Intel's upcoming Core i7 "Broadwell-E" HEDT processors in the LGA2011v3 package will be sold in not three, but four models, detailed in our older article. The lineup consists of two six-core parts, and one each of eight-core and ten-core. The biggest question at the time was pricing - with Intel traditionally pricing the slowest HEDT part around the $400-mark, the middle variant around $600, and the top-dog at $1000, how the company could squeeze in a fourth variant. It turns out that the company wants you to pay top-dollar for ten cores in your machine.

Intel could retain its traditional HEDT pricing scheme for all but the 10-core part. The "entry-level" (if you can call it that) Core i7-6800K could be priced around the $400-mark. The Core i7-6850K, could retail for $600. It's likely that clock-speed isn't the only thing setting the two six-core models, it wouldn't surprise us if Intel ships the i7-6800K with a "limited" PCIe root-complex, much like the i7-5820K. The eight-core i7-6900K could be priced at $999, at what used to be Intel's top client CPU price-point. It turns out that the 10-core i7-6950X could be priced at no less than $1,500. This isn't the first time Intel priced its top HEDT chip above $999. The dual-socket capable Core 2 Extreme QX9775, which sold exclusively with Intel's first-generation "Skull Trail" motherboard, retailed at $1,300. Intel plans to launch its Core i7 "Broadwell-E" lineup in the second quarter of 2016.

Intel's Core i7 processor in the LGA1366 package is currently leading in the performance front, some of the fastest processors for the desktop platform fall in this league. Despite lacking a directly competitive processor, the platform had its share of competition thanks to motherboard manufacturers competing within themselves. EVGA for one, is set to unveil a bleeding-edge motherboard later this year, which supports two LGA1366 processors. So far, enthusiasts working for EVGA have only disclosed that the motherboard would work with Intel's DP Xeon 5000 series LGA1366 processors, which are officially capable of working on dual-socket server and workstation motherboards.

However, a plausible rumor doing rounds has it that EVGA may attempt to make its motherboard work with Core i7 series processors - which are incapable to operate in pairs, at least from what we're led to believe. EVGA is attempting to do this by modifying the reference Intel design for the platform.

ZOTAC GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi (GF9300-I-E) delivers three SATA 3.0 Gb/s ports with support for RAID 0, 1, 0+1 and 5, wake on USB support, greater range of overclocking options and enhancements to the GeForce 9300 graphics processor.

"ZOTAC was the world's first manufacturer to provide users with high-performance mini-ITX platforms with PCI Express 2.0 x16 expansion that made no compromises for performance. Our latest ZOTAC GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi, GF9300-I-E, takes our award winning formula of combining performance with a small form factor and supercharges it to make the world's fastest mini-ITX platform available," said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.

ASUS' Republic of Gamers (ROG), a brand synonymous with gaming and overclocking, today presented a host of innovations and products designed to provide users with the ultimate experience in high performance gaming and overclocking. These include ROG's exclusive MemOK! one-click memory rescue tool for effortless and worry-free memory upgrades, the limited edition ASUS ROG MARS GTX 295 graphics card that shatters all existing graphics benchmarks, and the world's most intelligent graphics card-the ROG MATRIX GTX 285. Other highlights include a 120 Hz 3D-ready Gaming Monitor that provides users with an immersive gaming experience, and the ASUS W90 notebook-a mobile gaming powerhouse that has recently set a Guinness World Record in overclocking. With such an impressive line-up, ASUS is once again poised to set the gaming and overclocking scene alight.

Intel's quad-core Core i5 2.66 GHz processor based on the Lynnfield core, was tested on an Intel reference-design P55 motherboard (DIBX_CRB) by forum members of XFastest. The processor accompanies 2.80 GHz and 2.93 GHz variants higher up in the series, and is expected to be priced at US $196.

