Intel Core 2 Quad

Taking processing capabilities to a new level, Intels new Core 2 Quad processor is doing what the Duo did six months ago but twice as well. Not exactly verbatim but there are two more cpu per packaged processor which adds up to a lot more bandwidth and substantial performance gains.

Core 2 QuadArchitecture

The range topper for now is the QX6850 which has 8 MB of total L2 cache, 1333 MHz front side bus and runs at 3Ghz. It really doesn't sound like we've moved on a lot since the original Pentium 4 days but remember, this chip has four cores running at 3Ghz each! Compared with a not so geriatric Prescott P4 running at 3Ghz with 2MB cache, the new quad core extreme rendered a 3d video scene in two minutes whereas the Prescott running at the same clock speed took 11 minutes. In 3dMark06, the quad core was three times faster than the equivalent Prescott Pentium 4.

If you edit lots of video or use processor intensive software, you could save yourself hours every day by upgrading to a Core 2 Quad CPU. Expect to pay handsomely for the privilege though as these units are top spec.

http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2XE/index.htm