It hasn't been a full year since we saw Intel launch their Core 2 Duo processors, but we will soon be seeing a line-up refresh. This is one product that really needs no introduction, but seeing as this is a refresh, refreshing everyones minds seems appropriate. Intel launched the Core 2 Duo to much fanfare last July. Months prior to this, enthusiasts were drooling over leaks of performance reports, which fortunately, turned out to be right on the money.
The entire Conroe line-up is built on a 65nm process, with the mainstream products offering 4MB of L2 cache. Improved over the previous Pentium 4/Pentium D line-up was better power efficiency resulting in a lower TDP and better overall temperatures. This is appreciated, as two cores under the same IHS can potentially create an unwanted room heater.
All but the lowest end Core 2 Duos take advantage of a 1066FSB. This is where this refreshed line-up comes into play, as it ushers in 1333FSB computing. This noticeable speed bump is all done while retaining the same TDP.
All Conroe 1333FSB processors are identified by by a 50 at the end of the product name, hence E6750, which is effectively taking over the spot of the E6700. Nothing has changed except for the FSB and speeds, except the ratio of course, which had to be altered in order to compliment the upgraded frequency.
One thing that should be cleared up is that most overclocking enthusiasts have already accomplished the same speeds we are seeing today, with most being exceeded. In fact, there is nothing stopping anyone from popping in an E6600 and overclocking using a 333FSB and 8 multiplier. That would effectively give you the exact same speed as the E6750 we are taking a look at today.
You might be wondering where the benefit is, with this official speed bump. Primarily it will benefit those non-overclockers most. There is no comparison to equal processor speed at 1066FSB and 1333FSB. That added FSB frequency should make a much more noticeable performance difference than the CPU frequency boost itself.
This boost also helps usher in the DDR3-era, since these new processors will be able to utilize a 1:1 ratio with DDR3-1333 modules, a common DDR3 standard.
Aside from the obvious speed benefit with the new processors, there is another aspect that most are going to enjoy. The price. According to reports, the processor we are taking a look at today will retail for an average of ~$200 at launch. One popular e-tailer recently leaked their prices, which backed up these claims.
So here we have an E6750 at 2.66GHz with a 1333FSB... for $200? This is probably -the- reason why excitement should be in the air. Compare that to the current E6700 price, which hovers around the $300 mark. We will touch a lot more on pricing and other specifics in our conclusion.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
There's no doubt that 2006 was one of the most incredible years in technology in recent memory. There were scandals, impressive landscape-shifting mergers, strange new alliances and many new products and technologies unveiled. One launch that stands out in everyone's mind is Intel's Conroe last summer. We were teased with leaked benchmark results and other information months before the release and once the launch finally hit, we were all relieved to see that it actually lived up to the hype.
After a launch like this, we didn't think that a follow-up would arrive for a while. We were wrong. In the early fall, we first learned about Intel's quad-core CPU, which is essentially two Conroes under the same IHS. I admit, I didn't expect to actually see it so soon, but come November, it was publicly available for anyone to purchase. Intel's at the top of their game, and don't want to step down anytime soon.
When they first launched their QX6700, they held off launching the Q6600 until early January. We don't know the reason for the delay, but now the possibility of having your own quad-core machine without breaking the bank has finally arrived. Let's first get the basics out of the way.
Oh My Quad
The Q6600 is a 2.4GHz chip, like its little brother the E6600. Both CPUs are nearly identical and use the same die(s), except that the Q6600 has two of them. Essentially, everything is doubled. Twice the cores, twice the cache and twice the drool. Like the other Core 2 Duos, Core 2 Quads are based on a 65nm process, although the process requires a slightly higher stock voltage. Since both the Quads are so similar to the Duos, it's no surprise to see that the die size is simply doubled as well, resulting in 2 x 143mm^2.
When compared to the top of the line QX6700 chip, the specs are again identical except for the 2.66GHz clock speed. Other than that, the CPUs are the same, just binned differently. When comparing to the top end Core 2 Duo, the differences are a lot more meaningful. While the QX6700 retails for just under $1,000, so does the X6800. However, when considering the QX6700, you receive a lower clock speed in return for twice the cores. At that point, it's up to you whether you want or need the sheer clock speed or greater benefits for your multi-thread applications.
To help put everything into perspective, here's a simple graph showcasing all of Intel's current Core 2 offerings.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
Pricing
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $999
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB 75W 2 $999
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 105W 4 $851
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2 $530
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2 $316
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2 $224
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2 $183
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.80GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2 $163
One interesting point to note is that even though the Q6600 is essentially 2 x E6600, the TDP is not doubled, but rather sits at a comfortable 105W. The higher clocked QX6700 is 130W, however, which is why we don't see a QX6800 instead. A TDP of 130W is high to begin with, but considering the much slower 820 D we reviewed less than a year ago also had a TDP of 130W, power consumption still hasn't entered uncharted territory, and there are thermal solutions available to deal with that kind of heat.
Below, you can see a highly detailed illustration of the quad-core's innards. In case you thought that two dies would be a tight squeeze, think again! Despite having four cores, there's still a reasonable amount of breathing room in there. For a more realistic view of the chip with the HS off, you can check out the picture provided by Intel here.
As far as the back of the CPU goes, nothing can better explain it than a photograph. The E6600 sits on the left while the Q6600 is on the right. The only difference is in the number of filtering components.
With introductions out of the way, let's explore the reason Quad-Core exists and take a look at its future.
After a launch like this, we didn't think that a follow-up would arrive for a while. We were wrong. In the early fall, we first learned about Intel's quad-core CPU, which is essentially two Conroes under the same IHS. I admit, I didn't expect to actually see it so soon, but come November, it was publicly available for anyone to purchase. Intel's at the top of their game, and don't want to step down anytime soon.
When they first launched their QX6700, they held off launching the Q6600 until early January. We don't know the reason for the delay, but now the possibility of having your own quad-core machine without breaking the bank has finally arrived. Let's first get the basics out of the way.
Oh My Quad
The Q6600 is a 2.4GHz chip, like its little brother the E6600. Both CPUs are nearly identical and use the same die(s), except that the Q6600 has two of them. Essentially, everything is doubled. Twice the cores, twice the cache and twice the drool. Like the other Core 2 Duos, Core 2 Quads are based on a 65nm process, although the process requires a slightly higher stock voltage. Since both the Quads are so similar to the Duos, it's no surprise to see that the die size is simply doubled as well, resulting in 2 x 143mm^2.
When compared to the top of the line QX6700 chip, the specs are again identical except for the 2.66GHz clock speed. Other than that, the CPUs are the same, just binned differently. When comparing to the top end Core 2 Duo, the differences are a lot more meaningful. While the QX6700 retails for just under $1,000, so does the X6800. However, when considering the QX6700, you receive a lower clock speed in return for twice the cores. At that point, it's up to you whether you want or need the sheer clock speed or greater benefits for your multi-thread applications.
To help put everything into perspective, here's a simple graph showcasing all of Intel's current Core 2 offerings.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
Pricing
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $999
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB 75W 2 $999
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 105W 4 $851
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2 $530
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2 $316
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2 $224
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2 $183
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.80GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2 $163
One interesting point to note is that even though the Q6600 is essentially 2 x E6600, the TDP is not doubled, but rather sits at a comfortable 105W. The higher clocked QX6700 is 130W, however, which is why we don't see a QX6800 instead. A TDP of 130W is high to begin with, but considering the much slower 820 D we reviewed less than a year ago also had a TDP of 130W, power consumption still hasn't entered uncharted territory, and there are thermal solutions available to deal with that kind of heat.
Below, you can see a highly detailed illustration of the quad-core's innards. In case you thought that two dies would be a tight squeeze, think again! Despite having four cores, there's still a reasonable amount of breathing room in there. For a more realistic view of the chip with the HS off, you can check out the picture provided by Intel here.
As far as the back of the CPU goes, nothing can better explain it than a photograph. The E6600 sits on the left while the Q6600 is on the right. The only difference is in the number of filtering components.
With introductions out of the way, let's explore the reason Quad-Core exists and take a look at its future.
