Intel Core i7 950 processor: specifications and reviews

The ideal processor solution for enthusiasts, released in 2009, is "Intel Cor i7 950". Other models of this line cost much more expensive, and the rest of the same CPU of the same model line could not compete with it from the performance standpoint. Therefore, this chip ideally at that time combined the price and performance.

What is this CPU capable of?

Even now, after 6 years from the start of sales, the Intel Core i7 950 processor allows Run most applications, ranging from the most demanding 3D games of the latest generation (albeit not at the maximum settings) and ending with the same "Photoshop" of the latest version. And this is not surprising. This processor was positioned as a solution for computer enthusiasts and installed on server motherboards. Therefore, it can be safely attributed to the decisions of the premium segment, the lucky owners of which did not think about the system requirements of any software.

Contents of delivery

A typical set of supplies for the CPU at that time was at Intel Cor i7 950. Characteristics The chips were indicated on a blue box along with its markings. Also in it was a square window in which the top part of the processor was displayed. It marked the chip, which made it possible to compare the declared values with those indicated on the CPU. Also included in the package is a cooler. For the regular mode of operation, its capabilities were quite sufficient. But it was a solution for computer enthusiasts, and as a result, they could not do it with a regular system. Therefore, in order to uncover the full potential of this chip, it was necessary to buy an improved air cooling system, or even a liquid cooling system. Also included with the chip was a specialized thermal paste, which was applied to the CPU before installing the cooling system. It could be used when installing both a regular cooling system and an improved one. Another important accessory, included in the kit, is a sticker with the company logo and the type of CPU installed. It needed to be glued on the front panel of the system unit in a characteristic square groove. The list of the same documentation was limited to the usual instruction manual and, of course, a warranty card. By the way, the warranty period for this product was 3 years.

Processor Connector

One of the most productive sockets was used to install this semiconductor crystal - "Socket 1366" (the number 1366 means the number of legs in the CPU and at the same time the number of contacts in the motherboard in which it is installed). These were the most productive motherboards in 2009. In the same socket, Intel's server solutions were installed - the Xeon processors. As a result, "Intel Cor i7 950" boasted phenomenal performance, which even now, albeit with a certain caveat, not the maximum settings of some of the latest generation games, but still allows you to run any software at the moment.

Semiconductor chip manufacturing technology

Processor i7 950 Was manufactured according to the most advanced technological process at that time - 45 nm. This made it possible to provide a relatively small size of the silicon crystal and at the same time the chip was in an acceptable thermal package. Of course, the most recent solutions of the corporation "Intel" are manufactured already by the technological process in 14 nm. But we do not forget that this chip was made in 2009 - 7 years have passed since then.

Fast memory and its number

Like most of Intel's current processor-based solutions, the i7 950 boasted a three-level cache. The first level was divided into two equal parts. One of them was intended for storing the CPU commands, and the second one was for data storage. The size of each of them was equal to 4 clusters (each of them was strictly tied to one specific computing module) of 32 KB. In the total, 64 KB for the data and 64 KB for the instructions were obtained. A similar organization was at the second level of the cache. Only in this case was already allocated 4 clusters of 250 KB, or in total it was 1 MB. Unlike the first level of the cache, there was no longer a division of memory into instructions and data. The last, the third level of the cache was common, and its size was 8 MB. All this fast memory to this day ensures the flawless performance of this CPU.

Supported RAM Types

Intel Core i7 950 supported the advanced at that time and not very outdated now DDR3. It should also be noted that this chip was equipped with a three-channel memory controller, the maximum bandwidth of which was 25.6 Gb / s. Additionally, it should be noted that the maximum amount of RAM in a PC based on this CPU could reach 24 GB. Accordingly, this processor solution must operate under a 64-bit operating system. Otherwise, of all the installed amount of RAM, you can only use only 3.6 GB, some of which will be occupied by the operating system and system applications.

Maximum temperature

In the regular mode Intel Core i7 950 Worked in the temperature range from 30 to 45 degrees. If the CPU was accelerated on a regular cooling system, then this range could expand to 55 degrees (depending on the value of the applied voltage to the processor and the final clock frequency). But with improved air cooling systems this problem did not arise, and the maximum operating temperature reached all the same 45 degrees. The same is true for specialized liquid cooling systems. Finally, it should be noted that the maximum permissible temperature for a given semiconductor crystal was 67.9 degrees, and its heat packet was 130 W.

