Intel Core i7-980X review

That's great but what's it for?

A CPU like this is well beyond the needs of the typical PC user or even PC gamer. However, if you use a PC for sustained CPU intensive activity such as 3D Rendering or Video work it can cut up to 1/3 off the render/encode time. For gaming it only comes into its own on systems loaded to the gills with SLi and CrossfireX graphics and massive screen resolutions. It is worth bearing in mind that the i7 930 and 960 will be replaced with 6-core versions based on this CPU around October.

By CyberpowersystemUK on 11 Mar 2010

I agree

It is a bit of a waste to use a general purpose processor for a specialist task like gaming / 3d rendering.

Graphics card manufacturers are releasing cards with 480 cores, specifically designed for them kind of calculations.

For office / surfing the internet it's a bit over the top at the minute... until Microsoft release their next OS.

By john_coller on 11 Mar 2010

Rendering and extra CPU cores

The problem with the above suggestion that it cuts 1/3 off the time to render / encode is that this is now by far better dealt with by Nvidia CUDA or ATI Stream. Both technologies with modern GPU's cut the time to a mere fraction required using purely (quad-core) CPU rendering / encoding and at a fraction of the cost of the 6 core i7-980X. So as you questioned above, what is the purpose of a 6-core CPU, It can't even be justified for servers where again many of the database intensive processes can also be better achieved with CUDA / Stream?

By skarlock on 11 Mar 2010

12 cores - it's going to make windows task manager (CPU usage) look a bit crowded.

By pauld1024 on 11 Mar 2010

Only 6 cores Paul, it's 12 processes due to Hyper Threading. But yea starting to get crowded with 6.

By skarlock on 11 Mar 2010

Crunching

For rendering, using CUDA or ATI Stream, there is still a component of the CPU used, so it will expedite rendering in the same way it hastens GPU crunching. Of course only the most enthusiastic cruncher will buy one. Gamers, designers and video professionals will make up the rest of the users.

By skgiven on 12 Mar 2010

The more cores you have the more you can crunch. This is a much optimised CPU and will get through many tasks. It will also complement CUDA crunching as it will speed up any CPU dependent part of the task (work unit).

By skgiven on 12 Mar 2010

Virtual

Should be good for VM applications too, where the VM's are each running fairly intensive operations. Completely agree that this is massive overkill for most PC users, but there's plenty of uses for raw processing muscle outside of the leisure industry.

By tomsteemson on 11 Jan 2011