The Intel QX9650 has a 3.0 GHz core frequency, a 12MB chunk of L2 cache, was built on the 45nm process and features a new SSE4 instruction set. Since the clock frequency hasn't changed the significant differences is the extra 4MB of cache and the fact it was done on the 45nm process. It is the world’s first 45nm, high-K metal gate lead-free desktop processor. If you are already a bit lost please feel free to go back and reference some of our previous articles on Intel's 45nm processors. It's interesting to see that Intel previewed us a 45nm Yorkfield at 3.33GHz in April of 2007 and now six months later they are releasing the same part at just 3.00GHz. That might just go to show how much overclocking potential one of these processors might have
Built on the state-of-the-art Intel 45nm manufacturing process, this quad-core Intel Core 2 Extreme processor is designed to deliver outstanding capabilities on both today’s and tomorrow’s workloads. Intel is using the element Hafnium and other materials to “reinvent” parts of the now 60-year old transistor, meaning this launch is a big step forward for processor design technology. This is also the first mass production 45nm desktop processor that Intel has brought to market and boy is it small. With a die size of just 214mm2 and 820 million transistors it is smaller than both a penny and it's predecessor the QX6850, as it had a die size of 286mm2 with 582 million transistors. The TDP rating (Thermal Design Power) for the chip hasn't changed even though the L2 cache size has increased. The Intel QX9650 processor will have a TDP of 130W, which means cooling requirements have not changed. All you need to upgrade to one of these new 45nm processors is make sure you have (or get) a motherboard and chipset capable of supporting the newer 45nm processors, which means Intel P35 Express and Intel X38 Express based desktop motherboards.
Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor QX9650 Specifications:
3.0 GHz, 1333 FSB, quad-core
45nm high-K metal gate transistor technology
12MB L2 cache
SSE4 instructions
820M transistors
Total Die Size - 214mm2
LGA775 socket, 130W TDP, “C-step”
Overspeed protection removed
Supported by either Intel P35 or Intel X38 chipsets
MSRP - $999
Testing Procedure:
All testing was done on a fresh install of Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit with all of the NVIDIA GeForce HotFixes installed. . All benchmarks were completed on the desktop with no other software programs running. The memory modules were run in dual channel mode at 800MHz 4-4-4-12 2T on both the AMD and Intel motherboards. The memory on the Intel and AMD test platforms with DDR2 memory was run with Corsair PC2-8888C4 memory running 4GB. The Gigabyte X38DQ6 Motherboard was updated from BIOS version F4 that came on it to F5H. The DFI LANPARTY UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G motherboard was updated to the 2007/05/30 BIOS version, which included support for the AMD A64 X2 6400+ black edition processor. NVIDIA Forceware 169.01 beta drivers were used on the XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra graphics card.
Intel Test Platform
Component Brand/Model
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6750, QX6850, QX9650
Motherboard Gigabyte X38DQ6
Memory Corsair PC2-8500 4GB
Video Card XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra
Hard Drive Western Digital SATA 250Gb
Cooling Corsair Nautilus 500
Power Supply Corsair HX620W
Operating System Windows Vista Ultimate
Here is the AMD Scoket AM2 Test platform:
AMD AM2Test Platform
Component Brand/Model
Processor AMD A64 X2 6400+
Motherboard DFI LANPARTY UT NF590 SLI-M2R/G
Memory Corsair PC2-8500 4GB
Video Card XFX GeForce 8800 Ultra
Hard Drive Western Digital SATA 250Gb
Cooling Corsair Hautiles 500
Power Supply Corsair HX620W
Operating System Windows Vista Ultimate
