Intel has unveiled its first six-core microprocessor, Intel Core i7-980X, which claims high level performance for the customers. The hexa-core processor, codenamed Gulftown is aimed at power users and top performance computing seekers. It is based on the 32nm Westmere design. It shares the same LGA 1366 socket as the present top performer quad-core Intel Core i7-975 Extreme Edition.

The new Core i7-980X supports Intel Hyper Threading and Turbo Boost technologies. Gulftown chip was introduced in San Francisco at the ongoing Game Developers Conference 2010.

This Intel Core i7-980X is equipped with 12MB smart cache and is clocked at 3.33GHz. It combines DDR3-1066MHz memory controller supporting triple channel mode. Geared with active 6-cores, this processor has the ability to handle workload of 12 computing threads. For this CPU, Intel X58 Express Chipset based motherboard would be the best, though with an updated BIOS version.

New Core i7-980X boasts of 50% more cores than the Core i7-975 quad-core processor with 8MB cache.

It comes at a price of $1,000 per thousand chips tray, similar to Core i7-975.

At present, it is undecided when Core i7-980X will be available worldwide.