Conclusions

Summing up everything we have talked about today, we would like to give up the traditional set phrases about Intel’s success in increasing their dual-core processors performance. It is true, but we believe it is not the most important thing here. Yes, Core 2 Duo E8600 works at 3.33GHz - 166MHz higher clock frequency than that of Core 2 Duo E8500, and it is the highest frequency in the entire Core 2 family. However, it is not the most interesting thing about it. It is much more important that together with the launch of the new processor Intel will introduce into mass market new E0 Wolfdale stepping.

This processor stepping boasts a lot of serious improvements: it supports new power-saving technologies, offers more adequate and stable thermal sensors, overclocks better and is more economical. All these innovations are significant enough for us to strongly advise that you always pay special attention to the processor stepping of the 45nm CPUs you buy to make sure that you only get the latest E0 stepping. Especially, since not only Core 2 Duo E8600, but also other Wolfdale processors with lower frequencies and prices will soon switch to new cores.

In conclusion I would like to add that Core 2 Duo E8600 and other processors with new E0 stepping should appear in the market fairly soon. According to our sources, they will start selling in second half of August, 2008.