Intel · Core
Core i7-980X Extreme Edition
A six-core Gulftown Extreme Edition processor with an unlocked multiplier, twelve threads and an LGA1366 socket.
- Cores
- 6/12
- Boost
- 3.6 GHz
- L3
- 12 MB
- Power
- 130 W
- Socket
- LGA1366
What reviewers say
Both reviews found exceptional threaded performance and strong overclocking, with a price beyond most buyers. bit-tech saw little improvement over cheaper quad-cores in games and lightly threaded tasks; TechRadar was more enthusiastic about overall speed but questioned the platform’s upgrade path.
From bit-tech.net and techradar.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specCores and clocks
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- Base clock
- 3.33 GHz
- Boost clock
- 3.6 GHz
- L3 cache
- 12 MB
- Cores
- Six cores and twelve threads with Hyper-Threading; unlocked multiplier confirmed by bit-tech’s exact review.
- Clocks
- 3.33 GHz base and up to 3.6 GHz Turbo Boost. Intel’s 16 March 2010 release states availability that day; the earlier 11 March review embargo was not the sale date.
- Cache
- 12 MB shared L3 cache.
Graphics and AI
- Built-in graphics
- No
- Graphics
- Intel's exact-model comparison chart lists no processor graphics.
Platform
- Socket
- LGA1366
- Base power
- 130 W
- Unlocked
- Yes
- Cooler in the box
- Yes
- Memory support
- Three-channel DDR3; Intel’s exact-model chart specifies DDR3-1066. bit-tech’s review lists DDR3-1333, so the maker’s rated figure is retained.
- PCIe
- 6.4 GT/s QPI in Intel’s exact WX58BP processor compatibility table. PCIe is supplied through the platform chipset.
- Process
- 32 nm; Gulftown.
- Cooler
- Intel's 32 nm Core i7-900 datasheet includes an unattached fan heatsink with boxed processors. Tray and second-hand packages may differ.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Twelve simultaneous threads
- Unlocked multiplier
- Three-channel DDR3 memory
Cons
- No integrated graphics
- 130 W thermal design power
- Requires an LGA1366 motherboard
Closest rivals
Model | Cores | Boost | L3 | Power | Socket | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/12 | 3.46 GHz | 12 MB | 130 W | LGA1366 | Jul 2010 | |
| 6/12 | 3.8 GHz | 12 MB | 130 W | LGA2011 | Nov 2011 | |
| 6/12 | 3.9 GHz | 15 MB | 130 W | LGA2011 | Nov 2011 |
Sources
- intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/processors/corei7ee/sb/intelcorei…
- intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/datasheets/core-i7-900-ee-and-…
- intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/2010/20100316comp_sm.htm
- intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000007451/server-products.html
- bit-tech.net/reviews/tech/cpus/intel-core-i7-980x-extreme-edition-review
- newegg.com/intel-core-i7-extreme-edition-core-i7-980x-extreme-edition-gulftown-…
