X-bit labs

Second Iteration of Core Micro-Architecture: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 CPU Review (page 8)

Category: CPU

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 10/28/2007 | 09:04 PM ]

Testbed and Methods

Well, our today’s article is intended to reveal the features of the new Core 2 Extreme QX9650 – the first representative of the Penryn desktop processor family. As we have already said before, it only makes sense to let this processor compete against its predecessor, Core 2 Extreme QX6850, at this time. That is why our test session was planned and performed accordingly.

We used the following hardware components to assemble our test platforms:

• CPUs:
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 ((LGA775, 3.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 12MB L2, Yorkfield);
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 ((LGA775, 3.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 8MB L2, Kentsfield).
• Mainboard: ASUS P5E3 Deluxe (LGA775, Intel X38, DDR3 SDRAM).
• Memory: 2GB DDR3-1333 with 7-7-7-20 (Corsair Dominator TWIN3X2048-1800C7DF G).
• Graphics card: OCZ GeForce 8800GTX (PCI-E x16).
• HDD: Western Digital WD1500AHFD (SATA150).
• OS: Microsoft Windows Vista x86.

I would like to say that we picked ASUS P5E3 Deluxe mainboard based on the new Intel X38 chipset as a basis for our test platform for a reason. Although all mainboards on Intel X38 and P35 chipsets should support new 45nm processors, not all of them feature proper BIOS updates at this time. For example, our traditional ASUS P5K3 Deluxe test platform couldn’t be used this time for this particular reason. However, you should understand that all proper BIOS updates will be available sooner or later, especially since there are still two weeks left before the official launch of the Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 CPU.