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PC Hardware
Q9650 will have multiplier locked
QX9650 doesn’t
We wrote about Intel’s new Q9650 CPU here and this 45nm Yorkfield-based CPU will start selling in Q3 for $525. We got quite a few emails with an interesting question: what is the difference between Core 2 Quad Q9650 and the already available Core 2 Extreme QX9650?
Both CPUs work at 3GHz, have 12MB cache, operate under FSB1333 and they fit in socket 775. There will be two things that will differentiate these two. As you might know, Extreme in the name means that the CPU is unlocked and you can overclock it as much as you like; and Core 2 Quad Q9650 means you will get a plain, multiplier locked 3GHz CPU.
The bigger issue will be the price, as Core 2 Extreme QX9650 will continue to sell for at least $990 and Core 2 Quad Q9650 will start selling for a much more reasonable $525.