Tech Focus
Nehalem goes mainstream
 Intel’s bid for the mainstream market, Core i5 is put under the scanner at the CRN Test Center. Here is what we found
By Brian Sheinberg
At the beginning of this year, Intel launched a new platform based around its highly anticipated next-generation micro architecture. Known by its code name, Nehalem, the platform revolved around a new chipset, called the X58, and a series of processors with the moniker Core i7.
During our evaluation in the CRN Test Center, the Nehalem processors broke all kinds of records and are still the most powerful CPUs to have passed through our lab. Unfortunately, all that power came at a price, with the high-end Core i7-965 processor selling for approximately $999 per processor in quantities of 1,000. Because of the new design, brand new motherboards and memory, DIMMs also were necessary.
Situation now
Recently, the chip maker released three new processors along with yet another new chipset, the P55. The platform, this time code-named Lynnfield, is targeted for a more mainstream customer.
The three CPUs comprise two Core i7s and one with the new nomenclature, Core i5. Whereas the original Core i7s were part of the 900 series (920, 940, 950, 965, etc), the new additions are in the 800 series, specifically the 2.80GHz 860 and the 2.93GHz 870. The 2.66GHz Core i5 processor is called the Core i5-750.
So, how do they stand up?
Test in progress
Reviewers tested both the Core i7-870 and the Core i5-750 in Intel’s DP55KG Extreme reference board, using a Gigabyte GTX-275 graphics card and two, 2GB DDR3-1,333MHz modules of Kingston Technology’s ValueRAM memory. Using Primate Labs’ Geekbench 2 benchmarking suite, the Core i7-870 scored an outstanding 7,838, just below the Core i7-965’s score of 7,998 (which was tested with 6GB of RAM due to the X58’s support of triple channel memory). This is quite a feat considering at $555 the newer 870 is priced at almost half the 965.
The Core i5-750 also performed adequately, attaining a Geekbench 2 score of 5,734, which is respectable when you take into account its selling price of $200.
While the 870 is a 2.93GHz processor selling for almost the same price as the 3.06GHz Core i7-950, there are a few important things to note. Specifically, the Turbo Boost feature that allows for automatic overclocking is more powerful in the newer CPUs. This means the 870 can actually be pushed to 3.60GHz (according to Intel), while the 950 tops out at 3.33GHz. That might make it more attractive to enthusiasts, but probably not too much given the other differences, such as dual-channel memory.
Focus groups
The Core i5-750 is clearly targeted at the same market that AMD is after with its Phenom II X4 processors. While AMD made a pre-emptive strike last month with the X4 965, the Core i5-750 offers similar performance at a price almost 20 percent less.
Unfortunately, as was the case when the original 900 series was released, this latest platform includes a new socket size (LGA1156) that will require the purchase of a new motherboard and memory. That makes it an option worth considering if you’re in the market for a new system, but not very feasible for those who just want to upgrade.
In the end
Still, the Core i5 brings Intel one step closer to meeting rival AMD in the performance vs price column. Now if Intel could only pull it off without another socket size, things could get interesting. |