The test bed was put through 3DMark Vantage (Performance and eXtreme settings), Cinebench R10, Queen, Photoworxx and AES tests of Everest. The GPU is of little relevance, as the CPU test 1 is what is to be looked at. At Queen, the setup with 4 cores and HyperThreading enabled, edged a dual-Xeon L5320 (8 cores) setup. It proved to be roughly 25% faster than Core 2 Extreme QX9650 at Photoworxx, and scored marginally higher than it AES. More pictures of the motherboard at the source.

Micro-Star International (MSI), the top motherboard and netbook makers worldwide, has developed the powerful embedded system MS-9A08 by Industrial Platform Service Department (IPS). MSI MS-9A08 support Intel Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo, and it is designed with Intel GM45 Chipset and great for applications like digital signage, Kiosk, gaming, and thin client to satisfied high performance request.

MSI debut MS-9A08 with GM45+ICH9M-E chipset to support Intel's latest 45nm Core 2 processor, the most powerful processing core with mighty performance and advanced power-saving mechanism which help to save the earth. Besides, it adapts new generation Intel GM45 north-bridge chip which integrated with Intel GMAX4500 HD graphics core to boost 1.7 times 3D performance, its fully support to Microsoft DirectX 10 ensure visual effects and gaming compatibility. Further more, the ClearVideo technology inside MS-9A08 fully supports Blu-Ray video playback, and smoothen multiple video formats' encoding and decoding, including MPEG2, H.264 and VC1 via hardware acceleration.

Intel recently added two processors to its list of parts that are soon to be dicontinued forever.The models planned for retirement are the desktop 90nm 2.53 GHz Intel Celeron D 326 (256 KB L2 cache) and the tray version of the mobile 65nm 2.60 GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme X7800 (4 MB L2 cache). The Celeron 326 will be available for orders up until March 12, 2010 and ship till September 10, 2010. The mobile X7800 will be listed till June 19, 2009 and ship until February 19, 2010.

A notable inclusion of perhaps every processor-in-box product, apart from the processor, cooler and documentation, is the case-badge for the processor. The case-badge is a small sticker that shows the company logo for the processor installed in the PC. Intel is reportedly designing new logos (in effect case-badges) for at least 14 of its products. The logos, most of which are rounded-rectangle shaped seem to have been designed to give the processor box a new look, also indicating perhaps that the company is designing new packaging material as well, that use the new logos.

Intel has large volumes of Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad and Xeon processors in the making, that Intel feels need new clothing. Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad, get the distinct chrome-blue colour that one can find in the Core i7 (non-XE) logo. Core 2 and Core i7 logos look similar at the first glance. Core 2 Extreme gets the chrome-black colour the Core i7 XE logo has. All Centrino series badges stick to the silver-white colour scheme. The logo designs have small inlets on the top-right corner that have small portions of the die-shot. Core 2 and Centrino logos have die-shots of a portion of the Penryn core, while the Core i7 logos use those of the Bloomfield core. Interestingly, Xeon keeps its current logo, as well as a new one with chrome-slate colour, and design of the current Core i7 logo, perhaps making it clear the Xeon processor is based on the Nehalem architecture. The new logos will be effective from Q2 2009.

Intel recently informed its partners that as part of its nonstop update process, some of the giants processors that are not competitive anymore are going to be slowly phased out. Both the 3.0GHz Intel QX9650 and the 3.2GHz QX9770 desktop processors will dissapear from market shelves forever. Both processors are no longer listed in Intel's official processor price list. Final orders will be taken till June 5th of this year and the final tray processors are expected to ship February 2, 2010, while boxed versions will ship until September of next year.

Shuttle Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of small form factor (SFF) computers and accessories, today announced the availability of the new custom liquid-cooled SDXi Carbon extreme gaming solution showcased earlier this month at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.

As an extreme performance system for gamers, enthusiasts, and even professionals working with graphic design, animation, or CAD, the Shuttle SDXi Carbon features a powerful quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 processor, dual-slot NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 graphics card, and high-speed DDR2 memory (up to 16GB) to deliver the best possible experience for today's most demanding applications. Then to ensure maximum performance and stability at all times, SDXi Carbon features the world's first Liquid I.C.E. technology that is designed to deliver the most efficient cooling solution in an extreme small form factor system. As a finishing touch, the SDXi Carbon is custom wrapped and painted in a premium automotive level finish, making the exterior of the system as unique as the interior.

