Last January’s debut of Intel’s Sandy Bridge line of chips for use with the i3, i5, and i7 processors left many in the field awed.

The specifications offered by this new chip were impressive, and already several months into the Sandy Bridge’s effective lifespan, the technology utilized in the design has consistently demonstrated nothing but high quality output.

How Does The i7 Processor Benefit From This?

The i7 processor greatly benefits from the integration of the Sandy Bridge chip.
With eight-core, six-core, quad-core, and dual-core versions available, the Sandy Bridge offers consumers a variety of applications, especially as part of the i7 processor family.

Some functions and benefits of the Sandy Bridge Chip…

The most current generation of the iSeries chips (each chip in the line boasts a 32-nanometer process) there is a departure from the previous mixed nanometer processors used within the last generation.

This gives the transistors superior functionality than their predecessors, and requires significantly less power usage. Some chips in the line use as little as half the power required by the previous generation, which especially benefits users operating with the i7 processor.

Another benefit to i7 processor integrated with this chip, is the graphic capabilities of the Sandy Bridge line. The chip offered in the current iSeries is designed to provide superior integrated graphics. Each chip accommodates a graphics processor, microprocessor, and memory controller.

These features will more than satisfy the needs of the vast majority of i7 processor users.
The highly integrated design eliminates the need to connect graphics to the CPU, which also allows for greater efficiency, reducing power usage and heat output.

What the critics say…

Some critics note that this new design reduces the graphics performance that could be better provided through separate graphics hardware.

These critics suggest extreme power users or serious gamers may encounter minor issues with the design. The integration may limit the quality of intensive i7 processor usage, by degrading video quality or graphics quality.

However, for the majority of users, these potential losses will not be noticeable.

A few i7 Specs and Benefits…

The i7 processor chip is the pinnacle of the new line and the Sandy Bridge family. The chip is designed with the features of the i5, including Intel Insider technology, the most current Wireless Display, Quick Sync Video, turbo boost, and hyper-threading.

Exclusive to the i7 processor is the inclusion of quad-cores for use with desktops and laptops.

The i7 processor will increase the performance of the user’s operations. Elements such as processing speed will be noticeably improved. Depending on the operation, users will benefit from as much as a 50% increase in performance.

Users involved with video and photo editing will be able to accomplish tasks in a quarter of the time previously required. More domestic applications of the i7 processor, or any member of the Sandy Bridge line, such as transferring a movie between two devices, will be reduced tremendously.

The current quality of the Sandy Bridge line has been established, and has been well received since its introduction in January. Given the progressive and advancing nature of the industry, a successor to the i7 processor seems inevitable.

Analysts hope to see the features of the Sandy Bridge family further added-on to, and many users are excited at the potential for greater improvements to an already impressive line.

This is the i7 Intel family’s flagship processor, where a revolutionary new style of microarchitecture was invented and used. They replaced the front side bus, which is a long time staple of processor design, with a new technology called QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) where it can use its four computing cores to their maximum potential.

Product Features and Specifications for the i7 Processor i7-950:

• Product Type – Desktop
• Product Line – Core i7
• Socket – LGA1366 Socket
• Clock Speed – 3.06 GHz
• QuickPath – 4.8 GT/s
• Four 3.06 GHz cores for better multitasking and multithreaded performance.
• 8 MB of smart cache.
• Integrated memory controller delivers higher memory bandwidth.
• Quick Path Interconnect provides fast data transfer between the processor and chipset.

Technical Details:

• Brand Name: Intel
• Model: BX80601950
• Processor Count: 1
• Cache Memory Installed Size: 8 MB
• Warranty: 3 years warranty

The Reviews

Being the first of its kind to come out of Intel’s i7 cores, this one exceptionally has good rating among reviews online. Most of the time there are fears on using a pioneering product due to the possibility of recalls and unperfected technical malfunctions and glitches. The Core i7-950 however has continuously received good and positive reviews in the market.
A lot of reviews agree that this is a bang for the buck item. One user states that he was certainly satisfied with the results of the 950 for the price. For anyone on the fence with price vs. performance, you certainly won’t be disappointed with the 950.

Another review states that the best thing about Core i7-950 besides its incredible benchmark performance and rock solid overclocking ability, is the fact tat its price tag keep on dropping. With the advent of newer processors, its price will surely go down more.

A happy user states that it performs well and is a great addition to any computer for either the gamer or enthusiast. It is fairly easy to install, and the level of performance is ridiculously high. He ends the review saying that this processor is a solid buy, worth its price tag, and an all-around great product.

Although this is the pioneer model of a new line of Cores, Its performance has been impeccable. Sure there are newer ones out today, but if you are not a heavy gamer or heavy user of memory-gulping software, this could be your bang for the buck processor that could let you experience all you need, beautifully. And for this, we grant our recommendation for this product, as an overall effective upgrade for your older model processors.

