Ballistics Report: 3.4GHz Extreme Edition

Pros:

Performance: Does it really matter that Intel’s 3.4GHz Extreme Edition is basically a souped-up workstation processor? Not really- the fact of the matter is that the new 3.4GHz Extreme Edition flies through gaming benchmarks. It’s even fast enough to best the Athlon 64 FX-51 in several situations, at which point you’re comparing Ferrari’s Enzo to Lambo’s Murcielago.

Compatibility: Thus far, we haven’t had a problem finding motherboards to work with our Extreme Edition processors. Most third-party manufacturers have been diligent in releasing BIOS files that correctly recognize the chip. Moreover, the Extreme Edition doesn’t have memory subsystem requirements, like AMD’s Athlon 64 FX-51.

Cons:

Price: Don’t even think about Intel’s new 3.4GHz Extreme Edition unless you have money to burn. The processor alone costs one thousand dollars, and it’d be a complete waste unless you built the rest of your system from premium components as well. Then again, if you have a luxury condo and are driving a 4.4L Range Rover, what’s an extra $500 dollars anyway?

The Future: Someone’s always saying “don’t buy yet; wait just another month and you’ll get much better prices.” Our motivations are different, though. If you’re interested in high-end hardware (and clearly, anyone willing to drop a grand on a processor has a taste for the finer things in life), the second quarter of 2004 will be an exciting time. PCI-Express, DDR2, LGA-775, Socket 939, 3.6GHz, and new models in the Athlon 64 family…the list goes on and on. If everyone sticks to their roadmaps, the next few months will be particularly busy.