Intel Core i7 975 Extreme

Santa Clara, California-based Intel is expected to launch a new processor, as part of the company's Core i7 Extreme series of desktop CPUs. The new model, dubbed Core i7 975, will up the ante, compared to the manufacturer's current Core i7 flagship, the 965 model, enabling users to take advantage of a standard clock speed of 3.3GHz, but with an impressive overclocking potential, which will allow them to push the performance of their high-end desktop rigs. The new processor has already been leaked, benchmarked and used to break Futermark's 3DMark05 score.

According to a recent post on the Xtreme Systems forum, the 45nm Core i7 Extreme 975 processor will support current LGA 1366 sockets and will provide users with a factory core speed of 3.3GHz, compared to the 3.2GHz on the company's current flagship model, the fast Core i7 965. The quad-core processor will also use 8MB of L3 shared cache memory, just like on the global leading chip maker's current Core i7 processor lineup.

Intel is yet to announce the official details on said processor, but until that happens, users can check out the benchmark results on the new CPU, when paired with two ATI Radeon HD4870 X2 graphics cards and a Gigabyte EX58-Extreme motherboard. The Core i7 975 comes with an overclocked multiplier, which translates into the fact that it can provide support for some serious overclocking procedures, which will better help the system deal with the various performance requirements of high-end applications.

The processor was pushed to a more than impressive 5,239 MHz, while the cards were running at stock levels. This configuration was enough to break the record of Futuremark's 3DMark05 benchmark application. The rig managed to score 47026 points in 3DMark05, a score that is now sitting at the top of the 3DMark05 best benchmark results. Also, the score is 1,5K higher than that of the overclocked Phenom II, which was pushed to a clock level of approximately 6.3GHz.

Currently there are few details on estimated pricing and availability, but when this processor will come out it will likely take the performance crown and keep it for a while, despite the upcoming new Phenom II processors.