Can I update my Intel® Core™2 desktop processor to an Intel® Core™ i7 or Intel® Core™ i5 desktop processor?

Since your Intel® Core™2 processor requires a different socket than the Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel® Core™ i5 processors, the answer is no.

What are the motherboard socket differences between the Intel® Core™2 desktop processors, the Intel® Core™ i7 desktop processors, and the Intel® Core™ i5 desktop processors?

The Intel® Core™2 desktop processors feature a LGA775 socket. The Intel® Core™ i7-900 processor series feature a LGA1366 socket. The Intel® Core™ i7-800 processor series and the Intel® Core™ i5-700 processor series feature a LGA1156 socket. As a result of the socket size differences between these processor families, processors and fan-heatsinks for each respective socket are not compatible with each other and will not work in a socket they were not designed for.

What are the Intel® Core™ i7 processor and the Intel® Core™ i5 processor DDR3 memory voltage limitations?

Intel® recommends using memory that adheres to the Jedec memory specification for DDR3 memory which is 1.5 volts, plus or minus 5%. Anything over this voltage can either damage the processor or significantly reduce the processor life span.

What is the maximum frequency for DDR3 memory when used with Intel® Core™ i7-900 processor series?

These processors support DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 1066 MHz. If faster DDR3 memory is used (such as 1333 MHz or 1600 MHz), it will be down-clocked to operate at 1066 MHz.

What is the maximum frequency for DDR3 memory when used with Intel® Core™ i7-800 processor series and the Intel® Core™ i5-700 processor series?

These processors support DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 1333 MHz. If faster DDR3 memory is used (such as 1600 MHz or higher), it will be down-clocked to operate at 1333 MHz.

How should memory be populated on the desktop board?

Slot 0 in each channel must be populated first in each channel for correct operation.

Why has the shared cache size of the Intel® Core™ i7 processor and Intel® Core™ i5 processor been reduced when compared to the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor?

Although the total amount of shared cache has been reduced for the Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel® Core™ i5 processor families, it now has one shared L3 cache instead of two separate L2 caches. The new L3 cache is inclusive which improves efficiency by reducing the amount of snoops needed. A 256K L2 data and instruction cache also has been added to each core of these processors, further improving overall cache performance.

What is the difference between this version of Intel® Hyper-threading and the original version?

It is similar to the original version with one important difference – this version is capable of supporting two threads per core for a total of eight threads. The original implementation of Hyper-threading supported two threads since they were single core processors.

How do I check to see if Intel® Hyper-threading and Intel® Turbo Boost Technology are enabled?

Go into your bios and check the settings for these features. Both technologies are typically enabled by default in the bios. Please note that Intel® Core™ i5-750 processor does not support Intel® Hyper-threading.

Are there any new chassis requirements for the Intel® Core™ i7-900 processor series platform? How about for the Intel® Core™ i7-800 processor series and Intel® Core™ i5-700 processor series platform?

There are no new chassis requirements for the Intel® Core™ i7-900 processor series platform. Currently available chassis’s tested to support 130W processors should meet the requirement. See the Intel® tested chassis list at http://www.intel.com/go/chassis for a list of chassis that will work. The use of a Thermally Advantaged Chassis (TAC) is still highly recommended.

There are no new chassis requirements for the Intel® Core™ i7-800 processor series and Intel® Core™ i5-700 processor series platform. Currently available chassis’s tested to support 95W processors should meet the requirement. See the Intel® tested chassis list at http://www.intel.com/go/chassis for a list of chassis that will work. The use of a Thermally Advantaged Chassis (TAC) is still highly recommended.

Does either the Intel® Core™ i7 processor or the Intel® Core™ i5 processor family support Error Correction Code (ECC) memory?

Neither family of desktop processors supports ECC memory. Typically ECC memory is used on servers and workstations rather than on desktop platforms. This is due to the price premium and extremely low likelihood of a data error occurring even on memory not utilizing ECC.

This applies to:

Intel® Core™ i5 Processor Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Intel® Core™ i7 Processor Extreme Edition