Intel advanced its quad-core processor family with the introduction of the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800, the company’s twelfth quad-core processor offering.

Running at 2.93 GHz – the fastest native clock speed yet reached with the Intel Core microarchitecture for the quad-core desktop – this addition to Intel’s processor family sets new standards for desktop PC performance.

The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is designed for those gamers, digital design professionals and enthusiasts who crave the highest performing computers they can get their hands on. At the recent Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, several software developers demonstrated new games that have been “threaded” to take advantage of multiple processor cores and threads. The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is also being embraced by media users and developers. For example, the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6800 is up to 65% faster than the Intel Core 2 Extreme dual-core processor X6800 on video encoding. This is a key capability as more households are recording and editing high-definition video to capture, preserve and share memories.

“The performance and technology leadership we are delivering with our enthusiast quad-core processor lineup is a direct result of the reliability provided by Intel’s manufacturing and engineering strength,” said Eric Kim, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Digital Home Group. “This translates to user benefits such as better gameplay with more intelligent computer-generated opponents and less wait time for demanding high-definition media editing.”

The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is produced on Intel’s industry-leading 65 nanometer process, key to enabling the large 8 megabyte cache. A 1066 MHz system bus is supported and the processor is available now at a cost of $1,199.