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Here a roundup of today's Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition reviews



Intel Core i7-980X Extreme Edition "Gulftown" @ HardwareHeaven.com
Today sees the release of Intels latest CPU, the Core i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition. While the model number may be similar to the existing i7-975 this release is more than "just another speed-bump". Today HardwareHeaven take Intels new high end processor through a selection of real world productivity, media and gaming tests to establish how much of a step forward it is from the existing product range.
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Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Six-Core 32nm Processor Review @ Hardware Canucks
It has been a long time coming. Intel's six core processors have been talked about since the Nehalem architecture was first introduced and with the Core i7 980X, Gulftown has finally seen the light of day. Naturally, this new processor is expensive but with six physical cores and 12 threads, can it perform up to everyone's expectations?
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Intel Core i7 980X Performance Comparision @ ocaholic
With the 980X Intel shows it's first overworked high-end Nehalem based desktop CPU. What they simply want to do is to raise the performance bar even higher than it already is. Thanks to it's scalable design the 980X comes with six physical cores and twelve threads. Futhermore it is also equipped with the turbo technology which is able to adjust clock frequencies.
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Intel Core i7 980X Extreme Six-Core CPU Review
Today Intel launched a new CPU based on their newest 32nm process technology codenamed "Gulftown". It is an "Extreme" CPU both in name and price - weighing in at 3.33 GHz (base, Turbo hits up to 3.60 GHz) with six individual cores (and thanks to HyperThreading that means twelve threads) and 12MB of shared L3 cache, the Core i7 980X Extreme Edition will set you back a bit over $1000 when it hitse-store e-shelves this week.

We put it to the test against the identically clocked (and nearly identically priced) Core i7 975 Extreme, and a handful of other $500+ processors to see how it competes in today's applications (we threw in a Phenom II for good measure, too).
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Intel Core i7-980X Extreme 6-Core Processor @ HotHardware.com
Although they are not due to hit store shelves for a few more weeks, Intel is using the always exciting Game Developers Conference currently being held in San Francisco to officially unveil the new Core i7-980X Extreme processor. Intel's Extreme Edition processors have always been targeted at ultra enthusiasts and hardcore-gamers, so what better place to show off the fastest desktop processor for the PC to date?

The new Core i7-980X Extreme is an interesting animal, however, that requires much explanation. Although its branding implies that it may be just a simple speed-bump over the previous flagship Core i7-975 Extreme, the 980X is actually a totally different beast. Come on by and take a look...
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Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Processor Review @ Benchmark Reviews
Intel offers something for everyone, as their extensive product line can prove. The chipmaker produces desktop, notebook, server, and personal digital appliance CPUs, Ethernet and WiFi network processors, and countless co-processor units. Keep this in mind as Benchmark Reviews presents the Intel Core i7-980X processor, a six-core Westmere 32nm CPU. Codenamed Gulftown, this 3.33GHz Extreme Edition processor features an unlocked clock speed multiplier with twelve computing threads and a 12MB cache. Built for the Intel X58-Express enthusiast platform, Benchmark Reviews tests the BX80613I7980X retail part in gaming, computing, and overclocking performance.
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Review of the Core i7-980X
What's interesting though is that the 980X carries the same MSRP as Intel's now deprecated flagship part - the Core i7-975. In that sense, Gulftown is sort of a bargain. It has two more cores, each being faster, they're clocked at the same 3.33 GHz and the whole thing draws just as much power. More performance, same price. What's not to like?
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Intel Core i7-980X 32nm LGA-1366 Six Core CPU
In the current market our CPUs are multi-core. It is almost unheard of to have a CPU with a single core, unless you are buying a netbook or a very low-end system. Starting at the mainstream level the dual core is king. You find them in all shapes and sizes. Moving up, AMD has their tri cores. From there both AMD and Intel have quads and finally Intel has the quad with Hyper Threading; the 8 thread monster called the Core i7.

