Hardware Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition Review

Intel has finally released a CPU worthy of its premium Extreme Edition brand - the first six-core desktop processor. Previously known as Gulftown, the Core i7-980X Extreme Edition is not only brutally fast out of the box but also a fantastic overclocker thanks to its 32nm transistors. And no, we don't know why it's not a Core i9 either...

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2010/03/11/intel-core-i7-980x-extreme-edition-review/1

 

Man I cant wait to get my hands on this. Damn a 980 stock beating a 4GHz+ 975...

 

Wow.. I just ... in my pants. *Orders one*

 

Ive got one of theese bad boys and all i can say is that OMFG its a beast

 

"Just to show how far behind Intel AMD are"
Cruel. Hilarious though.

 

Oh my, this is quite something. £820 you say...I really don't need one and I can't afford it..Maybe if I sell my 920 for ~£120 and go on half rations for the next 3 months...

DAMMIT I WANT ONE!!!

 

In raw performance perhaps, but AMD has done a fantastic job keeping the prices where volume matters. This is an interesting processor release, it begins to show the spread in where software is keeping pace and where it is lacking, but if 6 cores is really necessary we all get to look forward to the AMD 6 core introduction not to much longer from now. That one will be just as interesting, probably not as high performing but the wallet won't feel the sting most likely.

 

You could build two 920 rigs for that price.

 

AMD will have to price at £250 maximum to remain competitive. It would have been interesting to see a Hexus like bang per buck chart. For mist peeps AMD still has a value not performance proposition...

Very impressed - wonder what temps you got?

 

Interesting that their was absolutely no difference in the Crysis test between a 930 at 2.8, 930 at 4.3 and this 6 core monster.
The i7 930 at stock is more than enough power for gaming and any other home task, over clocking it is probably just for bragging rights. Home computing just doesn't require any more power at the moment the only difference is in benchmarks. I can see how if you were a professional your company might make use of this but can't think why anybody else would want it. Unless fast cpu's and high benchmark scores give you a big nerdy boner !!

 

That looks like a beast! WANT ONE. Also surprised to see that the i7 930 beats the 975 in most tests, if only by just a little, it still beats it.

 

ouch, how much?

 

Estimated at £820 ;/.

 

I completely disagree with the AMD fanboys trying to make a point here. The only value ANY cpu from AMD has at present is in the sub £100 market. Everything else over that amount is convincingly hammered by any Intel offering. That is indisputable.

With the i3 530 you could even drop that value to sub £75 market, which puts them in an even bigger mess.

 

What's a Extrene edition?
(7-zip and Mplayer chart)

 

I just wet myself... :O

 

You know, I have purchased non-Intel CPU's for years. From the first Cyrix to the Athlon 64 etc and I always did it for the moneys sake. Overclocking the balls off of things and having them perform at the same level as Intel offerings for double the price was the challenge.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with you. Any sane person would be hard pressed to laud AMD over Intel right now at nearly every price point and I think that's a damn shame. I like having options.

 

+1

I don't think I'm a fan boy, just want choice... and since I already have a 780GX motherboard, am likely to look at the AMD x6 chips anyway...

 

Totally wanting one of those CPUs.

 

So, student loans roll in around April... Now, do I buy one of these and a 5970, or do I eat for the next 6 months? Decisions...