compatibility
Intel® Wide Dynamic Execution
Improves execution speed and efficiency, delivering more instructions per clock cycle. Each core can complete up to four full instructions simultaneously.
Intel® Smart Memory Access
Optimizes the use of the data bandwidth from the memory subsystem to accelerate out-of-order execution. A prediction mechanism reduces the time in-flight instructions have to wait for data. Pre-fetch algorithms move data from system memory into fast L2 cache in advance of execution. These functions keep the pipeline full, improving instruction throughput and performance. 45nm versions further improve this feature, with more efficient methods of loading and storing data in main memory.
Intel® Advanced Smart Cache4
Dynamically allocates the shared L2 cache to each processor core based on workload. This efficient, dual-core-optimized implementation increases the probability that each core can access data from fast L2 cache, significantly reducing latency to frequently used data and improving performance.
Intel® Advanced Digital Media Boost
Accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the performance on a broad range of multimedia and compute intensive applications. The 128-bit SSE instructions are now issued at a throughput rate of one per clock cycle, effectively doubling their speed of execution on a per-clock basis over previous generation processors. 45nm versions include a new Super Shuffle Engine, which improves existing SSE instructions while enabling significant gains on the latest SSE4 instruction set. SSE4-optimized applications, such as video editing and encoding in high-definition resolution, will see additional performance improvements.
Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT)5
Allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. Intel VT improves manageability, limits downtime, and maintains worker productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions
Intel® 64 architecture6
Allows the processor to access larger amounts of memory. With appropriate 64-bit hardware and software, platforms based on an Intel processor supporting Intel 64 architecture can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory.
Execute Disable Bit7
Provides enhanced virus protection when deployed with a supported operating system and prevents the code from infecting the system. Memory can be marked as executable or non-executable, allowing the processor to raise an error to the operating system if malicious code attempts to run in non-executable memory.
AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processors
Ready for a performance boost over single and dual-core processors? AMD Phenom™ X3 triple-core processors offer three processing cores on a single chip, plus cutting-edge features and capabilities for next-generation applications.
FOR BUSINESS
AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processors
True multi-core performance for the way businesses multi-task today, and for the next-generation applications employees will need in the near future. Stable commercial AMD Phenom™X3 8000 Series processors offer industry-leading platform stability and longevity, investment protection, and the exceptional performance you expect from AMD. Plus, unique features for energy efficiency.
FOR HOME
AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processors
Do more than dual-core. AMD Phenom™ X3 8000 Series processors offer outstanding performance on a balanced suite of applications, as compared to AMD Athlon™X2 dual-core processors. Get added performance for multitasking, HD entertainment, content creation, and gaming applications
FOR BUSINESS
AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processors
True multi-core performance for the way businesses multi-task today, and for the next-generation applications employees will need in the near future. Stable commercial AMD Phenom™X3 8000 Series processors offer industry-leading platform stability and longevity, investment protection, and the exceptional performance you expect from AMD. Plus, unique features for energy efficiency.
FOR HOME
AMD Phenom™ X3 Triple-Core Processors
Do more than dual-core. AMD Phenom™ X3 8000 Series processors offer outstanding performance on a balanced suite of applications, as compared to AMD Athlon™X2 dual-core processors. Get added performance for multitasking, HD entertainment, content creation, and gaming applications
Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition
Highest performing desktop processor on the planet for extreme gamers and demanding enthusiasts.1
OverviewConquer the world of extreme gaming with the fastest desktop processor on the planet: the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition.1 With faster, intelligent multi-core technology that dynamically accelerates performance to match your workload, it delivers an incredible breakthrough in gaming performance.
But performance doesn't stop at gaming. You'll multitask faster and unleash incredible digital media creation.2 In fact, you'll experience maximum performance for whatever you do, thanks to the combination of Intel® Turbo Boost technology (Intel® TBT)7 and Intel® Hyper-Threading technology (Intel® HT technology),8 which activates full processing power exactly where and when you need it most.
Wield the ultimate gaming weaponThe Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition not only can take on today's most complex and immersive games, but it's also powerful enough to handle tomorrow's gaming advances. Experience smoother and more realistic gaming made possible by distributing AI, physics, and rendering across four cores and eight software threads. For added flexibility, overspeed protection is removed allowing technical enthusiasts to tune the system for maximum performance.5
Breakaway performance for digital media creationTake digital content creation to a whole new level with the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition. Enjoy up to 79 percent faster video encoding and up to 46 percent faster image rendering, plus incredible performance for photo retouching and photo editing.3,4 Experience total creative freedom that's limited only by your imagination.
