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Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz Processor Review
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz Processor Review - PCSTATS
All things considered equalled, enthusiasts like you are no doubt most attracted to the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 because it offers the best mix of cache size and clock speed.
 95% Rating:   
Filed under: CPU / Processors Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Intel Mar 14 2007   Max Page  
Home > Reviews > CPU / Processors > Intel Core 2 Duo E6600

Performance-Per-Watt Metrics

Gone are the days when performance benchmarks settled all Intel vs. AMD processor debates.

The tone of the desktop computing world has palpably shifting towards power conservation, and even individual computer users are starting to wonder "just how much power is this going to take to get me there?"

Perhaps it's only when we consider the 24x7x365 electrical operating cost of a computer that any small power reduction musters any significance, but there it is. In a sense, what's happening now parallels the transition to from loud computers to the silent PC esthetic.

Before hot-running computer processors went quiet, enthusiasts' attempts to reduce the PC noise were exceptions to the rule, rather than the norm.

An entire industry now thrives on selling quiet computer hardware, could the same hold true for energy efficient desktop processors that don't sacrifice performance?

I think we're all still finding our feet on energy efficient components, but it's certainly a new aspect PCSTATS will be considering as we mull over the benchmark results for the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 processor later in this review.

ow, let's get on with the total system power draw tests.

Total Power Consumption Tests

The price of energy is increasing world wide, and any reduction in the amount of power a CPU requires is welcome. Wading through the technical numbers that Intel and AMD provide can be confusing because each company reports values in slightly different ways.

On paper AMD appears to consume more power since its values are higher, however AMD lists its maximum power usage while Intel posts typical. Obviously the two are not comparable and to find out which actually consumes more power, we decided to test things out.

Representing Intel will be an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, Pentium D 840, Pentium 4 540 and Pentium D 940 processor. Standing in for AMD are the socket AM2 Athlon64 FX-62, Athlon64 X2 5000+, Athlon64 X2 4800+ and socket 939 Athlon64 4000+ and Athlon64 FX-60 processors.

The test specs for each system stayed as constant as possible: Akasa PowerPlus AK-P550FF power supply, Western Digital 74GB Raptor hard drive, an 8x Gigabyte DVD-/+RW drive and a MSI NX6600GT-TD128E videocard. Please note that EIST is disabled for these tests, with EIST enabled, total system power draw will be even less that what is reported. The Extech Power Analyzer is located between the mains 120AC supply and the PC power supply.

To simulate single-core load, the Prime95's Small FFT test was run, and two instances launched for dual core loading. Total system power consumption was read with a Extech Power Analyzer Datalogger (model 380803) for both CPU loaded and CPU idle states. Please keep in mind that these values are measuring an entire system while the processor is running under computational load or idle.

How does the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 impact total system power draw? Let's have a look....

E6600 Power Load Tests

The tables have turned completely, Intel's Pentium 4/D processors draw a lot of power, while the new Core 2 Duo line is very easy on the energy consumption. This is not surprising since the Pentium 4/D is clocked 95-130W and the Core 2 Duo at 65W. Still it's important to note that even a computer based on a 65W processor consumes more than 65W.

Total System Idle Power Draw
Processor Total System Power Draw
Intel Pentium 4 540 150 Watts
Intel Pentium D 840 165 Watts
Intel Pentium D 940 168 Watts
AMD Sempron 3600+ 120 Watts
AMD Athlon64 4000+ 163 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-60 127 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ 143 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ 156 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-62 168 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 117 Watts

The Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 is the most efficient desktop processor PCSTATS has tested to date. It consumes just a bit less power than the budget single-core AMD Sempron 3600+ (120W)! The heavy hitters are the Pentium D 940 at 168W and the AMD Athlon64 FX-62 at 168W.

Next up we'll look at power consumption with the processors under single and dual core loads (where applicable). This illustrates the effect that multicore CPU loading can have on a processors power efficiency.

Total System Stressed Power Draw
Processor Total System Power Draw
Intel Pentium 4 540 223 Watts
Intel Pentium D 840 (Single Core Load) 203 Watts
Intel Pentium D 840 (Dual Core Load) 240 Watts
Intel Pentium D 940 (Single Core Load) 230 Watts
Intel Pentium D 940 (Dual Core Load) 253 Watts
AMD Sempron 3600+ 148 Watts
AMD Athlon64 4000+ 172 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-60 (Single Core Load) 163 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-60 (Dual Core Load) 196 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ (Single Core Load) 165 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ (Dual Core Load) 173 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ (Single Core Load) 177 Watts
AMD Athlon64 X2 5000+ (Dual Core Load) 207 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-62 (Single Core Load) 196 Watts
AMD Athlon64 FX-62 (Dual Core Load) 235 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (Single Core Load) 144 Watts
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (Dual Core Load) 156 Watts

The total system power tests for the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 show some pretty amazing results. With both cores fully stressed, the computer system draws 156W of power. This is just 8W more than a single core AMD Sempron 3600+ but when you look at the benchmark results in the next few pages, you'll notice that the performance differences are significantly larger. The E6600 PC system is almost 100W more efficient than the Pentium D 940 test platform. Under a single core load the E6600 system draws 144W, this is more efficient than any other system that we've tested. The bad boys of this test for single core loading are the Pentium D 940 and 840, and for dual core loading it's the same. With the Pentium D 940 hitting upwards of 253W it's remarkable that Intel's latest generation CPU can consume so little while performing so much better don't you think?

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Contents of Article: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
 Pg 1.  Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz Processor Review
 Pg 2.  Intel's Socket 775 Families and Technologies
 Pg 3.  — Performance-Per-Watt Metrics
 Pg 4.  Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Overclocking, lots of fun here!
 Pg 5.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: SYSMark 2004
 Pg 6.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: Office Productivity, SiSoft Sandra, Maya Render
 Pg 7.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: Super Pi, PCMark05
 Pg 8.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: 3DMark05, 3DMark06
 Pg 9.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: Doom 3, Quake 4
 Pg 10.  Pure 32-Bit Benchmarks: FarCry, FEAR
 Pg 11.  64 Bit Benchmarks: ScienceMark 2
 Pg 12.  64 Bit Benchmarks: Mini-GZip, DiVX Encoding
 Pg 13.  Multi-Threaded Benchmarks: 3DMark05, Doom 3
 Pg 14.  Multi-Threaded Benchmarks: FEAR
 Pg 15.  Dual-Core Core 2 Duo is Coretastic!

 
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