Benchmarks: Intel's first 45nm Penryn chip
Published: 11 Nov 2007
Conclusion
The $999 Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 running at 3GHz is worth considering despite its high price. This quad-core chip delivers excellent performance in the areas of image, video and sound editing; it also shines when running 3D rendering software or hosting several virtual machines. Our benchmarks incidentally show that quad-core chips running modern software offer big performance gains compared to single-core processors. In some tests, the quad-core chips are seven times faster than a Pentium 4 running at the same clock speed.
If 3D games are your thing, there's currently little advantage to be had from a quad-core processor. However, if developers build in more quad-core optimisation in the future, the picture will change fast, as the 3DMark 06 test suggests. Generally speaking, the more a program is parallelised — that is, the more threads it uses — the bigger the advantage a quad-core chip will deliver. Performance-hungry users will also appreciate the fact that Intel ships its Extreme series CPUs with the clock frequency multiplier unlocked, making them straighforward to overclock. The QX9650 functions happily at 3.33GHz (see benchmark results), although to get stable operation at 3.66GHz, the voltage must be increased and an efficient cooling solution implemented.
Compared to the 65nm QX6850, the new 45nm QX9650 chip delivers up to 15 percent better performance with conventional applications. It also consumes significantly less power. For potential buyers, then, the picture looks straightforward: the new quad-core chip costs the same, while performing slightly better and using considerably less energy.
Until AMD's Phenom arrives, which will probably be at the beginning of 2008, Intel remains the sole supplier of quad-core chips for desktop systems.
PreviousRelated articles
Inside Intel's Penryn
Tech Guide Intel's new Penryn family of processors introduces a new 45nm fabrication process, along with a few architectural improvements. [12 Nov 2007]
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Review The CPU market is due for a lot of upheaval over the next 12 months, so you might be wise to wait for a clearer picture before plunking down $1000 or so on Intel's new Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad-core desktop processor. But if you want to claim ownership of the fastest multi-core CPU available today, look no further. [29 Oct 2007]
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