HotHardware, HardwareSecrets, Hexus.net, Motherboards.org, PC Perspective, TechAge and TechSpot take a look at the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Quad-Core, the new most high-end desktop CPU from Intel, with four cores and running at 3 GHz internally and 1,333 MHz externally. How this new beast compares to previous CPUs from Intel? Check it out!

Intel's QX6850 has been an enjoyable chip to benchmark and stress-test with, but that's probably not much of a surprise. It has four cores and rolls in with the highest clock speed to hit the Core 2 series. Even comparing this CPU to our Q6600, the extra clock speed has clear advantages in applications that access all of the cores. But now we come back to the question of whether or not the processor is worth its $999 (higher at retail) price tag. Like most top-end computer components, it's up to you, the consumer, to decide whether you are willing to pay such a premium for the fastest processor on the market. For non-overclockers that have money, it's going to serve them well if they are huge multi-taskers or regularly use multithreaded applications.

As we saw throughout our testing, more and more applications are becoming available that will fully use your extra cores, not just workstation applications such as 3D Studio Max. Nero Recode, Adobe Lightroom and even 7-Zip showed very large improvements when four cores were used. Clearly though, we are in need of even more. There are many applications used for testing today that are still single core, such as LAME and ImageMagick. Quad-core processors in general are designed for those who are hardcore multi-taskers, and those who, like modelers, use applications that will greatly

With these new launches, we will have a re-launched Q6700 processor which clocks at 2.66GHz and sells to retailers for $530, almost half of the QX6850. At that point, you could purchase the $530 processor and overclock yourself to reach QX6850 speeds with relative ease. But as mentioned, those who refuse to overclock have even fewer options. Price drops are also on the way, and it's speculated that the Q6600 2.4GHz will sell to retailers for $266 in quantities of 1,000. Intel has not verified any of this yet, but if it proves true, then even I will be purchasing one for my main machine. Just last year, the dual core version of the same chip retailed for much more than that.