Friday, June 11 2010
Intel is working on a newer high-end processor SKU based on its 32 nm "Gulftown" six-core design, the Core i7 990X Extreme Edition. It is reportedly slated for Q4 2010. As with most other Extreme Edition SKUs, the 990X will feature a higher default BClk multipler, and a higher resulting clock speed. Like the Core i7 980X Extreme Edition, it will feature an unlocked BClk multipler to help with overclocking. Gulftown features six cores on a monolithic die, with a triple-channel DDR3 IMC, and 12 MB of L3 cache. The launch of 990X is said to have been pulled forward by a quarter, as it was earlier reported to launch in Q1 2011.

The other six-core processor that is said to release before the 990X is the Core i7 970, a standard (non-XE, limited BClk multiplier) SKU that will be positioned in the upper-Performance segment, above current Core i7 quad-core SKUs. The Core i7 970 is slated for Q3 2010.

Source: Xbit Labs
posted by btarunr - 11:11 AM |  Related News

User comments
1 to 26 of 33 | Go to Page 1 2    Previous | Next
by Flanker (June 11th - 11:28 AM) - Reply
interesting, but isn't that near or at the time sandy bridge CPU's are released?
by Lionheart (June 11th - 11:44 AM) - Reply
OOOhh nice, I couldn't give a rats arse about the 990X cause I know it will cost me my house & car together but Im glad to hear about the core i7 970 released Q3 2010, Ima upgrade to that for sure:toast:
by claylomax (June 11th - 12:00 PM) - Reply
Can someone explain what exactly Q1, Q2, etc refer to? I mean do they refer to the calendar year or tax/fiscal year? Thanks.
by jellyrole (June 11th - 12:02 PM) - Reply
I think its calendar.
by Flanker (June 11th - 12:02 PM) - Reply
by: claylomax
Can someone explain what exactly Q1, Q2, etc refer to? I mean do they refer to the calendar year or tax/fiscal year? Thanks.
Calendar year i believe, Q1 = Jan, Feb, Mar, Q2 = Apr, May, Jun, etc
by Fourstaff (June 11th - 12:04 PM) - Reply
by: Flanker
Calendar year i believe, Q1 = Jan, Feb, Mar, Q2 = Apr, May, Jun, etc
Yup, that's it. Also, you have the H1 and H2, which is the same concept: H1=first half of the year (Jan-June), H2 is the rest.
by HalfAHertz (June 11th - 12:07 PM) - Reply
Uh I don't want to troll or anything, but Intel isn't working on anything. They'll just re-release the same CPU as the 980x with a higher base multi....I highly doubt they have a new revision or anything ready.
by Hunt3r (June 11th - 12:11 PM) - Reply
he will stay with this revision until next year.
by Fourstaff (June 11th - 12:12 PM) - Reply
by: HalfAHertz
Uh I don't want to troll or anything, but Intel isn't working on anything. They'll just re-release the same CPU as the 980x with a higher base multi....I highly doubt they have a new revision or anything ready.
Well, AMD went from 955BE to 965BE, Intel is doing the same. Plus, hopefully the 970 will be cheap enough for "general public" for people who don't want to go to LGA2011 but still want affordable 6 core goodness.
by Yukikaze (June 11th - 12:14 PM) - Reply
The 990X might well be my next CPU, but what is the most intriguing part is the pricing of the i7 970. If the CPU has a high enough multi, I might as well grab that one instead and save some $$$ in the process.
by btarunr (June 11th - 12:20 PM) - Reply
by: Fourstaff
Well, AMD went from 955BE to 965BE, Intel is doing the same. Plus, hopefully the 970 will be cheap enough for "general public" for people who don't want to go to LGA2011 but still want affordable 6 core goodness.
Yeah, more like $550 affordable.
by HardSide (June 11th - 1:23 PM) - Reply
by: Flanker
interesting, but isn't that near or at the time sandy bridge CPU's are released?
Yep, no idea why anybody would get this, will be the same price, unless I guess you want high-end chip for the mobo that you already have, so you will save money buy not getting a sandy compatible mobo.
by Yukikaze (June 11th - 1:31 PM) - Reply
by: HardSide
Yep, no idea why anybody would get this, will be the same price, unless I guess you want high-end chip for the mobo that you already have, so you will save money buy not getting a sandy compatible mobo.


Well, isn't LGA2011 arriving only in H2 of 2011 ? Until then, the highest core counts for Intel desktop systems will still sit on LGA1366, if I am not mistaken.
by FlanK3r (June 11th - 1:49 PM) - Reply
by: Flanker
Calendar year i believe, Q1 = Jan, Feb, Mar, Q2 = Apr, May, Jun, etc
lol, second Flanker :), hello man :)
by buggalugs (June 11th - 1:56 PM) - Reply
by: Yukikaze
Well, isn't LGA2011 arriving only in H2 of 2011 ? Until then, the highest core counts for Intel desktop systems will still sit on LGA1366, if I am not mistaken.
Yep, Sandy bridge isnt the replacement for tylersburg. Theres still another 12-18 months before it gets replaced.