Desktop replacement laptop specialists Eurocom is said to be preparing the first mobile platform featuring a NVIDIA GT2xx-series (tenth generation NVIDIA GPU) multi-GPU graphics subsystem. The company's next-generation M980U Emperor already listed on the company website, is specified to hold two Gxx-class GPUs. The company can claim this to be the first mobile platform to even feature a Gxx GPU, let alone a multi-GPU setup.

In its report, GPU Café notes that with GT2xx based mobile GPUs planned for the later half of this year, one can expect the GPUs on the Eurocom notebook to be based on the GT215 GPU, a performance-class GPU that is expected to replace the G92 series GPUs. The GT215 will be built on the 40 nm manufacturing process, from which one can expect energy efficiency. The rest of the notebook's specifications include a Core 2 Extreme processor, and uses the NVIDIA MCP79xi SLI core-logic, 1920×1080 px HD display, up to 8 GB of DDR3 memory and 1.5 TB of storage. Incidentally, Eurocom is also one of the first desktop replacement vendors to be preparing an Intel Core i7-based notebook.

Silicon giant Intel, has reportedly decided to lay to rest, seven of its popular CPUs, under the Core 2 Extreme and Core 2 Quad series, by Q3 2009. The process of phasing these models out takes place in two stages: issuing product discontinuation notices (PDNs) to channel vendors and other key distributors, and to declare the product end of life (EOL) shortly after. Likely to face the axe are Core 2 Extreme models QX9770 and QX9650; Core 2 Quad models Q9450, Q6700 and Q6600.

As of now, Core 2 Quad Q9450 has already been phased out, while the older Q6700 is awaiting EOL declaration within this month. For Core 2 Quad Q6600, one of Intel's most popular offerings, and perhaps the most successful quad-core desktop processor SKU at the markets, PDNs will be issued in February, and it will reach EOL sometime in Q2 2009. Meanwhile, for the Yorkfield-based Core 2 Extreme models, PDNs will be issued in February, and they will be reach EOL in Q2. In related news, Core 2 Duo E7200 and Pentium E2200 will be phased out by Q3 this year, with no word on the specifics of their PDNs.

Having absorbed Voodoo PC, HP is going full-cylinders with its gaming PC lineup. It has not overlooked gaming notebooks either. In the works is the HP Firefly, a gaming notebook with exclusive features, driven by bleeding edge hardware in a stylish chassis. The Firefly is in a concept design phase, with working prototypes being readied for events such as the upcoming CES expo.

To run you through with the features, the top lid of the notebook holds a 17" main LCD with a native resolution of 1920x1200. The lid also holds a small 4" screen with a resolution of 800x400, which can be used as a HUD or a secondary utility display. Also mounted are front speakers and a night-vision webcam. The business end of the notebook holds an illuminated keyboard with a right-hand placed track-pad. The exterior of the notebook has some techno-themed motifs printed or engraved. Under the hood is a quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9xxx CPU clocked at 2.40 GHz, 4 GB of memory, and a graphics subsystem consisting of two ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3870 GPUs in CrossFire. Two 250GB hard-drives operate in RAID 0 for storage. There is a Blu-Ray drive provided. Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio handles 6-channel audio with game audio effects processing and Dolby Digital output capabilities. We will learn more about this notebook come CES.

Thanks to Intel and its Game On website, fans of Ubisoft's Far Cry 2 title can now enjoy 3 more hours of their favourite game, playing several bonus maps. These explosive bonus missions are kindly available for free here thanks to Intel.

