UPDATE: Core i7: Blazing Fast, O/C Changes

Benchmarks And Settings

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BenchmarkDetails
CrysisVersion: 1.2.1Video Mode: 1680x1050Overall Quality: lowDemo: CPU-Benchmark2 + Tom’s Hardware Tool
Unreal Tournament 3Version: 1.2Video Mode: 1680x1050Sound and DirectX10Video Quality:Texture Details: 1Level Details: 1 Demo: vCTF-CONTAINMENT_flyTime: 12/60
World in ConflictVersion: 1.0.0.9Video Mode: 1680x1050 and 800x600Video Quality: low detailsDemo: Game-Benchmark
Supreme CommanderForged AllianceVersion: 1.5.3599Video Mode: 1920x1200Video Quality: game defaultDemo: WallaceTX_006_006Benchmark: Fraps 2.9.4 - Build 7037Start time 00:48:20 (60 seconds) real time play
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BenchmarkDetails
iTunesVersion: 7.7.1.11Audio CD (Terminator II SE), 53 minDefault format AAC
Lame MP3Version 3.98Audio CD Terminator II SE, 53 minwave to mp3160 Kbps
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BenchmarkDetails
Pinnacle Studio 12Version: 12.0.0.6163Encoding and Transition RenderingDV camcorder movieVideo:720x576 Pixel, PAL, 25 fps, 6000 Kbit/sAudio:MPEG Layer 2, 224 Kbit/s, 16 Bit, Stereo 44.1 KHzFile Type: MPEG-2 (DVD Compatible)
TMPEG 4.5Version: 4.5.1.254Video: Terminator 2 SE DVD (720x576, 16:9) 5 MinutesAudio: Dolby Digital, 48000 Hz, 6-Channel, EnglishAdvanced Acoustic Engine MP3 Encoder (160 kbps, 44.1 KHz)
DivX 6.8.3Version: 6.8.3== Main Menu ==default== Codec Menu ==Encoding mode: Insane QualityEnhanced multithreadingEnabled using SSE4Quarter-pixel search== Video Menu ==Quantization: MPEG-2
XviD 1.1.3Version: 1.1.3Other Options / Encoder Menu -Display encoding status = off
Nero 8 RecodeVersion: 3.1.4.0Recode an Entire DVD to DVDconvert DVD-9 to DVD-5All default settingsBenchmarkHigh quality mode (slow recording)Disable video preview
Mainconcept Reference 1.5.1Reference H.264 Plugin Pro 1.5.1Version: 1.5.1MPEG2 to MPEG2 (H.264)MainConcept H.264/AVC Codec28 sec HDTV 1920x1080 (MPEG2)Audio:MPEG2 (44.1 kHz, 2 Channel, 16 Bit, 224 Kbps)Codec: H.264Mode: PAL (25 FPS)Profile: Tom’s Hardware Settings for Qct-Core
Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 HDTVMainConcept H.264 Plugin 3.2Windows Media Encoder 9.1 AP HDTVWindows Audio Encoder 10 ProVersion: 3.0NTSC MPEG2-HDTV 1920x1080 (24 sec)Import: MainConcept NTSC HDTV 1080iExport: Adobe Media Encoder== Video ==Windows Media Video 9 Advanced ProfileEncoding Passes: OneBitrate Mode: ConstantFrame: 1920x1080Frame Rate: 29.97Maximum Bitrate [kbps]: 2000Image Quality: 50.00== Audio ==Windows Media Audio 10 ProfessionalEncoding Passes: oneBitrate Mode: ConstantAudio Format:160 Kbps, 44.1 KHz, 2 channel 16 bit (A/V) CBR
HD Playback (Blu-ray)PowerDVD 8Blue Ray - Disc (James Bond - Casino Royale)Video Mode: 1920x1080p (full screen)Codec: H.264
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BenchmarkDetails
Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 8Version: 8.0.134Virus base: 270.4.5/1533BenchmarkScan: Compressed ZIP and RAR archives
Winrar 3.8Version 3.80 BETA 4WinZIP Commandline Version 2.3Compression = BestDictionary = 4096 KBBenchmark: THG-Workload
Winzip 11Version 11.2 (8094)Compression = BestBenchmark: THG-Workload
Autodesk 3D Studio Max 9Version: 9.0Rendering a Dragon pictureRendering HTDV 1920x1080
Maxon Cinema 4D Release 10Version: 10.008Rendering from a scene(Water drop at a rose)Resolution: 1280 x 1024 - 8 Bit (50 frames)
Adobe Photoshop CS 3Version: 10.0x20070321Filtering from a 69 MB TIF-PhotoBenchmark: Tomshardware-Benchmark V1.0.0.4Programmed by Tomshardware using Delphi 2007Filters:CrosshatchGlassSumi-eAccented EdgesAngled StrokesSprayed Strokes
Adobe Acrobat 9 ProfessionalVersion: 9.0.0 (Extended)== Printing Preferences Menu ==Default Settings: Standard== Adobe PDF Security - Edit Menu ==Encrypt all documents (128 bit RC4)Open Password: 123Permissions Password: 321
Microsoft Powerpoint 2007Version: 2007PPT to PDFPowerpoint Document (115 Pages)Adobe PDF-Printer
Deep Fritz 11Version: 11Fritz Chess Benchmark Version 4.2
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BenchmarkDetails
3DMark VantageVersion: 1.02Options: PerformanceGraphics Test 1Graphics Test 2CPU Test 1CPU Test 2
PCMark VantageVersion: 1.00PCMark BenchmarkMemories BenchmarkWindows Media Player 10.00.00.3646
SiSoftware Sandra XII SP2Version 2008.5.14.24CPU Test = CPU Arithmetic / MultiMediaMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
EverestVersion: 4.50.1469 BetaVersion (Nehalem): 4.60.1531 Beta
  • joseph85
    Good article, and may I say Keep up the good work.
    Reply
  • pullmyfoot
    AMD’s HyperTransport protocol can transmit up to 25.6 GB/s at 3.20 GHz.
    You mean Intel don't you? Other than that little mistake, good article
    Reply
  • wh3resmycar
    hmm, question. once this nehalems come out. will we ever see a dieshrunk c2q again after the penryns? im expecting the price of this procs along with the mobo and ram to be too far off from my budget. or
    Reply
  • skywalker9952
    One of the first side effects of Intel's domination of the CPU market is beginning to show. Since they don't have to compete with AMD in any market segment the i7 occupies, they have limited (significant) overclocking to only extreme models.

