Intel i7/Nehalem Anyone?
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 1:13 am
I am curious to see if anyone else has made the switch to the Intel Core i7/Nehalem processor?
I usually skip a CPU generation when upgrading PCs and this time was no exception. I switched from an Intel Pentium-D machine to the Intel 920 i7 processor in April, thus bypassing the whole core-duo line. So far, I am very impressed by the new CPU, especially combined with the DDR3 memory sticks, which have come down nicely in price. There are many technology improvements in the i7 that I will not go into here, but you learn about them on the Intel web site.
The 920 comes in at 2.66GHz and using the stock BIOS overclocking settings on the Asus motherboard, I am currently running at 3.2GHz with zero issues. There are lots of posts about people getting the 920 to 4 or 4.2 GHZ, but I want to use my PC for a while before attempting higher numbers and running the risk of frying it. So far, the CPU has handled everything I have thrown at it with ease. The video cards on the other hand get a really good work out LOL!
If anyone is on the fence about upgrading to the i7, I highly recommend the 920. However, I would not recommend the 940 or 965 since you will pay way too much for these chips and with a little overclocking, the 920 will net you the same basic performance. All the i7 CPUs are true quad cores and hyperthreading is turned back on. So in theory, the CPU can handle 8 threads at a time, but most apps can't push the CPU that hard. Folding @ Home is an example of one that can, but it is not a general use program and most people don't run it, especially once they see the electric bill after they have been running there PC non-stop for a month or two!
I have built a number of systems over the years and for a while I got away from it since the price difference between building your own and buying a stock machine from company X was not compelling enough to go through the hassle of building. But with the i7 line of processors, I was able to save some decent bucks by building my own, plus I would like to experiment with water cooling later this year and I selected a case with this in mind. If you have never built a system before and want to try your hand at it, I recommend you start with the Intel core-duo or AMD chips, related motherboards and memory. Your mistakes will cost a whole lot less!
Here are the specs on the i7 build:
Case: Thermaltake Armour+ (Yeah, it's a big manly case!)
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 1200
Motherboard: Asus Rampage II Extreme (the bundled sound card is crap)
CPU: Intel 920 i7 (I couldn't get the D0 rev, but the C0 is fine so far)
Memory: 12GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 (via two 6GB kits for a total of 6 memory sticks)
Video: (2) EVGA GTX 275 cards in an SLI configuration
Audio: Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium Fatality
Hard Drives: (2) 500 GB Seagate Barracudas in a RAID 0 configuration
CD/DVD/BD: LG BH08 (Does everything including read/write of BD double layer discs)
OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit
Other components not part of the build:
Monitor: 28" Hanns G HDMI
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 5.1 surround sound
Printer: Okidata C5500n color laser printer
KVM: ATEN 8 port unit
If you are not familiar with the i7 and want to build your own system, I strongly suggest you do a lot of research first. The CPU line forces a lot changes upon you, as the builder, due to the technology shift between it and any previous line of Intel CPUs. One thing to note is that if you plan to run a 32 bit OS, then save your money and go with an Intel core-duo or AMD product since you will be wasting your money on a high end i7 system and then crippling it with a 32 bit OS.
This is a fairly high-end build and you can save a fair amount of money by using different components. The i7 is a very capable CPU and probably more than most people need. Later this year, Intel will begin shipping the i5 series, which is a scaled down version of the i7 and is meant for the masses. But I thought I would share this with the group in case anyone was considering the switch to the i7.
If you have any specific questions, let me know.
Will
I usually skip a CPU generation when upgrading PCs and this time was no exception. I switched from an Intel Pentium-D machine to the Intel 920 i7 processor in April, thus bypassing the whole core-duo line. So far, I am very impressed by the new CPU, especially combined with the DDR3 memory sticks, which have come down nicely in price. There are many technology improvements in the i7 that I will not go into here, but you learn about them on the Intel web site.
The 920 comes in at 2.66GHz and using the stock BIOS overclocking settings on the Asus motherboard, I am currently running at 3.2GHz with zero issues. There are lots of posts about people getting the 920 to 4 or 4.2 GHZ, but I want to use my PC for a while before attempting higher numbers and running the risk of frying it. So far, the CPU has handled everything I have thrown at it with ease. The video cards on the other hand get a really good work out LOL!
If anyone is on the fence about upgrading to the i7, I highly recommend the 920. However, I would not recommend the 940 or 965 since you will pay way too much for these chips and with a little overclocking, the 920 will net you the same basic performance. All the i7 CPUs are true quad cores and hyperthreading is turned back on. So in theory, the CPU can handle 8 threads at a time, but most apps can't push the CPU that hard. Folding @ Home is an example of one that can, but it is not a general use program and most people don't run it, especially once they see the electric bill after they have been running there PC non-stop for a month or two!
I have built a number of systems over the years and for a while I got away from it since the price difference between building your own and buying a stock machine from company X was not compelling enough to go through the hassle of building. But with the i7 line of processors, I was able to save some decent bucks by building my own, plus I would like to experiment with water cooling later this year and I selected a case with this in mind. If you have never built a system before and want to try your hand at it, I recommend you start with the Intel core-duo or AMD chips, related motherboards and memory. Your mistakes will cost a whole lot less!
Here are the specs on the i7 build:
Case: Thermaltake Armour+ (Yeah, it's a big manly case!)
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 1200
Motherboard: Asus Rampage II Extreme (the bundled sound card is crap)
CPU: Intel 920 i7 (I couldn't get the D0 rev, but the C0 is fine so far)
Memory: 12GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 (via two 6GB kits for a total of 6 memory sticks)
Video: (2) EVGA GTX 275 cards in an SLI configuration
Audio: Sound Blaster X-fi Titanium Fatality
Hard Drives: (2) 500 GB Seagate Barracudas in a RAID 0 configuration
CD/DVD/BD: LG BH08 (Does everything including read/write of BD double layer discs)
OS: Windows Vista 64 Bit
Other components not part of the build:
Monitor: 28" Hanns G HDMI
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 5.1 surround sound
Printer: Okidata C5500n color laser printer
KVM: ATEN 8 port unit
If you are not familiar with the i7 and want to build your own system, I strongly suggest you do a lot of research first. The CPU line forces a lot changes upon you, as the builder, due to the technology shift between it and any previous line of Intel CPUs. One thing to note is that if you plan to run a 32 bit OS, then save your money and go with an Intel core-duo or AMD product since you will be wasting your money on a high end i7 system and then crippling it with a 32 bit OS.
This is a fairly high-end build and you can save a fair amount of money by using different components. The i7 is a very capable CPU and probably more than most people need. Later this year, Intel will begin shipping the i5 series, which is a scaled down version of the i7 and is meant for the masses. But I thought I would share this with the group in case anyone was considering the switch to the i7.
If you have any specific questions, let me know.
Will