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Quad-Core
When Intel launched their P35 chipset two months ago, it ushered in not only DDR3 support, but also native 1333FSB support. This wasn't much of a surprise, since DDR3-1333 is a standard, and it's common to want to run 1:1 ratios with the FSB and memory frequency. We saw this with 800FSB CPUs and DDR2-800 memory and also 1066FSB CPUs with DDR2-1066 memory. The next big thing from Intel will be 1333FSB Penryn, which we have taken a look at in depth in previous months. To tide us over until then, Intel is launching refreshing parts of their Core 2 line-up to include native 1333FSB processors.
We took a look at their second-to-top offering a few weeks ago, in the form of a 2.66GHz E6750. Although it's an incredible CPU for the money, we already knew what to expect since it was a 'mere' speed bump and retained identical TDPs. You could take any Core 2 Duo and clock it to 1333FSB and have the same performance, in reality.
As I mentioned in that review, though, the biggest reason you should look forward to these new launches is because of their price points. The 2.66GHz E6750 will retail for around $200, which is an incredible thought considering what prices were set at last year. $200 will now get you a very powerful processor that will not be the bottleneck in gaming or other activities. In years past, you almost had to hand over $1,000 for a new CPU if you wanted ultimate performance. The Core 2 series has well proved itself since launch however, with even the budget offerings giving any enthusiast the performance they crave.
Those who don't enjoy overclocking, or are skeptical of the activity, are in luck because of the fact that they can still have a great CPU and not skip a car payment. But, despite the fact that there are powerful CPUs out there for reasonable prices, the Extreme line exists for two types of people. Those who want a top of the line processor without overclocking, and those who want to get every last ounce out of their overclocking. Because Extreme CPUs are binned higher, it's not unusual to see the top overclocks performed with them.
The only downside, of course, is the price. One has to wonder if the premium nowadays is truly worth it, considering the performance of the budget offerings can still be considered extreme by todays standards. Nothing stops overclockers from achieving the same frequencies with ease, either. Still, those who refuse to overclock for the sake of stability or what-have-you, but still want the best performance available, can't go wrong.
That's where the QX6850 comes into play, a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme that offers four cores to computing enthusiasts. This is the fastest Core 2 processor ever released, and in turn the fastest processor the market has to offer. Price as expected, is $999 in quantities of 1,000. You should expect to see it retail for closer to ~$1,250 at your favorite e-tailer, or even higher though. It's like buying a Ferrari, where paying $50,000 over SRP is not uncommon. This is just on a far smaller scale.
Although we are taking a look at the top offering for the 1333FSB processors, there will be a total of five being released immediately, with availability in the coming weeks. Below you will find the completely up-to-date line-up.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 105W 4
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.60GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6540 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 2.0GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.80GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Compared to the previous top-end processor, the QX6850 has a 70MHz advantage. Though a non-impressive frequency boost, it should prove much faster than the QX6800 overall, thanks to the much-improved FSB frequency.
The first Extreme Quad-Core released late last year was the QX6700, clocking in at 2.66GHz. Because of this new launch, it is being re-released as the Q6700, meaning no unlocked multiplier. Its price will also be dropped, alongside the rest of the line-up.
Below is a table of just the new processors, with their prices in quantities of 1,000.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
$/1,000
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $999
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $530
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2 $266
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2 $183
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2 $163
Also announced today is Intels first extreme mobile part, the X7800. Like the desktop counter-parts, this Extreme processor features an unlocked multiplier, so it's overclocking friendly. This dual-core CPU is clocked at 2.6GHz and features an 800MHz FSB and 4MB of L2 Cache. Like all other extreme offerings though, it doesn't come cheap, costing $851 to OEMs.
The 6x50 series will be available to consumers in two weeks time, through your favorite retailer or e-tailer. The X7800 mobile CPU is being sold to OEMs now, and should be available in various notebooks in the coming weeks.
With that, let's cover our testing methodology and then jump right into benchmarking.
We took a look at their second-to-top offering a few weeks ago, in the form of a 2.66GHz E6750. Although it's an incredible CPU for the money, we already knew what to expect since it was a 'mere' speed bump and retained identical TDPs. You could take any Core 2 Duo and clock it to 1333FSB and have the same performance, in reality.
As I mentioned in that review, though, the biggest reason you should look forward to these new launches is because of their price points. The 2.66GHz E6750 will retail for around $200, which is an incredible thought considering what prices were set at last year. $200 will now get you a very powerful processor that will not be the bottleneck in gaming or other activities. In years past, you almost had to hand over $1,000 for a new CPU if you wanted ultimate performance. The Core 2 series has well proved itself since launch however, with even the budget offerings giving any enthusiast the performance they crave.
Those who don't enjoy overclocking, or are skeptical of the activity, are in luck because of the fact that they can still have a great CPU and not skip a car payment. But, despite the fact that there are powerful CPUs out there for reasonable prices, the Extreme line exists for two types of people. Those who want a top of the line processor without overclocking, and those who want to get every last ounce out of their overclocking. Because Extreme CPUs are binned higher, it's not unusual to see the top overclocks performed with them.
The only downside, of course, is the price. One has to wonder if the premium nowadays is truly worth it, considering the performance of the budget offerings can still be considered extreme by todays standards. Nothing stops overclockers from achieving the same frequencies with ease, either. Still, those who refuse to overclock for the sake of stability or what-have-you, but still want the best performance available, can't go wrong.
That's where the QX6850 comes into play, a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme that offers four cores to computing enthusiasts. This is the fastest Core 2 processor ever released, and in turn the fastest processor the market has to offer. Price as expected, is $999 in quantities of 1,000. You should expect to see it retail for closer to ~$1,250 at your favorite e-tailer, or even higher though. It's like buying a Ferrari, where paying $50,000 over SRP is not uncommon. This is just on a far smaller scale.
Although we are taking a look at the top offering for the 1333FSB processors, there will be a total of five being released immediately, with availability in the coming weeks. Below you will find the completely up-to-date line-up.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 105W 4
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.60GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz 1066MHz 4MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6540 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 2.2GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 2.0GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.80GHz 800MHz 2MB 65W 2
Compared to the previous top-end processor, the QX6850 has a 70MHz advantage. Though a non-impressive frequency boost, it should prove much faster than the QX6800 overall, thanks to the much-improved FSB frequency.
The first Extreme Quad-Core released late last year was the QX6700, clocking in at 2.66GHz. Because of this new launch, it is being re-released as the Q6700, meaning no unlocked multiplier. Its price will also be dropped, alongside the rest of the line-up.
Below is a table of just the new processors, with their prices in quantities of 1,000.
CPU Model
Clock Speed
FSB
L2 Cache
TDP
Cores
$/1,000
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $999
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 4MB x 2 130w 4 $530
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 3.0GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2 $266
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333MHz 4MB 65W 2 $183
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333MHz 2MB 65W 2 $163
Also announced today is Intels first extreme mobile part, the X7800. Like the desktop counter-parts, this Extreme processor features an unlocked multiplier, so it's overclocking friendly. This dual-core CPU is clocked at 2.6GHz and features an 800MHz FSB and 4MB of L2 Cache. Like all other extreme offerings though, it doesn't come cheap, costing $851 to OEMs.
The 6x50 series will be available to consumers in two weeks time, through your favorite retailer or e-tailer. The X7800 mobile CPU is being sold to OEMs now, and should be available in various notebooks in the coming weeks.
With that, let's cover our testing methodology and then jump right into benchmarking.
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 - The 45nm Era Begins
The past two years have been exciting for fans of the processor world, with Intel doing their job well to keep the momentum going. Since Conroe's launch last July, Intel has successfully kept their foot atop AMD by offering products that not only outperform theirs by a significant margin, but are also offered at such low prices that only hardcore AMD fans would ponder purchasing a non-C2D product.
Everyone had hoped that AMD's Barcelona architecture would bring them back to the competitive table, but not unlike the current-gen ATI vs. NVIDIA battle, there wasn't a mark to be left. While AMD undoubtedly needs to release a product that prove to people that they haven't completely lost their grip on things, consumers have been benefiting either way.
