Axiz releases the Intel Core i7

The distributor of Intel's new Nehalem (Core i7), Axiz, says the processor has redefined the possibilities for gaming technologies still to come. Lauded as the world's faster PC processor, the Core i7 now has more threads, more bandwidth and more efficient load balancing. Plus, it has been designed from the ground up to take advantage of hafnium-based Intel 45nm hi-k metal gate silicon technology.

Glenn Ferreira, Axiz Product Manager: Components, says the Nehalem (Core i7) has been one of the most-anticipated computer products of 2008. It is officially the “tock” of Intel's processor cycle and the company's second and last 45nm architecture refresh before it launches Westmere and Sandy Bridge, both of which will be built on a 32nm process.

The Core i7 has 1 366 pins and as a result the size of the processor, socket and heat sink mounting brackets are all larger than LGA 775-based processors. The die size of Core i7 processors is 263mm² and the transistor count is 731 million.

Nehalem will allow Intel to create processors that can scale from two to eight cores. Each core supports two instructional threads that will then allow the chips to perform several tasks simultaneously. Intel QuickPath, a high-speed chip-to-chip, inter-connect technology, is a first for Intel processors. This on-die, triple channel, DDR3 memory controller is unique in the fact that it allows consumers to run three memory modules together for optimal performance. The platform now has over 25 gigabytes per second of throughput between the processor and DDR3 memory modules.

All Intel Core i7 processors feature L1, L2, and shared L3 caches. Before, Intel Core 2 Duo and Quad processors had just an L1 and L2 cache. There will be three Core i7 processors with clock speeds of 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz and the extreme at 3.20GHz. Core i7 processors have thermal envelopes of 130 watts each.

Ferreira emphasises that the Nehalem wasn't merely a rehashed Core 2, but rather a micro-architecture built from the ground up. He says consumers who use 3D design or video-creation tools on a regular basis are bound to be overwhelmed by the performance of the Core i7.

The recommended retail price of the Nehalem (Core i7) will range from R3 499 to R12 999 for the Extreme edition processor. For more information contact Glenn Ferreira, Axiz Product Manager: Components. Tel: 011 237 7425. E-mail: glennf@axiz.co.za.