Intel used its stage time at Computex 2016 to showcase its new line of Extreme Edition processors, the best of which is a mind-blowing 10-core CPU.
The i7-6950X is not only beastly in performance, but also eye-watering in pricing, as it asks you to shell out no less than $1,723.
But what do you get for that budget?
The powerhouse is clocked at 3 GHz, but it can accelerate to 3.5 GHz, and it contains 20 work threads. Intel explains that the tremendous processing power will come in handy to users who engage in mega-tasking.
The OEM claims that with the new i7-6950X, gamers will be able to simply do the following, simultaneously and in smooth quality: play at 4K resolution and 60 fps, record the match and stream it at 1,080p.
Intel notes that the new CPU brings a boost in 3D rendering performance of 35 percent. Adobe Premiere Pro users should see a 25 percent increase in speed, and video transcoding in HandBrake will be 20 percent faster. All the numbers are based on comparisons with the previous chipset, the i7-5960X.
The new line of Intel's processors offers more than the fantastic i7-6950X.
For a price of $1,089, customers can choose the Core i7-6900K, which sports only eight cores clocked at 3.2 GHz. Even more affordable is the six-core Core i7-6850K, which has a default speed of 3.6 GHz and asks buyers to shell out $617. The last in the line is the Core i7-6800K, which sits at $434 and runs at 3.4 GHz. All the members of the Extreme Edition land completely unlocked, which means overclocking is at the user's fingertips.
As the PC market is decelerating, it is challenging to sell high-end processors to the desktop consumer sector.
Intel took the challenge with its Extreme Edition and aims to remain the go-to choice for top-level performance, even if it comes with a spicy price.
The company does not forget about its loyal fan base, which is why it embedded compatibility between the Broadwell-E generation and the X99 chipset that backs the Haswell-E chips. This implies that you may use the same motherboard and just spend a small fortune for one of the Extreme Edition future-proof chipsets. Just as a side note, Alienware is one of the important manufacturers that sport Haswell-E chips in their gaming systems.
Intel touts that Broadwell-E chipsets will be available really soon, so professional editors of video content and those looking to build a solid VR gaming can start saving up for the new generation of mega-tasking chipsets.