Today, it would be a challenge to purchase a processor that didn't perform exceptionally... at any price range. Quad-Cores can be had for under $300 and both Intel and AMD have superb dual-core processors that retail for under $200. Without question, it is a great time to build a new machine or for being in the mood to upgrade.
True to the tick tock model, Intel today is unveiling their first 45nm processor. For those unaware, the tick tock model is Intel's term for describing their product cycle, with tick referring to the initial launch of a new microarchitecture and tock denoting it's successor. In today's case, tick is Penryn, while tock is Nehalem, which we've taken a look at earlier this year and also learned more about at last months IDF.
Also at last month’s IDF, we were told the official launch date for Penryn: November 12. This date still holds true, with the first and only model being offered on that day being the QX9650. Intel hasn't stated pricing yet, but previous leaks have stated the usual $999 in shipments of 1,000. Once the QX9650 hits your favorite retailer or e-tailer, prices you pay will be greater than this, around $1,300 at a guess.
Top: Q6600, Bottom Left: QX6850, Bottom Right: QX9650
Before we delve into different processor models, we will first see what Intel's 45nm architecture is bringing to the table. Penryn and it's derivatives are much more than a simple speed boost, and we will tackle all of that here today.
Big Things In Small Packages
The overall theme of 45nm is efficiency. Thanks to the smaller process, benefits should include better thermal properties, better power efficiency, faster performance at equal frequencies and for the enthusiasts, potentially better overclocking. Add to the fact that 45nm has gone lead-free, the new transistors seem like a win / win.
But just how small is 45nm? Go grab a metre stick and divide it into one billion equal sections. One of those pieces is a nanometre. If that feels like too much work, just consider the fact that you could fit 2,000 45nm transistors across the span of a single human hair. Or for an even more mind-boggling comparison... 30 million on the head of a pin. Dual-Core Penryn chips will include 410 million of these transistors, while Yorkfield will be double this number.
There's more to these transistors than just being small though. Intel has been talking about High-k Metal Gate transistors all year, and according to co-founder Gordon Moore, this new implementation "marks the biggest change in transistor technology since the introduction of poly-silicon gate MOS transistors in the late 1960s."
The above diagram shows the differences between the previous generation of transistors and the new High-k offering. Because transistors are constantly shrinking, the risk for current leakage will increase, hence the need for a new insulator. Because a high-k dielectric insulator is more efficient than silicon dioxide in smaller transistors, Intel (and others) felt it absolutely necessary to include them with 45nm. Interestingly however, information has recently leaked that AMD has produced initial 45nm processors using current materials. How efficient they will prove to be will likely remain unknown for some time to come... if they choose to stick along that route with the final product.
Metal gates in the MOS stack have been used in the past, but were since removed due to inefficiencies. However, with 45nm, its become necessary to bring them in again to replace the common poly-silicon in order to increase efficiency with the high-k insulator. Together, they should prove far more efficient than previous transistors with lower current leakage and increased reliability.
Everyone had hoped that AMD's Barcelona architecture would bring them back to the competitive table, but not unlike the current-gen ATI vs. NVIDIA battle, there wasn't a mark to be left. While AMD undoubtedly needs to release a product that prove to people that they haven't completely lost their grip on things, consumers have been benefiting either way.
Today, it would be a challenge to purchase a processor that didn't perform exceptionally... at any price range. Quad-Cores can be had for under $300 and both Intel and AMD have superb dual-core processors that retail for under $200. Without question, it is a great time to build a new machine or for being in the mood to upgrade.
True to the tick tock model, Intel today is unveiling their first 45nm processor. For those unaware, the tick tock model is Intel's term for describing their product cycle, with tick referring to the initial launch of a new microarchitecture and tock denoting it's successor. In today's case, tick is Penryn, while tock is Nehalem, which we've taken a look at earlier this year and also learned more about at last months IDF.
Also at last month’s IDF, we were told the official launch date for Penryn: November 12. This date still holds true, with the first and only model being offered on that day being the QX9650. Intel hasn't stated pricing yet, but previous leaks have stated the usual $999 in shipments of 1,000. Once the QX9650 hits your favorite retailer or e-tailer, prices you pay will be greater than this, around $1,300 at a guess.
Top: Q6600, Bottom Left: QX6850, Bottom Right: QX9650
Before we delve into different processor models, we will first see what Intel's 45nm architecture is bringing to the table. Penryn and it's derivatives are much more than a simple speed boost, and we will tackle all of that here today.
Big Things In Small Packages
The overall theme of 45nm is efficiency. Thanks to the smaller process, benefits should include better thermal properties, better power efficiency, faster performance at equal frequencies and for the enthusiasts, potentially better overclocking. Add to the fact that 45nm has gone lead-free, the new transistors seem like a win / win.
But just how small is 45nm? Go grab a metre stick and divide it into one billion equal sections. One of those pieces is a nanometre. If that feels like too much work, just consider the fact that you could fit 2,000 45nm transistors across the span of a single human hair. Or for an even more mind-boggling comparison... 30 million on the head of a pin. Dual-Core Penryn chips will include 410 million of these transistors, while Yorkfield will be double this number.
There's more to these transistors than just being small though. Intel has been talking about High-k Metal Gate transistors all year, and according to co-founder Gordon Moore, this new implementation "marks the biggest change in transistor technology since the introduction of poly-silicon gate MOS transistors in the late 1960s."
The above diagram shows the differences between the previous generation of transistors and the new High-k offering. Because transistors are constantly shrinking, the risk for current leakage will increase, hence the need for a new insulator. Because a high-k dielectric insulator is more efficient than silicon dioxide in smaller transistors, Intel (and others) felt it absolutely necessary to include them with 45nm. Interestingly however, information has recently leaked that AMD has produced initial 45nm processors using current materials. How efficient they will prove to be will likely remain unknown for some time to come... if they choose to stick along that route with the final product.
Metal gates in the MOS stack have been used in the past, but were since removed due to inefficiencies. However, with 45nm, its become necessary to bring them in again to replace the common poly-silicon in order to increase efficiency with the high-k insulator. Together, they should prove far more efficient than previous transistors with lower current leakage and increased reliability.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz
When Intel launched their first 45nm processor last November, the QX9650, people might have been excited, but not everyone wanted to shell out a premium to have the fastest piece of hardware available. So, most sat around and waited in hopes to see more affordable Quad-Cores hit the market.
January came, and at CES we found out that the new CPUs were still not ready for launch. This was a blow to those who were already holding off their upgrade or new built. But fast forward almost four months, and finding a 45nm Quad-Core is easier than ever.
It just might not be the Q9450.
Because the new CPUs are in such high demand, it's hard to find the top two mid-range models in stock, anywhere. For those looking for an entry-level point into the 45nm Quad-Core scheme of things, you'll be pleased to know that the Q9300 is readily available at most popular e-tailers.
But we're here today to take a look at the Q9450, the mid-range offering of the mid-range offerings. Clocked at a healthy 2.66GHz, it looks to be an ideal chip for those looking to piece together a fast computer without breaking the bank. For those curious about overclocking, don't worry, we've got you covered.
Closer Look at the Core 2 Quad Q9450
As mentioned above, the Q9450 is one popular chip right now, and because of that, prices tend to be inflated, which is unfortunate. The official price from Intel is $316, but many e-tailers are selling it for well over $400, when it should be closer to $350 - $360. The situation is even worse for the Q9550, which seems to be even more rare.
If you want a new Quad-Core and happen to want it now, then the Q9300 would make for a great choice. I haven't touched one personally, but I know what kind of performance it pushes out, and given that it has good overclocking ability, it's hard to go wrong. Plus, because it's not suffering any sort of shortage, prices are ideal, at around $285.
Processor Name
Cores
Clock
Cache
FSB
TDP
1Ku Price
Available
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775
4
3.20GHz
2 x 6MB
1600MHz
150W
$1,499
Now
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770
4
3.20GHz
2 x 6MB
1600MHz
136W
$1,399
Now
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
4
3.0GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
130W
$999
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
4
2.86GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
95W
$530
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
4
2.66GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
95W
$316
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
4
2.5GHz
2 x 3MB
1333MHz
95W
$266
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
2
3.16GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$266
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
2
3.00GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$183
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
2
2.66GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$163
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8190
2
2.66GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$163
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
2
2.53GHz
3MB
1066MHz
65W
~$133
May 2008
Where the Q9450 sits well, though, is with it's robust cache, at 12MB. The Q9300 on the other hand, cuts that in half. The benefits of all that extra cache is difficult to to judge from a simple specs standpoint, but it's a topic I'd like to delve into in a future article.
