Issue between Intel and NVidia
Hey guys, Icarus here. I’ve recently been reading up on the issue between Intel and NVidia more, and since they’ve gone to court on Thursday, I thought I’d shed light on what the issue is here.
So basically, this all started when NVidia released plans of the future about developing motherboard chipsets that will support Intel’s new Core i7 Nehalem architecture. Intel tried to talk NVidia out of going with this plan, but NVidia kept its plan and began the development of a new motherboard chipset that would let NVidia fans use Core i7 processors on NVidia chipsets, allowing the fans to hold the power of the Core i7 and Tri-SLI GPU’s.
However, Intel didn’t want NVidia to go on with the plans, and took this case to court, saying that NVidia does not have the license to create chipsets that support Intel’s new QPI(QuickPath Interconnect) system and integrated memory-controller technology. But NVidia says that they have a few-years old license that allows them to do the exact thing.
But what’s really the issue here? It’s really just Intel trying to hold its advantage, among other things. Currently, ONLY Intel’s X58 motherboard chipset supports Intel’s incredibly powerful Corei7 Nehalem processors. Basically, Intel has a sort of a monopoly going on in the Core i7 industry, because they develop and manufacture both the processors and the motherboards that work together.
Now, NVidia wants a piece of the cake. In the previous years, NVidia has successfully developed chipsets that supported the Core2 series of processors(680i, 780i, 790i Ultra, among others), and they have been extremely popular, competing well against Intel’s own chipsets(P35, X48, P45, etc.). And now, Intel has unleashed a processor that outperforms many of the Core 2 processors that cost a lot more than the Core i7 processors. NVidia is definitely hungry for a large piece of this new series of processors, and is now trying to do the same thing it succeeded in doing during the reign of the Core2 processors.
So, here’s the summary of what Intel would lose if NVidia succeeds in developing their new chipset:
1. Intel would lose the advantage of saying that their X58 motherboards are the only motherboards that support Core i7 processors
2. Intel will no longer be able to have an edge over NVidia with the Core i7 and X58 motherboard, because NVidia will be able to create chipsets that allow both Core i7 and Tri-SLI graphics cards to work in unison. X58 motherboards only support up to SLI.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Tomorrow, I’m going to be talking about a bigger issue arising: processors vs graphics cards.
And don’t forget to comment, all comments are appreciated!
Also, subscribe to my blogs, I’m going to be posting at least one quality post a day!
See you all later!
~| Icarus
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Overall Value of Intel’s X58 Motherboard
Hey guys, Icarus here. I’ve been talking a lot about the new features of the X58 motherboard lately, but tonight, I”m going to finish the series up and tie up some loose ends by talking about the overall value of the Intel X58 motherboard.
Some of the new features of the Intel X58 motherboard include Triple-channel memory, the addition of the LGA 1366 platform for the new Core i7 Nehalem processors, and Intel’s QPI(QuickPath Interconnect) system. All of these new features add flare to this new motherboard, and it also makes it a fantastic investment if you have the money.
However, this motherboard is not for everyone. There are three factors for this:
1. Money
2. Needs
3. The Future
I’m going to start off by talking about money. Now, just the motherboard and processor costs a minimum of 500 dollars(that’s if you get the cheapest X58 motherboard and the 920, the lowest Core i7 processor). Now, that’s just two components, meaning that if you have a low budget(anywhere under 1000 dollars), you’ve already spent half or more than half of your budget. And that’s just the beginning; you also need some memory(which is still somewhat expensive), and that takes you up to 600 dollars. Now, most people are in the low-budget and mid-budget range, and spending 600 dollars on just three components of their new computer is somewhat ridiculous. Now, if you’re one of the people in the high-budget range… go ahead, buy the combination. You will all watch us drool as we watch you put the computer together and watch how quickly and efficiently the computer carries out your wishes and commands.
Now, the second factor is needs. Right now, the X58 motherboard in combination with the Core i7 and triple-channel enabled memory will absolutely rip apart any competition it has in its way. Now, if you’re out for the best of the best and you have no concern about money, then that’s no problem. However, we also have to think about over-performance. Over-performance is basically where your computer is too good for whatever you throw at it(programs, multitasking, etc.), having more power than you need. Now, if you’re going to play some games and do some Internet-surfing, then you would obviously not need the combination; the processor itself can handle up to 8 threads, and you’ll probably just use one, two threads max. Now, if you’re constantly video-editing, Photoshop-ing, high-quality gaming, and many things at once, then you may want to invest in this combination.
