The Core i5 Lynnfield is officially here! Despite many leaks and e-tailer mistakes, the platform made it from out of the cloud of an NDA (non disclosure agreement) beaten up but with still much left to tell. Today we finally get to do that!
Since it was announced in development, we predicted that Lynnfield would be far more popular than its Bloomfield brother. It was not because it was superbly faster (in some cases), but because it looked like an extremely capable processor that didn’t cost a somewhat outrageous premium for performance.
Since we love our readers, we won’t bore you with twenty pages of over indulged technical speak. Instead, we’re going to focus on the features that we feel will impact your PC experience. When you hear the term Lynnfield, it’s referring to the new Core i5 and i7 processors being tested here that use dual channel memory. When you hear the term Bloomfield, it’s referring to the current Core i7 processor that uses triple channel memory. Let’s cover the basic differences right away!
Laying Out the Lynnfield’s Core Differences
There are obviously physical differences between Lynnfield and Bloomfield. Due to the new Lynnfield Core i5/i7 design changes, a new P55 motherboard and LGA 1156 socket were designed to support it. In simpler terms, the Lynnfield is about a quarter inch smaller in size compared to the Bloomfield Core i7. Just make sure when you’re shopping for a Core i7 that you pay attention to the processor socket so you order the right motherboard to accompany it.
Thanks to these handy processor layouts, you can actually see the differences between both cores. While both architectures are all Quad Core, Bloomfield (above) utilizes dual QPI and is able to use an integrated triple channel memory controller where as the Lynnfield (below) sports a dual channel memory controller.
The second Lynnfield feature definitely worth mentioning is the on-die PCI Express controller. After discussing this feature more at GIGABYTE’s P55 launch party, it’s purpose is to cut down GPU communication latencies which has been a design issue that we have all grown to accept.
While we know the theoretical implications this can have on future performance, we can only speculate its real purpose and whether or not it’ll support future video cards that can benefit from the feature. Some of you may already know what I’m eluding to.
Let’s break down the obvious features before we continue.
Intel® Core™ i7-800 processor series
- Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology delivers 8-threaded performance on 4 cores
- Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
- 8M Intel® Smart Cache
- Integrated Memory Controller with support for 2 channels of DDR3 1333 memory
- PCI Express* 2.0 discrete graphics flexibility for multiple graphics card configurations
- Socket LGA 1156
Intel® Core™ i5-700 processor series
- Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
- 8M Intel® Smart Cache
- Integrated Memory Controller with support for 2 channels of DDR3 1333 memory
- PCI Express* 2.0 discrete graphics flexibility for multiple graphics card configurations
- Socket LGA 1156
One of the more impressive improvements is found within Intel Turbo Boost Technology. TBT performance is more aggressive than ever offering a 600 MHz supported boost when enabled in the BIOS. That means as long as your motherboard is up to spec, you won’t have to touch your BIOS to squeeze out more frames, cut down on task time, or worry about learning how to overclock.
Now, here is where things can get a little confusing. While both the Bloomfield and Lynnfield Core i7 offer fully Hyper threaded performance, the Core i5 series does not. Any processor with the i7 moniker sports a total of 8 threads while the i5 only offers 4 threads. All of the Lynnfield processors consume 95 Watt TDP where as the Bloomfield is in the neighborhood of 130 Watt TDP. That’s a pretty noticeable drop in power consumption which is always a welcomed improvement to office users or people trying to build a completely silent PC.
Laying Out the P55 Chipset Differences
Making sense of the key Chipset differences is once again easier thanks to the folks at Intel. The handy little layouts point out the obvious changes between dual and triple channel memory as well as the lack of the Intel Turbo Memory feature. The only other big change is in regards to supported PCI Express 2.0 slots.
As we’ve seen with the X58 motherboards, don’t be surprised if you find better bonus features like a Creative X-Fi Codec rather than Intel’s standard Realtek HD Audio solution. Also, depending on the particular P55 motherboard, it may offer dual x16 or dual x8 PCI Express 2.0 slots.
What you can’t see in any diagrams are any supported overclocking benefits. This heavily depends on features like a motherboard’s VRM and BIOS programming. Typically, dual channel memory based systems have had far better success in this respect. During the GIGABYTE P55 Launch Party, some Kingston HyperX 2133 MHz DDR3 modules were pushing the 2500 MHz barrier. Try that with a triple channel memory based system!
