Post - Yorkfield XE, the new Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 coming Nov 12
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Code-named Yorkfield XE, the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 will be a quad-core processor built from two 45 nm Wolfdale processor dies. It will displace the Core 2 Extreme QX6850 (Kentsfield) processor as the top desktop processor model until Q3, 2008.
The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 is quite similar to the QX6850 model it is replacing. Both have two separate dies with separate L2 caches and run at 3.0 GHz with a 1333 MHz FSB. But thanks to its larger 12 MB L2 cache, the new Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 will be 5-10% faster than the QX6850 and up to 60% faster when running SSE4-optimized code.
The choice of the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 as the first and only processor slated for a 2007 launch is significant. Not only is Intel choosing to deliver a quad-core processor first, they are also choosing to launch what will be their top-of-the-line model up till Q3, 2008. By flagging off the new generation of 45 nm processors with the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor at the forefront, Intel is indirectly demonstrating the maturity of their 45 nm processors.
In January 2008, Intel will release the new quad-core Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 series of processors. The first three to be released will be the Core 2 Quad Q9550, Q9450 and Q9300. The first two processors will have two 6 MB L2 caches while the Q9300 will only have two smaller 3 MB L2 caches.
