Final thoughts
The Intel Core i7 930 processor represents a logical replacement for the long-standing Core i7 920 chip that has provided the most affordable entry to the chip giant's X58 performance-class platform for the past 16 months.Priced at £215 for a retail-boxed chip with cooler and three-year warranty, the '930 is identical to the model it replaces, save for a bump in the multiplier-factor, thereby pushing default speed from 2.67GHz to 2.80GHz.
Our performance numbers show it to be provide a little extra default-level performance over the incumbent, expectedly so, but where it really shines is when overclocked.
Clocking up to 4GHz with minor voltage adjustments and a few tweaks in the BIOS, the Core i7 930 becomes a superlative-inducing CPU and easily faster than any stock-clocked desktop processor shipping today. But the same can be said for current D0-stepping '920s, as well, so we'd only recommend the newer model if contemplating a platform upgrade as a whole.
As good as (overclocked) Core i7 can be, platform costs - £500 for chip, X58 motherboard, and 6GB DDR3 - are considerably higher than AMD's, where the admittedly-slower CPU is available as a platform-wide proposition for almost £200 less, albeit with a lower RAM quota.
The cynic in us says that the reviewed chip is nothing more than a rebadged i7 920 with a 21x multiplier. But that's no bad thing when the price remains the same. Thinking of the enthusiast, Intel's latest LGA1366 offering becomes our favourite CPU under £250.
Bottom line: the new Intel Core i7 930 builds on established LGA1366/X58 technology and is a cinch to overclock to 4GHz with the stock cooler. It improves on the soon-to-be-retired Core i7 920 in every way.
The good
Better than the decent Core i7 920 in every way
Clocks like a champ; 4GHz should be easy as pie
Excellent performance once overclocked
Etail price should be no higher than Core i7 920's
The not so good
Being harsh, we would have loved for it to be a 32nm chip
Platform-wide value proposition isn't as sharp as AMD's
HEXUS Rating
Intel
Core i7 930 retail
CPU (at £215)
HEXUS Awards
Intel
Core i7 930 (once
overclocked)
HEXUS Where2Buy
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