Today Intel unveiled its first eight-core desktop processor, the Intel Core i7-5960X processor Extreme Edition, formerly code-named “Haswell-E,” targeted at power users who demand the most from their PCs.
For enthusiasts, gamers and content creators craving the ultimate in performance, Intel’s first client processor supporting 16 computing threads and new DDR4 memory will enable some of the fastest desktop systems ever seen. The new enhanced Intel X99 Chipset and robust overclocking capabilities will allow enthusiasts to tune their systems for maximum performance.
We’re thrilled to unveil the next phase in our ‘reinvention of the desktop’ we outlined earlier this year,” said Lisa Graff, vice president and general manager, Intel’s Desktop Client Platform Group. “This product family is aimed squarely at those enthusiasts who push their systems further than anyone, and we’re offering the speed, cores, overclocking and platform capabilities they have asked us for.”
If you’re wondering if these processors will be useful for HPC, keep in mind that research by the Ubercloud indicates that 99 percent of engineering still takes place on the desktop (vs. clusters).
Many of these new platforms based on the Intel X99 Chipset are also Thunderbolt Ready. When paired with a Thunderbolt 2 add-in card, this enables a blazing-fast connection to your PC at 20 Gbps. Data intensive tasks such as 4K video editing, 3-D rendering and game development all strongly benefit from the performance of Thunderbolt 2.
Three new SKUs will be available next week ranging from six to eight cores and from $389 to $999.
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