Face it, if you want to encode videostreams or simply have a craving need for raw gaming power the up-coming year, this CPU will do it as it will take performance into a new extreme in speed.

Along with the processor we received an Intel mainboard, the D850EMV2 which is based on the Intel 850E chipset. The processor is an Engineering sample, therefore you'll notice a confidential sign laser branded on-to that CPU which of course is based on the latest stepping Northwood core.

Intel 850E chipset based mainboard - Click here to enlarge

We notice something with the new stepping though, a 533 MHz FSB (front side bus) which will become more regular with the newer Pentium CPU's. The recent announcements have led to a variety of CPU's with both the 'old' quad pumped (4x 100MHz) 400MHz and the new (4x133) 533 MHz FSB (yes, 532 to be precise):

Bare in mind that a lot of mainboards do not support a 533 MHz FSB yet, so for most of you an upgrade would mean a new mainboard also.

512MB in total RAMBUS memory modules

The new 2.80 GHz processor runs at a slightly higher core voltage then it's predecessor namely 1.525V vs. 1.500V. This was necessary to justify the higher clock speed and thus stability. Not too worry though, the CPU remains level at an all-time very cool temperature. We stressed the CPU constantly and it never even topped 50 degrees C, in idle you can expect about 35 degrees C. The voltage increase by definition does not mean you need a newer mainboard, a BIOS upgrade would suffice. Funnily enough it now uses quite a lot of power, in fact enough to light a bulb at 68.4 Watts when it peaks.

Let's do some business and see what the latest and greatest from Intel is up-to. We will test several processors (Pentium 4 2,8 and 2,4 GHz and Athlon 1800+ and 2000+). Both systems have 512MB Memory (DDR for Athlon, Rambus for the Intel) and a GeForce4 Ti 4600. All tests are done on a WindowsXP system with the latest chipset drivers installed, equal BIOS setting, no tweaks, DirectX 8.1 and NVIDIA Detonator 30.81 drivers.

Standard issue cooling from Intel, nasty to remove from the CPU - Click here to enlarge

Mainboard with cooling removed - Click here to enlarge