Quick Verdict
A solid incremental update to the 920. It offered great value for LGA 1366 builders but is obsolete today.
Overview
Launch
2010
Status
End-of-lifeGeneration
1st Generation (Nehalem)
Market
Desktop
Released in February 2010, the Intel Core i7-930 was a natural evolution of the highly successful i7-920. As a 45nm Bloomfield processor, it retained the four-core, eight-thread design and 8MB of L3 cache. The primary improvement was a slight bump in base frequency to 2.8GHz and a turbo boost to 3.06GHz. This minor clock speed increase provided a small but noticeable performance uplift out of the box. Like its predecessor, it dropped into the LGA 1366 socket and supported triple-channel DDR3 memory. While it wasn't a radical departure from the 920, it became the default choice for new LGA 1366 builders. It maintained the legendary overclocking capability of the Bloomfield platform, allowing enthusiasts to push well beyond 4GHz. The i7-930 served as a reliable workhorse for gaming and content creation during a transitional period before Sandy Bridge.
The Core i7-930 was a straightforward refresh of the legendary 920, offering a minor clock speed bump to 2.8GHz. It provided the same great overclocking headroom and Nehalem architecture.
While obsolete today, it was a popular choice for enthusiasts who missed the initial 2008 launch.
Specifications
Performance
8 threads help, but low IPC limits modern productivity.
Good for basic VMs and legacy server setups.
Bottlenecks modern GPUs but handles 2010-era games perfectly.
130W TDP is highly inefficient for a quad-core.
- •Low IPC
- •No AVX2
- •Bottlenecks modern titles
- •Incompatible with modern AI workloads
Architecture
45nm
Process Node
Bloomfield
Codename
4C / 8T
Core Config
8 MB
L3 Cache
130 W
TDP
Architecture Overview
The Core i7-930 utilizes the same 45nm Bloomfield silicon as the rest of the launch LGA 1366 lineup. It features 731 million transistors packed into a 263 mm² die.
CPU Design
The architecture integrates the memory controller on-die, supporting triple-channel DDR3 to maximize bandwidth. Communication with the X58 chipset is handled by the QuickPath Interconnect.
Memory Subsystem
The processor includes 8MB of inclusive L3 cache shared across all four cores. Hyper-Threading is present, enabling eight logical threads.
PCIe & I/O
PCIe 2.0 lanes were provided by the X58 chipset, offering 36 lanes for multi-GPU configurations.
Overclocking
The i7-930 typically utilized the D0 stepping, which offered better thermal characteristics and overclocking headroom than the original C0 stepping found in early 920s. While the CPU multiplier is locked, the Base Clock is highly flexible.
- Slight base clock bump
- Guaranteed D0 stepping
Key Highlights
- Good overclocking headroom (D0 stepping)
- Affordable at launch
- Hyper-Threading for 8 threads
- Triple-channel memory support
- Reliable workhorse for its era
- High 130W TDP
- Locked CPU multiplier
- Obsolete platform
- Lacks modern instruction sets
- Poor single-core performance today
History
The Core i7-930 launched as a quiet refresh rather than a major architectural event. Intel essentially took the proven formula of the i7-920 and applied a higher stock multiplier. It replaced the 920 as the mainstream entry point to the X58 platform.
While it didn't generate the same level of hype as the 920, it was widely praised for being a safe, reliable chip that reliably hit high overclocks. The i7-930 sold alongside the hexa-core Gulftown chips, offering a more affordable quad-core alternative. It remained popular until the LGA 1155 Sandy Bridge platform arrived in 2011, which made the 130W TDP of the Bloomfield chips look inefficient.
The 930 is remembered fondly by system builders who missed the initial Nehalem rush but wanted a piece of the legendary overclocking action before the platform faded.
Improvements over Previous Generation
- Slight base clock bump
- Guaranteed D0 stepping
Alternatives & Competitors
Should You Buy It?
Not Recommended for the right buyer
Retro build or cheap replacement for a dead LGA 1366 CPU.
Avoid if…
- Building new
- Modern gaming
- Need modern instruction sets
Use Cases
Interesting Facts
The 930 was a direct replacement for the popular 920.
It almost exclusively shipped in the D0 stepping, which overclocked better.
It was often bundled with Intel X58 motherboards.
The chip could be pushed to 4GHz+ with decent air cooling.
It retained the 130W TDP despite the minor clock speed bump.
Many enthusiasts skipped the 930 and waited for the 6-core 980X.
It was one of the last quad-core Bloomfield chips produced.
The processor lacks an integrated GPU, requiring a discrete card.
It supported both SLI and CrossFire natively.
The 930 remains a popular chip for retro benchmarking competitions.
People Also Ask
Is the i7-930 better than the i7-920?
Slightly, due to a higher base clock and better D0 stepping, but they are essentially the same chip.
Can the i7-930 be overclocked?
Yes, via the Base Clock (BCLK).
What socket does the i7-930 use?
LGA 1366.
Does the i7-930 have integrated graphics?
No, it requires a dedicated GPU.
Is the Core i7-930 good for modern gaming?
No, it will bottleneck modern GPUs heavily.
How many cores does the i7-930 have?
4 cores and 8 threads.
What RAM does the i7-930 support?
Triple-channel DDR3.
Can the i7-930 run Windows 11?
Not officially.
What is the TDP of the i7-930?
130 Watts.
What is the max turbo of the i7-930?
3.06 GHz.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Core i7-930 released?
February 2010.
What is the base clock of the i7-930?
2.8 GHz.
What architecture is the i7-930 based on?
Nehalem (Bloomfield).
What process node is the i7-930 built on?
45nm.
Does the i7-930 have an unlocked multiplier?
No, but the Base Clock is unlocked.
How much L3 cache does the i7-930 have?
8MB shared.
Is the i7-930 good for video editing?
Only for basic legacy editing.
Can I use DDR4 on an i7-930?
No, it only supports DDR3.
Does the i7-930 support Hyper-Threading?
Yes, it has 8 logical threads.
What stepping is the i7-930?
It is typically the D0 stepping.