Core i7-4960X First Extreme-Tier Intel Chip to Ship in a Blue Box

[btarunr]

Reviews of Intel's Core i7-4960X may be all over the web, but each one we came across only pictures the chip itself, and not its retail packaging. It turns out that the i7-4960X will be the first "Extreme" tier Intel processor (well, since the decade-old Pentium 4 Extreme Edition anyway), to ship in a blue box, and not the premium black-colored one that's easy to spot at a store, or on a lengthy list online, should you decide to spend a grand on your next CPU. A Japanese store released these pictures of the Core i7-4960X retail box to Hermitage Akihabara.

The Core i7-4960X is a HEDT (high-end desktop) processor by Intel, in the socket LGA2011 package, and based on the 22 nm "Ivy Bridge-E" silicon. It features six cores, twelve logical CPUs enabled by HyperThreading, 15 MB of L3 cache, a quad-channel DDR3 integrated memory controller, and a 48-lane PCI-Express gen 3.0 certified root complex. It features a clock speed of 3.60 GHz, with 4.00 GHz Turbo Boost frequency. The chip should be supported on any socket LGA2011 motherboard based on the X79 Express and C608 chipsets, with a BIOS update in place; unless one supports it out of the box.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[The Von Matrices]

each one we came across only pictures the chip itself, and not its retail packaging.

Just in case anyone is wondering what the box looks like, the hardware.info review (one of the reviews that TPU links to) had a render of the box in its review. Just so you don't have to visit the link, here is the picture they had in the review

 

[Jorge]

Ah... the blue box makes this chippie REALLY extreme. The sheeple will buy into anything. Black was so boring. Blue should make this over-priced CPU OC much better. DUH!

What Intel needs is some tit and arse on the box like the GPU use all over their products. Now THAT, that makes the hormone crazed kids grab Mommy's wallet and head to the computer shop.

 

[HumanSmoke]

What Intel needs is some tit and arse on the box like the GPU use all over their products.

To be fair, Intel probably realized that ALL TWO of the companies that do presently market T&A with their graphics cards are both AMD-exclusive ( Sapphire and VTX3D (PowerColor))...although just because I associate T&A with female, there's no reason I should assume you do also, so I'd note that Asus do have (possibly) a fantasy GUY on their boxes and HIS's packaging features a sword!

 

[johnspack]

So close to getting my sb-e system.... this iteration I'll probably skip. Hope Haswell-e has promise.
Tick-tock.....

 

[btarunr]

Just in case anyone is wondering what the box looks like, the hardware.info review (one of the reviews that TPU links to) had a render of the box in its review. Just so you don't have to visit the link, here is the picture they had in the review

http://content.hwigroup.net/images/products_larges/196823/2/intel-core-i7-4960x.jpg

I meant that nobody posted a photograph of the box. Their samples shipped to them chip-only.

 

[dj-electric]

I meant that nobody posted a photograph of the box. Their samples shipped to them chip-only.

AFAIK box embargo is also 3rd so anyone basically could publish it. didn't know its such a big idea though...

 

[Raghar]

Wait a minute, wasn't black box one of reason why users bought X CPUs? Otherwise they simply overclocked these cheaper CPUs and were fine.

 

[dj-electric]

IMO intel should show their dedication for the market with a glorious box that comes with neat stuff. C'mon, that must be the simplest most stock box you can give to a 1000$ chip or... a 1000$ anything.

The only way to get a cheaper more insulting box is buying the FX9590 chip

A'burn.

 

[ensabrenoir]

......$1k cpus tend not to need decoration to make consumers happy...... the fact that :

1. You can afford it
2.What these babie are capable of doing

more than makes up for any box art / tin can swag.....besides .........The case badge will say it all....

...the albino Borg thing is creeepy though....

 

[D4S4]

^ what he said, especially on the creepiness

 

[Thefumigator]

This is the most horrible box for a cpu I've ever seen

Looks like intel is saying "ok, nobody can compete with our i7, so we don't need to offer these in a fancy box anymore".

It does not matter anyway, but I use to collect most hardware boxes. I have a dozen or more in my room

 

[dj-electric]

A box can tell a lot about the company's approach to the costumer. Some people don't really get it, but that's really the point.

 

[HumanSmoke]

A box can tell a lot about the company's approach to the costumer.

Intel's marketing targets people who make fancy-dress and theatrical clothing?


On a more realistic note...the percentage of Intel's business that involves the company selling retail product directly to the consumer is near microscopic. As for the box art, Intel could wrap up the 4960X in a recycled cardboard box decorated by autistic chimpanzee's for all the difference it makes. Does anyone actually believe that someone in the market for a $1000 CPU is going to say "Yeah, I had the money in my hand, but when I saw the box it came in I was like..Nah, not in that colour- y'know what I mean?"

 

[progste]

I guess this is another ammision of the mediocrity of this chip

 

[Frick]

SHODAN is back.

 

[torgoth]

everyone being picky about the box what the heck

 

[The Von Matrices]

everyone being picky about the box what the heck

You pay an extra $435 for an extra 3MB of cache and 200MHz. You should reasonably expect to get a nice box to go with it.