Intel doesn’t have plans to introduce anything faster than the six-core Core i7 980X clocked 3.33GHz, at least not in 2010. This is the current plan that would only change if Intel feels challenged by AMD.

Since we know that this is highly unlikely, the soon to be introduced Gulftown-based 3.33GHz six-core i7 980X will be the fastest CPU throughout 2010. Only in early 2011, in Q1, Intel plans to replace this CPU with something better and faster. 

The interesting part is that Sandy Bridge won't replace the six-core CPUs, but we expect a six or more core CPU to take its place, of course in 32nm.

Sandy Bridge, like any Intel generation since 2006, is designed with the mobile segment in mind and these CPUs don’t even need quad cores. The market is happy with two cores as we don’t see much sense in quads for mobile computing.