Intel Core i5 / i7 Naming Confusions

CPU Socket	Intel 'Nehalem' Family Processor Breakdown
	Processor Model	Clock Speed (GHz)	Max Turbo Frequency (GHz)	Cores/Threads	L3 Cache (MB)	Thermal Design Power (watts)	Price ($USD)
LGA1366 Socket	Intel 'Bloomfield' Platform (X58 Express Chipset), Triple-channel, DDR3-1066, socket 1366
	Intel Core i7 975	3.3 GHz	up to 3.60GHz (single Core)	4/8 (hyperthreading)	8MB	130W	$999
	Intel Core i7 960	3.2 GHz	up to 3.46GHz (single Core)	4/8 (hyperthreading)	8MB	130W	$562
	Intel Core i7 920	2.66 GHz	up to 3.00GHz (single Core)	4/8 (hyperthreading)	8MB	130W	$284
LGA1156 Socket	Intel 'Lynnfield' Platform (P55 Express Chipset), Dual-channel, DDR3-1333, socket 1156
	Intel Core i7 870	2.93 GHz	up to 3.60 GHz (single core)	4/8 (hyperthreading)	8MB	95W	$562
	Intel Core i7 860	2.80 GHz	up to 3.46GHz (single core)	4/8 (hyperthreading)	8MB	95W	$284
	Intel Core i5 750	2.66 GHz	up to 3.20GHz (single core)	4/4 (none)	8MB	95W	$196

All of the processors in the above chart are part of Intel's "Nehalem" family of processors, which means their processing cores are largely built on the same architecture, although they have some very different implementations and interfaces.

Intel has split the "Nehalem" family into three different segments: the Core i7 900-series, the Core i7 800-series, and the Core i5-700 series. The Core i7 900-series you're already familiar with: they were the first Core i7 chips, launched in November 2008. These processors are native to socket 1366, require triple-channel DDR3 memory and use Intel's high-end X58 Express chipset. Intel's codename for this processor/motherboard platform is "Bloomfield".

The Core i7-800 series actually don't have much in common with the Intel Core i7 900 series at all. The socket has changed from a 1366-pin Land Grid Array (LGA-1366) to a 1156-pin design. The Intel Core i7 800-series processors have an on-board memory controller like the Core i7 900-series, however they also include a PCI Express controller. The Core i7 800-series also uses dual-channel memory rather than triple-channel memory. Intel's Core i7 800-series processors are designed for the Intel P55 Express chipset, and the entire processor and motherboard platform has been code named "Lynnfield".

Intel's Core i5 700-series is very similar to the Core i7 800-series. Both series of processors use the Intel P55 chipset, have on-board PCI Express and memory controllers, and are built for socket 1156.

The only real difference between the two lines of processors is that the Core i5 series has no support for HyperThreading, while all Core i7 processors do. HyperThreading allows a single physical processing core execute two threads simultaneously, which helps with massively parallel processing. The Core i5 700-series platform is also part of the "Lynnfield" code name.

If you're picking up one of the Core i7 800-series or Core i5 700-series of processors, remember that this change in socket has also meant that neither your old socket 775 or newer socket 1366 heatsink/fan cooler will work with Intel's socket 1156 processors or motherboards. Those who adopt Core i7 800-series and Core i5 700-series processors will need all new coolers or at least mounting adapters to attach their high-performance, third-party coolers.

PCSTATS discusses Intel's Lynnfield architecture next....

< Previous Page

© 2023 PCSTATS.com

Next Page >