Intel Core i7-980 Review

The Core i7-980 is one of Intel's high-end Desktop processors. It was released in 2011 with 6 cores and 12 threads. With base clock at 3.333GHz, max speed at 3.6GHz, and a 130W power rating. The Core i7-980 is based on the Gulftown 32nm family and is part of the Core i7 series.

Core i7-980 is also the successor of Intel's last gen Core i7-880 processor that was based on the Lynnfield and 45nm process and was released in 2010.

This processor packs 6-cores and 12-threads in a mainstream package for the first time, and does it at a similar price point as the FX-8120, a processor with just 8-cores and 8-threads.

Now, we're asking ourselves whether or not the Intel Core i7-980 finally dethrones the FX-8120 as the de facto ruler of the mainstream processors. Ultimately, it depends: the Core i7-980 doesn't reach the same single-core performance as AMD, but we're starting to see more games adopt multi-threaded CPUs, so that doesn't matter as much.

Intel Core i7 1st Generation, and the Gulftown architecture itself, is notable because it leads 32nm processors to the mainstream for the first time. But, there’s a lot more going on under the hood than just a smaller manufacturing node.

The Intel Core i7-980 is an absolute behemoth of a processor, as it absolutely should be with its 6 cores, 12 threads and high price tag. If you’re looking for the absolute best processor money can buy on a mainstream processor, then look no further. Whether you’re playing PC games or even doing hardcore video and 3D work, the Intel Core i7-980 can handle them with ease.

As the higher-priced version of the Core i7-970, the Core i7-980 has higher base and Boost frequencies of 3.333 and 3.6 GHz, respectively. That's an increase in base frequency and a bump to boost clocks, but the real advantage should lay in the higher Package Power Tracking (PPT) envelope, which is a measurement of the maximum amount of power delivered to the socket. The Core i7-970's PPT tops out at 130W, while the motherboard can pump up to 142W to the Core i7-980 at peak performance. That opens up much more aggressive boost behavior, on both single and multiple cores, that could widen the performance gap beyond what we see on the spec sheet.

This decision to 32nm has brought a beefy 15% boost to IPC (instructions per clock) performance. Effectively, compared to a Core i7 1-Generation processor at the same clock speed, you will get a straight 15% increase in performance. That’s not big enough to be evident in day-to-day workloads, but it does still mean something.

What this all means is that the Intel Core i7-980 is an absolute beast when it comes to multi-threaded workloads, especially at this price point. If you're counting on doing some video editing or compiling one hell of an Excel spreadsheet, you're going to see firsthand a performance boost with the Core i7-980.

The Intel Graphics have been disabled and therefore the Core i7-980 has no form of integrated graphics -- just like the FX-8120. This is meant to make the Core i7-980 cheaper than the Core i7-880, even though AMD's list pricing doesn't make this apparent, in practice the Core i7-980 can be had for $1109 while the Core i7-880 is still $583, making the newer chip -47% cheaper. It also means it’s cheaper than the FX-8120 which is currently retailing for $359.45.

Today we’ll be taking a closer look at the Intel Core i7-980 6-core desktop processor that was released in Jul 2011. Intel offers the Core i7-980 without integrated graphics. It runs $1109 shipped and is ideal for those that plan on using it a system with a dedicated graphics card.

One of the nice things about the Intel Core i7-980 processors is that the retail boxed models come with a CPU cooler. So, you can pick something like the Intel Core i7-980 up for $1109 and don’t need to spend any extra money on CPU cooling.

The Intel Core i7-980 retail boxed processor comes with the traditional ‘pancake’ CPU cooler. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done on this processor which is rated at 130W TDP. You do not need to have an aftermarket cooling solution unless you want to.

If extended overclocking and boost frequencies are trivial matters to you, Intel also offers the Core i7-970 at $662. It’s still outfitted with 6-cores and 12-threads, but clocks in at a slower 3.2GHz and maxes out at only 3.46GHz.

That said, to squeeze out all the potential of this surprisingly potent high-end chip, you’ll want (and need) to splurge on an enthusiast-grade 5520, X58 motherboard.

Fresh from a successful roll-out of mainstream Core i7 CPUs, Intel's attack on AMD now extends down into the high-end with its Core i7-980 processors, which the company is making available as of Jul 2011.