X-bitlabs reviews Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor
To hit new performance heights the quad-core Intel processor for computer enthusiasts uses 1333MHz bus and operates at 3.0GHz speed. However, what is really interesting about it, is the new G0 processor stepping lowering the heat dissipation and improving the chip's overclocking potential.
The first desktop processors based on Core micro-architecture were launched almost a year ago. These CPUs that came to replace the NetBurst based solutions represented new Intel's concept. This concept declared the end of "gigahertz chase" and put absolutely new processor features atop of the priority list. The primary focus was then on the most optimal balance between the performance and power consumption. That is why the direct comparison between the top Core 2 Duo processors announced in 2006 and the today's latest models may be pretty discouraging. The maximum clock frequency of CPUs on Core micro-architecture hasn?t really increased over the past year. Over this period of time Intel has launched a few new CPU models with lower clock speeds and smaller L2 cache memory that were targeted for low-cost computer systems, however, they haven't got into production of CPUs with frequencies beyond 2.93GHz. This is how the new concept has actually kicked in: further frequency increase would cause CPU power consumption to get higher and it will not be comparable with the performance improvement resulting from it, thus making processor like that power-inefficient...
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