Intel Core i7-3820 Features

The following information is courtesy of Intel

• 4 Cores, 8 Threads
• Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
• Supports LGA2011 socket Intel X79 Express Chipset-based motherboards
• 10 MB Intel Smart Cache
• Integrated Quad-Channel Memory Controller (also supports dual and triple channel)
• 4 channels of DDR3 1600 MHz
• Intel AVX and AES
• 40 PCI Express 1 Lanes
• SSE4.1 & SSE4.2 Instructions

BX80619i73820 Specifications

The naming convention for Intel Core processors started with LGA-1366 CPUs and continued through LGA-1156, LGA-1155, and now to LGA-2011 processors. With all those Core iX CPUs, it can be confusing to tell which CPU goes with which platform. LGA-1366 Core i7 CPUs were three-digits in 9XX range. The LGA-1155 platform made the Sandy Bridge Core i7 CPUs 2nd Generation, added a fourth digit, and start with a 2. The LGA-2011 Sandy Bridge Extreme Core i7 CPUs keep the four digits, but start with a 3. The chart below lays out the specs for the three LGA-2011 CPUs and the top-end LGA-1155 CPU, the i7-2700K.

The cache, the cores, and the turbo boost increase, besides the price, are what differentiate the three LGA-2011 platforms. You'll notice that the Core i7-3820 only bumps up 300MHz on the Turbo clock, compared to the 600MHz jump that the other two experience. This is somewhat misleading, however, as those 6-core processors can only boost by 600MHz when less than five cores are at work. To boost all 6 cores, they can only add 300MHz. The Turbo Boost used on LGA-2011 platform is the same Turbo Boost 2.0 technology found on the original Sandy Bridge CPUs.

To give you an idea of just how much bigger the LGA-2011 CPUs are compared to the LGA-1155 CPUs, you can take a look at the image below. LGA-1155 quad-cores have a die size of 216mm squared. The i7-3820 die is 294mm squared, but it sits on the same sized CPU as the 6-core LGA-2011 CPUs that have a 435mm squared die. That's almost exactly twice the size of the biggest LGA-1155 CPUs.

Keep in mind that the i7-3820 does not come with a CPU cooler. You should be able to use your old LGA-1155 cooler. The two X79 motherboards I have both came with hardware to assist in mounting the old coolers. Next up, let's take a look at the Sandy Bridge-E architecture.

<< Previous Page - Next Page >>