Report: Intel will add fast quad-core chip

[Capper]

Intel will introduce the Q9650 Core 2 Quad processor in the third quarter, according to Chinese-language Web site HKEPC, almost halving the price of the current high-end Intel part with similar specifications.

The Q9650 will be priced at $530, according to HKEPC, close to half the price of the similarly spec'd high-end "Extreme" QX9650, which is listed at $999 on Intel's pricing Web page.

Like the QX9650, the Q9650 will have a clock speed of 3GHz, a 1333MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 12MB of cache memory.

The other notable desktop processor slated to debut in the third quarter is the Core 2 Duo E8600. This will have a clock speed of 3.33GHz, a 1333MHz FSB, and 6MB of cache memory, according to HKEPC. It is expected to be priced at $266.

The E8600 will top the currently available E8500, which runs at 3.16GHz and is priced at $266.

When contacted, Intel had this to say: "We publicly acknowledge that we will have future 45nm Intel Core 2 processor offerings which fit into LGA775 sockets and take advantage of currently available and future desktop platforms with similar physical, power, and thermal characteristics."

HKEPC also lists price cuts. The quad-core Q9550 (2.83GHz), for example, is slated to drop from $530 to $316 (the upcoming Q9650 will push the Q9550 down to a lower price point). The widely-used Q6600 (2.4GHz) is expected to fall from $224 to $203.

The Core 2 Duo E8500 should see its price fall from $266 to $183.

Report: Intel will add fast quad-core chip | Nanotech: The Circuits Blog - CNET Blogs

[Parker]

Quads and the E8xxx series are becoming very very popular.
The Q6600 is the most common quad now, glad Intel is coming out with more reasonably priced options.

Intel FTW!!

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Parker

Quads and the E8xxx series are becoming very very popular.
The Q6600 is the most common quad now, glad Intel is coming out with more reasonably priced options.

Intel FTW!!

It's just common because it got a whole lot cheaper when Q9XXX really started.

[RA1D]

i wonder if any of these chips will come with a new stepping allowing for higher overclocks