Well, Intel is looking to add a new level at the very top. This is a 6 core, 12 thread behemoth called Gulftown. Once it hits the retail channels it will be the Core i7-980X. But Gulftown is more than just 6 cores on a CPU die. Intel has moved to 32nm and also stuffed in some new instructions (including AES encryption).
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Intel Core i7 980X Review @ OCC
One thing I found surprising was the fact that this processor ran relatively cool for having six processing cores when air cooled and even more so when put under water. The DBX-B cooling solution from Intel is a radical step away from what has been done in the past when it comes to OEM solutions. Its copper/aluminum construction is similar to many higher end tower style heatsinks on the market and performs quite well by comparison. With four heatpipes there is no shortage of thermal capacity. Even when pushing up to 4.05GHz the temperatures stayed for the most part in the high 60=B0C range. However I did notice some throttling of the core clock speed once temperatures reached 70
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Intel's Core i7-980X Extreme Edition - Ready for Sick Scores? @ Techgage.com
It's official. We're now entering the six-core realm, thanks to Intel's Gulftown. The first model, Core i7-980X, is more than capable of delivering the sick scores that our title suggests, and along with it, we can begin to see some major benefits of the 32nm process. To sweeten the deal further, Intel even includes an effective new CPU cooler.
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Intel Core i7 980X 6 Core 32nm Gulftown Processor Review @ Hi Tech Legion
It's been a while since we have seen advances in CPUs; quad core processors have been common amongst the mainstream for over three years. Sure, there have been some architectural changes, as well as increases in speed, but we have not seen more in the way of cores - it's been four and there it has stayed for quite some time. Well my friends, those of you who crave more, but wish it were smaller too, your wait is over.
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Core i7-980X CPU Review @ Hardware Secrets
Intel will be launching very soon the world's first six-core CPU for desktops, Core i7-980X (codenamed "Gulftown"), a socket 1366 processor running at 3.33 GHz, and we had the privilege of benchmarking this beast. Let's see what kind of performance level it will deliver.
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Intel I7-980X Gulftown Six Core Processor Review @ Tweaknews
The Intel I7-980x being reviewed today is one of those products coming onto the market that you know know is more of a 32nm victory lap rather than a product that is trying to leap-frog the competition. With nothing in sight that could even touch the Nehalem in terms of performance, the Gulftown adds to an impressive performance market lead that will not be superceded by anyone but themselves for some time to come.
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A Futurelooks News Flash - Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 6-Core 32nm Processor Review
Today's processor technology is the result of years of innovative thinking put to action. For instance, Intel's microprocessor architecture has proven that we've taken the first steps into an era where computers are capable of doing far more than just calculating a few spread sheets or playing video games.

There is a lot more unlocked potential from Intel and if you love your Quad-Core i7, then you're going to love this! How about a 6-core Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 32nm Processor? That's right! We've got Hexa-Core!
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The Core i7 980X Review: Intel's First 6-Core CPU
It’s rare that anything we review has the longevity that Intel’s Core i7 Bloomfield platform has enjoyed. If you were one of the fortunate few to buy a Core i7 920, 940 or 965 back in November 2008, you’d still have one of the fastest desktop CPUs today in March 2010.
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Intel's Core i7-980X Extreme processor
I have to tell you, sometimes, being a critical reviewer in the realm of technology is not an easy task. The problem comes down to the sheer rate of improvement among the products we review. If we were Car and Driver, it would look something like this. One year, we'd be reviewing a car that could accelerate from zero to 60 in eight seconds. A year later, we'd be testing a car in the same price range with a six-second 0-60 time. Another year after that, the standard would be down to four seconds. The next year? Three. Soon, pressing the accelerator would subject the driver to forces strong enough to be lethal in the right amounts.
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Intel Core i7 980X review
It's a fact, the multi-core revolution really is starting to take off isn't it? It was 2005~2006 when the first viable consumer dual-core CPUs hit the market. Many did not see the benefit of a multi-core design and certainly the software industry wasn't prepared for it. Almost all applications were written for single threaded software applications and that bugged the introduction alright as 99% of the time you had one active processor core, while the other one was sitting on its toosh doing nothing.

It's now anno 2010, the mainstream end-users are already moving onwards from dual-core towards quad-core processors. In more or less a five year timeframe, a lot has changed. Our operating systems have become very multi-core savvy, new software applications at the very least support two but often more threads and even a good number of our games have come and are becoming multi-threaded, benefitting massively from multiple processor cores when properly implemented. And sure, while we are not there yet with massive multi-threaded applications, the industry certainly has made a huge shift.
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