Gear up to extreme processing powerUnique Intel® Turbo Boost technology accelerates performance dynamically to match your workload and maximize speed for demanding applications.7 New performance-maximized memory access technologies work together to reduce latency and more than double memory bandwidth for faster memory access.6 Achieve up to 25 percent faster multitasking performance by handling multiple applications simultaneously so you experience less wait time.2
The Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition offers unprecedented bandwidth and memory performance, including an integrated memory controller with 3 channels of DDR3, 2 DIMMs per channel, and up to 25.6 GB/sec bandwidth for DDR3 1066 MHz.
· Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition Product Brief (PDF 821KB)
· Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
· Intel® Desktop Board DX58SO
· Desktop videos and animations
Processor comparison table
Intel® Core™i7-965
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9770
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9650
Number of simultaneous threads
8 (with hyper-threading)
4
4
Processor integrated memory controller
Yes
No
No
Intel® Turbo Boost technology3
Yes
No
No
Number of memory channels
3
2
2
Intel® Express Chipset
X58
X48
X38/X48/P35/P45
Features and benefits of the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition
Feature
Benefit
Intel® quad-core processor
Provides four independent execution cores in one processor package. Four dedicated processing cores help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance, so end users can experience better multitasking and multithreaded performance across many types of applications and workloads.
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology (Intel® HT technology)8
Delivers two processing threads per physical core for a total of 8 threads for massive computational throughput. With Intel® HT technology, highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing their tasks sooner. With more threads available to the operating system, multitasking becomes even easier. This amazing processor can handle multiple applications working simultaneously, allowing you to do more with less wait time.
Intel® Turbo Boost technology7
Dynamically increases the processor's frequency when needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom when operating below specified limits. Get more performance automatically, when you need it the most.
8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
This large last level cache enables dynamic and efficient allocation of shared cache to all 4 cores to match the needs of various applications for ultra efficient data storage and manipulation.
Intel® QuickPath Interconnect
Intel's latest system interconnect design for increased bandwidth and lower latency. Achieve data transfer speeds as high as 25.6 GB/sec with the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition.
Integrated memory controller
An integrated memory controller with three channels of DDR3 1066 MHz offers memory performance up to 25.6 GB/sec. Combined with the processor's very efficient prefetching algorithms, this memory controller's lower latency and higher memory bandwidth delivers amazing performance for data intensive applications.
Intel® HD Boost
Includes the full SSE4 instruction set, significantly improving a broad range of multimedia and compute-intensive applications. The 128-bit SSE instructions are issued at a throughput rate of one per clock cycle, allowing a new level of processing efficiency with SSE4 optimized applications.
Digital thermal sensor (DTS)
Provides for more efficient processor and platform thermal control improving system acoustics. The DTS continuously measures the temperature at each processing core. The ability to continuously measure and detect variations in processor temperature enables system fans to spin only as fast as needed to cool the system. The combination of these technologies can result in significantly lower noise emissions from the PC.
Intel® Wide Dynamic Execution
Improves execution speed and efficiency, delivering more instructions per clock cycle. Each core can complete up to four full instructions simultaneously.
Intel® Smart Memory Access
Improves system performance by optimizing the use of the available data bandwidth from the memory subsystem and reducing the effective latency of memory accesses
OverviewConquer the world of extreme gaming with the fastest desktop processor on the planet: the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition.1 With faster, intelligent multi-core technology that dynamically accelerates performance to match your workload, it delivers an incredible breakthrough in gaming performance.
But performance doesn't stop at gaming. You'll multitask faster and unleash incredible digital media creation.2 In fact, you'll experience maximum performance for whatever you do, thanks to the combination of Intel® Turbo Boost technology (Intel® TBT)7 and Intel® Hyper-Threading technology (Intel® HT technology),8 which activates full processing power exactly where and when you need it most.
