Together with the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 quad-core processor we also received a slightly slower, non-extreme Kentsfield model aka Core 2 Quad Q6600. This processor hasn抰 been officially announced yet, it should come out in the beginning of next year.
Core 2 Quad Q6600 differs from Core 2 Extreme QX6700 by lower clock speed and lower price point that is expected to be around $850, according to some preliminary data.
The specifications of Core 2 Quad Q6600 are given in the table below:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 |
Clock frequency | 2400 MHz |
Cores | 4 |
Packaging | LGA775 |
Vcore (max) | 1.35 V |
Bus frequency | 1066 MHz |
Typical heat dissipation | 105 W (?) |
L2 cache | 2 x 4MB, shared |
Production technology | 65 nm |
Intel Hyper-Threading | None |
Intel Virtualization Technology | Yes |
EM64T (Enhanced Memory 64 Technology) | Yes |
EIST (Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology) | Yes |
And here is what the CPU-Z utility reports:
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Note that the 搉on-extreme?Kentsfield processor will also boast slightly lower typical heat dissipation than the top-of-the-line Core 2 Extreme QX6700. Therefore, if you do not want to face the same issues as with NetBurst based CPUs, Core 2 Quad Q6600 may be a better choice for you.
Testbed and Methods
Well, it doesn抰 make a lot of sense to dig deeper into the theory about the new quad-core processors. We have already discussed Core microarchitecture in our numerous articles devoted to Kentsfield抯 揾alves? As for the peculiarities of quad-core CPUs, we have also dwelled on them in our IDF Fall 2006 Coverage. So, let抯 move to the most exciting part of our review: the practical test session.
When we worked with Core 2 Extreme QX6700 and Core 2 Quad Q6600 we decided to test their performance not only in multi-threaded applications. Since multi-core processors allow running a few resource-hungry applications simultaneously, we felt it would be interesting to check out situations like that, too. But let抯 start from the very beginning here. Before we start, please take a look at the configuration of the systems that were assembled for our tests:
- CPUs:
- AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 (Socket AM2, 2.8GHz, 2x1024KB L2);
- Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 (LGA775, 2.93GHz, 1067MHz FSB, 4MB L2);
- Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 (LGA775, 2.66GHz, 1067MHz FSB, 2x4MB L2);
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 (LGA775, 2.66GHz, 1067MHz FSB, 4MB L2);
- Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (LGA775, 2.4GHz, 1067MHz FSB, 2x4MB L2).
- Mainboards:
- ASUS P5B Deluxe (LGA775, Intel P965 Express);
- ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe (Socket AM2, NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI).
- Memory:
- 2048MB DDR2-800 SDRAM (Mushkin XP2-6400PRO, 2 x 1024 MB, DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12).
- Graphics card: PowerColor X1900 XTX 512MB;
- HDD: Western Digital WD1500AHFD.
- OS: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 с DirectX 9.0c.
The mainboard BIOS was set for maximum performance.