Intel Kingsberg DP55KG Extreme Motherboard
Rather than flood your brain with even more crazy features and specs, here are the basics of the Intel DP55KG Extreme Motherboard utilizing the “Kingsberg” P55 Chipset.
The motherboard offers the standardized stack of features like native DDR3 1600 MHz memory support, SLI and CrossfireX PCIE 2.0 slots, 10 Channel audio with 7.1 Dolby Home Theater, eight SATA ports, two eSATA, plenty of USB 2.0, and on board Bluetooth.
Speaking of multi-GPU support, a few small chip additions operate the PCIE 2.0 slots 8x/8x rather than 16x/16x like we normally like to see. Multi-GPU performance will take a slight performance hit as usual. However, don’t expect to see its effects unless you’re using very high resolutions.
Some other goodies include the Watchdog Timer, Back to BIOS Switch, Post Code LED, ChiL* digital components, along with the Intel Desktop Control Center. The DCC has been a pretty slick way of messing around with one’s Intel based system if you don’t like messing around with the BIOS. For some users, that’s the easiest way to clock up. But, the rest of us still prefer using the BIOS.
You’ll find the DP55KG BIOS to be quite simple without too much flash. Intel engineers put every kind of setting and option in the most logical of places. You should find it easy to navigate. Keep in mind that other P55 motherboards will be different. The bottom line: don’t lose the manual.
We’ll be looking at other variations from all the major players very soon so make sure you keep those bookmarks handy!
Installation and Test Notes
While we normally like to set up a test system similar to what Intel’s own engineers sampled, we simply don’t have any Intel SSDs. Instead we went with the best components on hand provided by various vendors who make any computing experience that much greater.
Here are the specs for our test system:
- Intel Lynnfield Core i5 750
- Intel Lynnfield Core i7 870
- Intel Bloomfield Core i7 965
- IntelYorkfield Core 2 Quad Q9650
- Intel DP55KG Extreme Motherboard (BIOS 10J.86A.3456)
- 2 x 2GB Patriot Memory 2000 MHz Viper II
- ZOTAC Geforce GTX295 Graphics Card (1920 x 1200)
- Patriot Memory TorqX 128GB SATA Solid State Drive
- Antec CP850 Power Supply
The latest motherboard Inf 9.1.1.1015 Chipset and nVidia 190.62 graphics drivers were installed as well as the most up to date Windows 7 build possible since it has been “optimally tuned” for it.
SANDRA, Cinebench 10, Futuremark Vantage, Crysis, World at War, Left 4 Dead, and Mirror’s Edge were used for testing. Many of these you’ll be able to find free and be able to replicate or compare your own system’s results.
Lynnfield Synthetic Benchmark Performance
Even though SANDRA isn’t completely Windows 7 ready, I found the program good for answering two important questions in regards to CPU performance and memory bandwidth.
SANDRA Mathemetical and Multi-Media
As you can see, the CPU is anything but weak when it comes to Multimedia and Arithmetic calculations. The 870 and 750 both do surprisingly well in comparison to their equal counter parts given each is only using dual channel memory.
SANDRA Memory Bandwidth
Speaking of dual channel, we wanted to see just how the Lynnfield’s integrated memory controller measures up to the Bloomfield’s. It’s not surprising to see triple channel out pace dual channel memory. You’ll notice that the gap is fairly close.
Cinebench R10
Cinebench does a great basic job of offering the test systems’ overall performance. But, it’s especially detailed if you’d like to compare processing power from CPU to CPU.
In single threaded (single core) mode, the 870 enjoys a nice little gain over its Extreme siblings. This is indeed a unusual surprise and further testament to Lynnfield. However, the tables turn in favor of the Extreme processors mainly due to their extra memory channel.
Futuremark Vantage
We know that Vantage isn’t completely optimized for Windows 7 quite yet. But, it’s really close to being perfected and it works on any current version of Windows. We figured why not give it a shot and see what develops.
Judging by the scores, both processors were successful. In fact, these scores look pretty darn respectable and most likely won’t change even with any Futuremark updates. The i5 750’s performance is worth noting given that it has a lower core frequency and keeps up with the faster, more expensive Q9650.