Wield the ultimate gaming weaponThe Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition not only can take on today's most complex and immersive games, but it's also powerful enough to handle tomorrow's gaming advances. Experience smoother and more realistic gaming made possible by distributing AI, physics, and rendering across four cores and eight software threads. For added flexibility, overspeed protection is removed allowing technical enthusiasts to tune the system for maximum performance.5
Breakaway performance for digital media creationTake digital content creation to a whole new level with the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition. Enjoy up to 79 percent faster video encoding and up to 46 percent faster image rendering, plus incredible performance for photo retouching and photo editing.3,4 Experience total creative freedom that's limited only by your imagination.
Gear up to extreme processing powerUnique Intel® Turbo Boost technology accelerates performance dynamically to match your workload and maximize speed for demanding applications.7 New performance-maximized memory access technologies work together to reduce latency and more than double memory bandwidth for faster memory access.6 Achieve up to 25 percent faster multitasking performance by handling multiple applications simultaneously so you experience less wait time.2
The Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition offers unprecedented bandwidth and memory performance, including an integrated memory controller with 3 channels of DDR3, 2 DIMMs per channel, and up to 25.6 GB/sec bandwidth for DDR3 1066 MHz.
· Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition Product Brief (PDF 821KB)
· Intel® Core™ i7 Processor
· Intel® Desktop Board DX58SO
· Desktop videos and animations
Processor comparison table
Intel® Core™i7-965
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9770
Intel® Core™2 Extreme QX9650
Number of simultaneous threads
8 (with hyper-threading)
4
4
Processor integrated memory controller
Yes
No
No
Intel® Turbo Boost technology3
Yes
No
No
Number of memory channels
3
2
2
Intel® Express Chipset
X58
X48
X38/X48/P35/P45
Features and benefits of the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition
Feature
Benefit
Intel® quad-core processor
Provides four independent execution cores in one processor package. Four dedicated processing cores help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance, so end users can experience better multitasking and multithreaded performance across many types of applications and workloads.
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology (Intel® HT technology)8
Delivers two processing threads per physical core for a total of 8 threads for massive computational throughput. With Intel® HT technology, highly threaded applications can get more work done in parallel, completing their tasks sooner. With more threads available to the operating system, multitasking becomes even easier. This amazing processor can handle multiple applications working simultaneously, allowing you to do more with less wait time.
Intel® Turbo Boost technology7
Dynamically increases the processor's frequency when needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom when operating below specified limits. Get more performance automatically, when you need it the most.
8 MB Intel® Smart Cache
This large last level cache enables dynamic and efficient allocation of shared cache to all 4 cores to match the needs of various applications for ultra efficient data storage and manipulation.
Intel® QuickPath Interconnect
Intel's latest system interconnect design for increased bandwidth and lower latency. Achieve data transfer speeds as high as 25.6 GB/sec with the Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition.
Integrated memory controller
An integrated memory controller with three channels of DDR3 1066 MHz offers memory performance up to 25.6 GB/sec. Combined with the processor's very efficient prefetching algorithms, this memory controller's lower latency and higher memory bandwidth delivers amazing performance for data intensive applications.
Intel® HD Boost
Includes the full SSE4 instruction set, significantly improving a broad range of multimedia and compute-intensive applications. The 128-bit SSE instructions are issued at a throughput rate of one per clock cycle, allowing a new level of processing efficiency with SSE4 optimized applications.
Digital thermal sensor (DTS)
Provides for more efficient processor and platform thermal control improving system acoustics. The DTS continuously measures the temperature at each processing core. The ability to continuously measure and detect variations in processor temperature enables system fans to spin only as fast as needed to cool the system. The combination of these technologies can result in significantly lower noise emissions from the PC.
Intel® Wide Dynamic Execution
Improves execution speed and efficiency, delivering more instructions per clock cycle. Each core can complete up to four full instructions simultaneously.
Intel® Smart Memory Access
Improves system performance by optimizing the use of the available data bandwidth from the memory subsystem and reducing the effective latency of memory accesses
Intel Completes Next Generation, 32nm Process Development Phase
Intel Corporation has completed the development phase of its next-generation manufacturing process that further shrinks chip circuitry to 32 nanometers (a billionth of a meter). The company is on track for production readiness of this future generation using even more energy-efficient, denser and higher performing transistors in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Intel will provide a multitude of technical details around the 32nm process technology along with several other topics during presentations at the International Electron Devices meeting (IEDM) next week in San Francisco. Finishing the development phase for the company's 32nm process technology and production readiness in this timeframe means that Intel remains on pace with its ambitious product and manufacturing cadence referred to as the company's "tick-tock" strategy.
