Intel's wicked-fast Core i7 980X Extreme Edition CPU has occupied both headlines and hearts in recent weeks, but for those unwilling to set aside the best part of a grand for a CPU upgrade, the chip giant has a few other launches up its sleeves.
According to Chinese newspaper Digitimes, Intel will extend its line of Core i5 parts with a new range-topping addition, the Core i5 680.
Said to be clocked at 3.6GHz, the dual-core processor will feature 256KB of L2 cache per core and 4MB of L3 cache.
Built on Intel's 32nm Clarkdale process, the Core i5 680 will feature 45nm integrated graphics and looks set to become Intel's fastest dual-core processor to date. Pricing in thousand-unit quantities is rumoured to be $284 (approximately £190 excluding VAT).
Further up the scale, Intel will also introduce a new Lynnfield-based part in the form of the Core i7 870s. The energy-efficient chip will retain the feature set of the existing Core i7 870 but will be clocked at a lower 2.67GHz, enabling it to carry a TDP rating of just 82W, as opposed to 95W for the full-fat 2.93GHz version.
The low-power part is expected to ship soon priced at $560 in thousand-unit quanitities.