MPEG Encoding
Normally, a little DivX – MPEG 5.0 action takes place, but Handbrake just seems far easier for just about anyone to use and essentially accomplishes the same objective. It’s been used here at home for many a project as well as at various Intel LANFests for demonstration purposes.
Here, you can see how the Hyper-threads can benefit a processor. The Lynnfield i7 870 is within striking distance of the Bloomfield i7 965. However, the single threaded quad core i5 750 takes longer as expected. It still manages encoding a little quicker than the faster Q9650 which doesn’t have an integrated memory controller.
Lynnfield Gaming Performance
Crysis, Farcry 2, World at War, Left 4 Dead, and Mirror’s Edge were used to show you two very important concepts when it comes to most every Intel processor available. Let’s see if you can pick up on them after looking at the benchmarks.
Crysis
You’ve heard it over 1,000 times already and you’ll hear it again; Crysis is still a super intensive game title that will fully tax any system on the planet. As you can see, the Lynnfield is very strong!
Farcry 2
Again, frame rates are very close and not too terribly a challenge for each system tested. It sure helps frames though when you’ve got processing power.
World at War
Despite massive scenes of utter chaos and texture rendering, all of the systems are very playable and smooth. This is how we get our game on around here!
Left 4 Dead
Even though the game engine is antiquated, it gives you and idea of how the older game titles like Counterstrike will fare. This could be the last time you’ll see this demo. Well, at least until Left 4 Dead 2 arrives.
Mirror’s Edge
Here we have a little physics and a lot of special lighting being rendered. I was hoping that it would give the system something to work with, but as you can see, it’s business as usual.
Do you see anything unusual in the benchmarks? No? Well, that’s precisely the point. Until some new game titles get released that truly utilize multi-core processors, there will continue to be very little frame rate differences in most every game currently available.
Until then, things will continue relying very, very heavily on graphics cards and their insultingly incremental increases these last couple years.
Doing The Overclocking Dance
The DP55KG Extreme Motherboard didn’t quite take the Lynnfield to its best overclocked frequency. The DP55KG was a little stubborn in the 4 GHz neighborhood. A little help from other boards that we’ll be bringing to you soon, were a bit more nimble and made for quite a number of successes once in the BIOS.
With a bit of voltage, our particular INTEL Core i7 870 hit just around 4.2 GHz without getting crazy. With a little more time, I should be able to find out just how far past the 200 MHz Bus Clock the system can reach especially now that I’ve come across some substantial water cooling thanks to Koolance. We’ll be looking for the ceiling in short order.
Final Thoughts on INTEL’s Lynnfield
If there were any doubts or initial skepticism of Lynnfield’s performance, clearly those doubts are erased today!
Both Hyper and non-Hyperthreaded versions of Lynnfield are super strong performers when it comes to task intensive PC operations. By now, you should know that memory bandwidth benefits things like 3D rendering, compiling, and encoding. Otherwise, standard home and office users won’t notice a change in their common tasks. For the average user out there, it’s complete overkill. However, with INTEL’s aggressive pricing on the new Lynnfield cores, it’s an affordable overkill!
Gamers and especially enthusiasts on a budget love getting their money’s worth. Since Lynnfield requires only dual channel memory, you’ll be saving more money over triple channel. And, that doesn’t take in to account the more affordable P55 SLI and CrossfireX motherboards hitting the shelves as you read this. All that extra money saved means you can spend more on a beefier video card, or two.
Every Lynnfield processor currently available offer a superb performance-cost benefit. The Core i5 750, while still offering four very capable cores, has the avid budget user covered at around $196 USD.
Both the Lynnfield Core i7 860 ($284) and 870 ($562) offer performance practically matching that of the Bloomfield processors yet cost considerably less. For this reason, it’s undoubtedly going to be the popular choice among every range of PC user.
Pros
- CPU: Excellent price/performance ratio
- Motherboards: P55 offers an affordable new choice
- Smaller CPU footprint with lower power consumption
- Less expensive dual channel memory
- Tuned for Windows 7
Cons
- Fashionably late to the party
- New socket requires new motherboard
Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10.0
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