Intel's Core i7 975 Extreme Edition reviewed, crowned world's fastest desktop processor

Surprise, Intel's top of the line 3.33GHz Core i7 975 Extreme Edition is fast. In fact, based on the reviews by Hot Hardware and PC Perspective, among others, this quad-core proc is the fastest desktop processor ever. While it's only 4-5% faster across the board than Intel's previous champ, the Core i7 965, world's fastest is world's fastest, right AMD? Better yet, the CPU is suitable for "significant" overclocking -- HH took it around the benchmark block at 4.1GHz and found only a "small voltage bump" while hitting a 50-degree C max temperature using Intel's stock heat sink. Look for the Core i7 975 to hit retail for a $999 list price which explains why the first gaming rigs wrapped around the 975 start at $8,000.

Read -- Hot Hardware review
Read -- PCPer review

[ozturkmus @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:42AM]

2 years ago i had the fastest cpu to.. :S

[CJ @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:41AM]

*In the Jokers voice*

Y SO EXPENSIVE

[nintendo fanboy hater @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:45AM]

let's put a frown on that wallet

[Boards of Canada @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:03AM]

hhhherrrrmm rmumununun rrrwrmumununu rrruuuhhhh

*batman voice*

[bebop @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:42AM]

Something has to bookend the top-of-the-line, but the performance gains you get for last $500 added to the price are minimal, face it.

[The Walrus @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:48AM]

Absolutely, but there will be people willing to pay for it. However, extravagances such as these always seem to be able to put a smile on my face

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:46AM]

But can it play...CRYSIS 2???!!

Crysis 2 sys req:

-Blue Gene/P

[Lazarpandar @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:06AM]

I bet the new Asus Mars in SLI can't even play Crysis 2.

[Laughing Man @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:08PM]

It wouldn't be the Hardware's fault that the gaming dev team has sloppy code.

[Devolve @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:32PM]

Welcome to 2009. Now it's: But can it play Cryostasis?

[Zane @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:49AM]

Why buy this when a 920 can match it in pretty much every department?

Stock 975: 3.33Ghz
HH O/Ced 975: 4.1Ghz
My D0 920: 4.3Ghz

[Shinigami @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:21AM]

I totally agree - 920 is a much better choice since its price is significantly lower, but 975 can overclock a bit better than 920 because of unlocked multiplier.
If you don't plan to set a new world mhz record, you don't need 975.

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 3rd 2009 7:17AM]

Shame the 920 is discontinued, as with the 940...

[Soulsaber @ Jun 3rd 2009 11:12AM]

They used the stock heatsink for the 4.1.... so you lose =D

[patriotsn1 @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:00AM]

Why is the fastest processor ever on it's way to "failtown"?

And "fail" is getting old...

[omelfata @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:09AM]

talk about an economic recession

[Shinigami @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:23AM]

HH used stock cooler. How horrible is that? They didn't even bother getting a better cooler for LGA 1366, though there are loads of those for all the imaginable prices. If they couldn't get their hands on one for free, they could have simply bought one for $60 for all the future tests of this relatively new platform.

[Shad @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:28AM]

No way, you're telling me that the newest CPU in the i7 Edition is faster than the old one?

But seriously, I can't wait til CPUs like this are actually affordable.

Isn't technology amazing? When I was born 15 years ago, you guys were struggling for a couple hundred mhz, now we have more than 4 GHz per core. Anyone remember back when Bill Gates said he saw no need for more than 64 MBs of ram? (I may have messed that up, correct the number if I am)

[qwack @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:39AM]

128kb all the way.

[Shad @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:59AM]

Hah, thanks, I knew that didn't sound right.

[mrspiteri @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:28AM]

640kb

[ultimatepwnage @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:48AM]

he didnt say that at all, its just a hoax.

[Cunthor @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:32AM]

3.33GHz? Fuck, that's like half way to hell!! Me want!

[Cunthor @ Jun 3rd 2009 5:33AM]

(...and shut up, I know its 6.66 not 666GHz)

[jinjin @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:41PM]

be more confident in your jokes, you don't have to spoon feed everything you're implying


oh and btw, your joke still sucks..

[Wayne @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:26AM]

I'm getting one. Definitely. I want to see how fast those cards fly off the screen after I win at solitaire.

[Jamie @ Jun 3rd 2009 7:37AM]

lol!

[dave g @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:31AM]

I think this is awesome news, intel deserves to be at the top, Also the i7 architecture, this well do a nice development road map for a quad sector cpu we working at here at MIT. Can't wait till i finish school and apply to the company.

