Power Consumption
The amount of power consumed really depends on your system and the components in the build. All of the components used in the test system are intended for enthusiast which sometimes means less conservation. The important thing is to change out only the processor when comparing it to the 965.
The Core i7 975’s idle power consumption was noticeably less than the 965 as predicted since it requires less power by default. The D0 truly makes a difference in this respect. At full load, the two were close, but D0 still steps ahead due to the lower consumption by default.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Is this a worthy upgrade? It’s pretty simple really. if you’re already a proud owner of an i7 965 Extreme Processor, There’s no need to rush out to buy a shiny new Core i7 975 (D0) unless you’re a user hell bent on the maximum performance available today. Realistically, anyone not able to put the i7 975 to full use should stick with what they have. Otherwise, it’d be like owning a Ferrari on a very small island.
However, professional users currently using the i7 920 or 940 who have the budget, would find the jump in performance cost effective. The Core i7 975 and its D0 Stepping consumes about the same as the 965. That can equate in to some saved money if the machine is constantly being fully utilized day in and out. And the extra performance gained due to the revision is icing on the cake. This too can lead to money and time saved because projects are compiling faster.
The bottom line here is that if you’ve been holding off buying your Core i7 simply due to price or don’t care to buy first revision processors, then the i7 975 is the pinnacle of desktop performance even more worthy of its price. If it’s still too much for you, consider one of the non-Extreme i7 processors hitting the shelves now that offer the same D0 Stepping revision. Just make sure you ask and ensure that you are getting a D0 stepping before hitting that confirmation button.
Pros
- Fastest Desktop Processor Available
- D0 Stepping Revision
- Power Consumption
- Better Overclocking
- Requires Less Voltage
- Content Creator’s Best Solution
Cons
- Premium Price for Premium Performance
Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10.0
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