Intel’s Extreme quad-core processor is the fastest yet

Intel introduced their twelfth quad-core processor today, which also happens to be their fastest processor to date on the Core architecture. The Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800, runs at 2.93 GHz and is ideal for gamers, digital design professionals and enthusiasts who crave obsess over the highest performing computers they can get their hands on. This chip is 65% faster than a Intel Core 2 Extreme dual-core processor X6800 on video encoding. The processor is produced on Intel’s 65 nanometer process, key to enabling an 8 megabyte cache.

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 as opposed to those crappy graphics you would get from a dual core machine. Microsoft Flight Simulator X, is another title designed for the extreme multi-core processing delivered by the new quad-core processor. Adobe, Cakewalk, DivX, Sony Creative Software1and dozens of other developers have also delivered applications that use all four cores.

A 1066 MHz system bus is supported and the processor is available now at a cost of $1,199.

Press Release [Intel] via [AnandTech]