Conclusion

We have finally got acquainted with the new Core i7 processors, the first solutions on Nehalem microarchitecture targeted for desktop systems. And summing up the results of our today’s test session we have to admit that this experience left pretty ambiguous impression.

Now, we are not trying to say that Core i7 is not a success. On the contrary, this CPU is brilliant from multiple standpoints. It supports new interesting technologies, such as SMT and Turbo Boost, and boasts an integrated memory controller with unprecedented performance. In most applications except a few gaming titles, the new processors turned out faster than Core 2 CPUs priced identically or working at the same clock speed. However, honestly, we expected a little more from Core i7 today. And the reason for our disappointment is actually Intel who have been stressing their sticking to “Tick-Tock” strategy and claiming that Nehalem would be a new microarchitecture. In fact, today we saw a new stage of Core microarchitecture development, but not a revolutionary product like Core 2 Duo back in the days when it came out to replace Pentium 4. So, as I have already said, we ended up slightly disappointed with the obtained results.

At the same time we can’t help mentioning that Intel engineers did a great and very important job on modifying the entire platform. Core i7 processors design is better for elimination of bottlenecks and further evolutionary development. Monolithic modular design, inter-processor interface with point-to-point topology and a built-in memory controller will definitely serve Intel well in the future. And as for today, mainstream users will hardly feel the benefits of all these innovations. Mostly the users of multi-socket server platforms will really enjoy the changes and modifications.

Therefore, we believe that Intel didn’t choose the right strategy for introducing the new Nehalem microarchitecture into the market. If this review had been discussing server processors and not desktop ones, the conclusions could have been not just more optimistic, but almost ecstatic. However, we first met Nehalem in its desktop incarnation, so its most important advantages cannot really show their best.

However, we don’t want you to think that we didn’t like the new Core i7 processor we have just tested. The new CPU and the new platform based on Intel X58 Express chipset are undoubtedly excellent products. New Core i7 are indisputably better in most aspects than Core 2 Quad CPUs of comparable price. Their performance is almost always higher, which is especially evident in case of multi-threaded load and their power consumption is comparable with that of their predecessors. New platform offers broader functionality for configuring multi-GPU video subsystem. Overclocking new processors also seems to be easier at first glance.

Of course, we are not going to stop here and will continue posting new articles that will help us better understand advantages and drawbacks of the new Core i7 processors with Nehalem microarchitecture. And in the meanwhile we have to put up with the fact that the transition to new LGA1366 platform will require not just a new processor, but also a new mainboard and most likely new generation DDR3 SDRAM. So, even though the junior Core i7 seem to be priced at very affordable $284, upgrading the system to fit the new processor will require serious financial investments.