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GDC 2010: Intel's Core i7-980X Gulftown Chip
Techtree News Staff, Mar 12, 2010 1517 hrs ISTOffers top level computing performance and is the fastest processor ever
Intel has announced its first six-core microprocessor - Intel Core i7-980X, aiming top level performance for the consumers. Targeted at power users and high performance computing seekers, the hexa-core processor (codenamed Gulftown) is based on the 32nm Westmere architecture. Sharing the same LGA 1366 socket as the current top performer quad-core Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition, the new Core i7-980X supports Intel Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost technologies. Gulftown chip was unveiled at the ongoing Game Developers Conference 2010 in San Francisco.
Intel's Gulftown chip was first spotted three months back. This Intel Core i7-980X features 12MB smart cache and is clocked at 3.33GHz. It integrates DDR3-1066MHz memory controller supporting triple channel mode. With active 6-cores, this processor has the capability to handle workload of 12 computing threads. Intel X58 Express Chipset based motherboard would be the best suitor for this CPU, albeit with an updated BIOS version.
Many assumed that Intel's first hexa-core processor would be branded as Core i9 but Intel went ahead extending its Core i7 lineup. New Core i7-980X had 50 percent more cores than the Core i7-975 quad-core processor with 8MB cache. The interesting part here is that Core 7-980X and Core i7-975 have the same Thermal Design Power rating of 130W. So, it makes sense for any power user to go for the former CPU.
In terms of pricing, Core i7-980X again stands head-to-head with Core i7-975 with $1,000 per thousand chips tray. However, on those who can afford this high cost CPU with equally high price Intel X58 motherboard would go for it. Rest will have to wait till the price to drop down for matching the mainstream prices.
Intel has also introduced Intel Graphics Performance Analyzers v3.0 suite that is meant for utilizing the potential of Intel CPU and Intel HD graphics to the optimal level possible. However that's mostly meant for developers.
As of now, we don't know when Intel will make the Core i7-980X available globally.
Intel's Gulftown chip was first spotted three months back. This Intel Core i7-980X features 12MB smart cache and is clocked at 3.33GHz. It integrates DDR3-1066MHz memory controller supporting triple channel mode. With active 6-cores, this processor has the capability to handle workload of 12 computing threads. Intel X58 Express Chipset based motherboard would be the best suitor for this CPU, albeit with an updated BIOS version.
Many assumed that Intel's first hexa-core processor would be branded as Core i9 but Intel went ahead extending its Core i7 lineup. New Core i7-980X had 50 percent more cores than the Core i7-975 quad-core processor with 8MB cache. The interesting part here is that Core 7-980X and Core i7-975 have the same Thermal Design Power rating of 130W. So, it makes sense for any power user to go for the former CPU.
In terms of pricing, Core i7-980X again stands head-to-head with Core i7-975 with $1,000 per thousand chips tray. However, on those who can afford this high cost CPU with equally high price Intel X58 motherboard would go for it. Rest will have to wait till the price to drop down for matching the mainstream prices.
Intel has also introduced Intel Graphics Performance Analyzers v3.0 suite that is meant for utilizing the potential of Intel CPU and Intel HD graphics to the optimal level possible. However that's mostly meant for developers.
As of now, we don't know when Intel will make the Core i7-980X available globally.
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kuruppu
,colombo, on Jan 14, 2011 11:38 PM
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Aguilshank
,Pretoria, on Mar 14, 2010 09:55 AM
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,Tauranga, on Mar 14, 2010 05:27 AM
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