The first desktop-like processor of the 45nm wave, the 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9650 is set to undergo a few updates as Intel is preparing a new stepping for later this quarter. Planned to be available from March 3rd on, the C1 stepping CPUs will feature new SSPEC and MM numbers and a new CPUID - 0x00010677.

The rest of the specifications of the C1 stepping remain unchanged from C0 but motherboard makers will still have to release new BIOS versions in order to support it. No biggie.