Dual socket beast uses 8 cores, DDR3 and SLI plus Crossfire graphics capability.
Intel has launched its Skulltrail PC platform, which includes twin quad core CPUs for a total of 8 cores, DDR3 and SLI plus Crossfire graphics capability.
Officially dubbed the "Intel Dual Socket Extreme Desktop Platform", Intel engineers claim Skulltrail is the fastest desktop PC they have ever tested in their lab. Various online sites report the platform achieving 3DMark06 CPU scores in excess of 6,000, and systems have been seen running at 4GHz.
With two Quad CPUs on board, Skulltrail bucks the trend towards power efficient, low wattage PCs. The Intel spec sheet lists the system using two QX9775 CPUs with 12MB L2 cache, 1600MHz system bus and 3.2GHz cores. Paired with the quad core chips is Intel's D5400XS motherboard.
As expected the system doesn't come cheap. We only have US pricing right now, which indicates more than US$2,000 for the chip and board alone - the QX9775 is listed at US$1,499 (suggested retail price), and the D5400XS board is listed at US$649.