Meet Wolfdale...why Phenom hasn't got a chance

[txnetcop]

The new 45nm Core 2 Duos are out, and they are inexpensive, they run cooler, they overclocl higher, and they are lightning fast, as an added bonus, some P-35 and all X-38 motherboards will work with the new Penryns. E8500 and the new QX9770 will be available as well. Look for introductory low pricing!

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/intel-wolfdale.html

http://www.legionhardware.com/document.php?id=714&p=0

http://en.expreview.com/?p=68

This is today's ad at Microcenter in Dallas, look for them today at a store near you:

Be the first to purchase the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor E8400 at Micro Center!
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Get the breakthrough in energy-efficient performance you need to run the coolest digital media and the latest software simultaneously with the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor E8400.
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• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor E8400
• 3.00GHz, 6MB L2 Cache
• 1333MHz Front Side Bus
• Retail box
• Includes heatsink and fan
• 3-year Manufacturer limited warranty
• Built on new 45 nanometer technology
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Save $50 - $189.99

Conclusion

Well, everything seems pretty clear. Summing up everything we have just said, we can state that new dual-core Core 2 Duo E8500, E8400 and E8200 processors on 45nm cores are great from all stand points. They are faster than their predecessors working at the same clock speeds. Besides, their working frequencies are initially higher than those of previous Core 2 Duo CPUs. And taking into account that Intel is going to sell the new solutions for the price of Core 2 Duo E6850, E6750 and E6550, we can all get “free” performance improvement of 10-15% on new Intel dual-core CPUs.


Moreover, Core 2 Duo’s transition to new manufacturing technology provides additional bonuses to the users. First, they will support of the promising SSE4.1 instructions that will show their best in the future. Second, Wolfdale CPUs are extremely economical. Third, they overclock brilliantly and hence will become overclockers’ choice.
In other words, the second reincarnation of dual-core processors on Core micro-architecture turned out a definite success. The only upsetting thing about it is that the sales of these processors will definitely shake AMD’s positions in the market even more, because they cannot offer anything of the same performance level at the time. All dual-core processors from AMD are slower than the new Core 2 Duo E8000 series, which automatically ousts them from the $150+ price segment, where Intel’s dual-core solutions will now become the only player.
Ted

[crashaz]

Just saw the email this morning.... if I trip... I just may end up in Richardson to pick one up with a new ASUS motherboard.:costumes:

[stansdds]

Good information. I hope to build a new computer in 2008 as my current rig (socket 939 motherboard that barely supports SATA 1.5) has reached the end of its upgrade path.

[txnetcop]

More info to come, I'm not home until late tonight!
Ted

[crashaz]

I'll be watching...have to head up to Little Elm tommorrow... Microcenter is only a little detour.

:d

[crashaz]

OK spill the beans Tex! How we lookin? :d

[txnetcop]

Testing at TechCorp Tues will tell me more. While I can't release private findings I can at least let you know that the possibilities are, and I will see if any other testing group comes up with the same results.
Ted

[jdhaenens]

The online retailers are starting to sell the Wolfdale processors. Both New Egg and Zip Zoomfly have the 8400's on their sites.

Jim

[cannonhead]

Anyone have an idea when the 8500 will hit the Retail stores?:kilroy:

[jdhaenens]

Well, I've made the plunge. I figure for around $200.00 it's worth it to upgrade from my E6600. The processor should be here in a few days.

I'm running an ASUS P5K board with 4G of Dual Channel DDR2 800 OCZ Platinum memory and an EVGA 8800GTS 640MB video card (factory overclocked version).

Based on FSB speed, and the fact that the last time I ran a full bore test on framerates for FSX, I appeared to be CPU limited versus Video Card limited, I expect to see about a 15-20% increase in framerate on my XP Pro drive and maybe slightly higher on my XP 64 Pro drive due to video memory allocation appearing outside gameplay allocation.

I've never OC'd the 6600 but may give it a shot on the 8400.

I get slightly better framerates on the xp 64 side(with or without Acceleration). I only have Acceleration installed on the 64 bit side as most of my development work is done on the 32 bit side. I test for SP2 compliance on the 64 bit side.

I'll keep everyone posted.

Jim

[txnetcop]

Anyone have an idea when the 8500 will hit the Retail stores?:kilroy:

same time as the QX9770 in three to four weeks
Ted

[runswithscissors]

Just looking for confirmation that this chip will indeed fit onto my P5n32-E SLI
board. Would I see any gain.
Doug

[txnetcop]

Just looking for confirmation that this chip will indeed fit onto my P5n32-E SLI
board. Would I see any gain.
Doug

Honestly the Penryn's work better in the x-38 boards, but some P-35 boards will work. It should work in this board and yes even with the DDR2 800 memory you should still see a gain, how much is anybody's guess.
Ted