Build a PC using Intel's new $1,700 10-core desktop CPU

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  • CPU: Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition

    CPU: Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition

    Let's begin with the CPU. Intel's new Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition is a 3.0GHz (3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) desktop CPU, and is the first to boast 10 cores. The CPU features 25MB of cache, and 40 PCI-e 3.0 lanes, and supports DDR4-2400. All this comes with a very reasonable TDP of 140W.

    The price - you probably need to be sitting down - is $1,723. This is more than $700 more expensive than Intel's previous top-of-the-line CPU.

    Price: $1,723

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Motherboard: ASRock X99E-ITX/ac

    Motherboard: ASRock X99E-ITX/ac

    The i7-6950X needs an LGA2011-v3 motherboard with Broadwell-E support. A motherboard that fits the bill is the ASRock X99E-ITX/ac (all you need is a BIOS update for compatibility).

    A nice, robust, compact - mini-ITX - motherboard featuring one PCI-e 3.0 x16 slot (just wait and see what we put in here!), 7.1 HD audio, six SATA3 ports, and an array of USB 3.1 and USB 2.0 ports.

    Price: $290

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4 2400

    RAM: Kingston HyperX Fury 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4 2400

    We've got two RAM slots, so let's fill them with 2 x 16GB Kingston HyperX Fury sticks which should offer this system high performance and rock-solid stability.

    Price: $125

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Graphics card: Asus ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080

    Graphics card: Asus ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080

    As if Nvidia's own reference GTX 1080 wasn't fast enough, the Asus ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 is overclocked to offer more power and a few extra frames per second. It's also cheaper than Nvidia's own GTX 1080.

    Price: $620

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Storage: 2TB Samsung 850 Pro

    Storage: 2TB Samsung 850 Pro

    The Samsung 850 Pro was the world's first consumer 3D V-NAND SSD, and it features read speeds up to 550 MB/s, and writes speeds up to 520 MB/s.

    But all this comes at a price.

    Price: $990

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • PSU: Corsair RMx RM850X 850W 80 Plus Gold

    PSU: Corsair RMx RM850X 850W 80 Plus Gold

    The Corsair RMx RM850X 850W offers the power and stability that this build needs. And the modular design means that cable clutter is kept to a minimum.

    Price: $120

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Case: Corsair Graphite Series 380T

    Case: Corsair Graphite Series 380T

    The super-compact Corsair Graphite Series 380T is ideal for this build - we're using an ITX motherboard and 2.5-inch drives - and yet this case is big enough for the high-spec graphics card we are using. It's also a tool-free design case, which means it's easy to carry out upgrades and fixes.

    Price: $130

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Optical drive: LG Electronics 14x SATA Blu-ray

    Optical drive: LG Electronics 14x SATA Blu-ray

    The LG Electronics 14x SATA Blu-ray optical drive does everything we need, including offering support for 128GB quad layer BDXL-R discs.

    Price: $52

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

  • Operating system Windows 10 Pro (full version)

    Operating system Windows 10 Pro (full version)

    Last but not least, Windows 10 Pro. At least this time it's not the most expensive part of the build!

    Note: If you are building systems for resale, you can use the OEM version of Windows 10 Pro.

    Price: $199

    Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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Intel has a new "king of CPUs," the 10-core Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition. Want this at the heart of your next PC? Here's what you'll need.

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CPU: Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition

Let's begin with the CPU. Intel's new Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition is a 3.0GHz (3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) desktop CPU, and is the first to boast 10 cores. The CPU features 25MB of cache, and 40 PCI-e 3.0 lanes, and supports DDR4-2400. All this comes with a very reasonable TDP of 140W.

The price - you probably need to be sitting down - is $1,723. This is more than $700 more expensive than Intel's previous top-of-the-line CPU.

Price: $1,723

Caption by: Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

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