Intel's 2nd Generation Core processors 29 new CPUs and enhanced graphics

[NJ5]

ssj12 said:

It might not be a major advancement, but the quad core performance about match the six-cores. I'm wondering what the performance of a six core sandy bridge will be like.

(...)

Not when you look at benchmarks of software which is really good with six cores, for example:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/39555-intel-sandy-bridge-core-i5-2500k-core-i7-2600k-processors-review-11.html

The i7 980x beats the i7-2600k by almost 50%, which is just what you would expect when going from 4 to 6 cores at a slightly smaller clock rate.

These new CPUs are nice, but they're certainly not mindblowing as far as raw CPU performance goes (i.e. ignoring the specific optimizations to graphics and video rendering).