![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Monday , September 07, 2009
- Author:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Intel Lynnfield Core i5 and Core i7 Processors
Intel today launches its new Lynnfield processor based on its tremendously dominant Nehalem architecture. New Lynnfield processors bring with them a new socket that commands a new series of motherboards and both are very much on track to capture a huge share of the enthusiast computer hardware market.
Test Setup
Below you see the processors that represent what we tested. Keep in mind that our testing is not being done here to show you stock clock model vs. stock clock model!
Our focus here is to show you how the processor architecture and features impact its performance and what you should expect as a computer hardware enthusiast. Let’s face it, if the $200 processor gives us the same performance as the $1000 processor when they are both overclocked to the same speeds, do we really want to spend that $800?
A New Socket?
One thing that we see Intel taking blows on is the socket change from LGA 1366. You can argue for and against and even Intel’s reasoning that I have heard is little more than, "We wanted to make it smaller to save resources." I am a paraphrasing.
What I cannot figure out though is given the fact that LGA 1156 and LGA 775 processors are nearly identical in dimensions, why would Intel use a different fastening pattern? It would have been really great to see older socket 775 coolers be able to be used again. And given the huge TDP requirements of many of those processors, it seems to me that much of the LGA 775 cooling hardware would have been right at home. Anyway….
You will notice above that we do not specify clock rates, memory speeds, or RAM footprints. All that will be spelled out in the benchmark charts for you.