[English] Review – Intel Core i7 980X

Multitasking

Our multitasking benchmark measures how well a system behaves in a multitasking environment. We ran Encode HD application to transcode a video into Playstation 3 format, then, we launched the Resident Evil 5 game (1920×1080 resolution; all graphics setting maxed out) and measured the performance in each application.

Gaming Performance

Transcoding a video in the background while playing a game at the same time would have given some negative impacts to both applications, since the system’s processing power must be divided between the two. Core i7 980X’s extra cores played a major role here. With lesser threads to share, the Core i7 975 lagged behind, suffering a 20+ FPS loss in the game while the Core i7 980X managed to sustain the frame rate well above 100 FPS.

Transcoding Performance

This time, we turn our attention to the other application running at the background, the Encode HD with its video transcoding. The same thing happened here. Core i7 980X’s 12 threads pulled it ahead of the Core i7 975.

Power Consumption

With more cores and transistors crammed onto its CPU die, the Core i7 980X should consume more power compared to the Core i7 975, right? Wrong. Contrary to the common assumption, in full load condition, the Core i7 980X consumes lesser power than the Core i7 975. During idle state, we only noticed a mere 3 watt above the Core i7 980X.