That plan revolves around introducing an entirely new processor microarchitecture alternating with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months, an effort unmatched in the industry. Producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.
The Intel 32nm paper and presentation describe a logic technology that incorporates second-generation high-k + metal gate technology, 193nm immersion lithography for critical patterning layers and enhanced transistor strain techniques. These features enhance the performance and energy efficiency of Intel processors. Intel's manufacturing process has the highest transistor performance and the highest transistor density of any reported 32nm technology in the industry.
"Our manufacturing prowess and resulting products have helped us widen our lead in computing performance and battery life for Intel-based laptops, servers and desktops," said Mark Bohr, Intel Senior Fellow and director of process architecture and integration. "As we've shown this year, the manufacturing strategy and execution have also given us the ability to create entirely new product lines for MIDs, CE equipment, embedded computers and netbooks."
Other Intel IEDM papers will describe a low power system on chip version of Intel's 45nm process, transistors based on compound semiconductors, substrate engineering to improve performance of 45nm transistors, integrating chemical mechanical polish for the 45nm node and beyond; and, integrating an array of silicon photonics modulators. Intel will also participate in a short course on 22nm CMOS
Intel will provide a multitude of technical details around the 32nm process technology along with several other topics during presentations at the International Electron Devices meeting (IEDM) next week in San Francisco. Finishing the development phase for the company's 32nm process technology and production readiness in this timeframe means that Intel remains on pace with its ambitious product and manufacturing cadence referred to as the company's "tick-tock" strategy.
That plan revolves around introducing an entirely new processor microarchitecture alternating with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months, an effort unmatched in the industry. Producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.
The Intel 32nm paper and presentation describe a logic technology that incorporates second-generation high-k + metal gate technology, 193nm immersion lithography for critical patterning layers and enhanced transistor strain techniques. These features enhance the performance and energy efficiency of Intel processors. Intel's manufacturing process has the highest transistor performance and the highest transistor density of any reported 32nm technology in the industry.
"Our manufacturing prowess and resulting products have helped us widen our lead in computing performance and battery life for Intel-based laptops, servers and desktops," said Mark Bohr, Intel Senior Fellow and director of process architecture and integration. "As we've shown this year, the manufacturing strategy and execution have also given us the ability to create entirely new product lines for MIDs, CE equipment, embedded computers and netbooks."
Other Intel IEDM papers will describe a low power system on chip version of Intel's 45nm process, transistors based on compound semiconductors, substrate engineering to improve performance of 45nm transistors, integrating chemical mechanical polish for the 45nm node and beyond; and, integrating an array of silicon photonics modulators. Intel will also participate in a short course on 22nm CMOS
AMD's Radeon HD 4830 graphics processor
AMD has a brand-new Radeon to unveil today, and it's certainly worthy of our attention. However, Damage Labs is humming away with the sound of a great many things being tested right about now, so our time to devote to this new graphics card is limited. We'll be in and out of our look at the Radeon HD 4830 in no time, faster and cleaner than a celebrity marriage
this new card is indeed called the Radeon HD 4830. The name tells you almost everything you need to know about this product, which would appear to be the last piece of AMD's 4000-series Radeon lineup to fall into place. Those of you who read our recent review of affordable graphics cards may recall that AMD didn't have much to offer between the (sensational for its price) Radeon HD 4670 at 80 bucks and the all-world Radeon HD 4850 at about $180. Well, that's where the 4830 comes in.
This new model is, like the 4850 and 4870, based on RV770 silicon, but in its tamest form yet. Yes, folks, the great product segmentation game continues with yet another chip having perfectly good—or possibly totally flawed—bits and pieces deactivated to maintain a neat separation between models. On the 4830, two of the RV770's 10 SIMD units have been disabled, reducing shader power (and likely performance) somewhat. Since those SIMD units are tied to texture management units, the GPU's TMU count has dropped proportionately. The end result: the Radeon HD 4830 has a total of 128 shader execution units—or 640 stream processors, in AMD parlance—and can filter up to 32 textures per clock.
this new card is indeed called the Radeon HD 4830. The name tells you almost everything you need to know about this product, which would appear to be the last piece of AMD's 4000-series Radeon lineup to fall into place. Those of you who read our recent review of affordable graphics cards may recall that AMD didn't have much to offer between the (sensational for its price) Radeon HD 4670 at 80 bucks and the all-world Radeon HD 4850 at about $180. Well, that's where the 4830 comes in.
