14 DAY TRIAL // Even though Sandy Bridge-E processors aren't expected to arrive until mid-November, a Chinese website has already started selling Intel's upcoming flagship processor based on this architecture, the Core i7-3960X, for a whopping $2001 US (1451 Euro).
The processors being sold (more than 15 are available) are actually engineering samples, meant to be used by Intel's partners to test and verify the compatibility of their systems and hardware with Sandy Bridge-E CPUs.
When it will be released, about two months away from now, the Core i7-3960X, will become Intel's most powerful desktop processor.
Just like the current 990X it is meant to replace, this chip also belongs in the company's Extreme Edition range, meaning that it comes with an unlocked multiplier and BLCK to deliver improved overclocking.
As far as its specs are concerned, the 3960X packs six processing cores with HyperThreading support, has a base frequency of 3.30GHz, a maximum Turbo clock speed of 3.9GHz, and includes no less than 15MB of Level 3 cache memory.
The chip is compatible with the upcoming LGA 2011 motherboards based on the Intel X79 Express chipset and also packs an integrated quad-channel DDR3 memory controller.
Together with this processor, Intel will introduce two other Sandy Bridge-E chips, the Core i7 3930K and the Core i7-3820, the first one of these coming with six computing cores, 3.2GHz base, and 3.80GHz Turbo clock speeds, while the latter uses a quad-core design.
Their nominal clock speed is set at 3.60GHz, while maximum Turbo is rated at 3.90GHz, and the CPU includes 10 MB of L3 cache.
When officially released, the Core i7-3960X is expected to retail for $999, or 999 Euros depending on where you live. Pricing for the two other chips is yet unknown. (via WCCFTech)