Intel's Skulltrail QX9775 x 2 never met a benchmark it didn't like

Forget that shrinking nonsense Intel keeps talking about -- squeezing battery-sipping processors inside minuscule form factors -- it's totally played. We got here some numbers on Intel's new Skulltrail gaming platform, featuring dual quad-core QX9775 processors and other ridiculous specifications designed for besting the likes of AMD and that pesky Crysis frame rate. If you want to get into all the tech nitty gritty, the read links have all the bullet points to satisfy, but here's the long and the short of it: those eight Xeon cores and various other server-inspired innards blow away every sort of competition in multi-threaded applications, and other single-threaded CPU-heavy tests put the QX9775 near or at the front. Unfortunately, the board is held back by its use of DDR2 800 FB-DIMMs, which landed it a bit behind the QX9770 and QX9650 Core 2 Extreme in Crysis benchmarks -- one of the few benchmarks that Skulltrail even felt any competition from the rest of the pack. It seems like the board mainly shines when it has multiple graphics cards to back it up, and it's also clear that the Crysis Everest won't be bested by CPU juice alone. There aren't any specifics on price or release date yet, but expect to pay $600 or more per CPU.

Read - Hot Hardware
Read - PC Perspective
Read - Techgage
Read - Custom PC

[Tarnation @ Feb 4th 2008 9:01AM]

Ever heard of AMD 4x4 yeah not the greatest idea. Well here is to hoping, Intel has been doing a better job than AMD at the moment so this thing might actually be worth its weight in green backs.

[p3ngwin @ Feb 4th 2008 10:49AM]

AMD 4x4, you mean QuadFX ?
the platform that never got a chance because it was CANCELED?
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/13698

[Tarnation @ Feb 4th 2008 10:58AM]

The benchmarks aside the Quad FX and yes it was also called 4x4 had problems with single threaded apps actually running slower than a standard X2 configuration. I was schocked that it was cancelled before the Barcelona and Phenom even got off the ground are they even going to release the Octacore (4 cores per processor x 2 processors) FX processors. The fact remains Intel is kicking arse and taking names while AMD keeps embarrassing themselves. I am still not a fan of Dual Socket configurations too expensive.

[Frankenstein Black @ Feb 4th 2008 2:52PM]

Amen brother, and this from someone that actually took the 4x4 plunge (in anticipation of some day running OctaCore;^(...
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/chilver_4x4.jpg
Hey at least the cold air intake system is cool. Oh and Crysis runs just fine at the 1280x1024 19in LCD native. Damn PC hardware. Its all fools gold, FOOL’S GOLD I tell ya! Hey I would have felt much worse if I didn’t DIY it...

[Tarnation @ Feb 4th 2008 2:56PM]

That is the exact same NZXT Case I bought for my computer build 1yr and a half ago. Seemed nice at first but it is hard to keep shiny.

[Ninjaxin @ Feb 6th 2008 12:48PM]

amd 4x4 actually did come out. amd wanted to expand on the 4x4 idea into the quadx2 and octx2, but they cancelled it at the dualx2. The only 4x4 models that came out are the amd fx 70, 72, and 74. the amd 4x4 project got renamed to the amd quad fx. it basically took what intel's concept was and split it wider apart. instead of using intel's two dual cores glued together to create a quadcore, they physically put them on two different places on the mobo. Back in the day, amd quad fx was top notch and stood somewhat of a chance against the intel quad 6600, but it was too costly and even though the motherboard was pretty sweet with its 12 sata ports and 20 usb 2.0 ports, and 4 way sli ( 2 8xs and 2 16xs, not true sli) it was way too costly. I was expecting a lot more outta the new phenoms but was disappointed. I think the phenoms would be a lot better if they could clock it up by another ghz and double the memory cache, then I would probly buy a amd instead of intel. but in the mean time anything from q6700 and qx series pretty much owns amd anyday.

[torqueo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:01AM]

What's an AMD?

[Tarnation @ Feb 4th 2008 9:10AM]

That thing I mistakenly bought a couple months before the Core 2 release. /cries in pillow at lower benchmarks.

