As of November 17, Intel will begin shipping its new processor called the Intel Core i7, codenamed Nehalem. Nehalem represents the largest architectural change in the Intel x86 family since the Pentium Pro in 1995. The features of the Core i7 that represent significant changes from the Core 2 include:
- a new interface called QuickPath that replaced the frontside bus architecture and requires new motherboards with chipsets that support the new interface.
- a memory controller that now is on the processor itself, where the memory is directly connected to the processor.
- three-channel memory where each channel can support 1 or 2 DDR3 DIMMSs; motherboards for Core i7 will generally have 6 DIMM slots and DIMMs must be installed in sets of three modules.
- support for DDR3 memory modules only.
- intelligent overclocking of the Intel i7 cores will be available via a feature called “Turbo Boost” as long as the CPU’s thermal parameters are not breached.
- all four cores, the memory controller, and all cache are on a single die.
- each of the four cores can process two threads simultaneously, so the processor appears to the OS as eight CPUs.
- on-die, shared, inclusive 8MB L3 cache.
- 45nm process technology; 731 million transistors.
- sophisticated power management can place an unused core in a zero-power mode.
The initial three Intel Core i7 CPUs will be for higher-end workstation desktop PCs and gaming PCs. Processors for server class machines will be available in the first half of 2009 and laptop / notebook components showing up in the later half of 2009.
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