14 DAY TRIAL // Reports have just emerged stating that, among the Sandy Bridge processors that Intel is set to release in early 2011, there will be a high-end quad-core Core i7 model with a base clock speed of 3.4 GHz and the ability to boost said frequency all the way to 3.8GHz.
Reports and rumors have already dealt with the upcoming CPUs with integrated graphics that Intel has planned, and their naming schemes are, more or less, known.
The Sandy Bridge chips will retain the Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 denominations, and the Core i7 2000 series will, reportedly, include the most powerful quad-core of the lot.
Now, Fudzilla reports that it has somehow uncovered information on this most powerful chip, and it seems that the Turbo 2 oveclocking technology is also a step up from Turbo Boost.
Basically, the top-grade Core i7 2000 Series processor is the Core i7 2600K and has a base frequency of 3.4GHz per core.
This CPU has eight threads, and the K suffix is there to distinguish this part from the fold as a unlocked model, and this will definitely draw the attention of overclocking enthusiasts.
The CPU will also boast the aforementioned Turbo 2 dynamic overclocking technology, which will push the clock of one, two or all four cores, depending on the load and thermal status.
Basically, this technology is meant to boost performance even for those end-users that do not posses the technological know-how to attempt their own overclocking feats.
Other specifications of the CPU include a TDP of 95W, integrated graphics running at 850 MHz (or 1,350 MHz with Turbo 2) and support for two-channel DDR3 1066 and DDR3 1,333 memory (and higher, unofficially).
Needless to say, those wishing to acquire such a chip will also have to find a suitable motherboard with a 6 series chipset and an LGA 1155 socket.