[Abuzar @ Feb 4th 2008 3:23PM]

Something worth getting in the P4 era.

[ExcavatE @ Feb 4th 2008 9:07AM]

This thing must scream when fully decked out !
Will engadget ever put this in a give away ? (pretty please).
:)

[Ty @ Feb 4th 2008 11:02AM]

WANT

[DSwarP @ Feb 4th 2008 9:13AM]

Must the new processors be used? Oh how nice it would be to throw in two X3210s...

[Boyo @ Feb 4th 2008 9:42AM]

Lick My Battery!

[daliminator2000 @ Feb 4th 2008 10:48AM]

BINARY SOLO!

\m/

[gdm @ Feb 4th 2008 12:46PM]

0000001
00000011
00000111
00001111!

[spm.peapot @ Feb 4th 2008 9:59AM]

I hope Intel will release an update of this board with DDR3.... Please!

[ammi @ Feb 4th 2008 10:16AM]

Sweet baby zombie jesus on a pogo stick.

WANT.





... hmmm, I really only need one kidney...

[Rynth @ Feb 4th 2008 10:24AM]

I'll buy a kidney!

Or one of these...

Hmm, health or g33kish bragging rights...

[Kizorblade @ Feb 4th 2008 10:33AM]

@Rynth

G33kish bragging rights of course!

Can you imagine the size of that e-peen when you mention that you have TWO cpus?

[Jerk Face @ Feb 4th 2008 11:06AM]

The term 'e-peen' makes me uncomfortable.

[Zeus.:God @ Feb 4th 2008 11:00AM]

Another good review article, with lots of pictures as well:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/skulltrail_review/495/

Enjoy. :)

[Valgas @ Feb 4th 2008 11:19AM]

I'll buy two please.

[Magallanes @ Feb 4th 2008 11:37AM]

Tweety : I Think I Saw A Heatsink.

[Ryan @ Feb 4th 2008 11:40AM]

$600 per CPU? I think you mean $1200 per CPU!!!
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=514&type=expert

[Jesse S @ Feb 4th 2008 2:07PM]

Wow, holy crap. Do want.

[{MHWW} DMan @ Feb 4th 2008 4:14PM]

This'll be pretty awesome with dual 9800GX2s. :D

[Charles @ Feb 9th 2008 7:11AM]

u kiddin?
if I can, I would go for 3 9800Gx2's, HEHE.... =P,
jst waiting for the GFX,

[{MHWW} DMan @ Feb 9th 2008 7:15AM]

Uhhh... You can't use three graphics cards on the Skulltrail.

[{MHWW} DMan @ Feb 9th 2008 7:16AM]

Uhhh... You can't use three graphics cards on the Skulltrail. (Replying to Charles)

[Raymond @ Feb 4th 2008 5:10PM]

So, what is the difference between this new platform and something like the new Mac Pro or Dell Precision 690 & T7400?

They use Xeons and FB-DIMM Ram~

[Ken @ Feb 4th 2008 5:45PM]

The difference is that now you can build one of your own. The Dells and Macs use the same chipset.

[TheAssailant6661 @ Feb 4th 2008 7:55PM]

Hoo, man, I can't wait to get a job and to buy this and then try it out.

[Brian @ Feb 5th 2008 12:57AM]

By work, I hope you mean contract work in the middle east... this thing is going to cost an arm and a leg.

...

*puh-dum-pish*

[GhostDoggy @ Feb 5th 2008 5:05AM]

So, what operating system allows what games to take advantage of four cores, and then answer the same question with eight cores? Will it format my TB disks any faster (no).

[Zut @ Feb 5th 2008 7:29AM]

Ironically, Crysis doesn't actually NEED this kind of CPU power at all. Its all shaders and barely uses the CPU. I play on a £45 E2140 clocked to a measly 2.5GHz and it never even reaches 100% usage!!

[CJLopez @ Feb 5th 2008 1:48PM]

Can it run Doom?

[Sime @ Feb 16th 2008 8:19PM]

i think it would rape doom