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Now that dual core processors have become main stream, the next push is for quad core processors.

Last November, we covered the launch of Intel's QX6700 processor - and found that while performance was excellent, there were few applications that could take advantage of the additional cores. Time marches on, and some software is beginning to take better advantage of multiple cores.

Recently, we reviewed a Core 2 Duo E6750 that was based on the new G0 stepping of the Core 2 die, and we found it to be by far the best overclocking Core 2 processor to date. When we became aware of how inexpensive the new X3210 Xeons are, most of which are also based on the G0 stepping of the Core 2 die, we had to take one for a spin... after all, it might set new in-house records for quad core overclocks!

The X3210 has two dual core Core 2 Duo dies connected inside the packaging; and it runs at 2.13GHz on a 1066MHz FSB - meaning that it has a maximum 8X multiplier with a 266MHz QDR FSB.

We could tell from the packaging that we had one of the desirable G0 stepping based X3210's; and given our great success overclocking a dual core (single die) E6750, I figured we would be able to get some really nice results.

I was right :-)