Now, the future. When I talk about “future” I mean in terms of what Intel will be releasing, and when Intel releases new things. I also include things like price and performance. How much longer until Intel releases a new, better processor and motherboard(reformed version)? How much will this new technology cost? Will it fit in your budget? How will these new releases perform compared to the current Core i7 Nehalem processors and X58 motherboards? Well, that’s in store in the future, we will not know until Intel tells us.
Well that’s all for now, and that’s the end of the Intel X58 Motherboard blog series! Hope you guys thoroughly enjoyed it. For my next post, I am thinking about researching some press releases on rumors and new technology. I’m sure you guys will all enjoy a breath of fresh air.
And don’t forget to comment about my blog posts, and what you want covered! And also, subscribe to my blog, I will be writing at least one quality article every single day.
Well, that’s all for tonight. See you all later!
~| Icarus
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Feature of the Intel X58 motherboard: QuickPathInterconnect(QPI)
Hey guys, Icarus is back again with more on some of the new features of Intel’s new X58 motherboard. Today, I’m going to be talking about another feature: the QuickPathInterconnect(QPI) system.
One of the new features that makes this processor interesting is Intel’s new QuickPath Interconnect(QPI) system. The QuickPath Interconnect, or QPI, was created by Intel as a competitor to the HyperTransport system, a similar system AMD uses on its AMD processors and motherboards. Much of the features of the QPI system is similar to that of the HT(HyperTransport) system.
Simply put, the QPI system provides an efficient and quick path between the processor(Core i7 series only) and the motherboard(Intel X58 motherboards only). By providing this link, the QPI system helps the computers save power, operate at tremendous speeds, and allow the Core i7 processors to efficiently work out threads that have been assigned to each core.
The link between the processor and the motherboard is also crucial, because that also means that other components have access to other components connected to the motherboard; for example, the graphics card will have a connection with the processor, the memory will have connection to the HDD, and so on. Because of this, there is much less room for errors; each component connected to the motherboard will have access to other components via an efficient network that allows other components to help fix small, and maybe even large, errors. Also, the QPI system assumes that the memory controller is inside and under the control of the processor.
Now, how does this effect the hardware itself? Well, according to benchmarks with the X58 motherboard and the Core i7 processors, the combination outscored the best processor of its predecessors. Now, does this mean that the QPI system had an effect on it? Probably so. But how much the QPI system affected this performance gap is unknown. It may have been the processor; it may have been the circuit design of both the Core i7 and the X58. But this much is known; the QPI system is a new feature that can make a difference, small or large.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for tonight. Keep coming back, I feel as if I’m on a roll with one comment(Thank you Georgia Stath for being the first comment!!). And I really, REALLY appreciate comments, I love replying to them also. And don’t forget, you can request subjects you want covered through comments!! And don’t forget to subscribe, because I”m going to be writing at least one good article a day to help all of you!
So, see you all later, and have a great President’s Day weekend!
~| Icarus
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The Value of the Core i7, Part 2
Hey guys, Icarus here again on a Saturday night with not much to do, but giving you all, my readers, my analysis on the value of the Core i7!!
Well, I’m going to start this article off by telling you two things that’ll matter to you most: use of your computer, and your budget. Depending on these two things, the value of the Core i7 will vary.
So, I will talk about three levels of budgets for everyone: high-end, middle, and low-end. High end is generally anything above 2000 dollars, middle budget between 1000 and 2000 dollars, and the low-end is… well, you can do the math. Generally, there’re a lot of people in the low-end and middle budget level, and a few people in the high-end budget. For those of you in the high-end… I am jealous. Very.
Now, onto the uses. When I said “uses”, I meant things like Internet surfing, gaming, watching videos, using Photoshop; those kinds of things. Now, if you’re going to just use your custom computer for Internet surfing and light gaming… well, you obviously won’t need a Core i7. I mean, a Core 2 series processor can handle that for ease. Now, if you’re going to multitask like crazy, gaming, Photoshop, many windows open and operating all at once… then you might want to consider the Core i7.
