Legit Processor Reviews

Intel Core i7-875K 2.93GHz Unlocked Quad-Core Processor Review

Manufacturer: Intel
Product: Intel Core i7-875K
Date: Thu, May 27, 2010 - 11:00 PM
Written By: Nathan Kirsch -
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Core i7 875K CPU-Z

Intel Core i7 875K Lynnfield Processor Idle

Here is a look at the Intel Core i7-875K processor sitting at an idle state on the desktop of our Windows 7 64-bit test system. Notice that the processor is only running at 1.2 GHz thanks to Intel's SpeedStep and low power state technologies.  This is key as it will have lower idle power consumption and generate less heat. Our base clock was as 136.7MHz in these images because the Gigabyte P55A-UD6 motherboard was increasing the base clock this much on auto for some reason. Gigabyte is working on some new BIOS revisions for this board, so in the future the base clock will be 133MHz.  When we went to do benchmarking on this board we took the base clock off 'auto' settings and manually set it to 133MHz, so all the processors were on an even playing field.

Intel Core i7 875K Lynnfield Processor Light Load

During regular use the Intel Core i7-875K can jump up to the rated clock frequency of 3.6GHz (as shown above) when turbo mode is enabled and a load is on just one of the cores. 

Intel Core i7 875K Lynnfield Processor Heavy Load

Here we had Turbo mode enabled and all 4 of the cores were at full load, so the Intel Core i7-875K CPU was running at 3.20GHz. If Turbo mode is disabled the processor would top out at 2.93GHz, which is its 'rated' speed.

Intel Core i7 870 Lynnfield Processor

Intel Turbo Boost Technology is very interesting technology and it's impressive to see the core go from 1.2GHz to 3.6GHz depending on the work load that is taking place on a processor like the 875K. Still confused?  Here is a great chart that shows you the modes of operation that are available with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for the Intel Core i7-875K processor. Note that bin refers to a +133 MHz increase in frequency.

Processor

Intel Core i7-875K
2.93 GHz

Processor Cores

4

Active Cores

1C

2C

3C

4C

Maximum Intel Turbo Boost Technology Bin Upside

5

4

2

2

Maximum Intel Turbo Boost Technology Frequency

3.6

3.46

3.2

3.2

Next Page - The Test System


Review Index
Page 1 - The Intel Core i7-875K CPU
Page 2 - Core i7 875K CPU-Z
Page 3 - The Test System
Page 4 - SiSoftware Sandra 2010c
Page 5 - Microsoft Excel 2007
Page 6 - x264 HD Encoding
Page 7 - CyberLink MediaShow 5
Page 8 - Handbrake
Page 9 - POV-Ray 3.7 Beta 35
Page 10 - Cinebench R11.5
Page 11 - PCMark Vantage
Page 12 - 3DMark Vantage
Page 13 - Resident Evil 5
Page 14 - Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Page 15 - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Page 16 - Power Consumption
Page 17 - Intel Core i7 875K Overclocking
Page 18 - Final Thoughts and Conclusions