Vital Signs and Overclocking

On the surface, Intel's new Core i7 processors look 

much like their predecessors, but the new architecture

and socket obviously results in some major 

differences between the two. What you see

pictured here is a Core i7 920 processor...

 

The new Core i7 processors are similar 

to Core 2 processors in that they have a

similar looking heat-spreader and packaging 

material, but the similarities end there.

Core i7 processors are physically larger

than Core 2 processors, they have significantly 

more pads and surface mounted components

on their underside, and there are pads on the 

top edge as well. Whether or not those pads 

on the top side of the chips can be used for 

some interesting mods remains to be seen.

 

In these side by side comparisons of a Core i7 and Core 2 processors, the differences between the two can clearly be seen. The Core 2 processor is noticeably smaller, and the density and number of pads on its underside is obviously reduced.