Clock frequency

The nominal clock frequency, which boasted the Intel i7 950 processor, was 3.06 GHz (with a multiplier of 23 on the motherboard and a system bus frequency of 133 MHz). But this semiconductor solution was equipped with the proprietary technology "Turbo boost" from the corporation "Intel". Its essence boiled down to the fact that, depending on the degree of complexity of the problem being solved, Intel Cor i7 950 could dynamically change its frequency. In multithreaded applications, a factor of 24 was set, and this already made it possible to achieve a frequency of 3.2 GHz. Well, if only one computational module took part in the work, the multiplier could take the value 25, in which case the user already received 3.32 GHz. In this case, the thermal mode of the CPU did not change.

Computing cores and threads

Core i7 950 boasts the availability of four 64-bit computing modules. This allowed to provide an impeccable level of performance of this processor solution in multi-threaded applications, especially since most of the applied software is even now optimized for such a number of cores. But this processor has one more important feature, which is to support the technology "Hyper Trending". Its essence lies in the fact that on one physical computing core at the program level two computational flows are created. Of course, such an engineering solution does not allow this CPU to fully compete with a real 8-core chip. But, on the other hand, this in some cases allows you to get an additional performance gain of 10-15% compared to a conventional 4-core chip.

The code name for the Intel i7 950-Bloomfield chip. So the solutions for workstations and for personal computers with an improved level of productivity were designated.

Overclocking and performance gains

All motherboards for Socket 1366 were made in an exclusive design with a special cooling system. Therefore, there were no possible problems with it, as a rule, during the overclocking process. Also, for overclocking, there should be a supply margin for the power supply (it is best to use 1000 V power supplies for these purposes - this will allow to maximize the performance of the CPU). As it was noted earlier, the standard cooling system for overclocking is not enough. Therefore, it was necessary to purchase a specialized solution, and it was recommended to use a liquid solution. Before overclocking on a PC, it was necessary to install special software that would monitor the state of Intel Cor i7 950. The temperature of the CPU was monitored using the "Speed FAN" utility, and its parameters were "CPU-Z". Well, stress testing was tested by AIDA 64. All this software must be installed in advance. In the future, the order of overclocking is:

• We go in the "BIOS" motherboard.

• We reduce the frequency of RAM to the minimum allowable value.

• We increase the processor multiplier by one value.

• Save the values and reboot the PC.

• We check the operation of the system as a whole.

• Increase the frequency until the computer is stable.

• If the PC does not start, then reset the "BIOS" settings with the appropriate jumper and return the previous operating parameters.

An additional increase in performance can be obtained by raising the voltage to the processor, but this can only be done in extreme cases: an increased load will quickly disable the semiconductor crystal. The real stable frequency for overclocking for this CPU is 4-4.2 GHz, which, in comparison with the nominal 3.06 GHz, allows achieving a performance increase of 30-40 percent.

Price

At the time of sales, the Core i7 950 was priced at $ 562 by the manufacturer. Many people complained about his inflated value. But, on the other hand, this chip in terms of performance did not have, in fact, analogs from the competing platforms from AMD. Even the then flagship "Fenom 1090" could not compete with him and was much cheaper. A year after the start of sales, in 2010, the price of this semiconductor crystal dropped to $ 294. In the future, Intel corporation replaced socket 1366 for 2011, and this platform for computer enthusiasts went into oblivion.

Reviews about this CPU

In general, there were only advantages for Intel Cor i7 950. The reviews highlighted the following:

• Phenomenal level of performance and the ability to run any software.

• Excellent overclocking potential, allowing under certain circumstances to get an additional 30-40 percent performance.

• High reliability of motherboards.

But he had only two shortcomings:

• Relatively high cost. But this is easily explained by the fact that the company "AMD" did not have direct competitors of this semiconductor crystal.

• Weak complex cooling system, which did not allow the CPU to output from the normal mode. For these purposes, it was necessary to buy a specialized cooling system, which made it possible to obtain very solid even by current standards of 4 GHz.

Results

An excellent solution for computer enthusiasts for 2009 was "Intel Cor i7 950". It combined a high level of productivity and relatively low cost. Otherwise, this CPU even now is quite enough to run any task.