Intel Core i7
920
Specifi cation 2.66GHz stock core clock; 4 cores with 8
processing threads; 256KB L2 cache per core; 8MB L3
cache shared; 133MHz base clock; 20x stock multiplier
downwards unlocked; 45nm manufacturing process;
4.8GT/s QPI; socket LGA1366; 130W TDP; SSE 4.2;
triple channel memory support
Price US$340
Website www.intel.com
From the alpha dog to the runt of the litter; we’re now
talking about the Core i7 920 processor.
Based on the same Nehalem architecture, there are
some minor tweaks made to the 940 and 920 models
to create differences between them and the top model,
the 965 Extreme Edition. For example, the 940 and 920
feature a lower stock QPI frequency of 4.8GT/s and the
CPU multiplier is only downwards-unlocked, meaning
no overclocking above stock using the multiplier; the
overclock has to occur purely through increasing the
base clock.
The Core i7 920 is stock clocked at 2.66GHz. This
frequency is obtained through utilising a base clock
frequency of 133MHz (the same as the other Core i7
models) and paired with a 20x multiplier resulting in
the fi nal 2.66GHz speed.
The multiplier
maxes out at 20x,
but Turbo mode
makes it faster.
While the multiplier is maxed out at 20x, it is possible
to use the Turbo mode of the processor to reach limits
above the 20x multiplier. This means, under times of
high load, the processor can go to 22x for example.
If the platform can stably reach a base clock
frequency of 200MHz, it is possible to reach an
overclocked frequency of 4GHz and even exceed this
speed by using the Turbo function.
The days of Core i7 in general are young and while
we, the community, are in the process of understanding
the boundaries of these new processors, some shining
lights are alredy reaching upwards of 4.5GHz on 920s.
WWW.THEOVERCLOCKER.COM 27
However, we hope many more hit these speeds than
the number of 965 Extreme Editions that can
surpass 5GHz.
At one-fi fth of the price of the top model, this is still
an expensive processor. But even with the actual price
in mind, the 920 still maintains the ability to offer a
strong bang for buck and so it’s good value. While we
fi nd it hard to recommend the 965 Extreme Edition to
anyone but the most extreme overclockers or overly
rich individuals, the 920 on the fl ipside maintains a
rather attractive budget approach.
Back in the good ol’ days, overclocking was all about
getting a far cheaper processor to out-do it’s more
expensive (and faster) rivals. And today, the 920 gave us
a glimpse of what is possible. It’s a little chip that can.
SCORE 9/10
Verdict The budget option that kills the high-end
in today’s economic climate, the soul of
overclocking returns.
Josh Collins.
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THE LAB
Buy cheap and
overclock. That’s
what it’s all about.
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