Intel Core i7 870/Core i5 750/P55 Express chipset Review

Every couple of years Intel releases a new CPU architecture. To go along with the new CPUs a new high-end and a new mainstream motherboard chipset is released to support them. The last iteration of this was the Intel X48 chipset for the enthusiast and the Intel P45 chipset for the mainstream. The LGA-775 interface was common to both platforms as the motherboard chipset required three chips: the Northbridge, the Southbridge, and the Processor.



Intel released the X58 chipset late last year along with their next generation CPU core, Nehalem. This moved the memory controller from the Northbridge to the CPU and introduced a new CPU Socket, the LGA-1366. The new architecture featured the return of Hyper-Threading and Triple Channel memory. The problem with this architecture is that it still required the NB and SB and the CPUs were upwards of $266, not to mention the costs of a new motherboard and memory to go along with it. Today Intel is releasing the mainstream version of the X58 chipset, along with new CPUs to support the new chipset. Intel is releasing the P55 Express chipset and new Core i5 and i7 CPUs, the Core i5 750, the Core i7 870 and the Core i7 860. This marks a fundamental shift in the way the CPU and chipset work together and the Core i7 870 and 750 CPUs are on the review bench. Let’s find out if the new chipset has what it takes to hang with the competition from AMD.

• Intel Virtualization Technology
• Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology
• Execute Disable Bit
• Intel 64-bit architecture Intel Wide Dynamic Execution
• Very deep out of order execution
• Enhanced Branch prediction
• Optimized for 32-bit applications running on advanced 32-bit operating systems
• Intel Smart Cache
• 32-BIT Data L1 Cache per core (128KB Data L1 Cache total)
• 32KB Instruction L1 Cache per core (128KB Instruction L1 Cache total)
• 256KB L2 cache per core (1MB L2 cache total0
• 8MB L3 cache
• Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost
• Enhanced floating point and multimedia unit for enhanced video, audio, encryption and 3D performance
• New accelerators for improved string and text processing options
• Power Management Capabilities
• System Management mode
• Multiple Low-power states
• 8-way cache association provides improved cache hit rate on load/store operations
• System Memory Interface
• Memory controller integrated in processor package
• 2 Channels
• 2 DIMMs/ channel supported (4 total)
• 16GB maximum memory supported
• Support unbuffered DIMMs only
• Single Rank and Dual Rank DIMMs supported
• DDR3 speeds of 800/1066/1333MHz supported
• 512Mb, 1Gb, 2Gb Technologies/densities supported
• 1156-Land package

Core i7 870

• 4 Cores
• Hyper-Threading
• LGA-1156 interface
• Core Speed 2.93GHz
• Turbo Boost maximum 3.6GHz
• 8MB Smart Cache
• Integrated Memory Controller with 2 channels of DDR3-1333 MEMORY
• PCI Express 2.0 discrete graphics flexibility for multiple graphics card configuration
• 45nm process
• Lynnfield family

Core i5 750

• 4 cores
• LGA-1156 interface
• Core Speed 2.66GHz
• Turbo Boost maximum speed 3.2GHz
• 8MB Smart Cache
• Integrated Memory Controller with 2 channels of DDR3-1333 memory
• PCI Express 2.0 Discrete graphics flexibility for multiple graphics card configuration
• 45nm process
• Lynnfield family processor

The Lynnfield family is based upon the already released Nehalem architecture with some modifications for the LGA-1156 interface. First difference between a Nehalem and a Lynnfield processor is it uses the DMI (Direct Media Interface) to link to the P55 Express chipset instead of the QPI (Quick Path Interconnect) found on earlier Nehalem CPUs. The Quick Path Interconnect provides bandwidth up to 25.6GB/second to the chipset from the CPU. DMI provides up to 10GB/second bandwidth.

Test System

• ntel Core i7 870 Turbo Boost Enabled
• ntel Core i7 870 Turbo Boost Disabled
• Intel Core i5 750 Turbo Boost Enabled
• Intel Core i5 750 Turbo Boost Disabled
• 2 74GB WD Raptor SATA HDDs 10000RPM in RAID 0 mode
• 4GB of Kingston DDR3-1600MHz memory running at 1333MHz
• Intel DP55KG Extreme motherboard running latest drivers and BIOS
• ATI Radeon HD 4870 1GB running Catalyst 9.8 Drivers
• Cooler Master Ultimate 1000W PSU
• Thermalright MUX-120 CPU cooler
• Windows Vista with SP1 installed

Tests

• Sisoft Sandra Professional CPU Arithmetic benchmark
• Bapco Sysmark 2007 with Patch 5
• Futuremark 3DMark06
• Futuremark 3DMark Vantage
• SpecViewPerf 10
• PCMark05
• PCMark Vantage
• Pifast
• wPrime
• CPUBench 2003
• Crystalmark 2004
• X264 HD Benchmark

Conclusion

Intel has a whole family of products with this launch with new processors, new motherboards to support the processors and a new Platform Controller Hub that changes their entire cost equation. If you want a CPU that offers decent performance without spending the hundreds of dollars a Core i7 920+DDR3 Triple Channel Memory kit+X58 motherboard, the Core i5 750 offers a compelling alternative with slightly lower performance but much lower COO (Cost of Ownership). The Core i7 870, on the other hand offers the same choice for those considering a Core i7 940. A whole slew of motherboards based upon the P55 Express chipset are launching today as well and we have covered some of them for your behalf. Intel did something very interesting this launch, and for those people who want good performance, but have a budget, this is a very nice upgrade path.