Intel Core i7-860 vs Intel Core i7-870: comparison

Comparison of Intel Core i7-860 and Intel Core i7-870: key differences and a full specification table.

Key differences

Intel Core i7-870 has a higher base clock (2.93 GHz vs 2.8 GHz) and a higher maximum clock (3.6 GHz vs 3.46 GHz).

Both processors match on: core count (4), thread count (8), L3 cache (8 MB), TDP (95 W), process node (45 nm), maximum memory size (16 GB), memory channels (2), PCIe version (2).

These are specification values: they show differences between the models but do not determine a performance winner. For a specific workload, rely on independent benchmarks.

Key specifications

ParameterIntel Core i7-860Intel Core i7-870
Cores / threads 4 / 8 4 / 8
Max boost clock 3.46 GHz 3.6 GHz
L3 cache 8 MB 8 MB
TDP 95 W 95 W
Process 45 nm 45 nm

Full specification table

Differing values are highlighted. This is not a better/worse rating: numbers from different architectures are not always comparable.

Parameter Intel Core i7-860 Intel Core i7-870
General
Model i7-860 i7-870
Codename Lynnfield Lynnfield
Segment Desktop Desktop
Product line Legacy Intel Core Processors Legacy Intel Core Processors
Process 45 nm 45 nm
Launch date Q3 2009 Q3 2009
Status Discontinued Discontinued
Servicing status End of Servicing Lifetime End of Servicing Lifetime
Embedded options available Yes No
Use conditions Server/Enterprise —
CPU
Cores 4 4
Threads 8 8
Multithreading (SMT/HT) Yes Yes
Base clock 2.8 GHz 2.93 GHz
Max boost clock 3.46 GHz 3.6 GHz
L3 cache 8 MB 8 MB
Bus speed 2.5 GT/s 2.5 GT/s
TDP 95 W 95 W
Turbo Boost Yes (1) Yes (1)
64-bit support Yes Yes
Instruction set width 64 bit 64 bit
Instruction set extensions SSE4.2 SSE4.2
Memory
Max memory size 16 GB 16 GB
Memory types DDR3 DDR3
Memory channels 2 2
Max memory bandwidth 21 GB/s 21 GB/s
ECC memory supported No No
Physical address extensions 36-bit 36-bit
I/O and interfaces
PCI Express revision 2 2
PCI Express lanes 16 16
PCI Express configurations 1x16, 2x8 1x16, 2x8
Package and thermal
Sockets supported LGA1156 LGA1156
Max CPU configuration 1 1
Package size 37.5mm x 37.5mm 37.5mm x 37.5mm
TCASE 72.7 °C 72.7 °C
Die size 296 mm² 296 mm²
Transistors (millions) 774 million 774 million
Security and virtualization
Virtualization (VT-x / AMD-V) Yes Yes
Virtualization for Directed I/O (VT-d) Yes Yes
Extended Page Tables (EPT) Yes Yes
AES-NI No No
Execute Disable Bit Yes Yes
vPro Eligibility Intel vPro Platform Intel vPro Platform
Technologies
Enhanced SpeedStep Yes Yes
Idle States Yes Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies No No

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