X-bit labs

Multi-Core Confrontation: Core 2 Quad Q6600 vs. Core 2 Duo E6850 (page 7)

Category: CPU

by Ilya Gavrichenkov

[ 08/31/2007 | 12:01 PM ]

SYSmark 2007

It was perfect timing for us to receive the new version of SYSmark 2007 testing suite that measures the system performance in real applications. Thanks to this testing software we can get an even better idea of the tested platforms’ abilities in real life.

Core 2 Duo E6850 gets better total score in nominal mode, while Core 2 Quad Q6600 wins during overclocking. However, it is actually much more interesting to check out not the average results, but the scores obtained in individual applications.

This testing scenario creates a tutorial web-site with diverse media content. It involves the following applications: Adobe Illustrator CS2, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Macromedia Flash 8 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2003.

Of course, the above listed applications are not quite optimized for multi-threading that is why in both, nominal and overclocked modes, Core 2 Duo E6850 wins the race.

This test deals with creating videos using non-linear editing and special effects. The videos are put together from several sources, including static images. The final video is made in two formats: HD and for online internet viewing. In this case the following applications are involved: Adobe After Effects 7, Adobe Illustrator CS2, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 9 and Sony Vegas 7.

As is know, software developers were among the first ones to optimize their media content processing tools for multi-core processors. That is why you will hardly be surprised to see that Core 2 Quad Q6600 did best of all here.

The next scenario emulates typical office work including e-mail, data processing, project management and document editing. These are the applications involved: Microsoft Excel 2003, Microsoft Outlook 2003, Microsoft PowerPoint 2003, Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Project 2003 and WinZip 10.0.

In nominal mode the winner’s laurels go to the dual-core processor with higher clock frequency. Overclocking, however, balances out both rivals.

The last test deals with creating an architectural presentation with a photorealistic image of the object and a fly-around video of the projected building. There are only two applications used: AutoDesk 3ds Max 8 and SketchUp 5.

The results are quite logical. The dual-core Core 2 Duo E6850 with 25% higher nominal frequency wins in the nominal mode, while the quad-core Core 2 Quad Q6600 takes the lead after overclocking.