CPU Comparison

Core i7-860 vs Core i7-860S

A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i7-860 is a mainstream desktop processor launched in September 2009, based on the 45nm Lynnfield architecture. Operating at a base frequency of 2.8 GHz and boosting up to 3.466 GHz via Turbo Boost, it offered an excellent price-to-performance ratio for its time. It features 4 cores and 8 threads, supported by an 8 MB L3 cache. Utilizing the LGA 1156 socket, it brought the Nehalem microarchitecture to a wider audience. Unlike Bloomfield, Lynnfield integrates a dual-channel DDR3 memory controller and 16 PCIe 2.0 lanes directly on the CPU, reducing platform costs. It lacks an integrated GPU, requiring a discrete graphics card. With a 95W TDP, it was relatively easy to cool. The i7-860 became a highly popular choice for gamers and enthusiasts in 2009, offering near-920 performance at a lower price point. Today, it is obsolete but fondly remembered as a workhorse CPU that defined the early Core i7 era.