Intel Core i7

More powerful i7s achieved some really exceptional scores. The Core i7-940, running at 2.93GHz, achieved 1.98 - the sort of score we normally only see from overclocked PCs. And when we moved up to the 3.2GHz i7-965 Extreme, benchmark scores hit 2.12 - the highest score we've ever seen from any system.

We didn't stop there. Intel "Extreme" processors are multiplier-unlocked, and we were able to turn this high-end part all the way up to 3.7GHz using just a stock Intel heatsink and fan for cooling. At these speeds our i7 system achieved a benchmark score of 2.49, leaving all previous performance records in tatters.

Power - at a price

Clearly, the Core i7 is a hugely exciting CPU, but it doesn't come cheap. The high-end Core i7-965 Extreme is expected to retail at £700 exc VAT, with the slower, multiplier-locked i7-940 still likely to come in at around £400. Add in the cost of a new LGA 1336 motherboard and it's hard to justify the expense.

But then even the low-end Core i7-920 is a faster processor than anything Intel has produced before. And while its expected launch price of £220 exc VAT is hardly pocket money, it's far better value than its faster cousins.

If you don't need the fastest CPU in the world, you'll still get far more bang for your buck if you pick a more established processor from a little way down the performance ladder. As the graph (see above) shows, in terms of performance per pound, the only thing worse than a Core i7 is the absurdly priced Core 2 Extreme QX9770.

Even a score of 1.50 in our benchmarks represents a very powerful PC that will zoom through any task you throw at it for years to come. Unless you're a die-hard enthusiast or a rocket scientist, you don't need to invest in a Core i7 processor just yet.

But for those who do demand the very best, Intel is once again the only option. These exceptional chips are sure to become instant favourites for high-performance PCs. And as prices fall, their popularity can only grow. Intel's new arrivals are too expensive for a general recommendation just yet, but there isn't a doubt in our minds that tomorrow belongs to Core i7.

Author: Darien Graham-Smith