So why the Westmere-EP vs. The i7-980X?
It looks as though the Westmere-EP is pretty much identical to the i7-980X so why use the Westmere in the Mac Pro vs the i7?
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=47917,47932,
Name
1. Intel® Xeon® Processor W3680 (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI)
2. Intel® Core™ i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI)
Code Name
1. Westmere-EP
2. Gulftown
Status Launched Launched
Launch Date Q1'10 Q1'10
Processor Number W3680 i7-980X
# of Cores 6 6
# of Threads 12 12
Clock Speed 3.33 GHz 3.33 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.6 GHz 3.6 GHz
Cache 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Bus/Core Ratio 25 25
Bus Type QPI QPI
System Bus 6.4 GT/s 6.4 GT/s
# of QPI Links 1 1
Instruction Set 64-bit 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.2 SSE4.2
Embedded Options Available No No
Supplemental SKU No No
Lithography 32 nm 32 nm
Max TDP 130 W 130 W
VID Voltage Range 0.800V-1.375V 0.800V-1.375V
1ku Bulk Budgetary Price $999.00 $999.00
Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type) 24 GB 24 GB
Memory Types DDR3-800/1066/1333 DDR3-1066
# of Memory Channels 3 3
Max Memory Bandwidth 32 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Physical Address Extensions 36-bit 36-bit
ECC Memory Supported Yes No
Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics No No
Package Specifications
Max CPU Configuration 1 1
TCASE 67.9°C 67.9°C
Package Size 42.5mm X 45mm 42.5mm X 45.0mm
Lithography 32 nm 32 nm
Sockets Supported FCLGA1366 FCLGA1366
Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) Yes Yes
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology Yes No,
AES New Instructions Yes Yes
Intel® 64 Yes Yes
Idle States Yes Yes
Enhanced Intel® Speedstep Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Demand Based Switching Yes No
Thermal Monitoring Technologies No No
It looks as though the Westmere-EP is pretty much identical to the i7-980X so why use the Westmere in the Mac Pro vs the i7?
http://ark.intel.com/Compare.aspx?ids=47917,47932,
Name
1. Intel® Xeon® Processor W3680 (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI)
2. Intel® Core™ i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition (12M Cache, 3.33 GHz, 6.40 GT/s Intel® QPI)
Code Name
1. Westmere-EP
2. Gulftown
Status Launched Launched
Launch Date Q1'10 Q1'10
Processor Number W3680 i7-980X
# of Cores 6 6
# of Threads 12 12
Clock Speed 3.33 GHz 3.33 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency 3.6 GHz 3.6 GHz
Cache 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache 12 MB Intel® Smart Cache
Bus/Core Ratio 25 25
Bus Type QPI QPI
System Bus 6.4 GT/s 6.4 GT/s
# of QPI Links 1 1
Instruction Set 64-bit 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions SSE4.2 SSE4.2
Embedded Options Available No No
Supplemental SKU No No
Lithography 32 nm 32 nm
Max TDP 130 W 130 W
VID Voltage Range 0.800V-1.375V 0.800V-1.375V
1ku Bulk Budgetary Price $999.00 $999.00
Memory Specifications
Max Memory Size
(dependent on memory type) 24 GB 24 GB
Memory Types DDR3-800/1066/1333 DDR3-1066
# of Memory Channels 3 3
Max Memory Bandwidth 32 GB/s 25.6 GB/s
Physical Address Extensions 36-bit 36-bit
ECC Memory Supported Yes No
Graphics Specifications
Integrated Graphics No No
Package Specifications
Max CPU Configuration 1 1
TCASE 67.9°C 67.9°C
Package Size 42.5mm X 45mm 42.5mm X 45.0mm
Lithography 32 nm 32 nm
Sockets Supported FCLGA1366 FCLGA1366
Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) Yes Yes
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology Yes No,
AES New Instructions Yes Yes
Intel® 64 Yes Yes
Idle States Yes Yes
Enhanced Intel® Speedstep Technology Yes Yes
Intel® Demand Based Switching Yes No
Thermal Monitoring Technologies No No
