Top End Consumer Power

Intel’s new 1333 MHz FSB product line is launched today and we test the new flagship QX6850: it’s performance just brings the rest to their knees!

Introduction

Just a couple of weeks ago I first reviewed and tested the new 1333 MHz front-side bus Intel Core 2 processors; it was in the form of the Core 2 Duo E6750 CPU.  When that review was posted Intel had not yet officially unveiled or announced the part but instead they allowed us to give a brief overview of performance on a somewhat slower part.  The E6750 runs at 2.66 GHz with two processing cores; a setup nearly exactly a mirror of the E6700 that uses the original 1066 MHz FSB.

Today however is the complete release and announcement of the new 1333 MHz FSB Core 2 processors from Intel.  An entire line up of CPUs is being released with availability within two weeks I am told.  The real story here though is not only that 1333 MHz FSB processors are actually here now, but that Intel has dramatically increased potential user performance with a new, high speed quad core CPU: the Core 2 Extreme QX6850.

Fastest CPU Around – QX6850

Let’s just jump to the point — the current fastest dual core processor from Intel for the consumer is the Core 2 Extreme X6800 that runs at 2.93 GHz on a 1066 MHz FSB.  The current fastest quad core processor from Intel for the consumer is the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 that runs at 2.67 GHz on a 1066 MHz FSB.  All that changes today with this:

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Processor Review - Processors 29

The Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor is a quad core processor that runs at a 3.0 GHz clock speed with 8MB of L2 cache (4MB for each core) on a 1333 MHz front-side bus.  That makes it both the fastest CPU in the Core 2 lineup by going over the 2.93 GHz mark but also doubles the number of cores on the X6800 from two to four. 

Already sounds appetizing, doesn’t it?

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Processor Review - Processors 30

The processor itself is the same LGA775 package we have seen since the Core 2’s introduction and many of today’s motherboards already have support for the new 1333 MHz FSB.  The current information on motherboard support looks like this for now:

  • Most (if not all) 975X motherboards will NOT support the 1333 MHz FSB processors
    • Intel has specifically stated that they will NOT work on the 975XBX2 motherboard
  • Intel’s 3x series of chipsets all have 1333 MHz FSB support including the enthusiast minded P35 chipset we reviewed here
  • NVIDIA’s 680i SLI and 680i LT chipsets will both support the 1333 MHz FSB processors, though a BIOS update might be needed
    • NVIDIA has told me they will have the BIOS update out today for us to test later and to motherboard partners as well so you should see downloads available soon

So while the wide allotment of 975X and 965 chipsets don’t appear to have support for the new FSB, that is pretty much expected in this day and age.  We should definitely give props out to NVIDIA though, who was able to put enough forth-thought and commitment to the customer into the 680i chipsets (that were released last November) to allow for 1333 MHz support. 

Update: a reader in our forums (one of the best places for information you can find) pointed me here: http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/d975xbx2/sb/CS-026614.htm  Low and behold, for the Intel branded 975XBX2 motherboard, there DOES appear to be 1333 MHz FSB support! 

« PreviousNext »