During PAX 2014 Intel unveiled its first eight-core desktop processor, the Intel Core i7-5960X processor Extreme Edition, formerly code-named “Haswell-E,” targeted at power users who demand the most from their PCs.
For enthusiasts, gamers and content creators craving the ultimate in performance, Intel’s first client processor supporting 16 computing threads and new DDR4 memory will enable some of the fastest desktop systems ever seen. The new enhanced Intel X99 Chipset and robust overclocking capabilities will allow enthusiasts to tune their systems for maximum performance.
During the big show Intel showed the newly announced and high-performance powerhouses can do. Intel’s booth featured systems from several manufacturers using this new processor family running popular games such as Lucky’s Tale, Superhot with the Oculus Rift, Dark Souls 2 and Titan Fall. They also demonstrated gaming while streaming via Twitch on a new Intel Core processor Extreme Edition-based system. Live game streamers should enjoy having high-quality high-definition streams with eight cores for lag-less gameplay.
Intel has been working with industry partners to take advantage of this new platform. Key OEMs, memory vendors, motherboard vendors and graphics partners will help grow this enthusiast ecosystem.
Many of these new platforms based on the Intel X99 Chipset are also Thunderbolt Ready. When paired with a Thunderbolt 2 add-in card, this enables a blazing-fast connection to your PC at 20 Gbps. Data intensive tasks such as 4K video editing, 3-D rendering and game development all strongly benefit from the performance of Thunderbolt 2. Check with your PC manufacturer or motherboard maker for compatibility.
Three new SKUs will be available this week ranging from six to eight cores and from $389 to $999.