For comparison, we include results from previously tested processors (Intel Core2Duo E6600/XE6800 and AMD Athlon X2 4600+). All tests are done with memory timings at CL5-5-5-15-30 to allow 1067MHz FSB:

• Motherboard: Asus P5B Deluxe Wi-Fi Edition BIOS 706b/711 revisions
• Memory: 2x1GB Crucial PC2-8000 @ 1067MHz CPU:RAM Ratio (5-5-5-15)
• VGA: MSI 7600GT Silent with Nvidia 93.71 Forceware installed
• HDD: WD 80GB SATAI (primary)
• HDD: Seagate 80GB SATAII (secondary)
• Operating system: Windows XP SP2 with all latest updates installed

While AMD Athlon 4600+, the testbed is:

• Motherboard: Asus M2N32WS Pro 0601 BIOS revision
• Memory: 2x1GB Crucial PC2-8000 @ 800MHz (4-4-4-8-2T)
• VGA: MSI 7600GT Silent with Nvidia 93.71 Forceware installed
• HDD: WD 80GB SATAI (primary)
• HDD: Seagate 80GB SATAII (secondary)
• Operating system: Windows XP SP2 with all latest updates installed

Below, Windows XP SP2 task manager, showing all four cores and ready to be tested under various applications and game:

In a typical scenario, not all cores are used (for example, two instances of Prime95):

However, there are cases, where all four cores can be used with significant improvement in performance (for example Pov-ray):

We used a variety of software, from benchmarks to games:

• Sisoft Sandra 2007 SP1
• Everest Lavasys Ultimate Edition 2006 v3.50.761
• SuperPI Mod v1.5XS
• PC Mark05 v1.1.0
• 3D Mark06 v1.0.2
• Recode v2.3.1.8
• Science Mark 2
• POV 3.70 beta15
• Cinebench v9.5
• Prey v1.0
• Splinter Cell v1.05
• F.E.A.R v1.06
• HL2 Episode 1 June 2006 Edition