January came, and at CES we found out that the new CPUs were still not ready for launch. This was a blow to those who were already holding off their upgrade or new built. But fast forward almost four months, and finding a 45nm Quad-Core is easier than ever.
It just might not be the Q9450.
Because the new CPUs are in such high demand, it's hard to find the top two mid-range models in stock, anywhere. For those looking for an entry-level point into the 45nm Quad-Core scheme of things, you'll be pleased to know that the Q9300 is readily available at most popular e-tailers.
But we're here today to take a look at the Q9450, the mid-range offering of the mid-range offerings. Clocked at a healthy 2.66GHz, it looks to be an ideal chip for those looking to piece together a fast computer without breaking the bank. For those curious about overclocking, don't worry, we've got you covered.
Closer Look at the Core 2 Quad Q9450
As mentioned above, the Q9450 is one popular chip right now, and because of that, prices tend to be inflated, which is unfortunate. The official price from Intel is $316, but many e-tailers are selling it for well over $400, when it should be closer to $350 - $360. The situation is even worse for the Q9550, which seems to be even more rare.
If you want a new Quad-Core and happen to want it now, then the Q9300 would make for a great choice. I haven't touched one personally, but I know what kind of performance it pushes out, and given that it has good overclocking ability, it's hard to go wrong. Plus, because it's not suffering any sort of shortage, prices are ideal, at around $285.
Processor Name
Cores
Clock
Cache
FSB
TDP
1Ku Price
Available
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9775
4
3.20GHz
2 x 6MB
1600MHz
150W
$1,499
Now
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770
4
3.20GHz
2 x 6MB
1600MHz
136W
$1,399
Now
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
4
3.0GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
130W
$999
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
4
2.86GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
95W
$530
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450
4
2.66GHz
2 x 6MB
1333MHz
95W
$316
Now
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300
4
2.5GHz
2 x 3MB
1333MHz
95W
$266
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
2
3.16GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$266
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
2
3.00GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$183
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8200
2
2.66GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$163
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E8190
2
2.66GHz
6MB
1333MHz
65W
$163
Now
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
2
2.53GHz
3MB
1066MHz
65W
~$133
May 2008
Where the Q9450 sits well, though, is with it's robust cache, at 12MB. The Q9300 on the other hand, cuts that in half. The benefits of all that extra cache is difficult to to judge from a simple specs standpoint, but it's a topic I'd like to delve into in a future article.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Processor
Intel’s Core 2 Quad Q9300 has some rather large shoes to fill. This newly shipping, relatively low-cost (~$270) quad-core processor from Intel is a replacement for their long-standing price to performance champ, the Core 2 Quad Q6600. The Q6600 was the first quad-core in Intel’s arsenal which was actually affordable, and even today, it remains one of the best values on the market. Not only is the Core 2 Quad Q6600 inexpensive for a quad-core at around $230, but it is extremely overclockable and provides a significant amount of computing power for the dollar. Core 2 Quad Q6600’s are still in high-demand – a trend which is likely to continue until Intel physically removes from them from the market.
Like we said, rather large shoes to fill. Luckily, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor has some impressive new features under the hood along with a higher clock speed, all at a similar price point as the Q6600. As the Core 2 Quad Q9300 utilizes Intel’s new 45nm manufacturing technology (as opposed to 65nm of the Q6600), potential buyers will be expecting the Q9300 to perform better and produce less heat compared to its predecessor – certainly a difficult task but one which we believe Intel can meet. We’ve already seen what Intel’s 45nm manufacturing technology is capable of with its dual-core “Wolfdale” architecture, and if Intel can bring the same benefits to the quad-core market as it did for dual-cores with “Wolfdale”, Intel will be in good shape.
The Q9300 is coming to market at an interesting time. Intel has struggled somewhat to get their mainstream 45nm quad-core components on to market, and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 represents Intel’s first real attempt at holding on to the low-cost quad-core market against a newly resilient AMD. With AMD’s new lineup of quad-core Phenom X4 B3 processors bringing similar features at a lower price point than the Q9300, Intel may have to work a little harder in order to make the Q9300 a success. Let's see if they're up for the challenge.
Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9300 Engineering Sample
*
2.5 GHz Clock Speed, Quad-Core
*
"Yorkfield" Core Architecture
*
45nm Manufacturing Technology
*
256 kB L1 Cache (Data/Instruction)
*
6 MB Shared L2 Cache (Full Speed)
*
1333 MHz Front Side Bus Speed
*
Socket-775 Form Factor Design
*
1.225V Default Core Voltage
*
Supports 32/64-bit Processing (EM64T)
*
Supports SSE / SSE2 / SSE3 / SSE4.1
*
Supports Intel Speedstep / C1E
*
Supports Execute Disable (xD) Bit
Core 2 Quad Q9300 - Top
Core 2 Quad Q9300 - Bottom
This Core 2 Quad processor, as we mentioned before, is based on Intel’s 45nm “Yorkfield” architecture, which replaces their 65nm Kentsfield designs that dominated Intel’s product lineup throughout 2007 and most of early 2008. The “Yorkfield” architecture is, more or less, two 45nm “Wolfdale” cores connected together into a single chip design. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 is not a native quad-core like AMD’s Phenom processor, but rather is two dual-cores connected under a single heat spreader - a multi-chip module. As our tests have shown in the past, this does not affect performance in any real way, and shouldn’t be a consideration when thinking of buying one of these chips. However, it is just an interesting aspect to note, from a technology perspective.
The Q9300 is somewhat of an anomaly as it’s the only member of the Core 2 Quad 45nm family which has 6 MB of L2 cache (2 x 3 MB cache per dual-core die). All other members of the Core 2 Quad family have a double-sized 12 MB of cache, which will give an estimated 5-10% performance boost at the same clock speed compared to the 6 MB variants. Interestingly enough, with 6 MB of L2 cache, the Q9300 actually has less cache compared to its predecessor (the Q6600), which had 8 MB of L2 cache (2 x 4 MB). However, cache latencies have improved with the new architecture, so performance will not suffer greatly due to this design decision. We do find it strange that Intel is introducing only one model based with 6 MB of cache, although it's certainly possible that Intel will be introducing newer models to fit alongside this chip in the future.
While the Q9300 takes a hit on cache, its architecture is improved just about everywhere else. The Q9300 runs at a clock speed of 2.5 GHz with a front side bus speed of 1333 MHz (compare to the Q6600 at 2.4 GHz @ 1066 MHz FSB). In addition, the Q9300 supports Intel’s new SSE 4.1 instruction set, which unlike any other SSE release we’ve seen in the past, can offer huge performance increases with properly coded applications. The biggest benefactor of this new instruction set have been video encoding applications, which can see massive (30%+) performance gains with SSE 4.1 supported processors.
Even with all these new features under the hood, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 runs on a standard Socket-775 interface and is compatible with the vast majority of Socket-775 motherboards on the market today. Most motherboards require a BIOS update in order to see the proper CPUID’s of these new processors, but if your motherboard supports 45nm, 1333 MHz FSB processors, you’ll likely be able to run one of these new chips. The Q9300 has a TDP (thermal design power) rating of 95W, which means you likely won’t have to replace your existing cooler, either. However, if you buy a retail boxed processor, you’ll get one of Intel’s (decent) retail cooling systems. For our tests, we’ll be using something a little bigger – after all, we want to see what this chip is capable of without cooling being a limitation.
Like we said, rather large shoes to fill. Luckily, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor has some impressive new features under the hood along with a higher clock speed, all at a similar price point as the Q6600. As the Core 2 Quad Q9300 utilizes Intel’s new 45nm manufacturing technology (as opposed to 65nm of the Q6600), potential buyers will be expecting the Q9300 to perform better and produce less heat compared to its predecessor – certainly a difficult task but one which we believe Intel can meet. We’ve already seen what Intel’s 45nm manufacturing technology is capable of with its dual-core “Wolfdale” architecture, and if Intel can bring the same benefits to the quad-core market as it did for dual-cores with “Wolfdale”, Intel will be in good shape.
