Analyst calls Intel's Core i7 chip 'blindingly fast'

From InfoWorld: Intel's Nehalem chips, slated to ship later this month, Tuesday were called "blindingly fast" by an analyst who is using an early machine running the processor.

Steve Smith, vice president and director of operations for Intel's digital enterprise group, told Computerworld today that the first Nehalem chip, officially named Core i7, will be a quad-core that's aimed at high-end desktops used by power users and gamers. He noted that on the day Intel officially launches the chip, several PC makers will begin shipping desktops running it.

Rob Enderle, an analyst at the Enderle Group, said he's been test-driving an Intel-built desktop running the quad-core chip with the hyperthreading turned on, so it's virtually an eight-core. "It's fast. It's really fast," said Enderle. "We're talking blindingly fast."

The analyst also noted that the chip shows "significant improvement" in power efficiency. "It's very quiet and has low heat output. It's not turning my office into a sauna," he added. "A lot of people are concerned about their energy consumption. For high-performance to be energy efficient is really important."

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