Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 - Quad-Core Assault

Before we delve into Intel's new Core 2 Extreme QX6700 in detail, let's step you through Intel's current roadmap product offerings and provide the proper perspective from both a model branding and process technology standpoint.

Intel's roadmap clearly shows that the Pentium D will be completely phased out sometime in the first half of 2007, in favor of newer Core 2 Duo product offerings.  In addition we see that other Core 2 Quad models will be introduced to backfill behind the Core 2 Extreme QX line-up.  Quad-core targeted for the mainstream seems to be in our not so distant future.  In fact Intel has confirmed that a Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz with locked core multiplier) will be launched in January '07.  Finally, in the 2008 time frame, Intel plans to have their 45nm nodes online and in volume. Octal cores by chance?  As always, we dare to dream... 

The Core 2 Extreme QX6700 looks like any other Intel processor in a Land Grid Array (LGA) 775 package.  There is virtually no difference in its design, save for a few different termination resistors on the underside of its body area, in the center power and ground grid.    

   
Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Kentsfield in the flesh, or silicon, as the case may be...

Quick readings with CPU-Z and our motherboard BIOS report that we have a Core 2 Quad CPU here that supports SSE3 and EM64T instructions, comes with a stock multiplier of 10X with a 1066MHz FSB and 8MB of on-chip cache, 4MB per dual core die, specifically. Additionally, as you can see in the BIOS screen capture, the Core 2 Extreme series of processors has unlocked multipliers.  Our chip actually reported a ratio range from a max of 20X to a min of 6X.