The Q9300 is coming to market at an interesting time. Intel has struggled somewhat to get their mainstream 45nm quad-core components on to market, and the Core 2 Quad Q9300 represents Intel’s first real attempt at holding on to the low-cost quad-core market against a newly resilient AMD. With AMD’s new lineup of quad-core Phenom X4 B3 processors bringing similar features at a lower price point than the Q9300, Intel may have to work a little harder in order to make the Q9300 a success. Let's see if they're up for the challenge.
Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9300 Engineering Sample
*
2.5 GHz Clock Speed, Quad-Core
*
"Yorkfield" Core Architecture
*
45nm Manufacturing Technology
*
256 kB L1 Cache (Data/Instruction)
*
6 MB Shared L2 Cache (Full Speed)
*
1333 MHz Front Side Bus Speed
*
Socket-775 Form Factor Design
*
1.225V Default Core Voltage
*
Supports 32/64-bit Processing (EM64T)
*
Supports SSE / SSE2 / SSE3 / SSE4.1
*
Supports Intel Speedstep / C1E
*
Supports Execute Disable (xD) Bit
Core 2 Quad Q9300 - Top
Core 2 Quad Q9300 - Bottom
This Core 2 Quad processor, as we mentioned before, is based on Intel’s 45nm “Yorkfield” architecture, which replaces their 65nm Kentsfield designs that dominated Intel’s product lineup throughout 2007 and most of early 2008. The “Yorkfield” architecture is, more or less, two 45nm “Wolfdale” cores connected together into a single chip design. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 is not a native quad-core like AMD’s Phenom processor, but rather is two dual-cores connected under a single heat spreader - a multi-chip module. As our tests have shown in the past, this does not affect performance in any real way, and shouldn’t be a consideration when thinking of buying one of these chips. However, it is just an interesting aspect to note, from a technology perspective.
The Q9300 is somewhat of an anomaly as it’s the only member of the Core 2 Quad 45nm family which has 6 MB of L2 cache (2 x 3 MB cache per dual-core die). All other members of the Core 2 Quad family have a double-sized 12 MB of cache, which will give an estimated 5-10% performance boost at the same clock speed compared to the 6 MB variants. Interestingly enough, with 6 MB of L2 cache, the Q9300 actually has less cache compared to its predecessor (the Q6600), which had 8 MB of L2 cache (2 x 4 MB). However, cache latencies have improved with the new architecture, so performance will not suffer greatly due to this design decision. We do find it strange that Intel is introducing only one model based with 6 MB of cache, although it's certainly possible that Intel will be introducing newer models to fit alongside this chip in the future.
While the Q9300 takes a hit on cache, its architecture is improved just about everywhere else. The Q9300 runs at a clock speed of 2.5 GHz with a front side bus speed of 1333 MHz (compare to the Q6600 at 2.4 GHz @ 1066 MHz FSB). In addition, the Q9300 supports Intel’s new SSE 4.1 instruction set, which unlike any other SSE release we’ve seen in the past, can offer huge performance increases with properly coded applications. The biggest benefactor of this new instruction set have been video encoding applications, which can see massive (30%+) performance gains with SSE 4.1 supported processors.
Even with all these new features under the hood, the Core 2 Quad Q9300 runs on a standard Socket-775 interface and is compatible with the vast majority of Socket-775 motherboards on the market today. Most motherboards require a BIOS update in order to see the proper CPUID’s of these new processors, but if your motherboard supports 45nm, 1333 MHz FSB processors, you’ll likely be able to run one of these new chips. The Q9300 has a TDP (thermal design power) rating of 95W, which means you likely won’t have to replace your existing cooler, either. However, if you buy a retail boxed processor, you’ll get one of Intel’s (decent) retail cooling systems. For our tests, we’ll be using something a little bigger – after all, we want to see what this chip is capable of without cooling being a limitation.
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale CPU
Intel fans have been patiently waiting for the company to release their lineup of refreshed Core 2 Duo and Quad products. Intel started hyping these revised components late last year, and they were expected to hit the market in January of this year. While Intel technically hit that date with the release of one 45nm component, it was the ultra-expensive Core 2 Extreme QX9650, which sells for over $1,000. Not really the type of component that everyone can get their hands on. Nevertheless, the current generation of 65nm Core 2 products continued to fall in price, and with no real competition from AMD’s Phenom X4 lineup, there really hasn’t been too much of a problem with Intel’s delays.
In the meantime, Intel has been producing 45nm components and building up inventory, and the first wave of them is getting ready to finally hit the market. Intel’s 45nm technology will allow for this new lineup of Core 2 processors to have significantly smaller dies, allowing Intel to put more cache onto the processor die, which in turn helps them to achieve higher performance. The new manufacturing technology also improves power consumption and heat production, and will allow Intel to scale the processors to higher clock speeds, finally allowing us to break through the 3.0 GHz wall which the industry has been stuck at for some time.
Intel’s new 45nm Core 2 processors are members of the “Penryn” family, which has two sub-codenames as well. Intel has “Yorkfield”, their 45nm Core 2 quad-core processor design, along with “Wolfdale”, their 45nm Core 2 dual-core processor design. Today we’ll be looking at the fastest member of Intel’s first wave of “Wolfdale” processors, which will officially be sold under the name “Core 2 Duo E8500”.
While this new lineup of Core 2 processors does not showcase a huge architectural change for Intel’s flagship processor lineup, we do see a host of smaller changes all coming together for a product lineup which is, in reality, one of the most exciting processor releases in some time. “Wolfdale” chips have been receiving much more buzz than expected, and early adopters who have received them have been thrilled with their flexibility, performance, and environmental attributes.
In the meantime, Intel has been producing 45nm components and building up inventory, and the first wave of them is getting ready to finally hit the market. Intel’s 45nm technology will allow for this new lineup of Core 2 processors to have significantly smaller dies, allowing Intel to put more cache onto the processor die, which in turn helps them to achieve higher performance. The new manufacturing technology also improves power consumption and heat production, and will allow Intel to scale the processors to higher clock speeds, finally allowing us to break through the 3.0 GHz wall which the industry has been stuck at for some time.
Intel’s new 45nm Core 2 processors are members of the “Penryn” family, which has two sub-codenames as well. Intel has “Yorkfield”, their 45nm Core 2 quad-core processor design, along with “Wolfdale”, their 45nm Core 2 dual-core processor design. Today we’ll be looking at the fastest member of Intel’s first wave of “Wolfdale” processors, which will officially be sold under the name “Core 2 Duo E8500”.
While this new lineup of Core 2 processors does not showcase a huge architectural change for Intel’s flagship processor lineup, we do see a host of smaller changes all coming together for a product lineup which is, in reality, one of the most exciting processor releases in some time. “Wolfdale” chips have been receiving much more buzz than expected, and early adopters who have received them have been thrilled with their flexibility, performance, and environmental attributes.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 - Budget Phenom Slayer
For those that haven't been keeping up with all the new processor launches the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor is the newest 45nm quad-core 'Yorkfield' processor. It is also the entry level 45nm quad-core processor, which means it has the lowest price tag! At $285.99 plus shipping on PriceGrabber the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 is still fairly pricey, but you get what you pay for and it should run circles around the $235 AMD Phenom 9850 quad-core processor. The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Processor has been getting a ton of attention these days as retailers are offering it in some pretty killer bundles. Microcenter for example has the Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9300 (OEM) processor and a 2GB (2x1GB) OCZ Gold DDR2-800 memory kit being offered together for $250. If these deals are looking tempting, but you are unsure about the processor and how it stacks up against others on the market you are in luck as we are going to run the Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 against seven other processors to see how it does.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Processor Review
With the latest version of CPU-Z 1.44.2, we can see our quad-core 'Yorkfield' processor is correctly identified at 2.50 GHz with a 1333MHz FSB and 6MB L2 cache.Our processor is an M1 stepping and has a TDP of 95W, which is the same as the Q6600 that it replaces. The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 should be a pretty good overclocker, but it only has a 7.5 multiplier (333MHz FSB x 7.5 multiplier = 2.5GHz). With a somewhat low multiplier the FSB will have to be increased beyond 450MHz to break the 3.5GHz mark. This eliminates the use of many low end motherboards as to hit FSB speeds above 450MHz it will really tax the platform. If you increase the FSB to 400MHz that will make the CPU 3.0GHz, which should be easy to reach! We will try to reach these higher clock frequencies in our overclocking section as many enthusiasts will be buying this processor just to overclock it.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Processor Review
With the latest version of CPU-Z 1.44.2, we can see our quad-core 'Yorkfield' processor is correctly identified at 2.50 GHz with a 1333MHz FSB and 6MB L2 cache.Our processor is an M1 stepping and has a TDP of 95W, which is the same as the Q6600 that it replaces. The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 should be a pretty good overclocker, but it only has a 7.5 multiplier (333MHz FSB x 7.5 multiplier = 2.5GHz). With a somewhat low multiplier the FSB will have to be increased beyond 450MHz to break the 3.5GHz mark. This eliminates the use of many low end motherboards as to hit FSB speeds above 450MHz it will really tax the platform. If you increase the FSB to 400MHz that will make the CPU 3.0GHz, which should be easy to reach! We will try to reach these higher clock frequencies in our overclocking section as many enthusiasts will be buying this processor just to overclock it.