This new model is, like the 4850 and 4870, based on RV770 silicon, but in its tamest form yet. Yes, folks, the great product segmentation game continues with yet another chip having perfectly good—or possibly totally flawed—bits and pieces deactivated to maintain a neat separation between models. On the 4830, two of the RV770's 10 SIMD units have been disabled, reducing shader power (and likely performance) somewhat. Since those SIMD units are tied to texture management units, the GPU's TMU count has dropped proportionately. The end result: the Radeon HD 4830 has a total of 128 shader execution units—or 640 stream processors, in AMD parlance—and can filter up to 32 textures per clock.
Intel's Core i7 processors
Those of us who are conversant with technology are more or less conditioned to accept and even expect change as a natural part of the course of things. New gadgets and gizmos debut regularly, each one offering some set of advantages or refinements over the prior generation. As a result, well, you folks are a rather difficult lot to impress, frankly speaking. But today is a day when one should sit up and take notice. I've been reviewing processors for nearly ten years now, and the Core i7 processors we're examining here represent one of the most consequential shifts in the industry during that entire span.
Intel, as you know, has been leading its smaller rival AMD in the performance sweeps for some time now, with a virtually unbroken lead since the debut of the first Core 2 processors more than two years ago. Even so, AMD has retained a theoretical (and sometimes practical) advantage in terms of basic system architecture throughout that time, thanks to the changes it introduced with its original K8 (Athlon 64 and Opteron) processors five years back. Those changes included the integration of the memory controller onto the CPU die, the elimination of the front-side bus, and its replacement with a fast, narrow chip-to-chip interconnect known as HyperTransport. This system architecture has served AMD quite well, particularly in multi-socket servers, where the Opteron became a formidable player in very short order and has retained a foothold even with AMD's recent struggles.
Now, Intel aims to rob AMD of that advantage by introducing a new system architecture of its own, one that mirror's AMD's in key respects but is intended to be newer, faster, and better. At the heart of this project is a new microprocessor, code-named Nehalem during its development and now officially christened as the Core i7.
Yeah, I dunno about the name, either. Let's just roll with it.
The Core i7 design is based on current Core 2 processors but has been widely revised, from its front end to its memory and I/O interfaces and nearly everywhere in between. The Core i7 integrates four cores into a single chip, brings the memory controller onboard, and introduces a low-latency point-to-point interconnect called QuickPath to replace the front-side bus. Intel has modified the chip to take advantage of this new system infrastructure, tweaking it throughout to accommodate the increased flow of data and instructions through its four cores. The memory subsystem and cache hierarchy have been redesigned, and simultaneous multithreading—better known by its marketing name, Hyper-Threading—makes its return, as well. The end result blurs the line between an evolutionary new product and a revolutionary one, with vastly more bandwidth and performance potential than we've ever seen in a single CPU socket.
Intel, as you know, has been leading its smaller rival AMD in the performance sweeps for some time now, with a virtually unbroken lead since the debut of the first Core 2 processors more than two years ago. Even so, AMD has retained a theoretical (and sometimes practical) advantage in terms of basic system architecture throughout that time, thanks to the changes it introduced with its original K8 (Athlon 64 and Opteron) processors five years back. Those changes included the integration of the memory controller onto the CPU die, the elimination of the front-side bus, and its replacement with a fast, narrow chip-to-chip interconnect known as HyperTransport. This system architecture has served AMD quite well, particularly in multi-socket servers, where the Opteron became a formidable player in very short order and has retained a foothold even with AMD's recent struggles.
Now, Intel aims to rob AMD of that advantage by introducing a new system architecture of its own, one that mirror's AMD's in key respects but is intended to be newer, faster, and better. At the heart of this project is a new microprocessor, code-named Nehalem during its development and now officially christened as the Core i7.
Yeah, I dunno about the name, either. Let's just roll with it.
The Core i7 design is based on current Core 2 processors but has been widely revised, from its front end to its memory and I/O interfaces and nearly everywhere in between. The Core i7 integrates four cores into a single chip, brings the memory controller onboard, and introduces a low-latency point-to-point interconnect called QuickPath to replace the front-side bus. Intel has modified the chip to take advantage of this new system infrastructure, tweaking it throughout to accommodate the increased flow of data and instructions through its four cores. The memory subsystem and cache hierarchy have been redesigned, and simultaneous multithreading—better known by its marketing name, Hyper-Threading—makes its return, as well. The end result blurs the line between an evolutionary new product and a revolutionary one, with vastly more bandwidth and performance potential than we've ever seen in a single CPU socket.
