Foreword

On 27 July 2006, the sale of the new Intel Core 2 Duo starts- and core-2-Extreme-processors with Core microarchitecture. After already the core was allowed to assert himself 2 extreme with 2.93 GHz and 4 MB cache processor test, the much cheaper models E6700 (2.66 GHz) and E6600 (2.40 GHz) are now in in this comparison.

In this article, the performance measurements in the foreground are to report promptly on the performance of new processors. For more information on overclocking we waiting E6400 and E6300, that are already on the way in the editor currently missing core 2 models. Also the core 2 Duo processors in the editors put on the B1 stepping; Trade away only CPUs with the sixth so far stepping B2. Who is interested in measurements of the power consumption and temperature of the core 2 Duo E6700, finds this X 6800 review in the core 2 extreme.

In addition, we want to announce that in future articles as graphics card a GeForce is 7800 GTX 512 used that are clearly consider the current GeForce 7800 GT is and many benchmarks eliminates the bottleneck “Graphics card”. Nevertheless you should be the hide games benchmarks of the results precisely in the area: no processor can make up for what is not to make the video card in the State. But to do so in due time more.

We wish much fun with the following measurements of core 2 E6700 and E6600.

Bookmark

Due to the complexity of the subject “Processors”, it is not possible all subtleties repeatedly to us. At this point it should be referred to interesting related publications.

• Intel Core 2 extreme E6800
• GPU performance depending on the CPU
• Core 2 Duo E6700 TestDrive
• AMD Athlon 64 X 2 5000 + socket AM2
• Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 965
• Athlon 64 FX-60 vs. Pentium XE 955
• Living room PC: Intel’s Viiv takes off
• Intel’s “core solo” and “Core Duo”
• Display driver for dual core from ATi and nVidia
• Intel announces new processor architecture for second half of 2006
• Pentium D 840 and extreme Edition 840
• Intel: Great progress at 65 nm

Specifications and features

Intel’s new, the core 2 Duo/extreme used processor architecture differs greatly from what is familiar to us in the Pentium 4 and its Pentium D dual-core version. The following is entered on the new architecture only very superficial, because at that time, the performance in the foreground is to be. A detailed discussion of the architecture will be in a separate article.

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Even if the Core microarchitecture should become the subject of a separate article, a brief overview of the five pillars must not be missed:

• The length of the out-of-order execution-pipeline has been reduced dramatically and has 14 stages in comparison with that of the Pentium 4 “Prescott” with 31 stages less than half as long. Also, the core architecture is a 4-scalar, allowing each core at the same time to finish up to four commands (previously three). The new processors to run more commands per clock cycle. Intel summarizes this property under the name “Wide Dynamic Execution”.

• “Intel Intelligent power capability”, however, includes features that further reduce power consumption by turns she only on single logical subsystems of the processor in an intelligent way, if they are needed. The Pentium M processors of days gone could be disabled, for example, parts of the L2 cache. How far the idea with the core architecture was driven, not announced yet the semiconductor giant.

• As of the current notebook processor core duo (codenamed “Yonah”) includes also the new architecture a shared L2 cache to reduce the electricity demand by minimize traffic to the store and increases performance by one core can use the entire cache dynamically when the other core is idle. It listens to the name “advanced smart cache”.

• “Intel Smart memory access” is another feature, which is to improve system performance by optimally used the latency of memory and thus optimizes the bandwidth of the memory subsystem.

• “Advanced Digital Media Boost” run all 128 bit SSE, SSE2 and SSE3 commands now within a single clock cycle. Practically, this means a doubling of the execution speed of these commands, which are often used in multimedia and graphical applications. In addition, the new architecture provides 16 new commands that developed under the name Merom new instructions were. It has been speculated that this will be paid the name SSE4. Is however not the case. The processor manufacturer waives a separate marketing at this stage.

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The shot of core 2 Duo

Due to the new architecture and change to the power duo and core are required for core 2 2 extreme up to a few new motherboards. We will dedicate ourselves this topic on the following page. Then follow the performance measurements.

Chipset support

Gone are the days in which a processor was purchased solely due to his performance. Today is also the overall package, you get “AMD or Intel” after the landmark next to the performance or the power consumption. The following will concern the chipsets, which are available for the core 2 available. New motherboard and/or chipset generally are necessary as a result of the profound innovations.

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Support for Intel’s processors is very dependent on the respective mainboard. Just because a chipset is listed here, a based motherboard must support any CPU. The driver is itself dependent on the layout of the Board and BIOS. The support provided by the chipset is acceptable only as a given prerequisite.

Only rarely can be found on the pages of the chipset manufacturers so clear and complete lists, such as nVidia that already lead the nForce 500 chipset series, which will be presented officially in August 2006 with products. ATi, SiS and ULi, we tap from the dual-core processors largely in the dark, could bring core 2 however indirectly on the ASUS website in experience of VIA chipsets for the support.

