Intel Core i5 and Core i7 platforms put the squeeze on AMD

by Stevie Smith - Sep 8 2009, 15:45

Turning the cost-effective performance screw on its main market rival, leading CPU manufacturer Intel Corp. has whipped the covers off a new trio of mainstream chip platforms likely to cast something of a shadow over comparative processors presently offered by AMD.

According to a number of diligent tech reviewers having already put Intel’s newest slices of hardware through their paces, the fresh-faced Core i5 750, Core i7 860 and Core i7 870 outmuscle AMD’s current upper-tier Phenom II X4 965BE chip – even after overclocking.   

For those looking to know what’s on offer through the Core i5 and Core i7 platforms, and how much hard-earned cash they’ll need to splash in order to sample the series, all are well suited to performance-intensive enthusiasts and hardcore gamers without inflicting too much damage on the bank.

First up is the ‘basic’ 2.6GHz Core i5 750, which carries a price tag of $196 USD and comes equipped with quad-core processing with 256KBs and 8MBs of cache on each of the four cores. The Core i5 750 also provides 2.5GT/s DMI, LGA 1156, and 95W.

Spread across two model choices, the Core i7s arrive in 2.8GHz and 2.93GHz variants, both with four cores, 256KB and 8MB cache, two threads per core, 2.5GT/s DMI, LGA 1156, and 95W TDP. The Core i7 860 will cost $284 USD, while the slightly more beefy Core i7 870 will cost a slightly more pocket-stretching $562 USD.

In terms of prospective impact, testers at PC Games Hardware found the Core i5 more than ably carved a worthy niche for itself as a mainstream option for more general consumers.

The Core i7 860, on the other hand, not only outperformed AMD’s leading Phenom II X4 but was also the Core i7 920’s processing equal – even occasionally surpassing its more expensive series stablemate.

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