LGA 1156-based Core i5 and Core i7 processors set a new level of performance for manimstream processors
You’ve used Intel’s Core 2-based processors—the Duos and the Quads—since 2006 to enable high-performance desktop PCs loaded with extras like hardware-accelerated virtualization, power-saving technologies, and 64-bit compute capabilities.
With the introduction of LGA 1156-based Core i5 and Core i7 processors, the mainstream market gets a potent shot of adrenaline, thanks to a platform architecture borrowed from the enthusiast desktop, server, and workstation world. Now you’re able to offer more performance on demand and more efficiency during idle periods, both at price points that remain attractive to value-seeking SMB customers.
The LGA 1156 and LGA 775 interfaces will co-exist in Intel’s processor roadmap through the end of 2009, the former leveraging architectural innovations debuted last year in LGA 1366-based Core i7 CPUs, and the latter pushing familiar performance profiles into more affordable spaces. Businesses that previously couldn’t justify the expense of upgrading IT resources now have access to 3 GHz Core 2 Duo CPUs. Those who would have otherwise purchased dual-core processors can get more future-proof Core 2 Quad technology at the same price.
Resellers who understand the benefits of each step up—from Core 2 Duo to Core i7—are the experts best positioned to upsell the functionality that’ll truly benefit customers. If you’re not already familiar with what makes each successive processor lineup more compelling, consider this a fast-pass for selling up Intel’s product stack.
Core 2 Duo
One of the most iconic processor families in Intel’s history, today’s Core 2 Duo is a much-improved version of its initial incarnation, manufactured at 45nm, running at frequencies of up to 3.33 GHz on front side buses clocked at up to 1,333 MT/s, and armed with up to 6MB of L2 cache.
The Intel Core i5 and Core i7 800 series CPUs are part of the P55 platform, along with the new P55 chipset and LGA 1156 socket.
A combination of hardware-accelerated virtualization, 64-bit extensions, and business-specific security features make Core 2 Duo an ideal balance between low cost and great performance. Its twin cores execute software tasks in parallel, mitigating the effects of multiple applications fighting for hardware attention. Even as background tasks like Windows Vista’s indexing service run, word processing and email in the foreground gets dedicated compute resources.
Core 2 Quad
Take the performance advantage realized when you started moving customers from single- to dual-core CPUs. Now multiply that by two, and you’ll have the potential of a Core 2 Quad processor.
Running at speeds of up to 3 GHz (on the same 1,333 MT/s front side bus), Intel’s quad-core lineup literally doubles the on-chip resources of a Core 2 Duo, so the top-end models include as much as 12MB L2 cache.
When your customers get a feel for machines based on multi-core processors, realize the power of virtualization, and discover the computing horsepower in reserve, even with a taskbar full of applications running concurrently, they’ll ask for quad-core CPUs. For those that haven’t had such an epiphany yet, demonstrate a video transcode, compress a large folder full of files, or run a virus scan—the speed-up in threaded software can be stunning
Core i5
Intel’s brand new Core i5 family is in a completely different league, simultaneously optimized for low power and unprecedented performance in the mid-range desktop space.
With the introduction of the Nehalem architecture, first introduced with the Xeon 5500 series CPU, several key features have been moved off the northbridge and onto the CPU.
As mentioned, Core i5’s central architecture borrows from the enthusiast Core i7 and enterprise-class Xeon 5500 families. It employs a monolithic quad-core die armed with 256KB L2 cache per core and a large 8MB shared L3. An integrated dual-channel DDR3 memory controller delivers copious bandwidth, while on-die PCI Express connectivity creates a direct link to the discrete graphics card of your choice.
The crown jewel of Core i5’s feature set is Turbo Boost technology, though. Briefly, built-in logic detects how much of the processor is being utilized—one, two, or four cores. Inactive cores don’t generate heat or consume much power, and so you end up with headroom for the chip to run faster. Turbo Boost increases its multiplier by up to four “bins,” resulting in a clock rate 533 MHz faster than stock. So, when your customer isn’t running threaded software, Core i5 automatically accelerates to get the job done sooner.
Selling up to Core i5 shouldn’t be difficult. It’s priced in the range formerly occupied by Core 2 Quad and complemented by motherboards in the $100-$200 range. Given the threaded performance advantages of Intel’s Nehalem architecture and the single-threaded zing added by Turbo Boost, Core i5 is going to be your value sweet spot leading into 2010.
Core i7
You already know the LGA 1366-based Core i7 family, launched last year and aimed at power users. Now there’s a line of i7s designed to drop into Intel’s LGA 1156 interface.
The new Core i7s are very similar to the Core i5 processors in that they’re quad-core chips with an integrated two-channel memory controller and onboard PCI Express 2.0 support. They run at higher stock clock rates though, operating at up to 2.93 GHz by default and up to 3.6 GHz with Turbo Boost fully engaged. Additionally, the i7s include Hyper-Threading, allowing four physical cores to work on eight threads.
Core i7 looks to be your customer’s best bet for screaming performance. It lacks the third memory channel and QPI interface of the LGA 1366-based i7s, but it supports higher Turbo Boost settings and runs at a lower thermal design power. Even more important, though, LGA 1156-based motherboards are less expensive, making them perfect for mid-range desktop users with high-end performance needs.
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