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Intel Core i7 Build & Architecture Changes
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The Build - Processor and Motherboard
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First things first, let's compare a Nehalem Processor - known as the Core i7 - to an older Quad-Core, the Yorkfield processor.
As you can see, the QX9770 pictured on the right is physically smaller and contains many fewer pins than the Core i7 965 on the left.
However, the front isn't so different. Our processor is an engineering sample, which is why the logo on the front says Intel Confidential. Retail products will have the part number on them.
As you may have deduced by now, a new processor design requires a new socket, and a new socket requires a new motherboard. We've chosen Asus's P6T Deluxe.
Asus has a great reputation in the industry for providing rock solid overclocking boards, and we're using this one for a couple of reasons. For one, the only Nehalem compatible chipset, (Intel's X58 chipset) is tough to find right now, and this board was available. Secondly, our initial results in the lab while testing memory on this board were very positive.
The new socket is called LGA1366, or Socket B. This replaces LGA775, or Socket T, which Intel has been using since the Pentium 4 days.
Here's a quick shot of what the new socket looks like.
As you can see, it's fairly similar to the LGA775 socket, just larger. It will require a new heatsink mounting mechanism, though. So if you're planning on using a 3rd party heatsink, like we did, you should request the mounting hardware from the manufacturer.
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