Video: The Making of Intel Core i7

posted by Ken Kaplan on November 14, 2008

My teammate Kari Aakre and I spent time meeting up with five of the thousands of Intel experts that helped design and test the new Intel Core i7 processor. 

While shooting on location in the benchmarking lab in Santa Clara, California and in labs in Hillsboro, Oregon, we saw first-hand the enthusiasm, brilliance and dedication that went into the new chip microarchitecture, codenamed "Nehalem." I actually think those traits were built into the new chip!

We learned that the Core i7 can handle more data, quicker and more energy efficiently.  There are many new power and performance-smart features, some that sound like rocket science.  But the one thing that rang true during every interview was the sense of camaraderie and belief that each individual was helping create the best processor on the planet.  One engineer even joked that it could be the best processor in the universe -- he might be right, but of course he's biased because he help build the thing!

"Building this microprocessor brings a lot of people together, like architects, micro architects and the design teams," says Rani Borkar, vice president of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group. "As you get into the development phases, working with the process technology, it's a mind-boggling effort that requires a lot of teamwork across the board."

Seeing this final video kindles a sense of rededication to the spirit of innovation that I see down so many halls I walk and so many people I meet inside Intel.