Now, personally, I wouldn’t suggest the Core i7 processors for low-end budget users, even the lowest processor, the 920, simply because of the price right now; because the 920 and the other Core i7 processors are relatively new in the market, they are still expensive; and on top of that, the motherboard costs around 200 dollars. That’s almost 500 dollars alone in just the motherboard and the Core i7 processor! If you’re going to spend that much money on just the two components, you might as well bump your budget up and invest in other high quality parts such as good graphics cards, long-lasting and efficient power supply, and some good memory.
Now, how will the Core i7 effect you, the consumers, in the future? Well, when new Core i7 processors come out, no doubt will Intel drop prices on some of the older ones like the 920 and 940. What would I do? Personally, I’d wait until the prices drop down; these processors are still new and expensive, and if I wanted to step up to a Core i7, I’d have to buy a brand-new motherboard too. So I’m just going to sit tight and wait. Patience is the key!
Well, that should be all for the Core i7 in this series. Tomorrow, I will most likely start talking about another new feature of the Inte X58 motherboard, so stay tuned for much more to come!
And again, please leave comments about my articles, or just to talk to me, because I LOVE comments! And don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, I will be writing at least one new article EVERYDAY.
So, without further ado, see you all later(In my blog :D) and good night! Oh, and for those of you still living in the time zone where it’s still February the 14th… Happy Valentine’s Day!
~| Icarus
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The Value of the Core i7
Hey guys, Icarus here again. I have been talking about the technicalities of the Core i7 series processors(Nehalem) for the past four articles. This is, as you know from reading my articles, one of the new features of the Intel X58 motherboard that makes it so fantastic. A new piece of technology; this one is promising.
So, as the title says, I’m going to talk about the value of the Core i7. What do I mean by “value”? When I say “value”, I mean how the processor will be in your mind when you are thinking about upgrading. Yes, the processor series has only been out on the market for a little over 4 months, but I think it’s time to start thinking about this. At least ponder the possibilities.
Now, I talked about some of the awesome features of this processor, including Hyper-threading, support for tri-channel memory, and the on-die memory controller. And this is just the beginning; there are many features of this processor that just makes this processor fantastic. On the other hand, it does have some small drawbacks, including lack of Error Correction Code and its somewhat inconsistent levels of overclocking. But that’s about it on the small cons.
So, you ask, how valuable is this processor at the moment. Well, it all depends on the budget of your computer or upgrade; I mean, the lowest processor of the series so far (Core i7 920) costs a hefty 290 dollars, and the motherboard alone costs a minimum of 200 dollars, or at least that was the lowest price I could find. Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty.
There are three Core i7 processors so far in this Nehalem series: the 920, 940, and the 965 EX. The 920 currently costs around 290 dollars, the 940 costs around 560, and the 965 EX costs a bit over 1000 dollars. Now, from benchmarks I have seen on the Internet sources, the 920 alone does amazingly well for the price it is at right now; even though it’s a hefty 290 dollars, when you compare it to other processors that cost around the same price, you’ll be surprised how much better the 920 does against its predecessors.
Now, you’re probably wondering why the 965 EX is so outrageously overpriced. Well, the EX, as you might have guessed, stands for Extreme Edition. Now, if you have seen some of the Extreme Edition processors in the previous Intel series(the Core 2 series), they are similarly priced. Why? Because of its Unlocked Clock function. Basically, it lets you overclock way more than any other processor. Is this worth the ridiculous price? Well, that’s up for you to decide.
Now, that’s most of the information you will need to be able to determine if this processor is right for now. There is more though. And that other info will be on tomorrow’s article. Sorry XP
Oh, and please, please give me some feedback in the form of comments. Those are always EXTREMELY appreciated. If you have any questions, leave them in comments and I will answer your question as soon and as best as I can!
And also, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog! I’ll be writing one big article everyday, and I promise you, you’ll like it! Stay tuned for some articles on new hardware that hasn’t come out yet. As soon as I hear something, I will post the rumor here, and I will analyze things for you all.
Good night, and see you all tomorrow(in my blog 
)!!
~| Icarus
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