The Intel Core i7-980X was a desktop processor with 6 cores, launched in March 2010. It is part of the Core i7 Extreme lineup, using the Gulftown architecture with Socket 1366. Thanks to Intel Hyper-Threading the core-count is effectively doubled, to 12 threads. Core i7-980X has 12 MB of L3 cache and operates at 3.333 GHz by default, but can boost up to 3.6 GHz, depending on the workload. Intel is building the Core i7-980X on a 32 nm production process using 1,170 million transistors. You may freely adjust the unlocked multiplier on Core i7-980X, which simplifies overclocking greatly, as you can easily dial in any overclocking frequency.
With a TDP of 130 W, the Core i7-980X consumes a lot of power, so good cooling is definitely needed. Intel's processor supports DDR3 memory with a triple-channel interface. For communication with other components in the computer, Core i7-980X uses a PCI-Express Gen 2 connection. This processor does not have integrated graphics, you will need a separate graphics card.