Intel launches a higher speed grade of Quad Core desktop processors

Today Intel launches its 2.93GHz QX6800 processor - its highest speed Quad Core processor for desktop computers. Looks like the rumour we heard on April 4 was correct.

The QX6800 has a 1066MHz FSB, and comes with two 4MB L2 caches - one for each Core 2 Duo die in the package. For more information about Intel Quad Core processors, read our review of the launch of the QX6700. In our review we managed to run the QX6700 at 3.45GHz, far faster than even the QX6800's stock 2.93GHz :-)

INTEL DELIVERS ITS FASTEST ENTHUSIAST QUAD-CORE PROCESSOR

Added Performance Welcomed by 'Hardcore' PC Users and Developers

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Apr. 9, 2007 – Intel Corporation today advanced its enthusiast-level quad-core processor family with the introduction of the Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processor QX6800, the company' s twelfth quad-core processor offering. Running at 2.93 GHz -- the fastest native clock speed yet reached with the Intel® Core™ microarchitecture for the quad-core desktop -- this addition to Intel 's innovative processor family sets new standards for desktop PC performance. The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX 6800 is ideal for those gamers, digital design professionals and enthusiasts who crave the highest performing computers they can get their hands on.

At the recent Game Developer's Conference* in San Francisco, several software developers demonstrated new ga mes that have been "threaded" to take advantage of multiple processor cores and threads. This increased performance can help deliver smoother gameplay, more realistic game effects and more lifelike artificial intelligence. Some of the most exciting titles of the year such as Crytek' s Crysis*, Gas Powered Games' Supreme Commander* and Flagship' s Hellgate London* have undergone substantial joint engineering efforts with Intel to use more than two processing threads to their advantage.

One of the first games ever developed for the PC is also entering the quad-core era. "The latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator* X, Service Pack One (SP1), due out later this month, is a great match for the extreme multi-core processing delivered by the new Intel Core 2 E xtreme quad-core processor," said Phil Taylor, Flight Sim Program Manager, Microsoft Game Studios . "Flight Sim X SP1 greatly increases multicore utilization and will scale as more threads are available leading to reduced load times as well as frame rate im provements and greater visual complexity during flight. The Flight Simulator team at Microsoft is pleased to work with Intel to provide our end users with a great gaming experience."

In addition to delivering adrenaline to hardcore gamers, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is also being embraced by media users and developers. Adobe*, Cakewalk*, DivX*, Sony Creative Software* and dozens of other developers have delivered applications that use all four cores, enabling media professionals to do what t hey do best-- capture creativity quickly and reliably. For example, the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6800 is up to 65% faster1 than the Intel Core 2 Extreme dual-core processor X6800 on video encoding. This is a key capability as more households are recording and editing high-definition video to capture, preserve and share memories.

        "The performance and technology leadership we are delivering with our enthusiast quad-core processor lineup is a direct result of the reliability provided by Intel 's manufacturing and engineering strength," said Eric Kim, senior vice president and general manager of Intel 's Digital Home Group. "This translates to user benefits such as better gameplay with more intelligent computer-generated opponents and less wait time for demanding high-definition media editing."

        The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is produced on Intel' s industry-leading 65 nanometer process, key to enabling the large 8 megabyte cache. A 1066 MHz system bus is supported and the processor is available now at a cost of $1,199.