Video: Intel Ships QX9770 Quad Core, I Build A PC With It

After a long wait, Intel's hot new Core 2 Extreme QX9770 quad-core processor is finally here. Intel has been in something of a stealth mode with this chip, sending out review units -- like the one I used to build the PC shown in the new video included in this post.Since late last year, Intel has talked about shipping the QX9770 in the second quarter of 2008. However, it wasn't planning to make any sort of formal announcement when the thing launched. That's why I've been checking the usual suspects, to see when retail boxed processors would become available. Today, bingo. TigerDirect has one, which you can grab if you're willing to part with $1,600.

I've been fortunate enough to secure a review unit, courtesy of Intel. I used it to build a PC, which I can honestly say is the hottest machine I've had the privilege of putting together and testing.

Helping matters was the motherboard, an Asus P5E64 WS Professional. This mobo uses the new Intel X38 chipset, and is one of not too many out there right now which can go full speed on the QX9770's 1,600-MHz front-side bus. It's got the usual Asus attention to detail, most importantly an ample complement of copper cooling pipes.

Here's a quick recap of my project: After I got a hold of the QX9770 and the mobo, I salvaged a dusty old case from an old HP computer. That's because the thing was built like a tank, and much roomier than the cheap enclosures one sees nowadays. To make triple sure the machine would run cool, I clipped a Sunbeam CR-SW-775 Silent Whisper heat sink and fan assembly atop the processor. (I usually opt for the Arctic Freezer Pro 7, but I got a much better deal on the Sunbeam this time.)

For graphics, I went with a Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GTS graphics, with 640 MB of video memory. The only area where I really dropped the ball was in storage. Although I used a SATA drive (why wouldn't I?), I used a relatively slow one. I had an unused 500 GB drive lying around, and a fast drive isn't cheap. I pain for this decision, though, because the drive dragged down the Futuremark benchmarks. (I'll get into those an upcoming article.)

Without further ado, here's the video, "Build A QX9770 Quad-Core PC, Part 2." Note that it's part 2 of the on-screen documentation of my build project. (Part one, as well as links to earlier posts in this series, appear at the bottom of this post.)

Here are the links to the previous posts in my build-a-PC saga:

Why Is Windows XP Still So Much Faster Than Vista?

Intel's QX9770 Rocks, But My Project Hits A Snag

How To Build An Intel QX9770 Quad-Core PC

Build-A-PC Chronicles: Reviving A Dusty Old Case

Here's Part 1 of the "Build A QX9770 Quad-Core PC" video

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