Product Description

Intel Core i7-920 Processor, 2.66 GHz, 4.8 QPI, 45nm, SSE4, 3 Channel Memory, 8 MB L3 Cache, Turbo Boost Technology, EIST in a LGA-1366 package

Product Details

• Brand: Intel
• Model: BX80601920
• Platform: Windows
• Format: CD
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 7.75" h x 8.26" w x 25.00" l, 2.48 pounds
• Processors: 1

Features

• Intel Core i7-920
• 4.8 Intel QuickPath Interconnect
• 3 Channel Memory
• 8MB L3 Cache
• LGA-1366 package

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer With multiple computing “brains” inside one processor, new Intel multi-core processors deliver big performance for anyone interested in running the most demanding software applications with ease. New Intel® Core™ i7 45nm quad-core processors from Intel combine exclusive innovations to deliver the best possible performance, plus an extra performance boost when needed. New levels of brilliant performance
With faster, intelligent multi-core technology that applies processing power where it is needed most, new Intel® Core™ i7 processors deliver incredible breakthroughs in PC performance. You’ll run multiple demanding applications faster and unleash incredible digital media creation possibilities. And you’ll experience maximum performance for everything you do, thanks to the combination of Intel® Turbo Boost Technology and Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, which dynamically maximize performance to match your workload.

Puts processing power where you need it most
Whether you’re casually checking email and surfing the Web or running multiple compute-intensive applications like HD video encoding, you want a processor that can deliver maximum PC performance and keep things moving.

Faster, brilliant multi-core performance
With the Intel Core i7 processor, you’ll get performance that goes as fast as you do. An unprecedented 4-core, 8-thread design made possible by Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ensures incredible performance, no matter what your computing needs. And with more than double the memory bandwidth for faster memory access, you’ll achieve more while waiting less.

Intel Technology
Intel® QuickPath Interconnect. This Intel-exclusive innovation makes it easier for data to move quickly from the processor to the Intel X58 chipset, delivering better performance and responsiveness with the most demanding applications.

Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology. By allowing each of the four processing cores to process two application “threads” simultaneously, Intel Core i7 processors can accomplish more simultaneously—allowing users to run more demanding applications simultaneously while experiencing superior responsiveness.

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology. This new technology dynamically increases the processor’s frequency when needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom when operating below specified limits, giving you extra horsepower when you need it.

8 MB Shared Intel® Smart Cache. By placing more data closer to the processing cores and enabling multiple cores to dynamically share this space, Intel’s exclusive cache design ensures that multiple processing cores have ready access to data when it is needed.

Shatter your limits
It’s time for digital content creation that’s limited only by your imagination. Experience total creative freedom with the power to encode video up to 40% faster.¹ Plus, enjoy incredible performance on other multimedia tasks like image rendering, photo retouching and editing.

Gaming on the edge—and beyond
The Intel® Core™ i7 processor not only can take on today’s most complex and immersive games, but it’s also powerful enough to handle tomorrow’s gaming advances. By distributing AI, physics, and rendering across 8 software threads, the Intel Core i7 processor lets you concentrate on taking down the bad guys while your PC handles all the visual details like texturing and shading that keep you feeling totally immersed. It’s a gaming experience so perfect, you just might lose yourself in the action.

Multimedia
With professional-grade photo and HD video editing applications growing in popularity, you might have considered editing your own photos and home movies for family and friends. But did you know that these editing applications can consume huge amounts of computing resources? Built to handle resource-hungry creativity applications with ease, the four cores and eight processing threads of Intel Core i7 processors help ensure that when you’re manipulating high-resolution photos or editing HD-quality home movies, your computing platform will keep pace with your creativity.

Multitasking
Whether at work or home, running multiple applications is commonplace. When these applications demand significant computing resources (like photo editing, video compression or conversion, video conferencing, gaming and more) multitasking can mean slowdown and inefficiencies. For users who want to accomplish a lot simultaneously—whether at work or play—Intel Core i7 processors combine Intel’s latest exclusive technologies to deliver performance to match the task at hand.

¹Based on SPECint_rate_base2006 scores. Results have been estimated based on internal Intel analysis and are provided for informational purposes only. Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance. See http://www.intel.com/performance for additional information.

Customer Reviews

8-cores at a 4-core price: another fantastic CPU from Intel
I upgraded to the i7 from an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400. The main reasons I made the upgrade were:

1. Low power consumption (significantly lower than a Q6600 which is about $100 cheaper than the i7)
2. 8 logical cores available (quad core + hyper threading)
3. The ability to play cutting edge games that take advantage of all 8 cores.
4. The potential ability to load share between CPU & GPU once Windows 7 is released.

