APCMag has tested Intel's latest Core i7 processor architecture that does away with the Front Side Bus and replaces it with the company's QuickPath Interconnect and has (back from the dead) hyperthreading. "This month, Intel moves on from the Core microarchitecture to the next generation of processors for mobile, desktop and servers, codenamed Nehalem and officially named the Core i7 family. We've spent a few weeks with Intel's test kit for the new desktop part, codenamed Bloomfield, as well as the new compatible motherboard chipset the X58 Express, codenamed Tylersburg."
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Member since:2008-05-26
Member since:2005-07-07
You're ignoring the content creation sector. With consumer grade DSLRs and HD camcorders becoming cheap and commonplace, you're going to find a lot of people who are starting to require a lot more CPU power.
As long as CPU manufacturers keep churning out faster hardware, we'll keep finding new ways to utilize them.
Member since:2006-07-30
This time there is a technical reason:
They moved the memory controller into the CPU for greater bandwidth, thus requiring more pins. Since the article states they're planning to integrate the GPU with the CPU you should expect the next socket change around 2010-2011.
The performance boost in their benchmarks is actually quite substantial. It remains to be seen how/if this translates into a noticeable performance boost for the average user. But I wouldn't really say it's only for gamers. More performant CPUs bring lots of advantages: faster ripping, rendering, compiling to name just a few. Hell, even Latex takes way too long once my documents get complex enough (>100 pages with lots of pictures which isn't all that complex). This is on a single core @2GHz, granted, but I don't think it's IO bound on even the latest quad systems.
Basically if something takes any noticeable amount of time it's taking too long.
Furthermore faster processors might help increase the popularity of programming languages like python and ruby.
Also, if anybody hasn't read the article yet, do yourself a favor and
use the "print" link right next to the headline.
Member since:2006-12-07
Yeah, anyway serious people don't need more than a typewriter...
Did you hear of image processing, video processing, music processing, software compilation, 3d rendering, scientific visualisation/research, voice recognition, network servers, the list goes on... Well basically, there are tons of people actually needing cpu's to process things.
Edited 2008-11-03 12:54 UTC
Member since:2005-07-06
Really? I'm looking at getting an i7 system within a couple of month, and games is one of the few areas where my current CPU isn't giving me any problems (if anything a new graphics card would help far more in that area). Processing RAW photos, video editing and some of the stuff I do in MATLAB, those are the areas where my CPU could really use some help. You do realize that computers can be used for things other than games and the internet?
Member since:2005-07-07
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2007-11-29
Still, as of 2008, you can see Splash Screens for seconds, and you have to wait a long time until data is converted from one format to another, etc.
I think there's still lots of room for improvements in performance. Multicore CPUs were already a big leap (you might not have noticed it - but just sit back to an older single core machine, and run some converting task in the background and try to do something else during that time. You will really notice a difference).
Member since:2008-03-17
Unfortunately, storage tech isn't improving fast enough. Loading apps from disk is limited more by hard disk speed than processor speed hence you will be seeing splash screens for quite a while. Or any other task that involves saving large amounts of data.
Processor intensive tasks such as compiling or converting file formats will see real boosts and according to most accounts i7 with the new motherboard is a beast. According to ars a single quad core top end nehalem processor is equivalent to 2 quad core penryn xeons systems
Member since:2007-01-13
Member since:
2007-01-13
Unless your into gaming any post 2005 CPU is more than fast enough (unless you use Vista).
Will this mean that your current Intel MB won't work? At least AMD usually keeps socket compatibility for years. Intel constantly break hardware compatibility for no apparent technical reason.