Keeping its position as one of the world's industry leaders in innovation and technology, MSI, the world's top motherboard manufacturers, today launched the world's first mATX motherboard, G45M Digital, which utilizes the server-class DrMOS. It provides the best energy-saving solution for multimedia entertainment applications. The new G45M Digital motherboard provides energy-saving power transmission. All CPU power supply modules are using the high-quality DrMOS chip, and the exclusive GreenPower/APS (Active Phase Switching) power-saving technology. Even when it is used for a long time, users do not have to worry about the power consumption. G45M Digital motherboard utilizes the latest Intel G45/ICH10R chipset based, built-in Intel X4500HD graphics core and Intel Clear Video high-definition technology to provide high-performance 3D graphics and images. Through hardware decoding acceleration, users can also enjoy the Blu-ray high-resolution HD movies which significantly reduce the CPU loading. In addition, it also provides HDMI, DVI, D-Sub multiple display output, as well as 8-channel HD audio quality, enabling users to experience the perfect multimedia applications.

As the computer enthusiast community gears up for Nehalem November, with reports suggesting a series of product launches for both Intel's Core i7 processors and compatible motherboards, Industry observer PC Online.cn have already published an in-depth review of the Core i7 940 2.93 GHz processor. The processor is based on the Bloomfield core, and essentially the Nehalem architecture that has been making news for over an year now. PC Online went right to the heart of the matter, evaluating the 192-bit wide (tri-channel) memory interface, and the advantage of HyperThreading on four physical cores. In the tests, the 2.93 GHz Bloomfield chip was pitted against a Core 2 Extreme QX9770 operating at both its reference speed of 3.20 GHz, and underclocked to 2.93 GHz, so a clock to clock comparison could be brought about.

The evaluation found that the performance increments tri-channel offers over dual-channel memory, in real world applications and games, are just about insignificant. Super Pi Mod 1.4 shows only a fractional lead for tri-channel over dual-channel, and the trend continued with Everest Memory Benchmark. On the brighter side, the integrated memory controller does offer improvements over the previous generation setup, with the northbridge handling memory. Even in games such as Call of Duty 4 and Crysis, tri-channel memory did not shine.

Consistent with the tradition of breaking new grounds, ASUS is proud to present the world's first Intel Quad Core Gaming notebook-the G71. Specifically designed with gamers in mind, the G71 is the first in ASUS' planned series of Quad Core gaming notebooks and an addition to its expanding G Series. The G71 delivers a total gaming experience in a highly portable package, with an emphasis on audio clarity and stunning graphics performance.

A desktop-replacement laptop using the Centrino 2 Platform, Intel's highest dual-core mobile CPU, the Penryn-based Core 2 Extreme X9100 to be precise, was overclocked to 4.00 GHz with help from aggressive cooling made by CoolIT and Intel's Extreme Tuning Utility. Seen in the first picture is the laptop seated on an unreleased notebook component cooler made by CoolIT. The cooler uses external thermoelectric couple (TEC) and air cooling to draw heat away from the laptop. Despite using overclocked settings using this cooler, the CPU reaches a scorching 50° C.

The cooler releases in January 2008 and will be priced around US $120. This feat was also helped by Intel's new Extreme Tuning Utility (Iron City). Intel's Dan Ragland used the software to overclock the laptop's CPU to over 4GHz, stably. He commented that the notebook-cooler added around 500MHz over and above what's achievable by using the laptop's cooling alone.

"Moderate" is a very relative term here. The Taiwanese industry observer DigiTimes reports that the next highest desktop CPU offering from the silicon giant Intel wouldn't be priced like the current Core 2 Extreme QX9770, QX9775. It could be as much as US $500 cheaper, that's $999 in 1,000 unit tray quantities. Expect the PIB (processor in a box) unit to cost on par with the current Core 2 Extreme QX9650. The highest offering from what we know, is a 3.20 GHz Bloomfield core based processor with in the LGA 1366 package.

In addition to this 3.20 GHz Extreme CPU, Intel will also introduce a performance version clocked at 2.93 GHz and quoted at US$562, and a mainstream version running at 2.66GHz and carrying a price tag of US$284. All three models will run on X58 chipset motherboards with the new LGA 1366 socket.

