Intel QX6700

Review Pages

1. Introduction
2. Conroe QX6700 (Kentsfield)
3. Installation
4. Tests
5. Everest Ultimate Edition 2006
6. PCMARK - 3DMARK
7. Science Mark - Nero Digital
8. CINEBENCH -SuperPI
9. F.E.A.R.
10. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
11. Overclocking - Page 1
12. Overclocking - Page 2
13. MAC OSX Benchmarks - Page 1
14. MAC OSX Benchmarks - Page 2
15. Advanced Video Encoding
16. Conclusion

After having tested Intel's Core2Duo processors, the time has come to have a look at the soon to be released (officially on 14th of November), Intel Quad. As Intel has stated in its press release "...Intel kicked off the computer industry’s multi-core PC era by delivering four computing “brains” inside a single microprocessor with the introduction of the Intel Core2 Extreme quad-core processor families..."

- Intel Ignites Quad-Core Era

Intel began the transition to multi-core technology 4 years ago with Hyper-Threading Technology (HT Technology), followed by the introduction of the first dual-core PC processors in April last year.

An Intel quad-core processor consists of four complete execution cores in one physical processor, all running at the same frequency. All cores share the same packaging and the same interface with the other chipsets and memory. Imagine that a quad-core processor is like an eight-lane highway - it can handle up to twice as many cars as its four-lane predecessor without making each car drive twice as fast. Similarly, with an Intel quad-core processor-based PC, people can perform multiple tasks such as downloading music and gaming simultaneously more efficiently. Overall, it offers a way of delivering more capabilities while balancing energy-efficient performance.

Intel, in its official press releases, also states that the first ever Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor, the QX6700, is up to 80 percent faster than the Core 2 Extreme Processor X6800. Of course, this claim is based on one particular benchmark, and in reality things are not so rosy, something we will find out later on in our review.

The Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core processors are equipped with a new Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS) that enables efficient processor and platform thermal control. Thermal sensors located within the processor, measure the maximum temperature on the die at any given time. Intel® Quiet System Technology, included in the Intel® 975 Express Chipset family, uses the DTS to regulate the system and processor fan speeds. The acoustic benefit of temperature monitoring is that system fans spin only as fast as needed to cool the system, and slower spinning fans generate less noise.

Note that the pre-production Intel D975XBX2 motherboard we got for our evaluation, doesn't support the above feature, but retail boards are expected to fully support DTS. Below is a table illustrating the most important features of the Quad Core processors:

Feature	Benefit
Quad-Core Processing	Four independent cores in a single package with 8 MB of L2 cache as well as a 1066 MHz Front Side Bus, delivering four dedicated, physical threads enabling operating systems and applications to provide additional performance to end users. Users can experience better multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and work loads.
Intel Wide Dynamic Execution	Improves execution speed and efficiency, delivering more instructions per clock cycle. Each core can complete up to four full instructions simultaneously.
Intel Smart Memory Access	Optimizes the use of the data bandwidth from the memory subsystem to accelerate out-of-order execution. A newly designed prediction mechanism reduces the time in-flight instructions have to wait for data. New pre-fetch algorithms move data from system memory into fast L2 cache in advance of execution. These functions keep the pipeline full, improving instruction throughput and performance.
Intel Advanced Smart Cache	The shared L2 cache is dynamically allocated to each processor core based on workload. This efficient, dual-core optimized implementation increases the probability that each core can access data from fast L2 cache, significantly reducing latency to frequently used data and improving performance.
Intel Advanced Digital Media Boost	Accelerates the execution of Streaming SIMD Extension (SSE) instructions to significantly improve the performance on a broad range of applications, including video, audio, image and photo processing, multimedia, encryption, financial, engineering and scientific applications. The 128-bit SSE instructions are now issued at a throughput rate of one per clock cycle effectively doubling their speed of execution on a per clock basis over previous generation processors.
Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT)	Intel® VT allows one hardware platform to function as multiple “virtual” platforms. For businesses, Intel VT offers improved manageability, limiting downtime and maintaining worker productivity by isolating computing activities into separate partitions.
Intel 64	Enables the processor to access larger amounts of memory. With appropriate 64-bit supporting hardware and software, platforms based on an Intel processor supporting Intel 64 can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory.
Execute Disable Bit²	Provides enhanced virus protection when deployed with a supported operating system. The Execute Disable Bit allows memory to be marked as executable or non-executable, allowing the processor to raise an error to the operating system if malicious code attempts to run in non-executable memory, thereby preventing the code from infecting the system.
Intel Designed Thermal Solution for Boxed Processors	Includes a 4-pin connector for fan speed control to help minimize the acoustic noise levels generated from running the fan at higher speeds for thermal performance. Fan speed control technology is based on actual CPU temperature and power usage.