Have you download the latest AMD display driver ~ ATI Catalyst Software Suite Version 9.3? No for me. AMD comes out a new ATI Catalyst Software Suite every month. And the naming conversion is based on year and month. For example, the current version 9.3, 9 == year and 3 == month. Normally, new features or performance improvement will be added on each display driver release. For ATI Catalyst Software Suite Version 9.3, the major feature is Windows 7 support and is a unified driver with Windows Vista. Besides, it also improves on Folding@Home (which I did not try at all for the moment). Windows Vista HDMI audio driver support
integrated into all ATI Catalyst 9.3 packages and new AMD Display Library (ADL) SDK. Finally, Lost Planet: Colonies gains up to 20% on 4800 series products.
Based on these features, I will skip this release. Looking forward for the next release that has 64 bit hardware support on ATI AVIVO Video Converter. Right now, it is still using CPU processing instead of GPU power. Luckily, I have a very powerful CPU ~ Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650. 
Prime95 is also known as Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). It is a tool to find World Record Primes. However, it can be used as CPU torture tool as well. It is a great tool to stress your CPU because the torture test will use up all your CPU core and 100% CPU utilization. Who want to torture his own CPU anyway? Overclocker like me will need it. Besides this tool, I also use SpeedFan to monitor CPU temperature and CPU-Z for CPU core speed and bus speed.
Prime95 torture test in action
Alright, I got my free Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650. Here is the Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650 preview. It is clocked at 3GHz with 12MB L2 cache and running 1333 MHz FSB. What is Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor anyway? The Extreme edition means it is the best Intel processor. And it is built on 45nm manufacturing technology, with hafnium-infused Hi-k transistors. What make it the best? The processor bus ratio locks (overspeed protection) have been removed in the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor. This delivers the ability to tune the system, taking it beyond the specification limits.
Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650 front view
YES!!! My Free Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650 had arrived finally. Here is the photo that I promised to show. Enjoy. More interesting hardware setup will coming up…
My Free Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650
Free Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650!!! Yes, you did not read it wrong. Intel Malaysia is giving out Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor QX9650 for FREE. But it is engineering sample, not production unit. What is engineering sample? Basically, it is not for sales. It should be used within Intel or by authorized personnel outside of Intel for purposes of testing, evaluating, and/or pre-configuring systems. Engineering sample processors are designed and built like normal processors, but offer additional features for testing purposes.