AMD Phenom X4 9850 Processor Review - B3 Stepping
Finally A Phenom Processor That Runs Right
When the AMD Phenom series of processors launched back on November 19th, 2007 no one could have expected just how rough things were about to get for AMD. First, they sent out Phenom 9900 processors to the press that were was unable to keep up with the Intel Core 2 series of processors. Second, the Phenom 9700/9800/9900 processors that AMD sent out to the media were pulled at the last second and replaced with the lower clocked Phenom 9600 (2.3GHz) and Phenom 9500 (2.2GHz). Then after the Phenom series was lauched it got caught up in the TLB erratum 298 controversy and found itself plauged by benchmark problems. On top of all this AMD kept telling the media, who in turn told consumers, that everything was fine and AMD was on track to deliver the Phenom 9700 and 9800 later in Q1 with a new 3GHz model in Q2 of 2008.
AMD is committed to bring quad-core to the desktop market in Q4, and we are meeting that commitment with the launch of AMD Phenom quad-core processors 9500 and 9600 (2.2GHz and 2.3GHz) on Nov. 19th. AMD is going to initially introduce these two mainstream AMD Phenom quad-core processor models in order to satisfy customer demand in 2007. Since the October meeting, AMD has decided to launch our AMD Phenom 9700 (2.4GHz) quad core product in Q1 2008, along with our AMD Phenom 9900 (2.6 GHz) quad core processor. The launch of these two higher performance processors models will coincide with the introduction of related, significant performance enhancements in the platform; namely CrossFireX and our new enthusiast graphics product. Higher performance AMD Phenom processors will follow the introduction of the AMD Phenom 9700 and 9900 models, with a 3.0 GHz model in Q2 2008. AMD has a great history of delivering faster parts through a product’s lifecycle, and we are confident that this will remain true. - AMD PR 11/14/2007
The past four months could not have gone by fast enough for Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), but there does seem to be a new hope for Phenom as the latest revision of the core (stepping B3) fixes the TLB erratum along with many other erratums that were on the list. The TLB fix is now done at the silicon level, so the performance hit users were seeing with the BIOS workaround should be gone. AMD has now stopped production on the older core steppings as a result of this change. If you see a Phenom 9500 or Phenom 9600 in a system or for sale at a retailer you know that the procesor is a B1 or B2 stepping that has the TLB issue. All of the new Phenom B3 steppings will be named with the nomenclature of what AMD is calling the '50 series' of processors. The four new AMD Phenom X4 processors that AMD is announcing today are the 9550 (2.2GHz), 9650 (2.3GHz), 9750 (2.4GHz) and 9850 Black Edition (2.5GHz). AMD has told us to expect the new 50-series processors to perform the same, clock-for-clock as older revision (B2) processors operating in a platform that is not implementing the TLB erratum fix. For example, the 2.2GHz Phenom 9550 processor will replace the Phenom 9500 (B2) processor. AMD is basically 'fixing' Phenom and is making the model numbers clear to make sure consumers know what processors they are getting without having to open the retail box.
Image Description
Not only is performance the same clock-for-clock, but so is pricing as it should be. AMD has an interesting pricing table on their site that can be seen above. It seems that AMD is having a price cut on April 7th, 2008 and the Phenom 9850 will end up costing less than what a Phenom 9600 costs today. Enough chat about the details! Let's take a look at the latest and greatest processor from AMD.
Image Description
Our Phenom 9600 Black Edition on the left has been the fastest Phenom X4 processor that money could buy for a number of months now, but it is being replaced by the Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition processor that is seen above on the right. What is shocking is the fact that our Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition has a production date code of the tenth week of 2008. It is obvious that AMD was in a hurry to get these in our hand just days after these rolled off the production line.
The AMD Phenom X4 9850 that we will be benchmarking today is a 2.5GHz processor manufactured using AMD's 65nm Silicon on Insulator process technology. The chip has a Max TDP of 125W and it is a 'Black Edition', which means its multiplier is unlocked for better overclocking. Since the bus speed can't be raised that high on Phenom processors the best way to overclock is by increasing the multipler and the Black Edition was designed just for that. The one feature that is new and exclusive to just the AMD Phenom X4 9850 processor is a 2.0GHz memory controller. All of the other new and old Phenoms had a memory controller clocked in at 1.8GHz, so this is a slight improvement. In case you are wondering there will not be a non-black edition Phenom X4 9850 at launch nor would we guess that AMD is planning on launching one.
When the AMD Phenom series of processors launched back on November 19th, 2007 no one could have expected just how rough things were about to get for AMD. First, they sent out Phenom 9900 processors to the press that were was unable to keep up with the Intel Core 2 series of processors. Second, the Phenom 9700/9800/9900 processors that AMD sent out to the media were pulled at the last second and replaced with the lower clocked Phenom 9600 (2.3GHz) and Phenom 9500 (2.2GHz). Then after the Phenom series was lauched it got caught up in the TLB erratum 298 controversy and found itself plauged by benchmark problems. On top of all this AMD kept telling the media, who in turn told consumers, that everything was fine and AMD was on track to deliver the Phenom 9700 and 9800 later in Q1 with a new 3GHz model in Q2 of 2008.
AMD is committed to bring quad-core to the desktop market in Q4, and we are meeting that commitment with the launch of AMD Phenom quad-core processors 9500 and 9600 (2.2GHz and 2.3GHz) on Nov. 19th. AMD is going to initially introduce these two mainstream AMD Phenom quad-core processor models in order to satisfy customer demand in 2007. Since the October meeting, AMD has decided to launch our AMD Phenom 9700 (2.4GHz) quad core product in Q1 2008, along with our AMD Phenom 9900 (2.6 GHz) quad core processor. The launch of these two higher performance processors models will coincide with the introduction of related, significant performance enhancements in the platform; namely CrossFireX and our new enthusiast graphics product. Higher performance AMD Phenom processors will follow the introduction of the AMD Phenom 9700 and 9900 models, with a 3.0 GHz model in Q2 2008. AMD has a great history of delivering faster parts through a product’s lifecycle, and we are confident that this will remain true. - AMD PR 11/14/2007
The past four months could not have gone by fast enough for Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), but there does seem to be a new hope for Phenom as the latest revision of the core (stepping B3) fixes the TLB erratum along with many other erratums that were on the list. The TLB fix is now done at the silicon level, so the performance hit users were seeing with the BIOS workaround should be gone. AMD has now stopped production on the older core steppings as a result of this change. If you see a Phenom 9500 or Phenom 9600 in a system or for sale at a retailer you know that the procesor is a B1 or B2 stepping that has the TLB issue. All of the new Phenom B3 steppings will be named with the nomenclature of what AMD is calling the '50 series' of processors. The four new AMD Phenom X4 processors that AMD is announcing today are the 9550 (2.2GHz), 9650 (2.3GHz), 9750 (2.4GHz) and 9850 Black Edition (2.5GHz). AMD has told us to expect the new 50-series processors to perform the same, clock-for-clock as older revision (B2) processors operating in a platform that is not implementing the TLB erratum fix. For example, the 2.2GHz Phenom 9550 processor will replace the Phenom 9500 (B2) processor. AMD is basically 'fixing' Phenom and is making the model numbers clear to make sure consumers know what processors they are getting without having to open the retail box.