Intel stock core 2 supports 2 extreme Duo and core of the high-end chipset i975X and the new Broadwater chipsets, the P965, G965, Q965. Here it could however be waiting: first for September 2006, Intel has announced an error-adjusted version of P965 chipset (C2 stepping). While all mainboards with 965 chipset supported the core 2 processors, this is dependent on circuit boards with i975X from the version number. Intel’s D975XBX (bad axe) is only fit for core 2 with revision 304, with the P5W DH Deluxe, ASUS presents a new i975X circuit board and, for example, MSI leads the 975 x Platinum PowerUp Edition for the new CPUs in the race.

Test systems

To allow a possible fair comparison between the competitors, all tests in a closed MIDI tower with complete fan Assembly (two inlet at the back, blowing one side when the hard drive cage) were carried out, to be attentive so also on thermal problems in the car.

There up to Intel’s mobile processors “Core Duo” and “core solo” all “firsts” with 64-bit support will be equipped, have we us to resolutely all measurements on Microsoft’s Windows XP Professional x 64 carry out again to reveal advantages and disadvantages of the implementation. All in all thought the problems within limits. Only Aquamark 3 completely refused and the PCMark05 disturbed on the 64-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9. Here, only the 32-bit version may be installed. More details will follow in the section “Benchmarks”.

• Processor
  • AMD Athlon 64 FX-60 (2.6 GHz)
  • AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 (2.8 GHz)
  • AMD Athlon 64 X 2 5000 + (Windsor F2)
  • AMD Athlon 64 X 2 4800 + (Toledo E6)
  • AMD Athlon 64 X 2 4600 + (Manchester E4)
  • Intel Core 2 Extreme X 6800 (Conroe B1)
  • Intel Core 2 Duo (Conroe B1) E6700
  • Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (Conroe B1)
  • Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 955 (Presler B1)
  • Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 965 (Presler C1)
  • Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840 (Smithfield A0)
  • Intel Pentium D 670 (Prescott 2 m E0)
• Motherboard
  • Athlon 64 Socket AM2 platform:
    Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe (nForce 590 SLI) – BIOS: 04031

  • Athlon 64 Socket 939 platform:
    ASUS A8N-SLI Premium (nForce 4 SLI) – BIOS: 1009
  • Pentium 4-socket 775 platform:
    Intel D975XBX (i975X Express)-Rev. 304 BIOS: BX97510J. 86A. 0807 2006. 1403
• Memory
  • 2x512MB DDR400 OCZ elite Platinum Ed PC4800 (DDR400 Cl2.5 3-2-6, AMD Socket 939)
  • 2x512MB DDR2-667 crucial Ballistix (DDR2-667 CL5-5-5-12)
  • 2 x 512 MB DDR2-1066 Corsair CMS2X512-8500 (DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12)
• Graphics card
  • Gigabyte GeForce 7800 GT (PCI Express)
• Peripherals
  • Hitachi HDS722516VLSA80
• Power supply
  • Tagan TG480-U22
• Driver versions
  • nVidia ForceWare 81.98 (x 64) (SYSmark)
  • nVidia ForceWare 91.27 (x 64) (other tests)
  • nVidia nForce 5 9.34 Edition (x 64)
  • Intel chipset driver 7.2.2.1006 (x 64)
  • Intel audio driver 5.10.4825 (x 64)
  • Intel network driver 10.2 (x 64)
  • Intel southbridge drivers 5.5.0.1035 (X 64)
• Software
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x 64
  • Microsoft DirectX 9.0 c December 2005
  • Microsoft Windows XP x 64 security patches < div > show all < div >
    KB898715, KB890046, KB893756, KB896358, KB896422, KB896424, KB896428, KB896688, KB899587, KB899588, KB899591, KB900725, KB901017, KB902400, KB904706, KB901214 (patches on SYSmark 2004 SE were not installed)

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Benchmarks

All benchmarks were carried out in a resolution of 1280 x 1024 at 75 Hz. The games has been tested without forced FSAA or AF.

• Synthetic
  • PCMark05 1.1.0
• System
  • 7-Zip 4.32 32-bit
  • 7-Zip 4.32 64-bit
  • SYSmark 2004 SE
  • Photoshop CS 2.0
  • WinRAR 3.51
• Rendering
  • MAXON Cinebench 2003 32-bit
  • MAXON Cinebench 2003 64-bit
  • Newtek Lightwave 8.5
• Multimedia
  • Nero Recode 2.0 (Nero 7.0)
  • Tsunami MPEG video encoder Xpress 3.3.7.116
  • Apple QuickTime 7.03 Pro
  • Microsoft Windows Movie Maker
  • Apple iTunes 6.0
  • Vorbis Oggdrop XP
  • Lame 3.97 (b) 32-bit
  • Lame 3 97a 32-bit
• Games
  • 3DMark03 3.6.0
  • 3DMark05 1.2.0
  • Battlefield 2 1.03
  • FarCry 1.31 32-bit
  • FarCry 1.31 64-bit
  • Fear multiplayer demo
  • Half life 2 lost coast
  • Quake 4 1.20
  • Serious Sam 2 demo
  • Unreal Tournament 2004 32-bit
  • Unreal Tournament 2004 64-bit

Sandra 2007

Sciencemark

PCMark05