Intel Core i7-860 vs Intel Core i7-920

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Core i7-860 compared with Core i7-920

	IntelCore i7-860	IntelCore i7-920
Overview
Released
Released	September 2009	November 2008
Cores and clocks
Cores
Cores	4	4
Threads
Threads	8	8
Base clock
Base clock	2.8 GHz	2.66 GHz
Boost clock
Boost clock	3.46 GHz (better)	2.93 GHz
L3 cache
L3 cache	8 MB	8 MB
Cores
Cores	Four cores and eight threads with Hyper-Threading. Alphr’s exact review explicitly lists the clock multiplier as locked.	Four cores with Hyper-Threading; eight simultaneous threads. PCStats confirms a locked CPU multiplier; base-clock overclocking is possible, so locked does not mean all overclocking is disabled.
Clocks
Clocks	2.80 GHz base; up to 3.46 GHz with one core active, 3.33 GHz with two and 2.93 GHz with four, per Intel’s exact embedded brief. Intel’s 8 September 2009 launch states availability that day and names the 860 in its table.	Intel's product brief gives up to 2.93 GHz single-core Turbo Boost. Intel's 17 November 2008 sale notice names the 920 and confirms immediate system and boxed retail availability.
Cache
Cache	8 MB shared L3 cache.	–
Graphics and AI
Built-in graphics
Built-in graphics	No	No
Graphics
Graphics	Intel’s exact-model comparison chart lists no processor graphics.	No processor graphics; a separate graphics solution is required. Intel's desktop comparison chart lists graphics as not applicable.
Platform
Socket
Socket	LGA1156	LGA1366
Base power
Base power	95 W	130 W
Unlocked
Unlocked	No	No
Memory support
Memory support	Two channels of DDR3-1066/1333 in Intel’s exact embedded product brief.	Three channels of DDR3-1066 in Intel's exact-model product brief. A later Intel comparison chart incorrectly lists two channels; the original product brief is used here.
PCIe
PCIe	16 PCIe 2.0 lanes, configurable as one ×16 or two ×8 links; DMI connects the chipset, according to Intel’s launch and embedded brief.	Intel's product brief describes X58 chipset PCIe 2.0 graphics connectivity, including two ×16 links. These are chipset connections, not CPU-integrated PCIe lanes. CPU-to-chipset QuickPath Interconnect runs at 4.8 GT/s for the 920.
Process
Process	45 nm; Lynnfield. Intel’s launch names the P55 platform.	45 nm; Nehalem architecture.
Cooler
Cooler	–	Requires an LGA1366/X58 platform; incompatible with LGA775 motherboards. Intel's retired specification page could not be read, so optional package temperature and separate maximum-power values are omitted.