Intel Core i7-980X Processor Review

Generally speaking, most users barely tap the potential of their computer system. Applications and video games are usually more affected by clock speed than they are processor cores, and many programs still are single-threaded. But again, this applies to most users. The differences between hardware enthusiasts or power-users and their casual PC user counterparts are acute and to the point that they have little in common with each other. While mainstream users concern themselves with browsing the web and checking email, enthusiasts are constantly looking to push their hardware with powerful overclocking experiments and power users create multiple virtual machine profiles for commercial application.

Intel offers something for everyone, as their extensive product line can prove. The chipmaker produces desktop, notebook, server, and personal digital appliance CPUs, Ethernet and Wi-Fi network processors, and countless co-processor units. Keep this in mind as Benchmark Reviews presents the Intel Core i7-980X processor, a six-core Westmere 32nm CPU. Codenamed Gulftown, this 3.33GHz Extreme Edition processor features an unlocked clock speed multiplier with twelve computing threads and a 12MB cache. Built for the Intel X58-Express enthusiast platform, Benchmark Reviews tests the BX80613I7980X retail part in gaming, computing, and overclocking performance.While Gulftown's six-core processor architecture may be the most intriguing aspect of Intel's Core i7-980X CPU, it wouldn't be possible without Westmere's 32nm process technology. Although the consumer software industry has been slow to develop applications that can utilize multiple CPU cores and/or threads, there are many commercial programs which handle four or more processor threads very well... and even a few video games. Our benchmarks will determine how important multiple cores are to gaming later in this article, but it goes without question that Virtual-Machine applications receive immediate benefits from the added Hyper-Threading. Some already-popular productivity software titles also utilize multi-threaded processor cores, such as: Adobe Photoshop and Premiere-Pro, AutoDesk Maya and 3DS-Max, Microsoft Excel and Windows Live Movie Maker, Sony Vegas and Acid, and also VirtualDub.

Six-Core Processing

Provides six complete execution cores in a single processor package, delivering 12 computing threads to help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance, so users can experience better multitasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and workloads.
Intel Hyper-Threading Technology

Delivers two processing threads per physical core for a total of 12 threads for massive computational throughput, allowing highly threaded applications to get more work done faster.
Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Dynamically increases the processor's frequency as needed by taking advantage of thermal and power headroom when operating below specified limits. Get more performance automatically, when you need it the most.

Intel Smart Cache

This large last-level cache enables dynamic and efficient allocation of shared cache to all six cores to match the needs of various applications for ultra-efficient data storage and manipulation.
Intel QuickPath Interconnect

Intel's latest system interconnect design increases bandwidth and lowers latency, while achieving data transfer speeds as high as 25.6 GB/s.

Integrated Memory Controller

An integrated memory controller with three channels of DDR3 1066 MHz offers memory performance up to 25.6 GB/s. Combined with the processor's efficient prefetching algorithms, this memory controller's lower latency and higher memory bandwidth delivers amazing performance for data-intensive applications.
Intel HD Boost

Includes the full SSE4 instruction set, significantly improving a broad range of multimedia and compute-intensive applications. The 128-bit SSE instructions are issued at a throughput rate of one per clock cycle, allowing a new level of processing efficiency with SSE4-optimized applications.
AES-NI Encryption/Decryption Acceleration

Provides 12 new processor instructions that help to improve performance for AES encryption and decryption algorithms.

BX80613I7980X SpecificationsPart Number BX80613I7980X

Product Name Core i7-980X

Processor Cores 6

Simultaneous Threads 12
Smart Cache 12 MB

Base Frequency 3.33 GHz

Memory Controller Integrated

DDR3 Memory Channels 3

Intel Chipset X58-Express

Clock Multiplier Unlocked (x25)

Die Process 32 nm

Socket LGA1366

Die Size 248mm2

DC Voltage 0.80~1.375 Volts

Thermal Design Power 130 Watts TDP

he Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition series desktop processor is built on the 'Westmere' 32-nm process and is intended for high-performance high-end desktop computer systems. Several architectural design and microarchitectural enhancements have been added to Gulftown, including six processor cores in the CPU package and increased shared cache memory buffer. The Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition multi-core processor utilizes an integrated memory controller technology and uses up a 130-Watt thermal design power (TDP). The codename Gulftown processor features an Intel QPI point-to-point link capable of up to 6.4 GT/s, 12 MB Level 3 cache, and an integrated triple-channel memory controller.