My guess is the 990X will be priced where the 980X is now and the 980X will become cheaper. Then the 970 will be even cheaper and more of a mainstream price.

If anyone should be pissed its socket 1156 owners. Socket 1366 came out in nov 2008, and wont be replaced until late 2011, socket 1156 came out in Sept 2009 and getting replaced in 2010. So socket 1366, 3 years. Socket 1156 1 year.
by CDdude55 (June 11th - 2:22 PM) - Reply
by: btarunr
Yeah, more like $550 affordable.
Agreed.

I would like an i7 970, but i already know it's not gonna be in my price range. I'm gonna wait till more mainstream 6 core CPU's come out, so i can pick from the cheapset of the bunch.;)
by cauby (June 11th - 4:01 PM) - Reply
They'll soon run out of numbers to name their CPUs.
by mlee49 (June 11th - 4:05 PM) - Reply
Thanks! I've been looking for news about the newest 6 core Intel processors, Non-Extreme editions. I'm hoping $400 is realistic for a January 2011 present to myself.
by zOaib (June 11th - 4:36 PM) - Reply
Hmmm ... 990X will have to see how much faster it is or will jsut stick to my i7 975X for now.
by CDdude55 (June 11th - 5:03 PM) - Reply
by: mlee49
Thanks! I've been looking for news about the newest 6 core Intel processors, Non-Extreme editions. I'm hoping $400 is realistic for a January 2011 present to myself.
Agreed, around $400 isn't to bad. I might pick it up, only thing is, will it need a BIOS update for people like me using an EVGA X58 board?(I'm still using the stock BIOS, as i know i am not buying an extreme edition 6 core CPU... plus i don't want to risk screwing up my mobo). I would like to pick up a mainstream 6 core cpu though.
by mdsx1950 (June 11th - 5:45 PM) - Reply
Nice! :D

Should be able exchange my 980X with a little extra cash for a 990X :D
by TheScavenger (June 11th - 9:09 PM) - Reply
Curious to see what the actually price for the 970 is going to be. I'm sure it will still be $500+. Intel pretty much dominates that market so they name the price.
by _JP_ (June 11th - 11:10 PM) - Reply
Ooo...I'll love the Price tag on this one...
Good thing I'm not a EXXTREME OVERCLOCKER ETHUSIAST, otherwise I would be compelled to get this processor. (the # of "X"s and the caps lock indicates the level of extremeness)

by: claylomax
Can someone explain what exactly Q1, Q2, etc refer to? I mean do they refer to the calendar year or tax/fiscal year? Thanks.


It refers to the division of the calendar in "groups" of months. In this case (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) it's diving the year, 12 months, into quarters (1/4). So you get 4 quarters of the year, with 3 months each.

In other words:

Q1 - Jan, Feb, Mar
Q2 - Apr, May, Jun
Q3 - Jul, Aug, Sep
Q4 - Oct, Nov, Dec
by zAAm (June 11th - 11:48 PM) - Reply
by: CHAOS_KILLA
OOOhh nice, I couldn't give a rats arse about the 990X cause I know it will cost me my house & car together but Im glad to hear about the core i7 970 released Q3 2010, Ima upgrade to that for sure:toast:
You took the words out of my mouth... so I guess I'll go with "ditto" :rolleyes:
by Flanker (June 11th - 11:52 PM) - Reply
by: FlanK3r
lol, second Flanker :), hello man :)
wow, sup :toast:
(that user name is derived from my childhood habit of punching annoying people in the kidneys btw...)
1 to 26 of 33 | Go to Page 1 2    Previous | Next
5841 Users online, 3.26 mbps
Quick Search
Already a member?
Username:
Password:
Register Here!
TechPowerUp on Facebook 
TechPowerUp on Google+ 
New Forum Posts
08:45 by Mathragh
Awesome Llano Overclocking Tool (83)
08:44 by AphexDreamer
Dear Esther (3)
08:39 by basco
Computer Keeps Freezing (9)
08:32 by camoxiong
Surround sound for tv (7)
08:29 by camoxiong
Asus N43SL Laptop (0)
08:24 by camoxiong
HP case mods (6)
08:21 by ViperXTR
TPU's GTX460 Club (492)
07:21 by Fitseries3
[FS/FT] FITs: Final selloff (27)
07:07 by xxdozer32
Check out my n00bish case modding! :D (5)
Popular Reviews

Latest VGA Drivers

ATI Catalyst 12.1 WHQL

XP32 | XP64 | W7 32 | W7 64

NVIDIA GeForce 285.58 WHQL

XP32 | XP64 | W7 32 | W7 64