New Intel i7 980x CPU

After a year, Intel has refreshed it's top processor i7. Despite some rumors, the CPU is not marked as i9, but remains i7. We can only make specualtion what will Intel show us under i9 mark. First and for least half a year, Intel's only six-cores CPU works with the interface LGA 1366 and requires X58 chipset. The CPU with codename Gulfotwn is based on 32nm architecture technology. As it's  predecessors includes hyper-threading, which means that number of logical processors rose to 12. Processors has also added new commands (SSE 4.1 and SSE 4.2), including for encryption AES. There is also known Trubo Boost mode, support for QPI link controller and integrated DDR3 Triple Channel 1066Mhz. It has 12MB cache L3, constisting of over 1.17 billion transistors.

It's maximum energy consumption is below 130W, which is not surprising that Intel will offer a new cooling fan (box version), called DBX-B, which uses cooper heat pipes and it does it's job much better and quiter than known models. (from 20 dBA at 800rpm up to 35 dBA at 1800rpm). Intel i7-980x oveclocks very good. With just a small increase of voltage at 1.375 V, the stable operation was achieved at 4.2GHz. It would go even further (air cooled).

The processor is not for everyone, enthusiast will love it, although it's the Intel's most expensive extreme desktop processor at the moment. If you are buying it to get the most out of the computer games, I have to disappoint you, because the difference is not rapid comparing Core 2 Duo's and will not be until computer games and applications will not be written to use all six cores.