Intel is preparing the launch of new quad-core processors for laptops next month, Yahoo! News informs today. "We're bringing quad-core to mobile in August," said Sujan Kamran, regional marketing manager for client platforms at Intel in Singapore. Specifics of the forthcoming quad-core chips are missing, but Australian PC maker Pioneer Computers is already taking preorders for laptops based on an unreleased quad-core mobile chip. This CPU is branded as Core 2 Extreme QX9300 and is said to work at 2.53GHz. Pioneer Computers is now offering it in its DreamBook Style 9008 laptops for US $1,390, more than the laptop's basic price ($1,399) without the CPU.

Intel Corporation unveiled its Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology products for laptops today, powered by five new Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Close to 250 innovative consumer and business notebook PC designs are on the way, including those equipped with the right combination of powerful processors, graphics and battery life to enjoy viewing stunning high definition videos and myriad other computer and Internet activities.

Intel also introduced the world's highest-performing dual-core mobile processor, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor running at a brisk 3.06 GHz, as measured by SPECint*_rate_base2006, an industry benchmark.

OCZ Technology Group today introduced a new whitebook solution powered by the long awaited Intel Centrino 2 ("Montevina") platform. This state-of-the-art platform technology provides a breakthrough in mobile computing for higher performance, advanced connectivity, and longer battery life. In addition, the new OCZ whitebooks are built for superior on-the-go gaming by harnessing the world's highest-performing mobile processor, the Intel Core 2 Extreme X9100.

Packard Bell, one of Europe's top consumer PC brands in Europe, will reveal the next generation of its ipower gaming desktop PC to the gaming community at the Electronic Sports World Cup, which is being held on 4-6 July 2008 in Paris. The new gaming PC is christened: ipower X2.0.

Selected as the official ESWC gaming system in 2007 and 2008, the ipower range had to be up to the task of meeting the demanding requirements of amateur and professional PC gamers. Packard Bell confirms its engagement to the PC gaming community by unveiling the ipower X2.0, a stunning combination of power, graphics performance, state-of-the-art cooling and ergonomics.

A sound mind in a sound body goes the saying. The magnificent chassis of the ipower X2.0 shows off its inner secrets including its components and build quality through a translucent siding with red LED trim lights. To satisfy the 30 per cent of PC gamers who say that design is one of the top selection criteria1, the Packard Bell design studio developed a sexy tower case that unites a black colour scheme with metal trim, transparent housing, gloss finish, bevelled angles and harmonious dimensions
(510 H x 217 l X 530 L).

Quickly following on the heels of its GeForce 9800 GX2 update, Alienware on Monday afternoon refreshed the Area-51 gaming tower to add Intel's 3.2GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9770 (12MB L2 Cache) as its best processor option. The new speed eclipses the 3GHz limit set by the older system and also brings with it a faster 1600MHz system bus. The option will launch as a higher-tier option alongside the earlier Core 2 Extreme QX9650 3GHz processor and will boost the price of the system by $1,650 to $3,749 while keeping the 2GB of RAM, GeForce 9600 GT video, and 250GB hard drive of the base system. Alienware estimates shipping systems configured with the new chip by mid-April.

Alienware, the leading manufacturer of high-performance desktop, notebook and entertainment systems, is now equipping the Area-51 m15x notebook computer with the new 45nm Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000 processor working at 2.8GHz. This makes the Area-51 m15x, released earlier this year, the first and only 15.4-inch notebook to feature this unique and powerful processor. Intel's new Core 2 Extreme X9000 CPU features 6MB of shared L2 cache and an 800MHz front side bus. Couple all that rough power with NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX 512MB GPU, up to 4GB of DDR2 memory and optional 64GB SSD drive and you'll get quite the idea of Area-51 m15x. "Now, with the addition of an Intel Core 2 Extreme X9000, we've made the world's most powerful 15.4-inch notebook even more powerful." said Bryan de Zayas, Associate Director for Product Marketing at Alienware. For more information on the Area-51 m15x, please go here.