Image Description
Not only is performance the same clock-for-clock, but so is pricing as it should be. AMD has an interesting pricing table on their site that can be seen above. It seems that AMD is having a price cut on April 7th, 2008 and the Phenom 9850 will end up costing less than what a Phenom 9600 costs today. Enough chat about the details! Let's take a look at the latest and greatest processor from AMD.
Image Description
Our Phenom 9600 Black Edition on the left has been the fastest Phenom X4 processor that money could buy for a number of months now, but it is being replaced by the Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition processor that is seen above on the right. What is shocking is the fact that our Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition has a production date code of the tenth week of 2008. It is obvious that AMD was in a hurry to get these in our hand just days after these rolled off the production line.
The AMD Phenom X4 9850 that we will be benchmarking today is a 2.5GHz processor manufactured using AMD's 65nm Silicon on Insulator process technology. The chip has a Max TDP of 125W and it is a 'Black Edition', which means its multiplier is unlocked for better overclocking. Since the bus speed can't be raised that high on Phenom processors the best way to overclock is by increasing the multipler and the Black Edition was designed just for that. The one feature that is new and exclusive to just the AMD Phenom X4 9850 processor is a 2.0GHz memory controller. All of the other new and old Phenoms had a memory controller clocked in at 1.8GHz, so this is a slight improvement. In case you are wondering there will not be a non-black edition Phenom X4 9850 at launch nor would we guess that AMD is planning on launching one.
VIA C3 1GHz Processor Review
The processor company formally known as Cyrix is well known to many computer users due to their past line of poor processors. Cyrix first started out in March 1992 when Cyrix released the Cyrix Cx486SLC line of processors. The Cx486SLC was one of the first Intel i386 alternative processors on the market. This CPU was available in clock speeds ranging from 20MHz up to 66MHz using an FSB of 16MHz all the way up to 33MHz. The processor itself contained 600,000 transistors and had 1KB of L1 cache and 128KB of L2 cache provided on the motherboard. This processor was used on motherboards that used 386 processors and had no FPU.
The next CPU from Cyrix was the Cx486SX. This CPU was released in May 1993. The processor itself used the same 600,000 transistors as the SLC processor line, however, this CPU increased the L1 cache form 1KB to 2KB and allowed for up to 512KB L2 cache on the motherboard. Clock speeds had changed ranging from 33MHz up to 50MHz using the 33MHz to 50MHz range FSB. This CPU was designed as an alternative to the Intel 486 and AMD 468 CPU but still contained no FPU.
The next jump up was to the Cx486DX range of CPUs in September 1993. The new DX line of processor used a 1.1 million transistor layout, ranged in speeds from 33MHz up to 100MHz and increased the size of the L1 cache from 2KB to 8KB. Again, this CPU was an alternative to AMD and Intel 486 DX line of CPUs.
For the next 2 years, Cyrix didn’t release any new CPUs until October 1995 when they released the Cyrix 5x86 processor. This processor had a total transistor count of 2 million on a 0.65-micron die. The clock range of these processors were from 100MHz up to 120MHz. With the 5x86 CPU being a disaster in the first month of sales in the retail market, Cyrix went back to the drawing board and came out with the Cyrix 6x86 Processor. The 6x86 processor featured a 3 million-transistor count on a 0.35-micron die. The speed range of this CPU was from 80MHz up to 150MHz (PR90 to PR200) with an FSB range from 40MHz to 75MHz. During its initial stages, the 6x86 processor was a huge hit as its raw performance in business applications was better than any Intel or AMD processor. However, when the 3D gaming craze evolved, the Cyrix 6x86 processor suffered very badly because of its very weak FPU performance; even the PR200 CPU would run slower in Quake I than a Pentium 90. The Cyrix 6x86 CPU supported 16KB L1 cache and up to 2MB on L2 cache.
February 1997 saw Cyrix enter the mobile PC market with the introduction of a new processor called the Cyrix Media Gxi processor. The Gxi processor included 2.4million transistors on a 0.30 micron die and clock speeds ranged from 120MHz to 180MHz. The reason this chip was so good for notebooks was that not only was the Gxi a CPU, it also contained a graphics engine and an audio engine making this the first integrated CPU. The video engine was Cyrix’s own designed based on the S3 Virge video technology with support for up to 2MB of memory provided on the motherboard. The audio engine was based on Eagles ESS688 Audio processor.
The next CPU from Cyrix was the Cx486SX. This CPU was released in May 1993. The processor itself used the same 600,000 transistors as the SLC processor line, however, this CPU increased the L1 cache form 1KB to 2KB and allowed for up to 512KB L2 cache on the motherboard. Clock speeds had changed ranging from 33MHz up to 50MHz using the 33MHz to 50MHz range FSB. This CPU was designed as an alternative to the Intel 486 and AMD 468 CPU but still contained no FPU.
The next jump up was to the Cx486DX range of CPUs in September 1993. The new DX line of processor used a 1.1 million transistor layout, ranged in speeds from 33MHz up to 100MHz and increased the size of the L1 cache from 2KB to 8KB. Again, this CPU was an alternative to AMD and Intel 486 DX line of CPUs.
For the next 2 years, Cyrix didn’t release any new CPUs until October 1995 when they released the Cyrix 5x86 processor. This processor had a total transistor count of 2 million on a 0.65-micron die. The clock range of these processors were from 100MHz up to 120MHz. With the 5x86 CPU being a disaster in the first month of sales in the retail market, Cyrix went back to the drawing board and came out with the Cyrix 6x86 Processor. The 6x86 processor featured a 3 million-transistor count on a 0.35-micron die. The speed range of this CPU was from 80MHz up to 150MHz (PR90 to PR200) with an FSB range from 40MHz to 75MHz. During its initial stages, the 6x86 processor was a huge hit as its raw performance in business applications was better than any Intel or AMD processor. However, when the 3D gaming craze evolved, the Cyrix 6x86 processor suffered very badly because of its very weak FPU performance; even the PR200 CPU would run slower in Quake I than a Pentium 90. The Cyrix 6x86 CPU supported 16KB L1 cache and up to 2MB on L2 cache.
February 1997 saw Cyrix enter the mobile PC market with the introduction of a new processor called the Cyrix Media Gxi processor. The Gxi processor included 2.4million transistors on a 0.30 micron die and clock speeds ranged from 120MHz to 180MHz. The reason this chip was so good for notebooks was that not only was the Gxi a CPU, it also contained a graphics engine and an audio engine making this the first integrated CPU. The video engine was Cyrix’s own designed based on the S3 Virge video technology with support for up to 2MB of memory provided on the motherboard. The audio engine was based on Eagles ESS688 Audio processor.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
SONY ERICSSON XPERIA
Make it yours
style the panel to suit your needs.switch between panels as you like-enjoy seamless access to the information and applications of your choice.Speed And Power
with windows mobile inside,you can enjoy your favorite entertainment and work efficiently on the move.turbo 3G provides the speed you need.
Distinctive design
Arc slider design, 3 inch Wide VGA display and premium metal body: with its sophisticated and distinctive design, XPERIA™ X1 redefines premiumness.
