Intel is gearing up to launch its fastest dual-core to date, the 3.6GHz Core i5-680.

The Clarkdale-based 32nm part has a TDP of 73W, which is quite impressive considering its high clock. It has 2x256kB of L2 and 4MB of L3 cache. Its integrated graphics are clocked at 733MHz and it officially supports dual channel DDR3 1333. We still don't know the exact price or launch date, but it will probably retail around the €240 mark, which is quite pricey for a dual-core, regardless of the clock.

In addition to the 680 dual-core, Intel will also launch the quad-core Core i7 870s. It's an energy efficient version of the plain 870, with a TDP rating of 82W and it runs at 2.67GHz. The regular 870 runs at 2.93GHz and has a 95W TDP. Once again, we don't know the price or launch date. This Lynnfield-based part could easily end up priced well above the €400 mark.