Gulftown supports all the existing Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2), Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSE3) and Streaming SIMD Extensions 4 (SSE4). The Intel Core i7-980X also processor supports several Advanced Technologies: Intel 64 Technology (Intel-64), Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel-VT), Turbo Boost Technology, and Hyper-Threading Technology.

Packaged as the BX80613I7980X retail box kit, the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition processor Benchmark Reviews received for testing came with the Intel DBX-B Advanced Thermal Solution. This CPU cooler offers either a Quiet or Performance fan setting, and our test results (published in our Best CPU Cooler Performance Q1-2010 review article) indicate that it cools to the same level of many top-end aftermarket thermal solutions. As of the initial Gulftown announcement, there are no plans to sell the Intel DBX-B Advanced Thermal Solution as a standalone product.

uch of what separates the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition from the rest of the Core-i7 family is on the inside, in the form of hexa-Core Gulftown. None of this would be possible if it weren't for the new 32nm Westmere fabrication process, which allows the i7-980X CPU to fit within a small 248mm2 die package similar to previous 263mm2 Bloomfield quad-core processors. In fact, there's no discernable difference between the outward appearance of any 1366-land LGA packaged Intel Core-i7 processor. The integrated heat spreader (IHS) is identical to past versions, and shares a similar 35g mass weight.

For the purpose of simplification, think of the Intel 980X as an Extreme Edition Core i7-975... only with two more cores and their corresponding L3 cache. The processor's DC voltage range is a familiar 0.80~1.375V, and the Integrated memory controller (IMC) retains triple-channel DDR3 1066MHz compatibility, which makes it easy for experienced enthusiasts to pickup their overclocking project where they left off on the i7-975. Unlike Lynnfield processors, Gulftown abstains from an integrated DMI on the chip, and follows with traditional Bloomfield design for reliance on the X58 Northbridge.

Intel's TurboBoost technology stopped at 3.6GHz on the 3.33GHz i7-975, but with the 980X it moves up to 3.46GHz using multi-core turbo mode. Other than two new CPU cores, which yield four additional processor threads and 2MB L3 SmartCache each, the new Gulftown 980X also brings twelve additional Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (AES-NI) to the Core-i7 family.

With the basics covered, let's look closer at the Gulftown architecture and how the Westmere microarchitecture has improved the Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition..

Processor Number : 

Intel Core i7-980X BX80613I7980X

Architecture    : 

Gulftown

Cache :

12 MB SmartCache

Clock Speed :

3.33 GHz

Bus Speed :

4.8 GT/s QPI

Cores/Thread :

6 / 12

Process :

32 nm Westmere

Price :

$999

3ds Max 3.1

The 3dsmax-04 viewset was created from traces of the graphics workload generated by 3ds max 3.1. To ensure a common comparison point, the OpenGL plug-in driver from Discreet was used during tracing. The models for this viewset came from the SPECapc 3ds max 3.1 benchmark. Each model was measured with two different lighting models to reflect a range of potential 3ds max users. The high-complexity model uses five to seven positional lights as defined by the SPECapc benchmark and reflects how a high-end user would work with 3ds max. The medium-complexity lighting models uses two positional lights, a more common lighting environment.

Using the 3.33GHz Intel Core i7-980X, CATIA and 3ds Max both enjoyed a 9% increase in performance over the Core i7-920. Overclocking Gulftown to 4.0GHz results a 13.2% improvement in CATIA and 12.1% increase in 3ds Max.

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