PHONE SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand / Type  | |
| Brand | Sony Ericsson |
| Type | Xperia X1 |
| Form factor | Candybar |
| Color | Black, Silver |
| Network | |
| Phone Network | EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSDPA (3G) |
| Service | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | v2.0 with A2DP |
| Infrared | No |
| Wi-Fi (WLAN) | Yes |
| USB | 2.0 |
| Fax / Data | No |
| Display | |
| Main display | Color TFT touchscreen |
| Color display | 65.536 colors |
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Resolution | 800x480 pixels |
| External display | No |
| Memory | |
| Internal memory | 400MB |
| External memory | Yes |
| Memory slots | Yes |
| Storage types | MicroSD |
| Basic | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion |
| Standby time | N/A |
| Talk time | N/A |
| Calling | |
| Vibrate alert | Yes |
| Photo ID | Yes |
| Ringtones | MP3, Polyfone |
| Camera | |
| Camera | Yes |
| Megapixels | 3.15 megapixels |
| Maximum photo resolution | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Digital zoom | Yesx |
| Optical zoom | No |
| Auto focus | Yes |
| Flash | Yes |
| Recording video | Yes |
| Second (front) camera | Yes |
| Messaging | |
| SMS | Yes |
| MMS | Yes |
| T9 text function | Yes |
| Yes | |
| Internet browsing | Yes |
| Entertainment | |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Java | Yes |
| Audio player | AAC, eAAC, MP3 |
| Video player | 3GP, MPEG4 |
| Features | |
| Add ringtones | Yes |
| Organiser | Calculator, Calendar, Reminders, Currency convertor |
| Video call | Yes |
| Other features | Windows Mobile 6.1, QWERTY keyboard, Motion sensor, Built in hands free, Voice dial, Voice memo, Track ID |
| Format | |
| Weight | 5.1 oz. |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4.3x2.1x0.7 in. |
SONY ERICSSON W595
Cherish your friends
Share your favorite sounds through the built-in stereo speakers. Or let a friend listen in from an additional headset via the stereo Share jack.
Songs in store
Find and buy songs via TrackID™. The included 2GB memory card stores up to 1900 tracks (assumes eAAC+ encoded files).Shake to change
Change your tune, pump up the volume - and do it the easy way. With Shake control, all it takes is a flick of the wrist.
PHONE SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand / Type | |
| Brand | Sony Ericsson |
| Type | W595 |
| Form factor | Slide |
| Color | Black, Green, Red |
| Network | |
| Phone Network | EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSDPA (3G) |
| Service | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | v2.0 with A2DP |
| Infrared | No |
| Wi-Fi (WLAN) | No |
| USB | 2.0 |
| Fax / Data | No |
| Display | |
| Main display | Color TFT |
| Color display | 262.144 colors |
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Resolution | 240x320 pixels |
| External display | No |
| Memory | |
| Internal memory | 40MB |
| External memory | 8GB |
| Memory slots | 1 |
| Storage types | MemoryStick Micro |
| Basic | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion |
| Standby time | 385 hours |
| Talk time | 9 hours |
| Calling | |
| Vibrate alert | Yes |
| Photo ID | Yes |
| Ringtones | AAC, MP3, Polyfone |
| Camera | |
| Camera | Yes |
| Megapixels | 3.2 megapixels |
| Maximum photo resolution | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Digital zoom | 2.5x |
| Optical zoom | No |
| Auto focus | No |
| Flash | No |
| Recording video | Yes |
| Second (front) camera | Yes |
| Messaging | |
| SMS | Yes |
| MMS | Yes |
| T9 text function | Yes |
| Yes | |
| Internet browsing | Yes |
| Entertainment | |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Java | Yes |
| Audio player | AAC, eAAC, MP3 |
| Video player | 3GP, MPEG4 |
| Features | |
| Add ringtones | Yes |
| Organiser | Calculator, Calendar, Currency convertor, Reminders |
| Video call | N/A |
| Other features | Track ID, Shake control, Built-in handsfree, Voice dial, Voice memo |
| Format | |
| Weight | 3.7 oz. |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 3.9x1.9x0.6 in. |
SONY ERICSSON C905
Picture perfection
c905 has all the functions for you need for perfect pictures.smart contrast balances light and colour.face detection helps you focus on people.Takes you there
with the c905,you have a path finder in your pocket:your phone comes in built-in aGPS.let google maps guide you to your destination.Share it, blog it.
press the shoot mode key to activate the camera,snap away and share.your c905 has support for picture and video blogging.PHONE SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand / Type | |
| Brand | Sony Ericsson |
| Type | C905 |
| Form factor | Slide |
| Color | Black, Gold, Silver |
| Network | |
| Phone Network | EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSDPA (3G), UMTS (3G) |
| Service | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | v2.0 with A2DP |
| Infrared | No |
| Wi-Fi (WLAN) | Yes |
| USB | 2.0 |
| Fax / Data | No |
| Display | |
| Main display | Color TFT |
| Color display | 262.144 colors |
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Resolution | 240x320 pixels |
| External display | No |
| Memory | |
| Internal memory | 160MB |
| External memory | 8GB |
| Memory slots | 1 |
| Storage types | MemoryStick Micro |
| Basic | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion |
| Standby time | 380 hours |
| Talk time | 9 hours |
| Calling | |
| Vibrate alert | Yes |
| Photo ID | Yes |
| Ringtones | AMR, MP3, Polyfone, Realtone / Truetone |
| Camera | |
| Camera | Yes |
| Megapixels | 8.1 megapixels |
| Maximum photo resolution | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Digital zoom | 16x |
| Optical zoom | No |
| Auto focus | Yes |
| Flash | Yes |
| Recording video | Yes |
| Second (front) camera | Yes |
| Messaging | |
| SMS | Yes |
| MMS | Yes |
| T9 text function | Yes |
| Yes | |
| Internet browsing | Yes |
| Entertainment | |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Java | Yes |
| Audio player | AAC, ACC, eAAC, MP3 |
| Video player | 3GP, MPEG4, WMV |
| Features | |
| Add ringtones | Yes |
| Organiser | Calculator, Calendar, Currecy convertor, Reminders |
| Video call | Yes |
| Other features | Built in GPS, A-GPS, Built in hands free, Photo album, Photo editor, Voice memo, Face detection, Red eye reduction, Image stabilizer, Photo Fix, Track-ID |
| Format | |
| Weight | 4.8 oz. |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4.1x1.9x0.7 in. |
SONY ERICSSON C902i
People in focus
If you have people in your photo, activate Face detection. Your C902 will automatically find and focus on a face.
In the dark
Don't let poor lighting stop you. For still pictures, the photo flash automatically fires when needed. The flash can be used in BestPic™ mode, and for videos, too.
Share your life
We take pictures to share them. With your C902 you get your own personal blog. Post your pictures - or videos! - in seconds, for all to see.PHONE SPECIFICATIONS:
Brand / Type | |
| Brand | Sony Ericsson |
| Type | C902i |
| Form factor | Candybar |
| Color | Black, Red |
| Network | |
| Phone Network | EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSDPA (3G) |
| Service | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 |
| Connectivity | |
| Bluetooth | v2.0 with A2DP |
| Infrared | No |
| Wi-Fi (WLAN) | No |
| USB | 2.0 |
| Fax / Data | No |
| Display | |
| Main display | Color TFT |
| Color display | 262.144 colors |
| Dimensions | N/A |
| Resolution | 240x320 pixels |
| External display | No |
| Memory | |
| Internal memory | 160MB |
| External memory | Yes |
| Memory slots | 1 |
| Storage types | MemoryStick Micro |
| Basic | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion |
| Standby time | 400 hours |
| Talk time | 9 hours |
| Calling | |
| Vibrate alert | Yes |
| Photo ID | Yes |
| Ringtones | MP3, Polyfone |
| Camera | |
| Camera | Yes |
| Megapixels | 5 megapixels |
| Maximum photo resolution | 2592x1944 pixels |
| Digital zoom | Yesx |
| Optical zoom | No |
| Auto focus | Yes |
| Flash | Yes |
| Recording video | Yes |
| Second (front) camera | Yes |
| Messaging | |
| SMS | Yes |
| MMS | Yes |
| T9 text function | Yes |
| Yes | |
| Internet browsing | Yes |
| Entertainment | |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Java | Yes |
| Audio player | AAC, eAAC, MP3 |
| Video player | 3GP, MPEG4 |
| Features | |
| Add ringtones | Yes |
| Organiser | Calculator, Calendar, Reminders, Currency convertor |
| Video call | Yes |
| Other features | Built in hands free, Voice dial, Voice memo, Track ID, Picture editor |
| Format | |
| Weight | 3.8 oz. |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4.3x1.9x0.4 in. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
