Intel is going to release a new CPU and socket to compete in the mainstream market for chipsets and CPUs. The new CPUs are officially called Core i5 and Core i3. I am looking forward to these CPUs, and to see how the new P55 chipset will stack up against the p45 and the Core 2 Quad CPUs. You can read the article on Anandtech here explaining the new names and features.
What I am more insterested in is what does that mean to me if I want to upgrade my PC from my Core 3 Due 3.0ghz CPU with 4gb of DDR2 RAM and my Nvidia Geforce 9800gt. Is it even worth it for me to upgrade at all? I had to do more research, and I found this article, again from Anandtech, their Lynnfield Preview. They cover the new intel chipset P55 which i hope will finally bring motherboards that are not over 300$.
I read the article, but I am a little disappointed in what it can do. Why did Intel choose to cripple Crossfire or SLI to only dualband PCIe 8x? On page 2, you can see that Intel did, integrated 16 PCIe 2.0 (that means PCIe 2.0 1x, but 16 of them to make 16x) lanes onto the die of its mainstream Nehalem part. Why not add more so we can have true SLI/Crossfire 16x at a lower price point? And what's with the different socket? The standard CPU fan is loud, I always replace it with an aftermarket one that's quieter and more efficient, now i have to change my heatsink too if I upgrade?
I'm upset, but at the same time, I understand why, it is business they need to make money. Now to wait for a proper benchmark test to see how the Core i5 is against the i7 and Core 2 Duo and Quad!
i think not good