    RIP AMD.
    May Abu Dhabi restore you to life soon so we don't have to suffer through more Intel ripoffs.
    Reply
  • sonar610
    "The fastest Core i7, the 965 Extreme, is more than 2.6 times as fast as AMD’s current flagship CPU, the Phenom X4 9550 BE."
    This seems like an editing mistake maybe it should be 9950BE.
    Reply
  • cryogenic
    Core i7 is a great CPU, the article is not. I can't believe after all this time you still stack overclocked CPUs with unoverclocked ones. It's great to find out the overclocking potential of Nehalem but, at least include some overclocked Penryns in there too, to see how overclocked Nehalem stacks agains OTHER overclocked CPUs, because it's fairly evident that and overclocked new gen CPU will stack well with older non overclocked ones.

    Reply
  • joseph85
    CryogenicCore i7 is a great CPU, the article is not. I can't believe after all this time you still stack overclocked CPUs with unoverclocked ones. It's great to find out the overclocking potential of Nehalem but, at least include some overclocked Penryns in there too, to see how overclocked Nehalem stacks agains OTHER overclocked CPUs, because it's fairly evident that and overclocked new gen CPU will stack well with older non overclocked ones.If it's evident then who cares?
    Reply
  • fender22
    skywalker9952One of the first side effects of Intel's domination of the CPU market is beginning to show. Since they don't have to compete with AMD in any market segment the i7 occupies, they have limited (significant) overclocking http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overclocking to only extreme models.RIP AMD. May Abu Dhabi restore you to life soon so we don't have to suffer through more Intel ripoffs.
    My thoughts exactly... I wonder if there will be some sort of resistance to this sort of thing... It's like buying a car, you can do whatever you want to it (within the limits of the law) to make it as fast as you want. Sure, you may void your factory warranty, but it's your deal. You don't see car companies making it impossible for you to do what you want to their cars so you have to buy their expensive high end just to get your kicks... (not a perfect comparison, but it works)

    I dunno, it's just pretty weak. And they are just taking advantage of the situation...
    Reply
  • cangelini
    sonar610"The fastest Core i7, the 965 Extreme, is more than 2.6 times as fast as AMD’s current flagship CPU, the Phenom X4 9550 BE." This seems like an editing mistake maybe it should be 9950BE.
    Fixed, thanks!
    Reply
  • onearmedscissorb
    Aside from the all too prevalent and potentially misleading typos, which someone needed to get a handle on as of months ago, I must say that the overall quality of this article is MUCH better than pretty much anything I can remember of the last few months. It's actually informative and thought out, rather than being a mess of assumptions that many people reading already know better than.

    Keep it up, and maybe I'll pay attention to this site like I used to.

    But just for the record, I don't believe that it's particularly appropriate to use the overall average performance percentages as a basis for comparison between the "speed" of Core 2 vs. Core i7. Obviously, most people are going to be interested in the difference with games, where it's likely to be pretty minimal. But here and there, you have something like the 55% WinRAR difference pretty much skewing what otherwise would have been an accurate depiction of average expectations across the board.
    Reply