Core i7-2600k is considered a heaven-sent for hard-core gamers and enthusiasts who love overclocking flexibility. Other features are also present including Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, eight-way multitasking with Hyper-Threading Technology and virtualization Technology that significantly improves your speed and computing productivity. Even those who love watching blu-ray movies will benefit from its built-in visual technologies like Clear Video and InTru3d.

Product Features and Specifications for the i7 processor i7-2600k:

• Specs: Quad-core 3.4GHz, 8M Cache, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 95 watt TDP, Dual-channel DDR3 memory support, socket LGA1155
• Quad-core processor with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (Intel HT) delivers eight-way
• Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology is an advanced means of enabling very high performance while also delivery power-conservation.
• 8 MB Intel Smart Cache is dynamically shared to each processor core, based on workload
• All Core i7 processors have Intel Turbo Boost Technology

Technical Details:

• Brand Name: Intel
• Model: BX80623I72600K
• Processor Count: 4
• Computer Cpu Speed: 3.4 GHz
• Computer Cpu Manufacturer: Intel
• Cache Memory Installed Size: 8 MB
• Warranty: 3 years warranty
• Processor Model Number: I7-2600K

The Reviews

There are so many reviews online about Intel Core i7 Processor i7-2600K 3.4GHz 8MB, and most of them are all praises regarding the product.
A pc enthusiast upgraded his rig from a Q6600 which has its fair share of top honours when it first came out, had it overclocked to 4.5GHz and was very surprised and excited to know that his Windows Experience Index score reached 7.8! It was even ranked 7th best performing cpu on the passmark software CPU Benchmark.

Other users refer to it as the OC (overclock) champion of the day since overclocking this processor is as easy as changing the multiplier in the bios to whatever you want. It also has amazing stock speeds with incredibly simple overclock ability, energy efficiency, and low temperatures with advanced next generation architecture.

A significant dent on its shining armor however, is the fact that one review specifically point out that the chip falls short of the performance boost it needs to match its price tag. He said that it virtually performs the same with the previous model Intel i5-2500k for $100 more, although the i7-2600k does provide a slight processing advantage over the 2500k in deskop applications like multi-tasking, encoding, and rendering.

One article also said that the $100 difference between the two cores is only recommended if you want bragging rights, because you’re probably not going to notice any appreciable frame rate difference. The core i7’s strength is only really exploited in heavily-threaded applications and not on games alone.

Amidst all the positive reviews and negatives ones about this product, we still give it a go on our recommendations on the grounds that you cannot down-rate a processor because you think it is over-priced. Even the negative reviews agree that it does perform faster than the others, and that alone is proof that this stuff really works.

To put it simply, users will enjoy faster and more streamlined processing than ever before. It will enable your computer to handle multiple projects and applications without the slowdown you’d experience with a lesser processor.

Another addition to Intel Core i7-960 processor is the Turbo Boost Technology which allows the processor to run up to 133MHz faster when it is operating below power or thermal limits. Hyper-threading technology also enables more efficient use of processor resources making the most of media players and next-generation games.

Product Features and Specifications for the i7 Processor i7-960:

• Quad Core
• Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology
• Hyper-Threading Technology1
• Intel EM64T2
• Intel Virtualization Technology
• Four 3.20 GHz cores for better multitasking and multithreaded performance.
• 8 MB of smart cache.
• Integrated memory controller delivers higher memory bandwidth.
• Quick Path Interconnect provides fast data transfer between the processor and chipset.

Technical Details

• Brand Name: Intel
• Model: BX80601960
• Processor Count: 1
• Cache Memory Installed Size: 8 MB
• Warranty: 3 years warranty

The Reviews

Positive reviews are all over the web on this i7-960 processor. Most of the users who purchased and used it are very happy with their upgrade. Good feedbacks about its fast response time and ease of overclocking have been steadily increasing.

One of the satisfied customers said that his speed test show that the performance of the 960, especially when paired with good memory and an extremely fast hard drive, far outperforms the 920 so that the money difference can be justified. He was very happy with what he got even swears that the computer just reads his mind and performs the task.

Another user from California lauded its great value on a high performance hyper-threaded design as it virtually gives similar high performance with that of the phenomenally costly Hexa-core series at about 70% or more price difference. It can even do impressive video processing with eight virtual cores working simultaneously.

Another satisfied user even jammed everything he can into it; a tv tuner, HDMI in card, fan controllers, 5 in 1 card reader, extra interface for usb and extensions and even 3 CD rom yet everything still works great and without flaw. They all have one common concern though, the price. Intel Core i7-960 being one of the newer models of the i7 line, still has a very high price and just slightly lower than the Hexa-Cores. With the current rate on how the prices drop every time a better one come out though, it wouldn’t be long before it becomes affordable.

Yes, we recommend using Intel Core i7-960 processor. If you have extra money on your budget then go for it. Quality indeed comes with a price, what you spend now will in turn give u a quality to last several years before your next upgrade. So you do the math.