Intel Unveils Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition Processor

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Perhaps the most important part of any computer, from tablet clear up to desktop, is the processor. Admittedly, it’s something of an academic issue to call it most important, but still. With a buildup like that you know something big’s about to hit, and the folks out at Intel will be bringing it our way by way of their new Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition processor.

Just to give you some idea of what this thing has to offer, it’s a hexa-core processor, which we’ve been hearing steadily more about lately but usually only in the context of gaming PCs, that also offers 12 threads and 15 megs of cache. And, it starts running at 3.3 GHz. Pretty nice in its own right, but here’s the kicker: it’s shipped unlocked, so you’ll be able to overclock it right out of the box. And when you do overclock it, you’re going to take this sucker from its standard 3.3 GHz to, reportedly, a whopping 5.6 GHz, nearly doubling its clock speed.

Maingear has reportedly already adapted several of its desktop PCs–its SHIFT, F131 and Quantum SHIFT models, specifically–to accept the new processors, and Asus is bringing them into play in their Sabertooth line of motherboards. In fact, we just saw the Digital Storm ODE Level 4 gaming desktop, which uses one of the recently redesigned Asus Sabertooth motherboards in its construction, so you have a pretty good idea of what kind of desktops you’re going to be seeing these be a part of.

But none of this will come cheap, either; word on Intel’s chip-only prices will start at $555 for the i7-3930K version (which has a slightly lower clock speed and cache), going to $990 for the i7-3960X. A third option, the i7-3820, is set to hit early next year.

It’s looking like a very strong showing here for Intel, with a whole lot of power in these processors, though will Intel’s newest high-end processors find themselves priced out of the market in the early going? Or are they expecting low sales in the early days with gradual market penetration? And the biggest question of all: how badly do you want one of these powering your desktop of choice? No matter what you think, we definitely want to hear from you, so head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!