AMD's 'Shanghai' 45nm Opterons
AMD's quad-core Opterons have certainly had a rough life to this point. The original "Barcelona" Opterons were hamstrung by delays, unable to meet clock frequency and performance expectations, and plagued by a show-stopper bug that forced AMD largely to stop shipments of the chips for months while waiting for a new revision, as we first reported. Once the revised Opterons made it into the market, they faced formidable competition from Intel's 45nm "Harpertown" Xeons, whose best-in-class performance and much-improved power efficiency have stolen quite of a bit of the Opteron's luster.
AMD is looking to reverse its fortunes with the introduction of a brand-new version of the quad-core Opteron, code-named Shanghai, which has been manufactured using a new, smaller 45-nanometer fabrication process that should bring gains in power efficiency and clock speeds. Shanghai also has the considerable benefit of being the second generation of a new processor design, and AMD has taken the opportunity to tweak this design in innumerable ways, large and small, in order to improve its performance and, one would hope, allow it more fully to meet its potential. The result is an Opteron processor with higher clock speeds, improved performance per clock, and lower power consumption—a better proposition in almost every way than Barcelona.
Will it be enough to make the Opteron truly competitive with Intel's latest Xeons? We've been testing systems for the past couple of weeks in Damage Labs in order to find out.
AMD is looking to reverse its fortunes with the introduction of a brand-new version of the quad-core Opteron, code-named Shanghai, which has been manufactured using a new, smaller 45-nanometer fabrication process that should bring gains in power efficiency and clock speeds. Shanghai also has the considerable benefit of being the second generation of a new processor design, and AMD has taken the opportunity to tweak this design in innumerable ways, large and small, in order to improve its performance and, one would hope, allow it more fully to meet its potential. The result is an Opteron processor with higher clock speeds, improved performance per clock, and lower power consumption—a better proposition in almost every way than Barcelona.
Will it be enough to make the Opteron truly competitive with Intel's latest Xeons? We've been testing systems for the past couple of weeks in Damage Labs in order to find out.
AMD's Athlon X2s and a cheap GPU
AMD quietly adjusted prices in its dual-, triple-, and quad-core processor lines the other day, and the changes have now propagated to online retailers. The cuts look especially significant in the dual-core range, where they position CPUs like the 2.6GHz Athlon X2 5000+ at just $52 with free shipping at Newegg.
The sweet spot in that price range might very well be the Athlon X2 5050e, though. While it runs at the same clock speed and costs slightly more at $63 (still with free shipping), the 5050e features a slim 45W power envelope. 63 bucks for a very capable, low-power dual-core processor is a steal, especially when you can throw in an AMD 780G motherboard with decent integrated graphics and HDMI output for only another $67 before shipping. If you're seeking parts for a cheap yet powerful home-theater PC, then you may want to stop here.
For those more interested in PC gaming than sitting around on the couch, AMD's Radeon HD 4830 might prove a more tempting choice. Newegg sells a PowerColor version of this card for $110 with a $25 mail-in rebate, which is also extremely cheap for a GPU that should run all the latest games (like Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, and Left 4 Dead) at reasonably high resolutions with graphics detail turned up. PowerColor includes an HDMI port, too.
The sweet spot in that price range might very well be the Athlon X2 5050e, though. While it runs at the same clock speed and costs slightly more at $63 (still with free shipping), the 5050e features a slim 45W power envelope. 63 bucks for a very capable, low-power dual-core processor is a steal, especially when you can throw in an AMD 780G motherboard with decent integrated graphics and HDMI output for only another $67 before shipping. If you're seeking parts for a cheap yet powerful home-theater PC, then you may want to stop here.
For those more interested in PC gaming than sitting around on the couch, AMD's Radeon HD 4830 might prove a more tempting choice. Newegg sells a PowerColor version of this card for $110 with a $25 mail-in rebate, which is also extremely cheap for a GPU that should run all the latest games (like Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, and Left 4 Dead) at reasonably high resolutions with graphics detail turned up. PowerColor includes an HDMI port, too.
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