The New Core i7 + P5 Series Chipset

Finally the wait is here. I’d managed to found some time (and mood due to a week long vacation) to actually help some of you to un-confuse yourself of what’s going on with the CPU world (and the confusing CODENAME) in order for you to get the right product without hurting the wallet much

The Last Seduction movies I am sure most of you are aware that Intel had just launched a new Core i7 CPU codenamed Lynnfield (first confusion here). as well as Clarksfield- the mobile version of Lynnfield (second confusion anyone?). The two new CPUs are quite different from the previous Core i7s as both of them are running on a two-chip per platform as both of them are paired with P5X(currently only P55 is available) Chipset series, codenamed IbexPeak (enough confusion here for consumers’ sake!). see below’s picture for better comparison.

First Gen Core i7 aka Bloomfield, image courtesy of Anandtech

New Core i7 aka Lynnfield, image courtesy of Anandtech

As what you saw above, there’s one component on the Processor Block in Lynnfield namely PCIe Graphic. Yes, PCIe Graphic has been “moved” to Processor block to eliminate the IOH (IO Hub) which connected to BloomField via a 25.6 GB/s QPI path. It is now connected to Lynnfield directly (on die that is!). It’s not a surprise move as intel are getting public for their upcoming CPU with an integrated GPU. sadly this move needs a scarification: one channel of DDR3- which means Lynnfield only have two DDR3 channel instead of three.

Some of you may ask: “Which of the Core i5/i7 code belongs to Lynnfield?” The answer is as below:

Intel Core i7-975 Extreme
Intel Core i7 965 Extreme

Intel Core i7 940 2.93GHz
Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz
Intel Core i7 870 2.93GHz
Intel Core i7 860 2.80GHz
Intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz -> one and only core i5 in Lynnfield ..

Look, I already simplified the list as much as I can (which only left the number and respective frequency). the main difference between an i7 and an i5 is i5= NO HYPERTHREADING!. Simply to say, Lynnfield processor is an Quad Core processor that can support up to 8 threads (4 Cores, 4 virtual cores a.k.a threads) except for Core i5.

Enough of Lynnfield already (old news!), let’s get moving with Clarksfield (recently launched ). Here’s list of Clarksfield CPU for you:

Intel Core i7 – 920XM 2.0GHz
Intel Core i7 – 820QM 1.73GHz

Intel Core i7 – 720QM 1.60GHz

To further simplify, Q= Quad, X= Extreme and M=Mobile so whenever you see a M there, you bet it’s Clarkfield! Some ads i found for Clarksfield:

The Clarksfield Processor, image courtesy of Anandtech

burlesque film

Advantages of Clarksfield, image courtesy of Anandtech

The Clarksfield processors’ close friend, the P5X Series Chipset a.k.a Ibexpeak detail below:

PM55 Chipset, image courtesy of Anandtech

Hold on your breath for next upcoming 32nm’s Processors (codenamed Clarksdale and Arrandale) on Q4’09 or Q1’10 (am not too sure about this ). Main differences is of course it uses 32nm technology instead of 45nm in *Field processor, and it has a Internal GPU in the CPU package!

Simplify your understanding? Sure:

*Field – 45nm, no GPU
*Dale – 32nm, GPU

That’s a very high level of simplification that I made (of course the differences is more than that, but these two are most importants one)

It’s going to help OEM to built a system that is smaller, cost efficient as well as more power savings (but not for gaming if you are depending on the intenal GPU — yet). I’ll save this info in next post though

Happy hunting your PC