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Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 + ASUS P5W DH Deluxe: Ideal Mainstream Platform? (page 3)

Category: CPU

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 07/13/2006 | 08:39 PM ]

The formal specifications of the Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor that we tested in our lab look as follows:

Just like all the other CPUs from the Core 2 Duo/Core 2 Extreme family, the youngest processor model is also based on the Conroe core.In fact, this processor will be built using two cores with full-size cache memory, and half of it will later be disabled at the packaging stage.

In other words, Core 2 Duo E6300, like the rest of the new desktop processor family, features a 144sq.mm die consisting of 291 mln transistors. So, from this standpoint the new CPU is somewhat simpler than the predecessor on the Presler core – Pentium D processor that featured 376 mln transistors and a core with total die size of 162sq.mm. However, we shouldn’t forget that Presler consists of two physical dies put together into a single package, while Conroe is of solid design. Therefore, the production costs of Core 2 Duo will be higher for Intel. Another piece of evidence proving this fact is the anticipated dramatic drop of Pentium D retail prices, which should happen any day now.

Let’s take a look at the info on the new processor that we read from the CPU-Z diagnostic utility:

As you can see from the screenshot, the CPU is based on B0 core revision. This is not the latest revision out there. The processors that will start selling will feature Conroe core revision B2. I also feel it is important to explain why this utility recognizes our processor as Allendale. The thing is that they use this name for the lower-price Conroe modification with the L2 cache memory cut down to 2MB. In other words, exactly for the Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400 processors. BY the way, Conroe and Allendale are not the only two codenames that you may come across in reference to the new Core microarchitecture based solutions. There is one more name – Millville. This name stands for the budget single-core CPU models.

The clock frequency multiplier in Core 2 Duo E6300 is 7x. With 266MHz FSB frequency it provides the 1.86GHz clock speed. Note that this multiplier can be reduced to 6x, because the processor supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology. In case of lower workload, the processor frequency can drop down to 1.6GHz and its typical heat dissipation can be reduced to 22W.

Although Core 2 Duo processors are designed in LGA775 form-factor and support Quad Pumped Bus at 1066MHz, which is common for Pentium 4/Pentium D CPUs, they are incompatible with the old mainboards. The problem lies with the Vcore of new Core 2 Duo processors that is different and moreover, can be adjusted with a smaller increment. Therefore, you need more than just the support of the new processors in the mainboard BIOS. The voltage regulator on the new mainboards should comply with the VRM 11 specification. At this time there are very few mainboards in the market that meet these requirements, however, the situation will certainly change in the nearest future. Especially, since Intel is also launching its new P965 Express chipset together with the Conroe processor family. At this time, the few mainboards supporting new processors are based on the Intel 975X Express chipset and are none other but the updated modifications of the existing platforms. However, despite this fact there are a couple of mainboards out there that are worth your attention. That is why we are eager to devote the whole chapter of our article to a solution like that: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe mainboard.