The upgrade might have been a bit premature, as the primary reason to buy an I7 processor won't be possible until Windows 7 is released. Windows 7 will allow load sharing between GPU (graphics card) and CPU. This will enable some really nice performance gains in games, or other graphic intensive applications like video editing software. Allegedly, games like Crysis will get a 20-30 percent performance increase. However, I heard that before when Windows stated that Vista would provide significant performance gains for DirectX10 games, which has not proved to be the case.

Regardless, the i7 920 is truly an amazing CPU. I've yet to experiment with overclocking much, but I do have it running at 3.12ghz stable and with a core temperature of 41C at idle and around 60C under load. I'll likely push things further in the coming weeks, and I'll give updates on temperatures and performance when I do.

Combining this card with two 4870hd 512mb graphics cards in Crossfire mode produced a 3DMark06 score of just over 19,000! That is a 5,000 point gain from my previous rig, and is in about the top 4% of all systems out there. That is pretty phenomenal performance. In Crysis with all settings at very high and DX10, I average over 50 frames at 1980x1200. This CPU is a gaming beast.

If you plan to overclock this card even a little, invest in an aftermarket heat sink and some Arctic Silver thermal compound. The heatsink provided with the retail package is small and ineffective at cooling an overclocked card. I recommend this Zalman Cpu Cooler for moderate overclocking. It is a very quite and very effective fan.

If your in the market for a 'future-proof' processor, this is a great option at a reasonable price point. The ceiling speed of processors is growing increasingly unimportant as multi-thread programing become the norm in both games and applications. You could spend a lot more for a higher GHZ CPU, but you're not really gaining as much performance as the jump from 2 to 4 cores, and then quad core to octo core. This processor will eat anything you throw at it and come back for more. Just make sure your mother board supports i7 chips before you buy one.

Very Satisfying
Pros:
It's my first build and coming from a Pentium 4 3.4 ghz in my Dell to this processor is simply amazing. I can now play Oblivion and L4D in the settings I want! Everything else it pretty much cuts through it like butter. It get a Windows 7 WEI of 7.6 3dmark Vantage CPU score P42500+ and I have it overclocked to 3.67 with blck of 184 vcore 1.225 with vdroop. Coupled with a Cooler Master V8 it's prime 95 stable (small ffts - 2 hours, large - 2 hours, blend - 9 hours) and LinX stable (max memory 10 runs) 75 degrees C max. Ambient 80 F

Cons:
None

Other thoughts:
If you are new to overclocking like I was here are some simple steps for a modest overclock:
WARNING: It is entirely possible to burn your CPU! Don't go crazy and set a high base clock from the start. Follow the steps!

1) download Realtemp.exe, cpu-z, prime 95, and LinX (google em)
2) go into your bios and increase the base clock by 5 (or 10 if impatient but remember my warning)
3) Load Windows and breath a sigh of relief if it does. But thats only 1/5 of the battle.
4) Run CPU-z to verify your overclock, close it then run realtemp.
5) Run LinX max memory, 3 runs. If it blue screens, restarts or errors then you've gone too far and you need to dial it down to keep your machine stable. Your last setting is your max overclock without adding vcore (cpu voltage).
6) If it passes with no errors and your max temps aren't above 85 C (some people use 80) then you're good, and you can add more base clock.
7) Go back to step 2 rinse and repeat.

8)Once you get to a speed you're happy with and it passes LinX, and is below 85 C, run prime 95 stress test for at least 6 hours of blend, 2 hours of small ffts, and 2 hours of large ffts. If it survives that then you're good for gaming and most everyday apps. If it survives p95 blend for 24 hours (no errors, < 85 C) then you're rock stable ready for mission critical or server work.

You can run Linx for more passes or folding@home SMP for further stability testing.

Finally don't expect much if you're using the heatsink that came with the processor.

Good luck. If I made a mistake somewhere please correct me in the comments.

BTW my motherboard is the EVGA X58 vanilla. The folks at the forums in their website are the most helpful and supportive folks you can find. Really thats the stuff that money can't buy, I strongly recommend their motherboards just for that. They have guides for more serious overclocks and guides explaining voltages, guides on optimizing Vista etc.

All the info about overclocking and stability testing comes from the stickied threads on the EVGA forums

It's a beast
Excellent performance; you will not be disappointed. The processor is highly overclockable - with a decent aftermarket cooling solution, it can easily be clocked over 4ghz. Even with the stock cooler, I was able to reach 3.3ghz with safe temperatures (fan at 100%) under normal usage (but prime95 stress test would push the temps a little too high at this speed). Even without overclocking, I noticed an improvement in speed and multitasking ability over my core 2 duo system. Highly recommended, particularly for those building a new rig. I use the core i7 primarily for gaming and general computing.

Cons - stock fan is somewhat loud to me even at low speeds, though I strive for silent computing. Invest in a quality aftermarket heatsink/fan (plus it will enable you to push performance well beyond the stock 940 at less expense).