[dave g @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:35AM]

I think this is awesome news, intel deserves to be at the top, Also the i7 architecture is amazing by todays standards. The i7 will be a exciting development road map for a quad sector cpu we working on, here at MIT. Can't wait till i finish school and apply to the company.

blah yeah i know double post. sorry endgadet-er posting from mobile TD

[gerrrg @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:50AM]

Stick with a refurbished Dell workstation running dual quad-core xeons running 3.4 Ghz... less than half the price.

[superhobo @ Jun 3rd 2009 6:56AM]

only 4-5% faster
$999

well...lol. Sure, it's the fastest, but at $999, it's also unattainable for most.


Anyway, AMD please get your act together.

[kal326 @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:43AM]

I'm just wondering where I can get one of these old 4-5% inferior i7 965 chips at fire sale prices now that its no longer the "best".

[Jamie @ Jun 3rd 2009 7:36AM]

Now AMD will probably shock us with an 8 core or something like that processor that kills everything and beats out even this i7. I mean, come on, AMD doesn't really have a top-of-the-line processor, the Phenom II X4 is the best that they have and it can't even come close to the i7.

[DaftFunk @ Jun 3rd 2009 7:50AM]

Not this one, but it was running neck and neck with the 920 and 940, in gaming anyway.

[Dummy00001 @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:47AM]

AMD CPUs are "good enough" already. I have considered many times upgrading my aging Athlon X2 4200+ - I have now enough money for the top of the line Intel CPU like that - yet no reason emerged. With good graphic card, the Athlon easily does 30-40 fps in most games on 19x12 resolution.

[Laughing Man @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:14PM]

Yeah, cause having the absolute best is whats important. Not like, you know affording the rest of your computer. $999, I can build a great gaming rig for that.....or buy that 42" LCD TV that is on sale for my next monitor.

Thank you Intel for.....not sure what you did here exactly?

You know what I want. An AMD processor that has performance between he i7 950 and i7 965 for around $370. That would be awesome. Forget "King of the Mountain". I want "King of the Bang for your Buck"

[strider_mt2k @ Jun 3rd 2009 8:19AM]

I'm sticking fast to my 920 'till it can't go no mo.

[vradovic @ Jun 3rd 2009 8:26AM]

I already order one :) 1069$ with shipping :)

[Chunk @ Jun 3rd 2009 8:50AM]

Will it stop sim city 3000 from studdering when i build my metropolis?

[superhobo @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:47AM]

It can play Crysis, but you ask too much...

[Jkswiss @ Jun 3rd 2009 9:48AM]

50C max temperature?? Wow. My E6400 is at 54C idle, overclocked 5%. Never had a problem in 2 years.

[Freddie @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:40AM]

4.1? I'm seriously not bragging or or anything stupid like that, I'm just confused-- I have a stable, cool overclock of the stock 2.66 920, on air cooling, running at 4.2 right now, without going past Intel's max spec voltage. There are plenty of people getting 4.5 out of the budget chip. Weird they only went that high.

[Zane @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:28PM]

HH used the stock Intel cooler. A guy on XS has already OCed the 975 past 5Ghz on air.

Btw, you probably still have some headroom there. My 920 runs at 4.3 on air.

[Nyle @ Jun 3rd 2009 10:46AM]

Thanks, they can keep it - $8000 gaming system. I love games but come on.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz - $245

Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 965 Nehalem 3.2GHz - $999.99 975? - $1069?

Now before you go flaming me as an AMD fanboy. I know that the i7 965 is "world's faster" than the AMD 955.

But let me say, you can frag me all day long in whatever game you want. For $755 more, you are the man. I don't care the AMD part is more than fast enough for everything I do. Until I hit the lottery, you're not going to see me buying the "world's fastest" Intel CPU.

[kenneth @ Jun 4th 2009 1:51AM]

for those of ya'll complaing about the price, you should expect this from intel. personally im just gonna stick with my tried and true x4 955. it may not be the worlds fastest but it will overclock your dome for and im also not gonna spend what i can spend on a brand new pc basically on freekin proc. that, and im sorry to say it NOTHING IS QUICK ENOUGH TO RECOGINZE FULLY.

[Nathan Otis @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:06PM]

Duh.

[Matthew.L.Kowal @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:30PM]

Nice DO WORK

[Larry @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:38PM]

It is a amazing that the Intel Core i7 975 Extreme is in a Laptop!!! For the best price see:

http://www.lpc-digital.com/store/3302695/product/cl-221-3

[ohsnapitstahj @ Jun 4th 2009 12:23AM]

My setup ended up at ONLY $6,281.88 :D

[BigD145 @ Jun 3rd 2009 12:38PM]

I thought AMD recently pushed one of their chips to 7GHz.