Intel Skulltrail Part 2: Overclocking & Power

Processors: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775

The Skulltrail motherboard was primarily designed for use with two Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors. These Extreme Edition CPUs are basically identical to the 45-nm quad-core Penryn CPUs already in stores now.

Intel launched its Penryn processors three months ago last October, Technologically, the QX9775 is completely identical to the Core 2 Extreme QX9770 that Intel launched only two months ago. However, Intel was forced to delay actual shipments of the CPU for several months due to a CPU core bug. Intel says it intends to have this problem fixed by March, when it will resume shipments of this part.

Since the Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processor is produced with the same C0 stepping as the QX9770 we previously tested, we assume that it is affected by the same bug and will therefore also not begin shipping to customers before March. Apparently, the bug only occurs at very high speeds, since the QX9650, a 3.0 GHz device, is already shipping, while the 3.2 GHz QX9770 and QX9775 CPUs have both been delayed.